Food & Drink

Easy Homemade French Bread

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Discover ways to make bakery-style French Bread from the consolation of your property! This comfortable selfmade bread is SO simple and can be utilized in so many meals, appetizers, and snacks!

Love making bread? Strive My Homemade Brioche too! It’s SO good!

Slices of French bread on a cutting board.

The Finest French Bread

In relation to baking bread, you don’t should be an skilled baker! In fact I most frequently make a fast bread, like my famous banana bread, however, lately I made a decision to modify it up with some Home made French Bread, and boy am I glad that I did!

These contemporary loaves of chewy French bread are utterly addicting. I do know the sugar content material of the recipe is mostly somewhat larger after I make statements like that, nevertheless it holds true right here too. The crust/exterior of this selfmade baguette is the proper degree of crispy, and the within is pillowy-soft. Phrases can’t describe, my pals.

Making your personal French bread feels like a variety of work, nevertheless it’s really tremendous simple. (And right here I’ve been going to the shop weekend after weekend!) So, should you’re a first-time bread-maker, no worries. The method is absolutely easy and completely inside your grasp!

Two loaves of French bread on a cooling rack.

What Makes This Recipe Work

Simplicity is the important thing to success right here. Retaining it easy means much less give you the results you want, and extra time to do no matter else it’s essential get performed as we speak! This French bread is made with solely 6 substances, and you’ll have the bread out and in of the oven and cooling on the counter inside a few hours. What’s extra, you most likely have already got every little thing you want for selfmade French bread in your pantry, which is all the time a plus.

What You’ll Want

Alright, let’s discuss actual fast about these 6 substances! Right here’s what you’re going to wish to spherical up:

  • Heat Water: Guarantee that the temperature is someplace between 110°F – 120°F.
  • Sugar: Simply regular-old granulated sugar is ideal for this recipe.
  • Yeast: Energetic dry yeast will assist your loaves of bread stand up good and tall. You may also use Instantaneous Yeast (Speedy Rise Yeast) which can solely require one rise, not two!
  • Flour: You should utilize any form of bread flour that you just like for this French bread. You’ll use about 6 cups flour on this recipe.
  • Salt: I like to make use of kosher salt in my bread. One tablespoon of salt would possibly appear to be loads, nevertheless it’s actually the one taste addition to the bread and with out it it’d be very bland.
  • Canola Oil: You may also use olive oil or vegetable oil as a substitution if wanted.

Do You Have To Use Bread Flour?

The recipe will work with all function flour, however you received’t get that chewy bread texture until you employ bread flour. Bread flour has a better protein content material (often 11% – 13%). The protein within the flour is what produces plenty of gluten, which is what offers you that chewy bread texture. Bread flour will be present in white and entire wheat varieties.

How you can Make French Bread

Like I discussed above, making your personal French bread is not any sweat. And also you don’t even want a bread maker to do it! The method breaks down into 4 fundamental components: forming the dough, letting it rise, shaping it into loaves, and baking. Right here’s the extra detailed description:

Dissolve the Yeast: Add the water, sugar, and yeast to the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment (or mixing bowl if doing by hand). Enable the yeast to dissolve and turn into foamy, roughly 5 minutes.

Type the Dough: Add within the flour, salt, and oil. Flip the mixer to low and blend for 30 seconds to mix the substances. Flip the mixer as much as medium velocity and blend for 8-10 minutes whole, till the dough turns into clean and elastic.

Let the Dough Rise: Place the dough right into a calmly greased bowl and canopy with a towel. Place the bowl in a draft-free, heat place to rise for 1-2 hours, or doubled in dimension. My oven has a “proof” setting that works amazingly nicely for yeast bread recipes. Alternately you may permit the dough to rise slowly in a single day within the fridge.

Type the Loaves: As soon as the dough has risen, sprinkle some flour onto a clear counter and place the dough onto the calmly floured floor. Divide the bread dough in half and roll right into a 12-inch lengthy log. No rolling pin wanted! You would actually make extra smaller loaves. Simply notice the bake time will probably be decreased. Place the dough right into a greased or parchment paper lined baking sheet (or a french bread pan). Cowl with a towel and permit to rise in a heat, draft-free place for an extra half-hour, or till doubled in dimension.

Preheat the Oven to 375°F: Then, when the dough has risen, use a pointy knife to chop slits into the highest of the dough.

Bake: Bake for 20-25 minutes till the bread is golden brown.

Getting That Golden Crust

The most effective a part of French bread? The crispy golden-brown crust in fact! A very easy means to make sure that you get a superbly golden crust in your bread is to make use of some egg wash. Earlier than you set your bread within the oven, whip collectively an egg and a few water and calmly brush this combination on high of the loaves. Then bake, and put together to be excited.

Suggestions for Success

I’ve acquired a pair extra tricks to share with you earlier than you get began, should you don’t thoughts. Listed here are a few different essential French-bread-making methods:

  • Can I Make This Bread Forward? Sure! Actually, I prefer to make this bread forward and reheat it proper earlier than serving. To do that, preheat the oven to 375° and bake for 5-7 minutes to calmly toast the surface. This offers the bread a crusty exterior with a comfortable, heat heart.
  • How you can Know When the Bread is Performed: The outside ought to be a golden-brown as talked about above, but in addition, when the crust is tapped it ought to sound hole.
  • Do I Want a Stand Mixer? No, you may stir and blend the dough collectively by hand. It’ll take some time longer, however you’ll get a great exercise in! Stir the substances along with a picket spoon after which knead on a floured floor together with your fingers.
  • The place Ought to I Let the Dough Rise? In entrance of a window is an effective place, as is close to the preheating range. 
  • Can I Combine in Some Entire Wheat Flour? Certain. I don’t suggest utterly substituting the bread flour with entire wheat flour, however an excellent mixture of the 2 ought to end up nicely.
A loaf of French bread being sliced.

Methods to Use Your Bread

You should utilize/serve French bread in so some ways! These are a few of my favourite concepts:

  • Make French Bread Pizza: And add your personal toppings! This dinner is all the time a success with the kiddos.
  • Serve with Soup: Butter up a slice of toasted French bread and dunk it in your favourite soup.
  • Make Garlic Bread: Or selfmade tacky breadsticks… it’s as much as you!
  • For Sandwiches: That is most likely the primary means we client French bread in my home.
  • For Toast: Pile on the honey, butter, and/or jelly and jam!
  • Make Croutons: All you want are a couple of seasonings and a few olive oil and also you’re good to go!
Slices from a loaf of French bread.

How you can Retailer French Bread

I often retailer this French bread in a tightly-sealed Ziploc bag for a few days at room temperature. You would additionally wrap it in plastic wrap as an alternative, should you like.

Can I Freeze This?

Sure! Retailer your French bread within the freezer in an hermetic container (or a couple of tight layers of plastic wrap). It ought to hold for about 3 months this fashion.

Right here Are Some Extra Simple Bread Recipes:

Print

Simple Home made French Bread

Slices of French bread on a cutting board.


Description:

Discover ways to make bakery-style French Bread from the consolation of your property! This comfortable selfmade bread is SO simple and can be utilized in so many meals, appetizers, and snacks!


Elements:

  • 2 1/2 cups heat water (110°F – 120°F)
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons lively dry yeast
  • 6 cups bread flour
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil

Directions

  1. Add the water, sugar, and yeast to the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the dough hook. Enable the yeast to dissolve and turn into foamy, roughly 5 minutes.
  2. Add within the flour, salt, and oil. Flip the mixer to low to combine for 30 seconds to mix the substances. Flip the mixer as much as medium velocity and blend for 8 – 10 minutes whole, till the dough turns into clean and elastic.
  3. Place the dough right into a calmly greased bowl and canopy with a towel. Place the bowl in a heat, draft-free place to rise for 1 – 2 hours, or doubled in dimension.
  4. As soon as the dough has risen, place it onto a calmly floured floor. Divide the dough in half and roll right into a 12- inch lengthy log. Place the dough right into a greased or parchment lined baking sheet (or a french bread pan). Cowl with a towel and permit to rise in a heat, draft-free place for an extra half-hour, or till doubled in dimension.
  5. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
  6. When the dough has risen use a pointy knife to chop slits into the highest of the dough.
  7. Bake for 20 – 25 minutes till golden brown and when the crust is tapped it sounds hole.

Notes:

  • Can I Make This Bread Forward? Sure! Actually, I prefer to make this bread forward and reheat it proper earlier than serving. To do that, preheat the oven to 375° and bake for 5-7 minutes to calmly toast the surface. This offers the bread a crusty exterior with a comfortable, heat heart.
  • How you can Know When the Bread is Performed: The outside ought to be a golden-brown as talked about above, but in addition, when the crust is tapped it ought to sound hole.
  • Do I Want a Stand Mixer? No, you may combine the dough collectively by hand. It’ll take some time longer, however you’ll get a great exercise in!
  • The place Ought to I Let the Dough Rise? In entrance of a window is an effective place, as is close to the preheating range.
  • Can I Combine in Some Entire Wheat Flour? Certain. I don’t suggest utterly substituting the bread flour with entire wheat flour, however an excellent mixture of the 2 ought to end up nicely.
  • Storage: I often retailer this French bread in a tightly-sealed Ziploc bag for a few days at room temperature. 

Key phrases:: french baguette, learn how to make french bread, selfmade baguette

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