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5 from 4 votes

Easy Homemade French Bread

This Easy Homemade French Bread is the perfect bakery-style french bread with a crispy crust & chewy centre - only 5 simple ingredients!
Course Bread
Cuisine American, French
Keyword Easy Homemade French Bread, French Bread Tutorial, Homeamde French Bread
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Rising Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 40 minutes
Servings 20 slices
Calories 144kcal
Author Chrissie

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Add the water, yeast and sugar to the bowl of your stand mixer (or to a large mixing bowl if you're making the bread by hand). Mix together with a fork and let sit for about 5 minutes.
  • Once the yeast mixture is bubbly, add 5 1/2 cups of the flour and the salt (be sure the salt doesn't touch the yeast mixture directly - mix it in with the flour first).
  • Mix on low speed (if using a stand mixer) until the dough comes together, adding the last half cup of flour as the mixer begins to knead the dough. Let the mixer knead the dough for about 3-4 minutes on low speed.
  • If making by hand, knead the dough for about 6-7 minutes on a lightly floured surface.
  • Let the ball of dough rest in the bowl to rise for about 1 1/2 hours, and cover the bowl with some plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel.
  • After 1 1/2 hours punch the dough down and scrape the dough out onto a lightly floured surface (flour your hands as well). Let the ball of dough sit, covered, for about 5-10 minutes before shaping.
  • To shape the dough, divide the dough in half (this recipe makes two loaves). Roll the first half out into a rectangle about 16 inches by 18 or 20 inches. Roll the dough up tightly into a long snake-shaped loaf, making sure you roll tightly enough that there are no large gaps of air between the pieces of dough.
  • Pinch the ends together tightly to seal them and flip the loaf over, placing it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
  • Repeat these steps for the second loaf to shape it as well.
  • Score the loaves with a sharp knife very carefully, creating 5 or 6 cuts on the top of each loaf about 1/4 inch or 1/2 inch thick.
  • Cover the loaves and let them rise for another 20-25 minutes, covered with a clean kitchen towel.
  • Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Combine the egg and water in a small bowl and brush the mixture very gently over the top of the bread just before baking.
  • Bake the loaves for about 18-20 minutes or until the tops are golden brown.
  • Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool almost completely before slicing and serving.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 144kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 236mg | Potassium: 57mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 2mg