Description
Learn how to make Soft Fluffy French Bread at home with this easy recipe. This homemade bread is perfect for sandwiches or enjoying on its own with a pat of butter.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough:
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 ½ cups warm water (110°F)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or softened butter
Egg Wash (optional):
- 1 egg white
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: In a large bowl or stand mixer, combine warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let sit for 5–10 minutes until foamy.
- Mix Dough: Add salt, olive oil or butter, and 2 cups of flour. Mix, then gradually add remaining flour until a soft dough forms.
- Knead: Knead the dough for 8–10 minutes by hand or 5–6 minutes with a dough hook until smooth and elastic.
- Rise: Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Shape: Punch down dough, shape into a loaf or smaller loaves, place on a baking sheet, cover, and let rise for 30–40 minutes.
- Bake: Preheat oven to 375°F. Optionally, brush with egg white, slash the dough, then bake for 25–30 minutes until golden and hollow-sounding.
- Cool: Cool before slicing and serving.
Notes
- For extra softness, cover the warm loaf with a clean kitchen towel after baking to trap steam.
- This bread freezes well once cooled.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12 loaf)
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 290mg
- Fat: 3g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 27g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
