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!
I have made this bread 3 times now. First time amazing, second time was terrible came out more like a corn bread texture. Made a third time and perfect. The difference was the first and 3rd time I used bread flour instead of regular flour. ( when I made it the second time I ran out so I used regular flour and thought it would be fine since that’s what recipe calls for.
Thanks for sharing your experience! I’m glad you enjoyed the bread!
I have made this numerous times and Everytime it comes out perfect. Thank you for sharing.
I’m so glad to hear you love it! Thanks for your comment!
Ive made a couple of bread recipes and this is definitely the best so far! Easy, fast and delicious. I think though it could have benefited from a bit more time to rise. lovely though!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for your kind comment! :)
Easy recipe to follow and my two loaves came out looking great!! The flavor and texture were what I was looking for with the exception of not enough salt. I made a note to myself to at least double, if not triple the amount of salt next time I make this.
Easy, Great Taste, Looks Amazing. My go to for a great addition to our meals.
Made this for dinner tonight and holy cow! So yummy and super easy! Will definitely be making again!
I’m so happy to hear you loved it! Thanks for leaving a comment and review!
So, this was the first time I have EVER made bread, but I don’t regret using this recipe. The loaves aren’t shaped perfect on my end, due to inexperience, but they tasted GREAT. This was the perfect, complimentary side to our pot roast. Great video and instructions, thank you. Will go back to this!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Way to go on your first loaf of bread!!
Everyone loved the bread and I’ve had requests for more. I gave a loaf to my son and family and they raved about how good it is. The dough was a pleasure to work with, I made it in my stand mixer so it was very easy. My husband ate half a loaf warm out of the oven (he can eat and eat and never gain weight, lucky him)
I’m so glad to hear everyone loved it! Thanks for your kind comment and for leaving a review Peggy. :)
Love it. And so easy
Thank you for sharing
Not sure what happened, but definitely did not come out as expected. The center looks like a cinnamon roll, sideways (I can unravel it in the opposite direction of how I rolled it). After After about 35 minutes in the oven, the outside finally began to brown, but the inside (like 90% of the inside) is still definitely not cooked and doughy.
What happened?! Did I get a bad batch of yeast or do something else wrong? I followed directions exactly.
Hi Kristin! I’m sorry this bread didn’t turn out for you. I’ve never needed to cook mine longer than 20 minutes. Have you had success with other bread recipes or rolls in your oven?
Love it! quick and received rave reviews from everyone.
Nice texture, great as an accompaniment to dinner as well as toast, grilled cheese sandwiches or just plain.
I’m so glad it was a hit! Thank you for your nice comment Judy. :)
My favorite go to recipe. Quick and Wonderful!
I’m so happy to hear you love it! Thanks for leaving a comment and review Susan!
I don’t see where to use the salt in the directions?
It’s in step 2. :)
Always, absolutely never fail bread…
Delicious bread 🍞
I’m so glad you love it! Thanks for your comment and review!!
In the ingredients list you said 5-6 c with flour, when you wrote how you are doing the bread, you said that put 2 c flour and latter put the rest 1/2 c flour and made the dough. How much or how many cups with flour you use for this bread ??
Hi Gina! I use 5-6 cups of flour. I start with 2 cups and then add an additional 1/2 cup at a time until I get the right consistency equaling 5-6 cups.
This is a really quick make. I have made it probably 10 times now since I found the recipe. One of my favorites is using it for french toast for breakfast.
I’m so glad you enjoy this recipe! It would be perfect for french toast. :)
I tried this recipe and it turned out to be quiet easy. The French bread taste great!
This certainly LOOKS somewhat like a loaf of French bread, and it sounds tasty, but it IS NOT French bread. French bread is made from flour, water, salt and yeast – and nothing else. The addition of sugar and oil/fat makes this, maybe, an Italian loaf of bread, but it’s not French — more like grocery store French bread. Good? – probably. French? – no.
Thank you for sharing your recipe! This was my first time making bread from scratch and I was really nervous, but your instructions were super easy to follow.