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 ½ 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.
Homemade Bakery French Bread
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons Yeast
- ½ cup Warm Water
- 2 cups Hot Water
- 3 Tablespoons Sugar
- 2 ½ teaspoons Salt
- ⅓ cup Oil
- 6 ½ 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 ½ 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 ¼ 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
Happy Baking, my friends! I can't wait to hear what you think about this quick and easy homemade french bread.
Kalina
What type of oil do we need to use?
Barb
How many packets of yeast would this be? Thank you!
PATTAMA
Thank you for sharing your wonderful french bread recipe. I baked it perfectly just the only first time. So excited. Love it.????❤
Sheilla
This is the easiest bread that I have ever make it is delicious. Thank you! I do have one question: how to store any leftover and how long it would last.
Michelle
Make this recipe weekly. Usually for garlic bread but I divide into 4 loaves and usually one gets eaten as we admire the other three. This is delicious bread. I usually put a pan of hot water in the stove with the loaves for a crust and rotate the bread half way through to get even browning. I also sprinkle some kosher salt after the egg wash.
Modern Honey
Thank you so much for sharing! I love the idea of adding a pan of hot water to get it a little crispy exterior. Great tips!
Michelle
We are still making these at least once a week. I made the mistake of giving some to my mom and now she wants one each week too! Thank goodness these make so many loaves. One of my favorite bread recipes. Thank you!
Joanie
Do you use all purpose or bread flour? Thanks.
C
Wonderful French bread, especially on a rainy Monday.
Geraldine
How much active yeast is needed? I am using the packets.
Gabi
Is this good with spaghetti?
Judy Yamaguchi
This Bread Recipe is Perfect! I think it’s very forgiving also. I only had some bread flour but had some self-rising flour so I used that. Made Rolls and that’s my story.
Gil Sawyer
Fabulous and easy. Made with white flour the first time. Second time around combined white and brown. Gorgeous ????
Brandi
Is it bread flour or all- purpose flour?
katie
Are you not supposed to knead the dough before shaping the loaves?
tina
I wasn't sure either. I used the bread hook on my kitchenaid and let it mix for a few minutes. It came out perfect!
Andrea
I am going to be trying this bread with Sunday dinner, how would I make it into garlic bread, I don't want the slices to be to hard once the bread is done baking.
Thank you
Brooster
Two ways- the simplest is to bake the bread, let it cool, then slice diagonally, which results in larger pieces. Spread butter on each slice, sprinkle with garlic salt then broil on cookie sheet until golden brown. It's good stuff!
The other way is to finely mince a few garlic cloves & sprinkle on top of the loaf before baking. I do this with my Focaccia bread& comes out great. Good luck!
Becky Bly
This bread is super easy and delicious! I’m going to try it today with jalapeños and cheese!:)
lisa
I can't seem to get a hard crust on the outside.....I have put a bowl of water in the oven to try to get the crust like other bakers state but this recipe is very soft. Any suggestions?
Joy Menter
I have made this recipe several times and it is always beautiful and delicious! In less than two hours I have airy and light bread!
Rett
Delicious! Used only 4 cups of bread flour. Soft and very flavorful
Cyrus2582
Great recipe! Made one traditional loaf and 4 mini loafs with pepperoni and shredded Mozzarella added during the "jelly roll" process. Came out fantastic! Thanks for the recipe. Will make it again.
Sandy
This recipe is amazing! Comes out perfect every time. The only things I did differently was to brush melted butter on loaves before putting in the oven, and right as they come out of the oven Didn't like the egg on them. And I made 2 loaves instead of 3. Easy recipe and comes together in such a short time. We have this often and there is nothing like fresh homemade bread!