Basic French Bread
This super simple recipe for beginners help you learn to make French bread.
Ingredients
- 265 Grams Water Water (1 Cup 2 Tablespoons)
- 12.5 Grams White Granulated Sugar (1 Tablespoon)
- 9 Grams Table Salt (1 1/2 Teaspoons)
- 8 Grams Dry Active Yeast (2 1/4 Teaspoons)
- 13 Grams Canola or Vegetable Oil (1 Tablespoon)
- 360 Grams All-Purpose Flour (3 Cups)
Instructions
- Combine water, yeast, and sugar in a stand mixer. 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Roll your dough from one long end to the other. Pinch the edges together.
- 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.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 400° Fahrenheit (204° Celsius) for 20 to 30 minutes. Check at 20 minutes to avoid over baking.
Notes
If you work your dough too much, the yeast will seize and stiffen, making the dough difficult to flatten. Be sure to let your dough rest after you work with it.