The BEST homemade french bread recipe made in just 90 minutes! So easy to make and comes out golden and crispy on the outside, while remaining soft and chewy on the inside.
Homemade bread is one of my favorite things to make. It can seem a bit intimidating at first, but this easy french bread recipe is a great place to start. It has a quick rising time and takes only 90 minutes from start to finish. If you’re a beginner to bread baking, make sure to check out my 3 ingredient artisan bread and my 45-minute breadsticks. Both are so simple along with my favorite dinner rolls and french bread rolls!
Easiest French Bread Recipe
If you’re looking for an easy french bread recipe, this is it! You’ll have 2 beautiful loaves in 90 minutes. The actual time you’ll be working will only be about 15 minutes, the rest of the time will be patiently waiting for the dough to rest/rise. This homemade french bread is golden and crispy on the outside, while remaining soft and slightly chewy on the inside. We love to serve it with a bowl of warm soup and the first time I made it, my husband said “this bread is SO good, where did you get it?” He thought I picked it up from our local bakery. It is just that good and really so easy to make. You’ll never want to buy store bought french bread again.
I absolutely love making bread and rolls of all kinds. There’s something so satisfying about making them in your own kitchen. The smell is unbelievable. We love to serve this homemade french bread with softened butter, honey and/or jam. So so good. Trust me when I say, this is the best french bread recipe!
How To Make Homemade French Bread
- Proof the yeast. In a small bowl, combine the warm water, yeast and sugar. Let sit for 5 minutes, or until it has begin to foam.
- Mix and let rest. Place 2 cups of flour into a large mixing bowl with the salt. Stir in the yeast mixture and begin to knead by hand or using a dough hook and stand mixer. Add 1/2 cup of the remaining flour at a time until the dough is smooth but not sticky. Rub the olive oil around the dough ball and let rest for 15 minutes.
- Shape and let rise again. Turn the dough onto a floured surface and divide it in half. Roll one half into a rectangle. Starting from the long side, roll the dough into a cylinder. Turn both ends in and pinch the seams closed. Round the edges and place onto a baking sheet. Repeat with the second dough ball. Let rise for 30-45 minutes. Make three diagonal cuts across the top of each loaf.
- Bake in oven. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Bake for 17-20 minutes or until the tops are golden brown. Brush the top of the homemade french bread with melted butter if desired. Slice and enjoy! :)
Baking Tips
- The key to the perfect consistency is to knead in flour a little at a time, until the dough becomes soft and not sticky.
- If using a bread dough hook to knead the dough, knead the last couple of minutes by hand.
- Let the dough rest a minute during the mixing process (this allows the gluten to relax).
- Let the dough rise in a warm spot by the window or on top of the stove.
- Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and then press down with your finger tips to remove any air pockets.
- Use a rolling pin to roll out the dough and any extra bubbles.
- Roll the dough into a loaf and then make sure to tuck the ends under and pinch all the seams together tightly to create a nice seal.
- For a crispier/shinier crust, brush on egg wash (1 egg white (whisked) with a teaspoon of water) before baking.
- For a softer and more flavorful crust, brush with melted butter right when it comes out of the oven.
Favorite Ways To Enjoy
- Top with butter, garlic herb butter, honey, cinnamon butter, jam or apple butter
- Use it to make classic bruschetta or bruschetta caprese
- Serve with all types of soup, like lasagna soup, corn chowder and hearty vegetable soup
- My family loves to make french bread pizza, stuffed french bread or garlic bread
- We also like to make spaghetti boats using leftovers of my easy spaghetti recipe.
- Make a french dip sandwich
- Once it’s a few days old, make french bread french toast, bread pudding or croutons
- Cut into cubes and serve with this cold Knorr spinach dip.
Freezer Instructions
Since this recipe makes two loaves, sometimes we freeze one of them for later. To freeze, wrap the bread tightly in foil or saran wrap (make sure it has cooled completely). Then place in a zip top bag and store in the freezer for up to 2 months.
More Homemade Bread Recipes To Try:
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Homemade French Bread Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 2 cups warm water , about 105°F
- 1 Tablespoon active dry yeast
- 2 ½ teaspoons granulated sugar
- 5 cups (650 g) all-purpose flour , more as needed
- 2 ½ teaspoons table salt or fine sea salt
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- Melted salted butter , optional
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let sit 5 minutes, or until it begins to foam.
- In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment or in a large mixing bowl, stir together 2 cups flour and salt. Stir in the yeast mixture on medium-low speed or by hand. Knead in 1/2 cup of the remaining flour in increments until the dough is smooth but not sticky (depending on climate you could use more or less than 5 cups). Add more flour as needed.
- Rub the olive oil around the dough ball, cover the bowl with a towel and let rest 15 to 30 minutes. If you have more time, let rise up to 1 hour.
- Turn the dough onto a well-floured surface and divide it in half. Set one half aside. Roll the other half into a rectangle (about 15 inches). Starting from the long side, roll the dough into a cylinder.
- Turn both ends in and pinch the seams closed. Round the edges and place onto a baking sheet. Repeat with the second dough ball. Make three diagonal cuts across the top of each loaf. Cover loaves lightly with a towel. Let rise 30 to 60 minutes (the longer the better, if you have the time).
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper. Bake 17 to 23 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown. When you knock on it, it should sound hollow. If it's browning too fast, lightly cover with foil and lower the temperature to 375°F.
- Brush the top with melted butter, if desired. Slice and serve while warm.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Excellent recipe! Thank you! I did use 2 cups of each flours: all purpose, bread and whole wheat, rather than 6 cups all purpose. Followed recipe exactly other than mixing flour types. Bread turned out great!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for your comment and review Cheryll!
This recipe was so easy to follow and the results were great! The soft texture inside and the crispiness of the crust is just perfect. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
I’m so happy to hear you loved it! Thank you for your comment!
The best bread I’ve made ever!
I’m so happy you loved it!
Thanks for the great recipe! I make it every week as requested by my grade one, he likes round sandwiches and loves this bread for school lunch!
Thank you for your comment Melinda! I’m so glad to hear you make this bread so often!
It was easy and quick. My husband loved it.
Yes I made it !!!!!!!!!!! It’s wonderful !!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!!
I made a comment earlier about this. I was confused about the 5 to 6 cups of flour then the instructions (as I read it) called for 2 and a half. Lucky for me! Lol! I had cut the recipe in half! And it came out fabulous! It’s very very fine ! So FYI cut all ingredients in half will make 1 loaf thank you so much! I’ll never buy another peace of French bread
Hi! I can’t wait to try this recipe but I’m wondering, can I make a few ahead and freeze the dough to bake at a later date?
Yes, that should be fine!
I just made this bread with a friend! It’s so quick, easy, and fun to make. I brushed the top with milk before and baking, and with melted butter after baking! Thanks for the recipe
I’m so glad you enjoyed making it with your friend. Thanks for leaving a comment and review! :)
I have try different recipes and it has been a total failure. Due that those recipes have the wrong information. I have given up until now. Your is perfectly delicious and is the first tine that my daughter likes bread. Thanks a million and thanks for sharing:)
Many blessings
I’m so happy to hear it turned out well for you! Thank you for leaving a comment! :)
I’ve never made this kind of bread before but this was extremely good
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Genius tried your recipe loved it ( delicious ) the timing and measurements were right on thank you very much .
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for leaving a comment and review!
Do you have a recipe for whole wheat French bread? If not, how would I make this using these same instructions?
Hi Kristen! I don’t have a whole wheat french bread recipe unfortunately. Here is my favorite homemade wheat bread though: https://www.iheartnaptime.net/whole-wheat-bread/. If you decide to try and sub the flour in this recipe, please let us know how it goes!
This was a very easy recipe. Loved it.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Omgoodness! Delicious and so easy! Will use this recipe again and again!
I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed it! :)
How many cups of flour, I find in one place 5 cups and in another place 21/2 cups, please clarify.
Hi Sheila! You will use 5-6 cups of flour. You start with 2 cups and then add the rest 1/2 cup at a time until your dough is smooth, not sticky.
To be honest, I didn’t have a lot of faith in this recipe after I started it. Compared to other recipes there was no oil in the bread itself and it had less water. While I was first kneading the bread, it didn’t seem to be kneading up like other bread I’d made and worried a bit. However, after the first 15 minute rise, the dough seemed totally fine and rolled out smooth and nice. The loaves I got were much bigger than the ones in the picture, I think anyway. Not much in there for scale. I put around 8 slices in my bread because it was so long. I ended up using 5 cups of flour + a little bit more added while kneading. I have a smaller gas oven so I brushed it with egg white before putting it in, and also tossed some ice cubes into the bottom of the oven to add steam ,turned it at 10 minutes, and cooked it totally about 21 minutes. Brushed it with butter when it was out, and it turned out really nice.
Super quick to make and serious the most soft inside with a perfect crunchy crust. So good!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!