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–+ servings
roll of homemade French bread on a white platter
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5 from 22 votes

EASY HOMEMADE FRENCH BREAD

No need to be intimidated by yeast with this easy French bread recipe. Nothing beats homemade bread fresh and warm straight from the oven!
Prep Time1 hr 20 mins
Cook Time20 mins
Total Time1 hr 40 mins
Course: bread
Cuisine: American, French
Keyword: Bread Machine Bread, Easy French Bread, Homemade French Bread
Servings: 8
Calories: 210kcal
Author: Brandie @ The Country Cook

Equipment

  • Bread Machine

Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 cups very warm water
  • 3 ½ cups bread flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 packet active dry yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)

Optional egg wash (for a golden brown top)

  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tbsp water

Instructions

  • Place above ingredients in your bread machine according to manufacturer’s directions (mine requires that I put wet ingredients in first, then dry).
  • Start machine on dough setting.
  • Preheat oven to 175fF degrees (you’re going to put your loaves in the preheated oven to rise).
  • Once oven reaches 175f degrees, turn it off.
  • Cut dough ball in half and roll each loaf out (or save one dough ball for later use and put in freezer) to about 12 inches long in the shape of french bread.
  • Cut three small slices on top of bread and place loaves on a greased baking sheet (just spray evenly with Pam).
  • Cover with a clean dish towel and place into warmed oven.
  • Allow the loaves rise until doubled, about an hour.
  • Take loaves out and preheat oven to 450F degrees.
  • Optional: to get a really nice golden color on top of the bread, make an egg wash. Mix together one egg with a tablespoon of water and whisk really well. Then lightly spread this egg wash on top of the bread before baking.
  • Bake loaves for 15-20 minutes until golden brown, turning the pan around once halfway during baking.
  • Remove loaves when finished baking and allow to cool on wire racks.

Video

Notes

  • If you are doing this by hand, mix all the dry ingredients together in a large bowl, then add warm water and mix until combined.
  • Take dough out and place on floured surface and knead dough for about 8-10 minutes (until dough is smooth and elastic.)
  • Put dough into lightly greased oven proof bowl and cover with a clean dish towel.
  • Preheat oven to 175F degrees and then turn off.
  • Allow dough to rise in the warmed oven until doubled in size (about 45 min. to an hour).
  • Then continue with above directions to finish making the bread (starting with cutting the dough ball in half.)

Nutrition

Calories: 210kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 26mg | Sodium: 304mg | Potassium: 73mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 38IU | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 1mg