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Easy Homemade French Bread Recipe for Soft and Crusty Loaves

A freshly baked loaf of soft crusty french bread, partially sliced, resting on a white plate.
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You will find this soft fluffy French bread recipe is exactly what you need for dinner tonight. Forget store-bought loaves when you can make amazing, truly soft fluffy French bread yourself with simple ingredients you already have. This recipe is easy for beginners and yields a bakery-style loaf.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 packet (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast
  • 1 1/4 cups warm water (about 105-115°F)
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 egg white, lightly beaten (for brushing)
  • Water for steaming

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, mix the warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let this stand for 5 to 10 minutes until it becomes foamy. This shows your yeast is active.
  2. Add the flour and salt to the yeast mixture. Mix with a wooden spoon until a shaggy dough forms.
  3. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead for about 5 to 7 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic. Elias says this kneading builds the structure for that perfect soft crumb.
  4. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, turning it once to coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel. Let the dough rise in a warm place for 60 to 90 minutes, or until it has doubled in size.
  5. Gently punch down the risen dough. Divide it in half. Shape each half into a long, even loaf shape, similar to a baguette or a standard French loaf.
  6. Place the shaped loaves on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, or on a pizza stone. Cover loosely and let them rest for a second rise for 30 minutes.
  7. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Place a shallow pan on the bottom rack while the oven heats; you will use this for steam.
  8. Just before baking, brush the tops of the loaves lightly with the beaten egg white. Use a sharp knife to make three diagonal slashes across the top of each loaf.
  9. Carefully pour about 1/2 cup of hot water into the preheated shallow pan on the bottom rack to create steam. Immediately place the loaves in the oven.
  10. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the bread sounds hollow when tapped.
  11. Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack before slicing. Enjoy this homemade French bread warm with butter.

Notes

  • For an extra crusty exterior, you can lightly spritz the inside of the oven walls with water a couple of times during the first 10 minutes of baking.
  • If you want a softer crust, skip the egg white wash and simply brush the tops with melted butter immediately after they come out of the oven.
  • This recipe is perfect for making bread for sandwiches or as a dinner side bread.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://flavorvista.com/easy-homemade-french-bread-recipe/