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Making French bread at home is a game-changer. Imagine the aroma of freshly baked bread filling your kitchen. This recipe is simple yet delivers a crusty, golden loaf with a soft, airy interior. Perfect for sandwiches, dipping in soup, or just slathering with butter. Let's get baking!
French Bread Recipe
Ingredients:
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 2.25 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp active dry yeast
- 1.5 cups warm water
Instructions:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, and yeast.
- Add warm water and mix until a dough forms.
- Knead the dough for about 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let it rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Shape the dough into loaves and place them on a baking sheet.
- Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown.
What You Will Need
Read more: Banana Bread French Toast Casserole Recipe
What you will need to make French bread
- All-purpose flour: Provides structure and texture, essential for forming the dough and giving the bread its characteristic chewiness.
- Sugar: Feeds the yeast, helping it to activate and rise, also adds a hint of sweetness to the bread.
- Active dry yeast: The leavening agent that makes the dough rise, creating light and airy bread.
- Warm water: Activates the yeast and helps to form the dough, ensuring proper consistency and hydration.
Tools and Instruments Required
What tools/instruments will be needed to make French Bread Recipe
- Mixing bowl: Essential for combining flour, sugar, salt, and yeast into a cohesive dough.
- Measuring cups: Ensures precise amounts of flour, sugar, and water for consistent results.
- Wooden spoon: Useful for initially mixing ingredients before kneading.
- Kneading surface: Provides a clean, flat area to work the dough until smooth.
- Baking sheet: Holds the shaped loaves during baking, ensuring even cooking.
- Oven: Bakes the bread to a golden brown, giving it the perfect crust.
French Bread Recipe
Classic French bread with a crispy crust and soft inside.
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Ingredients:
Main Ingredients
- 4 cups All-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp Sugar
- 2.25 tsp Salt
- 1 tbsp Active dry yeast
- 1.5 cups Warm water
Instructions:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, and yeast.
- Add warm water and mix until a dough forms.
- Knead the dough for about 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let it rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Shape the dough into loaves and place them on a baking sheet.
- Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown.
Notes:
For a crispier crust, spray the loaves with water before baking.
Read more: Bread Crust French Toast Casserole Recipe
Nutrition value:
Calories: 150kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 5gFat: 1gSodium: 400mgPotassium: 50mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1gCalcium: 20mgIron: 2mg
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Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Make Ahead and Freezing Instructions
Make Ahead Instructions
- Prepare dough as directed.
- Let dough rise once.
- Punch down dough, shape into loaves.
- Place shaped loaves on baking sheet.
- Cover with plastic wrap, refrigerate up to 24 hours.
- When ready to bake, let loaves come to room temperature.
- Preheat oven, bake as directed.
Freezing Instructions
- After shaping loaves, place on baking sheet.
- Freeze until solid.
- Transfer frozen loaves to freezer bags.
- Label with date, freeze up to 3 months.
- To bake, thaw in refrigerator overnight.
- Let come to room temperature.
- Preheat oven, bake as directed.
Using a water spray bottle to mist the loaves just before baking creates a crispier crust.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ:
How long does the dough need to rise?
About 1 hour, until it doubles in size.
Can I use bread flour instead of all-purpose flour?
Yes, bread flour works well and gives a slightly chewier texture.
Do I need to use a stand mixer to knead the dough?
No, you can knead it by hand for about 10 minutes.
How do I know when the bread is done baking?
It should be golden brown and sound hollow when tapped on the bottom.
Can I freeze the dough?
Yes, freeze after the first rise. Thaw and let it rise again before baking.
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