French Bread
French bread is a delightful staple that fills your kitchen with the irresistible aroma of baking. With its golden crust and soft, chewy interior, this homemade bread is perfect for sandwiches, dipping in soups, or simply enjoying with a pat of butter. Whether you’re new to baking or an experienced chef, this straightforward recipe will have you impressing family and friends in no time.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 12 servings 1x
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups warm water (110°F/43°C)
- 2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp sugar
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Prepare the yeast: In a bowl, combine warm water and sugar. Sprinkle yeast on top and let sit for 5-10 minutes until frothy.
- Mix ingredients: In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Add yeast mixture and olive oil; stir until combined.
- Knead the dough: Transfer to a floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes until smooth.
- Let it rise: Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm area for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Shape the loaf: Punch down the dough gently, shape into a loaf, and place seam-side down in a greased loaf pan.
- Second rise & bake: Cover again and let rise for another 30 minutes while preheating oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown and hollow-sounding when tapped.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (56g)
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 3g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 0mg