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French Bread Recipe

October 11, 2018 by Melissa 7 Comments

This homemade French Bread Recipe is so easy to make and absolutely delicious. Soft, fluffy homemade French bread with a delicious golden brown crust, this simple homemade bread does not disappoint. 

 This homemade French Bread Recipe is so easy to make and absolutely delicious. Soft, fluffy homemade French bread with a delicious golden brown crust, this simple homemade bread does not disappoint. 

French Bread

To keep this French bread recipe simple, I like to use a stand mixer as much as possible. I use the bowl and the dough hook to mix and kneed the dough, and I use the same bowl to let the dough rise. Easy peasy! You can mix and kneed by hand, just increase the kneading time to 10 minutes.

 Homemade French Bread Recipe

Start by letting the yeast activate with warm water and a teaspoon of sugar in the bowl of the stand mixer. The water needs to be between 100-115 degrees Fahrenheit. If the water is too hot, it will kill the yeast before it can activate. Then add in salt and bread flour. Let hook stir to combine, then increase speed to medium high and knead dough for about 5 minutes.

 Homemade French Bread Recipe

Drizzle bread dough lightly with olive oil and turn to coat.

 Homemade French Bread Recipe

Let rise for one hour.

 Homemade French Bread Recipe

Divide dough into two portions and lightly roll out into a rectangle shape. Roll dough into a log, cinnamon roll style, starting from the farthest long edge and pinching seams together.

 Homemade French Bread Recipe

Place loaves, seam side down onto a baking sheet sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Let rise again for 30 minutes. While loaves are rising, preheat oven to 450 degrees.

c Homemade French Bread Recipe

Make four diagonal slashes across top of dough and sprinkle with cornmeal. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until loaves are a light golden brown.

 Homemade French Bread Recipe

Let cool slightly before slicing.

 Homemade French Bread Recipe

For a show stopping glistening loaf, brush lightly with warm melted butter right before serving.

Homemade French Bread Recipe

Homemade Bread! It’s easier than you think and elevates any dinner to a special meal. We served this with my Instant Pot Pot Roast and it was perfect for dipping!

 Homemade French Bread Recipe

Homemade French Bread Recipe

5 from 7 votes
Print
French Bread Recipe
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Rising
1 hr 30 mins
Total Time
35 mins
 
Servings: 12
Calories: 192 kcal
Ingredients
  • 2 tablespoons active dry yeast
  • 2 cups warm water between 110-115 degrees
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 5 cups bread flour
  • olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon corn meal
Instructions
  1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, combine yeast, warm water and sugar and let set 1-2 minutes to activate yeast. 

  2. Add salt and bread flour to bowl, mix on low speed until combined, then increase speed to medium high and kneed dough for another 5 minutes.

  3. Remove bowl from mixer and drizzle a small amount of olive oil over dough, turn to coat. Cover bowl and let rise for one hour.

  4. Gently punch dough down and turn out onto lightly floured smooth surface. Divide dough into two portions. Use a rolling pin to gently roll dough in a 12 inch long rectangle. Starting with furthest long edge, roll into a long loaf shape, cinnamon roll style, pinching seams together. Place both loaves seam side down on baking sheet. Lightly cover and let rise for additional 30 minutes. 

  5. While loaves are rising, preheat oven to 450 degrees.

  6. Use a sharp knife to score loaves diagonally. Sprinkle with cornmeal and bake for about 20 minutes, or until loaves are a light golden brown. 

  7. Let cool slightly before slicing. Optional: Brush with warm melted butter just before serving.

Nutrition Facts
French Bread Recipe
Amount Per Serving (12 g)
Calories 192 Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Fat 1g2%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 389mg17%
Potassium 58mg2%
Carbohydrates 39g13%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 7g14%
Calcium 8mg1%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Butter optional, but highly recommended. ?

Homemade French Bread Recipe

You may also like:

Cherry Pie Bars 

Chocolate Swirled Pumpkin Bars 

Chocolate Chunk Cookie Bars

 

This homemade French Bread Recipe is so easy to make and absolutely delicious. Soft, fluffy homemade French bread with a delicious golden brown crust, this simple homemade bread does not disappoint. 

5 Easy Dinner Ideas for Busy Weeknights

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Filed Under: Baking, Dinner, Recipes

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kristyn

    August 15, 2019 at 10:18 am

    5 stars
    This bread looks so golden & soft! I love that you can use French bread for so many different recipes. Always a staple!!

    Reply
  2. Suzy

    August 15, 2019 at 11:39 am

    5 stars
    I always shy away from making bread but this one was so easy! loved the tips on making it come out just perfect!

    Reply
  3. Tanya Schroeder

    August 15, 2019 at 2:58 pm

    5 stars
    I had no idea homemade French bread could be so easy and so good!

    Reply
  4. Erin

    August 15, 2019 at 3:19 pm

    5 stars
    Love how light and tasty this bread is. I am such a carb-aholic and this is perfect!

    Reply
  5. Curso de pães

    September 23, 2019 at 9:03 pm

    5 stars
    Great Photos of thebread

    Reply
  6. Kellie Hemmerly

    March 19, 2020 at 1:20 pm

    5 stars
    There’s nothing better than homemade bread and this recipe is super easy to duplicate at home.

    Reply
  7. katerina @ diethood.com

    March 19, 2020 at 1:38 pm

    5 stars
    WOW!! This french bread looks AMAZING!! I can’t wait to try this recipe!

    Reply

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