EASY Homemade French Bread Recipe #baking #easyrecipe #diy #homemade

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 small bowl, add warm water (about 109°F).

Add 1 teaspoon of active dry yeast and 2 and 1/2 teaspoons of sugar to the warm water and stir together.

Let the mixture sit for at least 5 minutes until the yeast starts to foam.

In a large bowl, add 2 cups of flour and 2 and 1/2 teaspoons of salt and stir together.

Add the yeast mixture to the flour and salt mixture.

Slowly add about 3 more cups of flour in half cup increments while kneading the dough together until it is smooth and no longer sticky.

Pour 1 teaspoon of olive oil over the dough and rub it in.

Cover the dough with a tea towel and let it rise for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Flour your surface and pour out the dough.

Cut the dough into two equal halves.

Press and roll out each half of the dough into a rectangle that's about 15 inches long.

Starting on the longest end, roll the dough and round out the edges, pinching the seam closed.

Repeat the rolling and pinching steps with the second half of the dough.

Place the loaves onto a parchment lined baking sheet.

Make three diagonal cuts across each loaf.

Cover the loaves with a tea towel and let them rise for 30 to 60 minutes.

Preheat your oven to 400°F.

Bake the loaves for 18 to 22 minutes or until they are golden brown on top.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens