EASY FRENCH BREAD
I love bread. Bread, rolls, baguettes, French bread, Italian bread, rustic bread, you name it. I feel almost incomplete if there are no bready carbs sitting on my counter. It’s my security blanket if you wish.
The white store-bought bread is not only not attractive but tasteless to me so I try to bake my own whenever possible. I have tried many many recipes for many many different kinds of bread goodness. This Easy French Bread has a crunchy crust and it’s fluffy and delicious inside. Perfection!
More Easy Bread recipes:
EASY FRENCH BREAD RECIPE:
Easy French Bread recipe
Prep Time
2 hrs 30 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
Total Time
2 hrs 55 mins
One of the easiest ways to make French bread at home. Nothing beats a nice slice of freshly baked bread with butter!
Course: bread
Cuisine: French
Keyword: French bread
Servings: 2 loaves
Calories: 915 kcal
Ingredients
- 4 c bread flour all-purpose can be substituted
- 2 t salt
- 2 t yeast
- 1-1/2 c warm water
Instructions
- In the bowl, combine warm water and yeast. Stir to combine.
- In another bowl, whisk together 3-3/4c of flour and the salt.
- Pour the flour mixture into the yeast mixture. Using a stand mixer or hand mixer, mix for 3 minutes. Dough should pull away from the sides and form a ball. Add more flour if needed.
- Sprinkle remaining 1/4c of flour on your counter. Place the dough on top and knead until smooth. Form into a ball. Place dough into a greased bowl and cover. Allow to rise in a warm place for 90 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 450. Place a large inverted baking sheet into the oven to preheat.
- Place dough on floured surface and form into a ball. Cut the ball in half. Shaping one half at a time, spread the dough into a rectangle, then fold the rectangle inward onto itself length-wise to form a long loaf. Pinch the edges to form a seam. Turn seam-side down. Repeat with other half. Cover and let rise another 30 minutes.
- With a sharp knife, cut shallow slits diagonally across the tops of the loaves.
- Remove the inverted baking sheet from the oven. Carefully place your loaves onto the hot pan. Place the pan on the center rack of the oven. Bake 20-25 minutes.
Nutrition Facts
Easy French Bread recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 915 Calories from Fat 36
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 4g 6%
Sodium 2335mg 97%
Potassium 288mg 8%
Total Carbohydrates 182g 61%
Dietary Fiber 7g 28%
Protein 31g 62%
Calcium 3.8%
Iron 12.5%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
September 21, 2012 at 10:06 pmI’m with you, Anna – I need fresh bread in the house at all times! 🙂 Your French bread looks like it would satisfy my carb cravings perfectly!
Asiya @ Chocolate and Chillies says
September 21, 2012 at 11:31 amI LOVE baking bread and like you I feel like something is missing without those bread carbs…This looks fabulous and it being easy too is just up my alley!
Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
September 21, 2012 at 8:59 pmI hope you will try it! It’s easy AND delicious! Perfect for fall soup season 🙂 Thanks, Asiya!!
Anna @ hiddenponies says
September 21, 2012 at 10:58 amThis looks like perfect French bread! I always have the best intentions of making my own bread but don’t do it nearly often enough. I tell myself I’ll do it more when I’m home more, but who knows 🙂 Recipes like this definitely inspire me!
Jessica@AKitchenAddiction says
September 20, 2012 at 8:50 amI love homemade bread! At my house though, my husband always makes the french bread, so I actually have never tried making it! 🙂
Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
September 21, 2012 at 8:59 pmIt can always be a team effort 🙂 Thanks, Jessica!
Minnie@thelady8home says
September 20, 2012 at 6:52 amAmazing!!!! Love the bread. It looks delicious!!!
Nami | Just One Cookbook says
September 20, 2012 at 12:45 amFrench bread! Before I started blogging I was into making french bread – and I’m not much of a baker but I love bread so much that I baked a couple of times for fun. The throwing water to the oven floor is interesting! I read somewhere that I have to spray the water (from those water spray bottle) right before closing the oven after you put the bread. I wasn’t sure if those spray of water worked, but with the amount you added to the oven floor probably it gives enough steam. I need to get back to bread making one day! Your post inspired me. 🙂
Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
September 21, 2012 at 8:52 pmI’ve heared about spraying water too, but I have to say, throwing it onto the oven floor was actually fun! 🙂 Thank you, Nami!
cathy @ Noble Pig says
September 19, 2012 at 10:22 pmI am always making a white crusty bread. I fill a broiler pan with water and have that steam the whole time during baking, makes for a crunchy crust. I am no longer getting your email updates since your blog switch over, I have to resubscribe.
Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
September 20, 2012 at 2:07 pmHi Cathy! Thank you so much for letting me know. I had no idea there was an issue with e-mail updates… I am so sorry about that. I am working on fixing it! I can’t wait to try your suggestion with a broiler pan. Nothing better than a homebaked bread with crunchy crust 🙂 Have a great day!
Pam says
September 19, 2012 at 6:00 pmBlogger upsets me sometimes! I have no idea how many of your posts I have missed because in my blogroll on the right side bar, it shows that you haven’t posted for a month. Your French bread looks great and I’ve never tried it but will have to now. Great job, my friend!
Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
September 20, 2012 at 2:09 pmSweet Pam! Since I moved my blog to WordPress, my updates won’t be showing on your blogroll 🙁 The best way to stay updates is by signing up to e-mail updates, here on my new site. I truly appreciate it! Always happy to have you here, my friend! xo
OishiiTreats says
September 19, 2012 at 4:42 pmThat is looks delish, I love french bread and easy homemade french bread sounds even better. the best part about making bread at home is your house smelling like a bakery 🙂
Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
September 21, 2012 at 9:01 pmThey should make candles that smell like that! 🙂 Thank you, Neshanne!
Ramona says
September 19, 2012 at 3:55 pmAmazing bread Anna!! I love french bread and I can actually make an entire dinner of bread and butter (something I have done in my single days).
Ann P. says
September 19, 2012 at 3:31 pmLooks delicious! But that picture is almost cruel, because we ran out of bread at our house today. I guess I’ll just have to make some of this!! 😀