Description
Delicious and easy homemade French bread with a soft interior and crusty exterior, ready in under 2 hours.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 packet (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast
- 1 1/4 cups warm water (between 105-115°F)
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 egg white, lightly beaten (for wash)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine warm water and sugar to dissolve.
- Sprinkle yeast over the top and let it sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy.
- Add flour and salt to the yeast mixture and mix until a shaggy dough forms.
- Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead for 5-7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let it rise in a warm place for about 60 minutes or until doubled.
- Once risen, punch down the dough, divide in half, and shape each into a 12-14 inch loaf.
- Place loaves on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, cover, and let rest for 20 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) with a shallow pan on the bottom rack for steam.
- Brush tops with egg white and make three diagonal slashes on each loaf.
- Pour about 1/2 cup of hot water into the shallow pan and quickly close the oven door.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and hollow when tapped.
- Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
Notes
For added flavor, consider mixing in herbs or cheese. Store in a paper bag at room temperature for best freshness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 1g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: bread, French bread, homemade bread, easy recipe