Description
This homemade French Bread is crusty on the outside, soft and airy inside, and ready in just 2 to 2.5 hours—perfect for elevating weeknight meals, making French bread pizza, or enjoying fresh with butter.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 to 1 1/4 cups warm water (105-115°F)
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 3 1/2 to 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons fine sea salt
Instructions
- Combine warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let foam for 5–10 minutes.
- Mix 2 cups flour with salt, then add yeast mixture. Add remaining flour until dough forms a ball. Knead 8–10 minutes until smooth.
- Place dough in an oiled bowl, cover, and let rise 30–45 minutes.
- Punch down, divide into 2–3 pieces, shape into baguettes, and place on a baking sheet.
- Cover and let rise 30–45 minutes until puffy.
- Preheat oven to 450°F. Score loaves, add steam by pouring hot water into a pan in the oven. Bake 20–25 minutes until golden.
- Cool 30–60 minutes before slicing.
Notes
Use steam for the crispiest crust. Allow full cooling time to set the crumb. For chewier texture, use bread flour.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 0.5g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 0.5g
- Saturated Fat: 0.1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: french bread, baguette, homemade bread, easy french bread recipe