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Healthy French Bread Recipe

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.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 2 hours
Servings: 2 –3 baguettes
Course: Bread
Cuisine: French
Calories: 120
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 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

Method
 

  1. Combine warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let foam for 5–10 minutes.
  2. Mix 2 cups flour with salt, then add yeast mixture. Add remaining flour until dough forms a ball. Knead 8–10 minutes until smooth.
  3. Place dough in an oiled bowl, cover, and let rise 30–45 minutes.
  4. Punch down, divide into 2–3 pieces, shape into baguettes, and place on a baking sheet.
  5. Cover and let rise 30–45 minutes until puffy.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.