This homemade French Breas has a soft, tender, and chewy inside, with a crusty outside and is easy enough you can make it at home! It’s delicious served alongside a variety of dinners, to make garlic bread, French toast, or just to eat slathered with butter.
Homemade bread is one of the best things, with the sweet smell of fresh bread wafting through the kitchen, and then slathering a slice with some butter, and honey. Yum! This French Bread is a great one to add to the mix, its actually a very simple bread to make – and so much better than a loaf of French bread you’ll get from the grocery store.
I love French bread, its so delicious served up with a bowl of soup, a salad, or slathered with garlic butter and served with pasta. One of our favorite repeat dinners is French Bread Pizza too, by slicing it in half and topping the bread with pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, and our favorite toppings.
Why make the best French Bread?
- Nothing Beats Fresh Bread – Store bought bread doesn’t even compare to the taste of fresh baked bread, straight from the oven.
- Made with Pantry Staples – Homemade French bread is made with ingredients you most likely have on hand, making it more cost-effective than buying a loaf.
- Easy to Make – This recipe gives you 2 beautiful loaves of homemade bread in less than 2 hours, but you’ll only actually be working for about 15 minutes.
When Craig and I lived in Italy, there was a baker who sold bread out of the back of his car every day. It was the best bread, and we’d by a loaf almost every day. Now with this crusty French bread recipe I can make my own loaves of fresh baked bread – that reminds me of our time in Italy.
Just like the fresh bread in Italy, this crusty bread is soft and tender on the inside, with the perfect crunchy crust on the outside.
This recipe makes two nice loves of crusty French bread. Perfect to have one for immediately tearing into to enjoy, and another to serve with dinner.
Ingredients Needed:
This is a quick overview of the ingredients you’ll need for this French Bread Recipe. Specific measurements and full recipe instructions are in the printable recipe card below.
- warm water – your water can be straight from the top, but make sure it is warm, and not to hot to touch. If you want to check, the temperature should be between 105 and 110 F.
- active dry yeast – I always use active dry yeast, which requires proofing first. But instant yeast can also be used.
- granulated sugar – just a little to help activate the yeast
- salt – adds a little flavor to the dough
- olive oil
- all purpose flour – humidity, altitude, and other outside factors can impact how much flour you need in your bread dough. Add flour until you have a soft, supple dough that is no longer sticky.
- egg and water – to make an egg wash
How to make Homemade French Bread
Step 1: Proof the yeast. Add warm water to a large bowl, add in the yeast and the sugar and stir them together. Let them sit for about 5 minutes, or until the yeast has started to foam.
Step 2: Make the dough. Add in the olive oil and salt. Stir in 3 cups of the flour and mix until fully incorporated. Add in the remaining flour 1/2 cup at a time, mixing as you add the flour until the dough pulls away from the bowl, and is no longer sticky. Turn the dough out onto a floured counter top and knead with your hands for about 5 minutes.
Step 3: Let the dough rise. Place the dough into a oiled bowl and cover it loosely with a cloth. Let it sit in a warm place until doubled in size, about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Step 4: Shape the loaves. Punch the dough down and divide it into two halves. One at a time, shape the dough into a large rectangle about 9×13, then roll that up into a tight roll from one long edge to the bottom. Pinch the ends of the dough into the loaf and place on the bottom of the loaf to seal.
Step 5: Let the loaves rise again. Place them onto a lined baking sheet a few inches apart, cover loosely with the towel, and let them rise again until doubled. Whisk together the egg and water and brush the egg wash over the top of each loaf. Then use a sharp knife to make 3 to 4 diagonal slashes across the top of the bread.
Step 6: Bake the loaves. Add the pan to the oven, and add a cake pan full of 2 inches of water to the bottom of the oven, to steam and help it crisp as it bakes. Bake the bread in the hot oven until the crust is golden, and the bread sounds hollow when tapped.
Tips and Tricks:
- For the perfect consistency to your loaf – add your flour a little at a time until the dough becomes soft, and no longer sticky.
- For a softer crust – Brush the loaves with melted butter right when you bring them out of the oven.
- For a crispy crust – Add about 4 ice cubes to the bottom of your oven with the bread to steam the bread, alternatively you could mist the exterior of the bread with water just before baking, or use a steam function on your oven if it has one.
- For a deeper golden crust – increase the oven temperature by 25 F.
Ways to use French Bread:
- Sandwiches – use this bread sliced up in your favorite hoagie sandwiches, meatball subs, grilled cheese, or French dip sandwiches
- French toast – cut thick slices and use in your favorite French toast recipe, or for a French Toast Casserole.
- Garlic Bread – add a thick slathering of garlic butter (I make my own with butter, minced garlic, and garlic salt). I like adding shredded mozzarella on top too, for a cheesy garlic bread
- French Bread Pizza – I love making BBQ Chicken French Bread Pizza, but add your favorite pizza sauce, cheese, on toppings and cook until melted.
- Serve with a bowl of hot soup – perfect with your favorite soup, delicious with a bowl of slow cooker chicken enchilada soup, or autumn soup.
- Serve with a side salad for a quick lunch, or make into some homemade seasoned croutons on top of your salad.
- Serve with butter, honey, or jam.
- Make into crostini – thinly slice the bread and toast it in the oven until crispy. Use with your favorite dips, like cheesy bacon spinach dip, or use it to make bruschetta.
How to store loaves?
Store any leftover French bread loaves in a paper bag on the counter at room temperature for up to 4 days.
Can French bread be frozen?
Yes. You can freeze a loaf of French bread before, or after baking.
If you want to freeze the French bread dough, let the dough rise once, and form it into a loaf. Wrap it first in plastic wrap, then in foil. It can now be stored in the fridge for 2 to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
When you are ready to bake the loaf, remove it from the wrapping and place it on a greased and floured pan. Let it thaw completely, then let it rise for about 30 minutes. Follow the directions for baking as before.
If you want to freeze the baked loaf, let the bread cool completely, then wrap it in plastic wrap and then foil. Store it in the freezer for up to 2 months. Let it thaw at room temperature to enjoy.
This homemade French Bread is a delicious addition to any meal! With just a couple hours, and a handful of ingredients, you’ll be enjoying a nice warm loaf of home baked bread!
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Homemade French Bread
Ingredients
For the French Bread Dough:
- 2 1/4 cups warm water (105 – 110 F)
- 2 TBS granulated sugar
- 1 TBS active dry yeast
- 2 TBS olive oil
- 2 tsp salt
- 5-6 cups all purpose flour
For the Egg Wash:
- 1 large egg
- 1 TBS cold water
Equipment
Instructions
For the French Bread Dough:
- In a large bowl, add the warm water. Sprinkle the sugar and yeast into the water. Stir together. Let them sit for about 5 minutes to let the yeast proof, and start to foam (if it doesn't foam, don't use it). 2 1/4 cups warm water, 2 TBS granulated sugar
- Stir in the olive oil, and salt. 2 TBS olive oil 2 tsp salt
- Stir in 3 cups of the flour and mix until fully incorporated. 5-6 cups all purpose flour
- Add in the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, while the mixer is running on low speed. Until the dough starts to form a ball and pull away from the sides.
- Turn the dough out of the bowl onto a lightly floured flat surface and knead for about 5 minutes – the dough will be smooth and elastic feeling.
- Place the dough into a lightly oil coated bowl and cover loosely with a cloth.
- Let the dough rise in a warm place, until doubled in size about 45 to 60 minutes.
- Turn the dough onto a greased surface, and punch it down with your hands.
- Divide the dough into 2 equal portions.
- Working with one section of dough at a time, roll the dough into about a 9×13 rectangle.
- Roll each rectangle up, starting with the long end, pressing out any air bubbles.
- Pinch the edge of the roll into the bread, and put it at the bottom of the loaf to seal.
- Place each roll on the large lined baking sheet, spread them a few inches apart, so they don't touch as they rise again.
- Cover the loaves with a towel and let them rise for an additional 30 minutes, until nearly doubled in size again.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In the hot oven, place a 2 inch deep pan (cake pan) filled with water on the bottom rack.
For the Egg Wash:
- In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and water. 1 large egg, 1 TBS cold water
- Brush the egg wash over the top of each loaf of bread
- With a very sharp knife make 3 to 4 diagonal slashes across the top of your bread.
- Bake the bread in the hot oven for 20 to 30 minutes, until the crust is golden and bread sounds hollow when tapped.
- Remove from the oven and let the loaves cool on wire rack.
Notes
Nutrition
This French bread was first posted on March 11, 2011. The photos and blog text were updated for clarity on March 29, 2024.
jeannine smith says
Can this be made in a bread machine?
Aimee says
I’m not sure, I’d probably prepare the bread dough that way but still bake as directed in the oven for the best crust.