Name: My Favorite French Bread Recipe
Prep time: 1 h
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 1 h 25 min
Yield: 2 loaves of bread
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 1/2 cups warm water; 1 tablespoon instant yeast; 1 tablespoon sugar; 2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 cup olive oil; 6 to 6 1/2 cups all-purpose or bread flour; Egg wash made from 1 egg white + 1 tablespoon water (optional)

Mom’s Easy French Bread Recipe

This easy French Bread recipe makes a perfect loaf of homemade bread! Soft, and chewy in the middle with a just-crunchy-enough crust.

Prep1 hr

Cook25 min

Total1 hr 25 min

Serves2 loaves of bread

Published 29 Apr 2020

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Soft, chewy in the middle with a just-crunchy-enough crust; thisFrench bread recipeis made with simple ingredients and comes out incredible every time.

slices of french bread on metal serving tray with red and white checkered towel

I have been wanting to share this super-easyFrench breadrecipe for a while now! It’s so good, with a soft, chewy texture on the inside and the perfectly crusty, golden-brown outside. If you’ve ever made mypizza doughorbreadsticks, then you’re not in for much of a surprise! Yep, this recipe uses the EXACT same ingredients as those do, and it makes the best homemade French bread ever!

This is such a fun and seemingly fancy recipe, but it takes way less effort or expertise than you’d expect. If you’re just getting into baking your own bread, this is an ideal starter recipe because it’s hard to mess up! My biggest piece of advice is to just be sure you knead the dough long enough (6 to 10 minutes) because this is what really makes the bread soft and tender. Have fun and enjoy the comforting smell of freshly baked bread!

Ingredients:

two loaves of french bread on parchment paper

Warm water:Water that’s warm will activate the yeast so that it helps the dough rise.
Instant yeast:Instant yeast is a quick-acting yeast that works wonders in rising bread dough.
Sugar:Sugar adds a little bit of a sweetness factor, but not too much.
Olive oil:Olive oil makes the bread extra moist and gives it a nice earthy flavor.
All-purpose flour or bread flour:Both types of flour will work well in this recipe.
Plus an egg wash made of1 egg white + 1 tablespoon of waterif you want it to look extra beautiful!

See recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities

Tips for the Best Homemade French Bread:

Don’t use too warm of water when making dough:If the water is very hot, it will kill the yeast instead of activating it, resulting in dough that doesn’t rise and bread that is dense and thick.
Knead the dough long enough:Make sure you knead the dough for 6 to 10 minutes to be sure it is the softest, most tender texture when baked.
Use an egg wash:The egg wash isn’t required but it DOES make the bread extra beautiful, shiny, and golden.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How do I slash French bread?

Shape the dough into the bread loaves and set on the baking sheet for 45 minutes to rise again. Take a sharp knife and slash the top every two inches on a diagonal right before putting it into the oven.

What is French Bread?

French bread is a long, lean loaf of bread and is know for it’s cylindrical shape, crusty exterior, and soft, chewy insides. It’s perfect for sandwiches, slathering with butter and jam, or as a side for my best Corn Chowder recipe!

How to get a golden crust?

An egg wash will get the crust nice and shiny and golden. To make an egg wash, whisk together 1 egg white and 1 tablespoon of water. Gently brush the wash over the risen dough right before slashing and placing in the oven.

How do I store French bread?

After the French bread is totally cool, store in a Ziploc bag, in the fridge for up to a week, or in the freezer for up to 4 months. You can enjoy it at room temperature, or reheated in the oven or a toaster.

two loaves of french bread with slices of bread on tray with red checkered towel

More Bread Recipes to Consider:

Did you make this recipe? Leave a⭐️review and share it onInstagram,Facebook, orPinterest!

Meals to go with your bread!

My Favorite French Bread Recipe

Soft, pillowy, and chewy on the middle with a just-crunchy-enough crust, my favorite French bread recipe is made with simple ingredients and comes out incredible every time.

Ingredients

Instructions

Add the water, yeast, sugar, salt, and olive oil to a large bowl. Allow mixture to stand for 5 minutes.

Add one cup of flour, and mix to combine. Add another cup of flour and mix through. Mix by hand for 1 or 2 minutes. The dough should be the consistency of cake batter. Add another cup of flour and mix until well combined. Add flour until you can’t mix it by hand very well.

Sprinkle some flour on your table and turn the dough onto the table. Knead the dough by hand until it is smooth and elastic, adding flour as needed. This should take 6 to 10 minutes of kneading. You can also do this part in a stand mixer if you have one. The kneading is really important when it comes to making the bread really soft and tender, so don't be skimpy on this step.

Place the dough back in the bowl, cover it with a towel, and let it rise in a warm place for 30 to 45 minutes.

Gently remove the dough from the pan (no need to punch is down or squish it too much).

Divide the dough in half. Gently roll it into a log that is 12 to 14 inches long. Place the first log on one side of a baking sheet. Use your hands to gently reshape the loaf and tuck the ends as needed. I like to tuck in the loaf with two hands right at the base of the loaf close to the pan.

Repeat with the second loaf, and have it fit on the other side of the baking sheet.

Cover the baking sheet with a towel, and allow to rise in a warm place for another 45 minutes or so. The dough will be puffy.

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.

If you are using the egg wash, mix it together and gently brush it over the top of the bread. I like to use it! It makes the top shiny and the color really nice.

Use a sharp knife to slash the top every 2 inches on a diagonal right before you put it in the oven.

Place in the hot oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the crust is golden-brown.

Remove from the oven, and transfer the loaves from the pan onto a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes before serving warm or at room temperature.

Store extra bread once it is fully cooled in a sealed container or plastic baggie. It makes great French toast and French bread pizza.

Notes

Most flexible recipe ever! I love this recipe. Feel free to half the recipe if needed for 1 loaf instead of 2. Spoiler alert: these are the same ingredients from my mom that we make pizza AND bread sticks AND French bread from! So if you've made either of those, you are basically a pro at this recipe already too!

Nutrition

Calories175

Carbohydrates32

Fat3

Fiber1

Protein4

Saturated fat0.4

Sodium236

Sugar1