French Bread
Enjoy a loaf of homemade French bread that turns out soft and chewy, slightly sweet, and perfect for an easy dinner side or turning into garlic bread!
- Prep Time: 2 hours
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Yield: 8+ slices 1x
- Category: Sides
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ cups warm water (105-110F)
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp yeast (either active dry yeast or quick rising yeast)
- 1 Tbsp salt
- 2 Tbsp oil (olive oil or coconut oil)
- 5–6 cups all-purpose einkorn flour (see notes below to substitute regular all-purpose flour)
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer (or a large mixing bowl), combine the water, sugar and yeast. Whisk together and let it sit for 5-10 minutes for the yeast to bloom. If the yeast starts to bubble and look like beer foam, you’re good to go. If the yeast doesn’t bubble after 10 minutes, your yeast is bad.
- Add the salt, oil, and 5 cups of flour to the water and yeast mixture and turn the mixer with a dough hook attachment to low to combine (or mix by hand). When the ingredients are combined, turn the mixer to medium and knead the dough until it’s a cohesive ball that pulls away from the sides of the mixing bowl, about 5-10 minutes. If you need to add additional flour during this time, add it in ¼ cup increments.
- Cover the bowl and set it in a warm place to rise for one hour.
- Dump the dough onto a lightly floured surface or use a silplat mat. Lightly dust with flour and use a rolling pin to roll the dough into a rectangle that’s roughly 9”x13” in size.
- Starting with a long edge of the rectangle, roll the dough up tightly into a log. Carefully put the shaped dough seam side down onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, score the dough with diagonal slashes with a sharp knife, cover it with a towel, and set it in a warm place to rise for one hour.
- When an hour has nearly passed, preheat the oven to 375F.
- When the dough is done rising, place the baking sheet in the oven. Toss 4 ice cubes into the bottom of the oven and quickly close the door. Bake for 25-30 minutes.
- Remove the bread from the oven to cool completely before slicing.
Notes
Notes on flour: You can easily substitute regular all-purpose flour for this recipe. Increase the warm water to 2 ¼ cups and all other ingredients and steps remain the same.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 702
Find it online: https://dontwastethecrumbs.com/homemade-french-bread/
