Description
Fluffy on the inside with a crisp, golden crust, these classic French bread loaves are easy to make, deeply satisfying, and perfect for everything from soups and stews to sandwiches.
Ingredients
2 1/4 cups warm water (about 110°F)
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon active dry yeast
1 tablespoon salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
5 1/2 to 6 cups all-purpose flour
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer, combine warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let sit for 5–10 minutes until foamy.
- Add salt, olive oil, and 3 cups of flour. Mix until combined.
- Gradually add the remaining flour, ½ cup at a time, until the dough pulls away from the bowl and is soft but not sticky.
- Knead the dough for 5–7 minutes by hand or with a dough hook until smooth and elastic.
- Transfer dough to a lightly greased bowl, cover, and let rise for 1 to 1½ hours until doubled in size.
- Punch down the dough and divide it in half. Shape each half into a long loaf and place on a greased or parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Make 2–3 shallow diagonal slashes on each loaf with a sharp knife.
- Cover lightly and let rise again for 30–40 minutes until puffy.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and bake loaves for 25–30 minutes until golden brown and hollow-sounding when tapped.
- For a softer crust, optionally brush loaves with melted butter after baking.
Notes
Use a pan of hot water in the oven for a crispier crust.
To add variety, sprinkle sesame or poppy seeds on top before baking.
You can mix in herbs like rosemary or garlic powder for extra flavor.
For a denser, heartier loaf, replace part of the flour with whole wheat flour.
Dough can be refrigerated overnight for a slow rise and deeper flavor.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 170
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 290mg
- Fat: 2g
- Saturated Fat: 0.3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 33g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
