Easy Homemade French Bread is simple to make and tastes better than store bought. Fluffy on the inside and a crunchy crust this bread is sure to become a household favourite!
I love baking bread at home! It's easier to do than you think and tastes absolutely amazing! My two young children love baking bread too! This recipe is for a classic French bread. The texture of this bread is so soft on the inside and tastes amazing! You can eat it on its own or use it for sandwiches.
How to Make This Easy Homemade French Bread
Making the Dough
In your stand mixer with the dough hook attachment on add yeast, warm water, and sugar into the bowl and gently stir together. Let sit for 10 minutes or until the yeast is activated and there is bubbling foam on top of the mixture.
Once yeast has been activated add in oil, salt, and 3 cups of flour. Mixing everything together.
Continue kneading until dough is firm and sticks together. If the dough is too sticky keep mixing and adding small amounts of the 1/4 cup of flour. Knead the dough for about 6 minutes. The dough should form into one ball and pull away from the sides and only be slightly sticky. It's okay if it still sticks a little to the bottom of the bowl.
Remove the dough from the bowl and form into a ball. Grease a large bowl with vegetable oil and place the dough inside. Turn dough over in the bowls to coat the top with oil. Cover with a plastic wrap and a kitchen towel and let it rise for an hour or until it has doubled in size.
After an hour gently punch each ball down, cover, and let rise again for another 30 minutes.
Shaping the Bread
After the second rise remove the dough from the bowl and place on a clean work surface. Using a rolling pin flatten into a rectangle. It should roughly be about 12 x 9 inches.
Starting at one of the long edges, roll the dough together so it creates a loaf.
Pinch the seem and ends together, and tuck them together underneath the loaf.
Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover with a kitchen towel and let rise for 30 minutes.
Baking the Bread
Preheat oven to 375 F.
Create an egg wash by mixing the egg white and cold water together. Uncover and brush egg wash over the loaf.
Using a sharp knife make diagonal slashes 2 in. apart across top of the loaf.
Bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown and bread has a hollow sound when you knock on it.
Let bread cool before slicing, enjoy!
Storing The Bread
Like all baked goods, this bread is best eaten the same day it is baked. You can store it on your counter, wrapped up, for 3 days.
Bake them on your own or bake them with your kids, either way I’m sure you’ll love with this Easy Homemade French Bread!
If you make this bread you can tag me on Instagram @jessiebakestreats and leave me a review below. I’d love to hear from you!
For more ideas you can follow me on Pinterest.
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Easy Homemade French Bread
Ingredients
Bread Dough
- 2 & 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
- 1 & 1/2 C warm water
- 1 tbsp white sugar
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 & 1/2 tsp salt
- 3 & 1/4 C all purpose flour
Egg Wash
- 1 egg white
- 1 tsp cold water
Instructions
- In your stand mixer with the dough hook attachment on add yeast, warm water, and sugar into the bowl and gently stir together. Let sit for 10 minutes or until the yeast is activated and there is bubbling foam on top of the mixture.
- Once yeast has been activated add in oil, salt, and 3 cups of flour. Mixing everything together.
- Continue kneading until dough is firm and sticks together. If the dough is too sticky keep mixing and adding small amounts of the 1/4 cup of flour. Knead the dough for about 6 minutes. The dough should form into one ball and pull away from the sides.
- Remove the dough from the bowl and form into a ball. Grease a large bowl with vegetable oil and place the dough inside. Turn dough over in the bowls to coat the top with oil. Cover with a plastic wrap and a kitchen towel and let it rise for an hour or until it has doubled in size.
- After an hour gently punch each ball down, cover, and let rise again for another 30 minutes.
- After the second rise remove the dough from the bowl and place on a clean work surface. Using a rolling pin flatten into a rectangle. It should roughly be about 12 x 9 inches.
- Starting at one of the long edges, roll the dough together so it creates a loaf. Pinch the seem and ends together, and tuck them together underneath the loaf.
- Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover with a kitchen towel and let rise for 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 375 F.
- Create an egg wash by mixing the egg white and cold water together. Uncover and brush egg wash over the loaf.
- Using a sharp knife make diagonal slashes 2 in. apart across top of the loaf.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown and bread has a hollow sound when you knock on it.
- Cool before slicing. Enjoy!
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