Description
This soft and fluffy French bread recipe yields a delicious homemade loaf with a tender crumb and a golden crust. Perfect for sandwiches, toast, or serving alongside your favorite soups and salads, this bread combines simple ingredients with easy-to-follow steps to bring bakery-quality bread to your kitchen.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2.5 to 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon white granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (or vegetable oil)
- 1 egg, beaten (for brushing)
Instructions
- Activate the Yeast: In a small bowl, combine warm water (about 110°F/43°C) with the active dry yeast and sugar. Stir gently and let sit for 5-10 minutes until it becomes foamy, indicating that the yeast is active.
- Mix the Dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine 2.5 cups of all-purpose flour and salt. Slowly add the yeast mixture and olive oil to the dry ingredients. Stir with a wooden spoon or dough hook attachment until the mixture begins to come together.
- Knead the Dough: Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, adding more flour as needed to prevent sticking, and knead for about 8-10 minutes until the dough is smooth, elastic, and slightly tacky but not sticky.
- First Rise: Place the dough into a greased bowl, cover it with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm, draft-free area for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Shape the Loaf: Punch down the dough to release any air bubbles. Turn it out onto a floured surface and shape it into a loaf by rolling and tucking the edges underneath to create surface tension.
- Second Rise: Place the shaped loaf onto a greased or parchment-lined baking sheet or loaf pan. Cover and let it rise again for 30-45 minutes until nearly doubled in size.
- Preheat Oven: While the dough is rising, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Score the Loaf: Using a sharp knife or razor blade, make several diagonal slashes on top of the loaf about 1/4 inch deep to allow steam to escape and help the bread expand evenly.
- Brush with Egg Wash: Lightly brush the beaten egg over the surface of the loaf to give it a beautiful golden color once baked.
- Bake the Bread: Place the loaf in the preheated oven and bake for about 25 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the bread sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
- Cool Before Slicing: Remove the bread from the oven and transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing to maintain the soft fluffy texture inside.
Notes
- Use warm water, not hot, to ensure the yeast activates properly without killing it.
- Adding more flour during kneading is necessary if the dough is too sticky but avoid adding too much to keep the bread fluffy.
- Letting the loaf cool fully is important to ensure clean slices and preserve the soft texture.
- You can substitute olive oil with any neutral vegetable oil if preferred.
- For a slightly different flavor, sprinkle some sesame or poppy seeds on top after the egg wash before baking.
