Easy French Bread

 

This is my go to French bread recipe. It takes about two hours from start to finish. 

Easy French Bread

Yield 2 loaves

4-4 ½ cups all-purpose flour

2 cups warm water

1 tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 tablespoons instant yeast

In a stand mixer, fitted with a dough hook, combine 4 cups flour, water,sugar, salt, oil and yeast. Knead, gradually adding the remaining flour until the dough comes away from the sides of the bowl. Knead for 8 minutes.

Cover bowl with a dish cloth until doubled in volume, about 30 minutes.

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured counter top. Divide dough in half. Flatten each half into a rectangle and then form into a loaf about 14 inches in length, pinching the seam at the end.

Spray French loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray. Place loaves onto the greased pan. Cover with a dish towel and let rise until doubled in size. Just before baking make 3-4 diagonal slashes along top of loaves. Bake in a 375 degree oven with a pan of water on the lower rack. Using a spray bottle mist loaves a few times with water during the baking process. Bake for approximately 20 minutes or until golden brown. Baked loaves should sound hollow when tapped and the bottom of loaves should be lightly golden. Place baked loaves onto a cooling rack and brush tops of loaves with butter. 

Print Recipe:Easy French Bread

This is my stand mixer but any stand mixer works fitted with a dough hook.

Combine all the ingredients into stand mixer. Adding enough flour so it comes away from the side of the bowl. The dough should be soft but not really sticky. Knead for about 8 minutes. Cover mixing bowl with a tea towel and let rest and rise for about 30 minutes. 

This is a double loaf bread pan. As you can see it is very well used. Spray pan with non-stick spray.

On a lightly floured surface. Divide deflated dough in half. 

Flatten each piece into a rectangle. Roll dough into a 13-14 inch long loaf.

Pinch the seam together. 

Place loaves seam side down on baking pan.

Cover with a tea towel until double in size.

Using a sharp knife or a lame, slash 3-4 slashes into the loaves.

Bake in a 375 degree oven for about 20 minutes. Misting with water a couple of times during the baking process.