If you’ve ever dreamed of pulling a warm, crusty loaf of bread fresh from your oven, this Easy French Bread Recipe is your ticket to baking success. With straightforward ingredients and simple steps, it brings the taste of a classic bakery right into your kitchen, delivering that perfect mix of crisp crust and soft, fluffy interior. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or a curious beginner, this recipe will become a cherished staple that fills your home with irresistible aromas and endless smiles.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The beauty of this Easy French Bread Recipe lies in its simplicity, using just a handful of ingredients that each play an important role in the bread’s flavor, texture, and aroma. Every element, from yeast to sugar to flour, works harmoniously to create that light yet crunchy loaf you’ll love.
- Warm water (1/4 cup at 105-115 degrees): Activates the yeast and helps create the perfect dough consistency.
- Dry active yeast (1 package): The magic agent that makes the bread rise beautifully.
- Sugar (2 teaspoons total): Feeds the yeast and slightly sweetens the dough, balancing the flavor.
- All-purpose flour (4 cups): Provides the structure and texture essential to any great bread.
- Salt (1 teaspoon): Enhances the flavor and controls yeast fermentation for a balanced rise.
- Warm water (1 cup plus 2 tablespoons): Moistens the dough for perfect elasticity and softness.
- Egg white and 1 tablespoon water: Creates that lovely golden sheen and a slight crunch on the crust when brushed on top.
How to Make Easy French Bread Recipe
Step 1: Activate Your Yeast
Start by warming 1/4 cup of water to a gentle 105-115 degrees. When it’s just right, mix in the yeast and 1 teaspoon of sugar. Let this sit for about five minutes until the yeast bubbles up and becomes frothy. This step is crucial because it ensures your yeast is alive and ready to make your bread rise to the occasion.
Step 2: Combine Dry Ingredients and Water
In the bowl of your stand mixer, combine the 4 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon of sugar, and 1 teaspoon of salt. Pour in the remaining warm water plus the bubbly yeast mixture. This blend of dry and wet ingredients is the starting point for creating that irresistible French bread dough.
Step 3: Knead Until Smooth
Attach the dough hook and mix on low speed for about five minutes, or until your dough is smooth and elastic. Proper kneading develops gluten strands, which give the bread its chewy texture and structure. If you don’t have a mixer, no worries—use your hands and knead vigorously on a floured surface!
Step 4: Let the Dough Rise
Cover your dough with a clean towel or plastic wrap and allow it to rise in a warm spot until it doubles in size, usually 15 to 20 minutes. This part is like giving your dough a cozy nap, allowing the yeast to work its magic and develop those signature air pockets that make French bread so airy.
Step 5: Shape the Loaves
On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out with a rolling pin. You can divide it into two smaller pieces if you prefer, perfect for sharing or freezing. Roll each piece jelly roll style and tuck the ends underneath to form a neat loaf. Place the seam side down on a greased cookie sheet and score three diagonal slits about 1/4 inch deep across the top of each loaf to help with expansion during baking.
Step 6: Add a Golden Finish
Mix the egg white with 1 tablespoon of water and gently brush it over the loaves. This step is optional but highly recommended to achieve a beautiful golden-brown crust with a lovely shine. If you want to skip the egg wash, brushing with olive oil and sprinkling some coarse salt adds a delicious rustic touch.
Step 7: Create Steam for That Perfect Crust
Boil a pan of water and then place it on the lowest rack of your oven, or if your pan isn’t oven-safe, pour the hot water into a shallow dish for the oven. Place your loaves on the rack above the water. This steam is essential for developing the crisp crust that French bread is famous for. Then turn off the oven and leave the bread inside to rise and bake gently for 20 minutes.
Step 8: Finish Baking at High Heat
Remove the pan of water and turn your oven on to 425 degrees. Bake the bread for 8-10 minutes; this includes the oven preheating time. If after 10 minutes the bread isn’t quite golden brown, reduce the heat to 350 degrees and bake for an additional 5 minutes until the crust is beautifully crisp and golden. This two-stage bake ensures a tender crumb and irresistible crust texture.
How to Serve Easy French Bread Recipe
Garnishes
While classic French bread shines on its own, adding fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme before baking or sprinkling coarse sea salt just after brushing the top adds an extra burst of flavor. Lightly rubbed garlic with olive oil can turn your loaf into an amazing garlic bread for any occasion.
Side Dishes
French bread is incredibly versatile. Serve it alongside a hearty bowl of soup, a fresh green salad, or your favorite cheese platter. It’s also fabulous dipped in olive oil and balsamic vinegar or as a base for bruschetta loaded with vibrant tomatoes and basil.
Creative Ways to Present
Slice your Easy French Bread Recipe into thick or thin pieces and toast them for crostini topped with savory spreads. Use it to make delicious sandwiches, or hollow out a loaf and fill it with spinach and artichoke dip for a stunning party centerpiece that’s as tasty as it looks.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Once your bread has cooled completely, wrap it tightly in a clean kitchen towel or place it in a paper bag to maintain its crusty exterior while preventing it from drying out. Store at room temperature and enjoy within two days for optimal freshness.
Freezing
This bread freezes beautifully. Slice or keep whole, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and then in foil or a freezer bag. When ready to enjoy, thaw at room temperature, and you’ll have that fresh-baked taste, almost as if it just came out of your oven.
Reheating
To refresh your bread, preheat your oven to 350 degrees, sprinkle a little water over the loaf, and warm it for 10-15 minutes. This method restores the crunchy crust and soft interior perfectly, making every bite feel freshly baked.
FAQs
Can I use instant yeast instead of active dry yeast?
Absolutely! Instant yeast can be used; just mix it directly with the flour and reduce the initial water slightly. You might notice a faster rise, so keep an eye on the dough as it may need less time to double.
Why do you put a pan of water in the oven?
The water creates steam, which is essential for developing that classic crispy and shiny crust on French bread. The steam delays crust formation allowing the loaf to expand fully before hardening.
Can I make this bread without a stand mixer?
Yes, hand kneading works just as well! It might take a bit more time and effort, but the tactile experience connects you to the dough, and your bread will still turn out amazing.
How can I tell when the bread is fully baked?
The crust should be golden brown and sound hollow when tapped on the bottom. If you’re unsure, an internal temperature of about 190-200°F indicates the bread is done.
Is this recipe suitable for beginners?
Definitely! This Easy French Bread Recipe is straightforward, with simple ingredients and clear steps that make it perfect for those just starting to bake bread. It’s a great confidence booster and incredibly rewarding.
Final Thoughts
Baking your own bread might sound intimidating, but this Easy French Bread Recipe proves it doesn’t have to be. With just a little patience and some basic ingredients, you can create a beautiful, delicious loaf that brings warmth and joy to any meal. So grab your apron, get your hands floury, and treat yourself to the comfort of homemade bread that’s truly from the heart.
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Easy French Bread Recipe
This Easy French Bread recipe offers a simple way to bake fresh, homemade French bread with a crispy crust and soft interior. Using warm water and active dry yeast, the dough is kneaded, allowed to rise, and then baked using a steam method in the oven to achieve a perfect crust. Ideal for sandwiches or serving alongside meals, this recipe yields two loaves and requires minimal preparation time.
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 2 loaves (serves 24 slices)
Ingredients
Yeast Mixture
- 1/4 cup warm water (105–115 degrees F)
- 1 package dry active yeast (about 2 1/4 tsp)
- 1 tsp sugar
Dough
- 4 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons warm water
Glaze
- 1 egg white
- 1 tablespoon water
- Alternatively: olive oil and coarse salt for brushing and sprinkling
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit to begin the baking preparation.
- Activate Yeast: In a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup warm water, the dry active yeast, and 1 tsp sugar. Let it stand for 5 minutes or until the mixture becomes bubbly, indicating the yeast is active.
- Prepare Dough Ingredients: In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the flour, 1 tablespoon sugar, salt, and the remaining warm water (1 cup plus 2 tablespoons).
- Mix and Knead Dough: Pour in the activated yeast mixture. Mix all ingredients thoroughly and knead for about 5 minutes, or until the dough is smooth and elastic.
- First Rise: Cover the dough and allow it to rise until it doubles in size, approximately 15-20 minutes.
- Shape the Dough: Lightly flour your surface and roll out the dough with a rolling pin. For smaller loaves, divide the dough into two equal pieces. Roll each piece jelly-roll style, tuck the ends underneath, and place the seam side down on a greased cookie sheet.
- Score Loaves: Use a sharp knife to cut 3 diagonal slits, about 1/4 inch deep, into each loaf to allow for expansion during baking.
- Apply Glaze: Mix the egg white with 1 tablespoon of water and gently brush it over the loaves for a shiny crust. Alternatively, brush with olive oil and sprinkle with coarse salt for a more rustic finish.
- Prepare Steam Bath: Boil water in a pan and place it in a shallow oven-safe dish or on the lower rack of the oven to create steam, which helps develop the crust.
- Bake with Steam: Put the bread loaves on the oven rack above the pan of water. Immediately turn off the oven and let the bread rise and bake in the residual heat for 20 minutes.
- Remove Steam Pan: Carefully take out the pan of water from the oven after the initial bake.
- Increase Oven Temperature: Leave the bread in the oven and set the oven temperature to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake for an additional 8-10 minutes, which includes the time it takes to preheat the oven.
- Final Browning: If the bread has not reached a golden-brown crust after 10 minutes, reduce the oven to 350 degrees and bake for an additional 5 minutes or until done.
Notes
- You can divide the dough into two smaller loaves if preferred.
- The steam from the boiling water in the oven helps develop a crisp crust typical of French bread.
- Egg white glaze provides a shiny crust; substitute with olive oil and coarse salt for different texture and flavor.
- Check bread color carefully during the final baking step to avoid over-browning.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
