French Bread
Master the art of baking French bread at home with simple ingredients and foolproof techniques, yielding a warm, crusty loaf perfect for any meal.
Ingredients
For the Bread Dough
- 2 and ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast Packaged yeast works fine.
- 2 cups warm water Should be warm, not hot.
- 1 tablespoon sugar Can substitute honey.
- 2 and ½ teaspoons salt
- 5 cups all-purpose flour Can substitute 1 cup with bread flour for more chew.
Instructions
Making the Dough
- Mix warm water and sugar together, then add active dry yeast and let it activate until bubbly.
- Gradually add in flour and salt, mixing until combined. Knead the dough for about 7 minutes until it's soft but not sticky.
Allowing the Dough to Rise
- Place the kneaded dough in a lightly oiled bowl and cover it with a clean towel. Let it rise in a warm, draft-free area for about 2 hours, or until it doubles in size.
- Alternatively, you can turn on your oven to the lowest setting for a couple of minutes, turn it off, and let the dough rise in there with the door cracked for a faster rise.
Shaping the Loaves
- Punch down the risen dough and split it into two. Roll each piece into a log shape.
- Place the loaves seam-side down on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Make several diagonal slashes on top of each loaf with a sharp knife.
Baking
- Let the shaped loaves rise for another 30-45 minutes, then preheat your oven to 375°F.
- For a glossy crust, brush the loaves with water or melted butter. To make the crust crunchy, place a small pan of water in the oven while baking.
- Bake until golden brown, about 30 minutes. Tap the bottom of the loaves; they should sound hollow when done.
Notes
Let it cool before storing in a bread bag to maintain crust; reheat in an oven for extra crunch. Can be frozen for up to a month.