French Bread Recipe

In just 90 minutes, you can prepare the best homemade french bread recipe! This recipe is incredibly simple to prepare, yielding a golden, crispy exterior and a soft, chewy interior. Forget the bakery when you can make it at home!

Equipment for Making French Bread at Home

• Bowl
• Stand mixer
• Oven

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Warm water (about 105°F)
• 1 tbsp Active dry yeast
• 2 1⁄2 tbsp Granulated sugar
• 5 cups All-purpose flour ((650g) more as needed)
• 2 1⁄2 tbsp Table salt (or fine sea salt)
• 1 tbsp Olive oil
• Salted butter (Melted, optional)

Instructions:

• In a small bowl, combine the warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let sit 5 minutes, or until it begins to foam.
• Combine 2 cups flour and salt in a stand mixer with a paddle attachment or a large mixing bowl. Stir in the yeast mixture at 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 doughball, cover the bowl with a towel, and let rest for 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 the loaves rise for 30–60 minutes if time permits.
• 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.

Note:

• You can prefer a crispier/shinier crust. Brush 1 egg white (whisked) with a teaspoon of water before baking French bread loaf. You can also add a few ice cubes into the oven to help trap the steam and add a few minutes to the cooking time.
• The best way to store this bread is on the counter in a brown paper bag.
• Allow it to cool, and then place it in a large zip-top bag to freeze (preferably before slicing). Remove all the air from the bag and then freeze up to 3 months. Thaw overnight on the counter. Reheat in the oven at 300°F for 5 minutes.