Homemade French Bread

all-purpose flour

🥗Healthier: whole wheat flour

💰Cheaper: bread flour

Whole wheat flour adds fiber and nutrients.

butter

🥗Healthier: olive oil

💰Cheaper: margarine

Olive oil is healthier with good fats.

sugar

🥗Healthier: honey

💰Cheaper: agave syrup

Honey adds natural sweetness.

yeast

🥗Healthier: sourdough starter

💰Cheaper: instant yeast

Sourdough adds depth of flavor.

In a stand mixer with a dough hook, add 2 teaspoons of active yeast and 1 tablespoon of sugar.

Stir the yeast and sugar together with a spoon.

Pour in 1 cup of hot tap water and stir gently to break up clumps of yeast and sugar.

Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel and let the yeast bloom for about 15 minutes.

Check the yeast after 15 minutes; it should be frothy and bloomed.

Add 2.5 cups of bread flour in three batches to the bloomed yeast mixture.

Knead the dough on low speed for about 5 to 7 minutes until it pulls away from the sides of the bowl.

If the dough is too sticky, add a little more flour as needed.

After kneading, let the dough rest for 15 minutes.

After resting, add 1 teaspoon of kosher salt to the dough and knead on low for about 1 minute.

Transfer the dough to an oiled bowl, turning it to coat, and cover with a towel.

Let the dough rise in the bowl for about 30 to 40 minutes until it doubles in size.

Preheat the oven to 425°F during the last few minutes of the dough rising.

Once risen, lightly flour your hands and the surface to shape the dough into a loaf.

Place the shaped loaf on a greased pan and make a few slits on top with a sharp knife to allow moisture to escape.

Place an oven-safe bowl of water in the oven to keep moisture in while baking.

Bake the bread for about 25 minutes, watching for doneness.

Remove the bread from the oven once baked and let it cool before slicing.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens