Basic French Bread for Beginner Bakers

In a rush? You can skip straight to the Basic French Bread recipe at my Tumblr or jump to my Just the Basics section.

My bread blog is now under way, and my brain is buzzing with all sorts of fun recipes to try. I’ve scoured the internet, bugged friends and family, and watched several baking shows to create a list of breads that are a must-have for every kitchen.

One of the most popular breads, however, was basic French bread. I love the flavor and the texture of French bread, and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a good recipe.

Unfortunately, the one reliable recipe I had was meant for those with a mixer, and I do not have a mixer yet. I made do with what I had and tried to create the bread by hand, and this was the result.

Not bad for a first try, but not great either. My loaf was lumpy and misshapen. The dough was dense and tough to work with. And if you look close in the picture above, you can still see a bit of swirl when I rolled the dough, and it didn’t rest long enough to merge together.

But I think with a bit more practice, I’ll be able to make basic French bread with ease.

Time

Prep time: 5-10 minutes
Rise time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Cook time: 20-30 minutes
Total time: Approximately 2 hours

Ingredients

Basic French bread follows the same standard ingredients for most breads:

• 265 Grams (1 Cup 2 Tablespoons) Warm Water
• 12.5 Grams (1 Tablespoon) White Granulated Sugar
• 9 Grams (1 1/2 Teaspoons) Salt
• 8 Grams (2 1/4 Teaspoons) Dry Active Yeast
• 13 Grams (1 Tablespoon) Canola Oil
• 360 Grams (3 Cups) Flour*

*You’ll also want a little extra flour for your hands, especially if you don’t have a mixer.

Additional Equipment

In addition to the above ingredients, you may want these tools on hand when you make your basic French bread:

• Standing Mixer
• Large Mixing Bowl
• Wooden Mixing Spoon
• Measuring Cups and Spoons
• Rolling Pin
• Kitchen Shears
• Baking Sheet
• Cooling Rack

This recipe originally required a mixer, so if you have one, you’ll have a much easier time making this recipe. However, it is possible to do it by hand if you have some patience.

Instructions

This Basic French Bread recipe can be mixed by hand or in the bowl of a standing mixer. Rise times are minimal, and shaping doesn’t have to be perfect. If you’re just starting your baking adventures, all you have to do is mix your dough, shape your dough, and let it rest. Soon you’ll be ready to bake.

Mix Your Dough

To start, combine water, yeast, and sugar. Allow the yeast to dissolve and soften before you add the oil, salt, and flour. For easier mixing, add half of the flour and mix it thoroughly before adding the other half.

The dough will be dry and lumpy, like the picture below.

Let the dough rest for 10 minutes. If it’s in a mixer, stir it down. If it’s in a bowl, punch it a couple of times. Then allow it to rest for another 10 minutes. Repeat stirring (or punching) and resting 5 times.

Eventually the dough will look a little less lumpy and a little more smooth.

Shape Your Loaf

Turn your dough out onto a floured surface. Knead it two or three times more and allow it to rest again.

Use a rolling pin to roll your dough into a 9 in. x 13 in. rectangle. The more rectangular your flattened dough, the more even your final loaf will be. I wasn’t precise with my dough, and I ended up with a loaf that was too thick in the middle and thin on the edges.

Roll your dough from one long end to the other. Pinch the edges together.

Let Your Dough Rest

Place on a lightly greased baking sheet. Cover and let rest for another 30 minutes.

Cut 3 angled slashes into the top of the dough. I used a dull knife, and I ended up mushing my loaf in an attempt to cut through the dough, so you won’t see my cut dough here.

Bake Your Bread

Bake in a preheated oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit (204 degrees Celsius) for 20 to 30 minutes. Check at 20 minutes to avoid over baking.

Slice and enjoy! I had my first loaf with some pasta at dinner, but it also tasted magical with just a little butter at breakfast the next day.

Secrets to Success

I learned quite a few secrets to bread making while attempting this recipe. First, let your dough rest after handling it, especially before rolling it out. If you work your dough too much, the yeast will seize and stiffen, making the dough difficult to flatten.

Second, use a very sharp utensil for slashing into your bread. A sharp knife works, but scissors are more effective. If you plan to make a lot of bread in the future, you may want to invest in a bread lame or scoring tool.

Third, use a proper bread knife for slicing your bread. The serrated edges will help cut through the tougher outer crust. Don’t push the knife into the loaf, or you will squash your bread. Let the gentle sawing motion of the knife do the work for you.

Just the Basics

Nutritional Information

I sometimes like to read nutrition labels on the foods I eat. It helps me know whether I’m eating something healthy or something naughty. While bread isn’t necessarily healthy, this basic French bread isn’t exactly naughty compared to other recipes I’ve tried.

You should note that the calories and macronutrients will vary depending on how many slices you cut in your loaf as well as the ingredients you use.

Did You Try It?

I’m not an artisan bread maker, so my basic French bread turned out a little less than perfect. But if I can make bread, then so can you. Let me know how your French bread turned out. Do you have any secrets for better flavor? Do you cut your loaf differently? Let me know in the comments below!