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Homemade French Bread
Simple, quick, and easy homemade French bread recipe.
Kids can even make this bread. For real. It’s that easy. Making any bread from scratch can be a daunting task and it’s easy to be intimidated by the whole process. I am going to break it down and hopefully ease any worries. You may even become a master bread maker!
This Homemade Bakery French Bread can be done in a little more than one hour which means you can have hot, fresh bread straight out of the oven when the kids get home from school even if you don’t start baking until afternoon. You won’t need to run to the bakery for your french bread anymore when you can make better bread at home….in no time flat.
I taught a culinary class for kids in both Texas and Arizona and I’ve watched 7-year-olds tackle this homemade French bread recipe. I loved seeing the pictures those kids sent me showing the french bread masterpieces they made for their families.
As a child, I remember riding my bike home from school and opening the back door to the smells of homemade bread baking in the oven. My Mom always said that she could live on bread alone so bread was always essential in our home. There’s nothing more comforting than a hot piece of bread straight from the oven covered in churned butter and homemade strawberry jam.
Let’s get down to the basics so you can start baking.
How to make quick and easy homemade bakery french bread:
- Making sure the yeast proofs is essential. Using fresh yeast is important and mixing with warm water (not too hot, not too cold) will ensure success. Yeast loves sugar so add a pinch of sugar to the mixture. Let it work for about 10 minutes.
- Adding flour one cup at a time is important so you can see when the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl. That’s when you know it’s ready. Put flour down on the counter so the dough doesn’t stick. That isn’t fun. I love my Bosch mixer and can find a great deal on one below.
- Using rolling pin, roll out into a 9 x 12 rectangle. Roll up lengthwise and mold into french loaf. I love this marble rolling pin.
- The loaves don’t have to look perfect. I rolled these babies in 7 1/2 minutes flat before I sprinted to my little girl’s performance. Don’t forget to make 3-4 diagonal cuts with a sharp knife before placing on silpat or greased cookie sheet. These silicone baking sheets make it so easy to remove the bread from the baking sheet. Let rise for 30-40 minutes.
- Bake at 375 degrees for 18-22 minutes until lightly golden brown. Watch it carefully to turn a light golden brown color.
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Homemade Bakery French Bread
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons Yeast
- 1/2 cup Warm Water
- 2 cups Hot Water
- 3 Tablespoons Sugar
- 2 1/2 teaspoons Salt
- 1/3 cup Oil
- 6 1/2 cups Flour
- 1 Egg for brushing on bread
Instructions
- In a small bowl, dissolve your yeast in ½ cup warm water. Make sure that your water is warm (not too cold, not too hot). Let proof for 10 minutes.
- In a separate mixing bowl, combine hot water, sugar, salt, oil and 3 cups of the flour and mix together. Add the yeast mixture to a bowl.
- Add the remaining 3 1/2 cups of flour, one cup at a time, mixing after each addition. Watch for it to start pulling away from the bowl to know it's ready. Once all of the flour is added, let sit for 10 minutes.
- Separate your dough into 3 pieces. On a floured surface roll each piece into a 9x12 rectangle. Roll it up like a jelly roll. Shape into a french bread loaf and smooth out edges.
- Place the dough on a greased baking pan or a Silpat, seam side down. Using a knife, make 3-4 diagonal cuts about 1/4 inch thick in bread. Brush with your beaten egg.
- Let dough rise uncovered for 30-40 minutes in a warm place.
- Bake at 375 for 18-22 minutes or until golden brown.
Video
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Happy Baking, my friends! I can’t wait to hear what you think about this quick and easy homemade french bread.
Considering I am in Quito, Ecuador, I didn’t think it was going to work, but we just ate the best French bread ever… thanks for such a good recipe!!!
My family loves this recipe. I’ve been making it almost weekly and it never lasts longer than 2 days.
I have tried for years to make bread that my husband says mmm that’s delicious! This is the recipe that got me the kudos. Thank you for sharing!
I have a Ankarsrum mixer and this recipe I make each week. It’s my favorite bread, lite, flavorful, wonderful! I don’t buy bread anymore 🙂 Warm water for the yeast until it’s bubbly, mix/knead until it gets like stiff gum. You’ll feel the tension begin. Rise afterward, then shape and let rest/rise covered on pan for maybe half hour. Then bake. I’m new to bread making but am now understanding the science of it. Loving it!!!
It turned out great, and rose really well. They looked great. But we found it very dense and heavy. Should this be airy and light? Does this mean not kneaded enough or too much flour?
I made this today and it seriously is SO GOOD!! And SUPER simple and easy! I’ll definitely be making it again (and again and again!).
Probably a dumb question, but I am going to ask it anyway, as I don’t see it stated in the recipe. What kind of yeast is used in this recipe… Active Dry, Instant Yeast, or Fresh Yeast?
How much fresh yeast?
I am finding mine tonight did the same i used instant yeast which on the package says to add directly to dry ingredients so thats what did i wonder if thats why it was a bit dense
Not sure how to load a pic but I finally nailed their recipe down. Thank you for the recipe. It turned out delicious and I will make again, again, and again!!
I’m sure this tastes nice, but it isn’t French bread. French bread only has flour, water, salt, and yeast.