American🍞 Bread & bakery

Easy French Bread

Name: Easy French Bread
Total time: 2 h 25 min
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cups warm water; ~2½ tsp active dry yeast; 2 tbsp granulated sugar; 5½ cups flour; 1 tbsp olive oil; 1½ tsp sea salt; ¾ cups hot water

⏱ 145 min🍽 Serves 2

Crispy golden-crusted French bread with a tender, chewy crumb. Made with simple ingredients and steam techniques in a home oven to produce two beautiful, restaurant-quality baguettes.

Adapted from a video by Preppy Kitchen

Easy French Bread Recipe

Watch on YouTube

Ingredients

warm water2 cups
active dry yeastdo not use instant yeast~2½ tspest.
granulated sugar2 tbsp
flourall-purpose or bread flour; total 5.5 cups (660g), added in portions5½ cups
olive oil1 tbsp
sea salt1½ tsp
hot waterfor creating steam during baking¾ cups

Steps

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1
Combine 2 cups of warm water (110–120°F) with active dry yeast and 2 tablespoons of sugar in a bowl. Stir and let sit for about 5 minutes until foamy and activated.
2
Add 3 cups (360g) of flour to the yeast mixture. Use a spatula to mix by hand first into a rough slurry, then add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 1½ teaspoons of sea salt.
3
Transfer the mixture to a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Mix on medium-low speed, gradually adding the remaining 2½ cups (300g) of flour in half-cup increments, allowing each addition to incorporate before adding the next.
4
Increase speed to medium and mix for 2 to 3 minutes until the dough forms a smooth ball that pulls away from the bowl sides and is no longer sticky to the touch. Add additional flour as needed if the dough is too wet.
5
Lightly oil the inside of a large bowl and place the dough in it. Cover with a damp cloth or plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for about 1 hour until doubled in size.
6
Turn the risen dough out onto a lightly floured surface and divide it into two equal pieces (or three pieces for smaller baguettes).
7
Shape each portion into a roughly 9×12 inch rectangle, then tightly roll it up from the long side like a jelly roll to form a baguette shape.
8
Place the shaped baguettes on a parchment-lined baking sheet or a baguette pan. Cover loosely and let rise for at least 20 minutes until noticeably puffed.
9
Preheat the oven to 375°F while the baguettes continue to rise for another 10–20 minutes until fully puffed.
10
Using a sharp bread knife or lame, score three diagonal slashes across the top of each baguette to control expansion during baking.
11
Place a pan with ¾ cup of hot water on the lower oven rack to create steam. Bake the baguettes at 375°F for 25–30 minutes until golden brown.
12
Remove the baguettes from the oven and let cool slightly. Slice and serve—the exterior should be crispy while the interior is soft and chewy.

Easy French Bread

Ingredients

Steps

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