Description
This Easy Homemade French Bread is soft on the inside, golden and crisp on the outside, and perfect for sandwiches, toast, or soaking up soups and sauces. It’s made with basic ingredients and doesn’t require fancy equipment.
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 2 ¼ cups warm water (about 110°F)
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 5 ½ to 6 cups all-purpose flour
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes until frothy.
- Add salt, oil, and about 3 cups of the flour, then mix until combined.
- Gradually add the remaining flour, ½ cup at a time, until the dough is soft and slightly sticky but manageable.
- Knead the dough on a floured surface for 6–8 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a clean towel, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Punch down the dough and divide it in half. Shape each half into a loaf and place on a greased or parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Make 3–4 diagonal slashes on top of each loaf with a sharp knife and let rise again for 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). For a crisper crust, place an oven-safe dish of water on the lower rack.
- Bake the loaves for 25–30 minutes or until golden brown and hollow-sounding when tapped.
- Let the bread cool slightly before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Use a lower amount of flour for lighter texture; too much can make bread dense.
- Add seeds or garlic butter for extra flavor.
- Dough can be refrigerated after first rise and baked the next day.
- For rolls, divide dough into smaller portions before second rise.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 160mg
- Fat: 2g
- Saturated Fat: 0.3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
