Easy Homemade French Bread
Homemade French bread has never been easier! This simple recipe produces a light and fluffy loaf of French bread that will rival any bakery!
It’s no secret that I love bread.
My love for really good bread rivals my commitment to dark chocolate. And this easy homemade French bread is right up there with some of my favorite bread in the history of ever. It is SO simple. So, so simple and perfect for a beginning bread maker.
But it is also jaw droppingly delicious enough for you expert bread makers, too.
This French bread has easily fit into my Best Of bread category for years (many of you have made it and loved it, too!). And it’s high time it got a makeover and updated recipe post, if you ask me. Plus, I have some fun, new details to share about it!
Because I make this bread at least monthly (probably more than that, actually) and have done so for the last 9+ years, I’ve learned a couple things I’d like to share.
What is a Baker’s Lame
Investing (ha!) in a $15 or less baker’s lame (fancy name for bread slashing tool) has upped my bread making game. Especially with this homemade French bread. Before, I would choose the sharpest knife in my drawer (admittedly my knives aren’t always as sharp as they should be – oopsie).
And then I would hack at the bread to get artisan-looking slashes, instead deflating the whole life and ending up with flatbread. Sob.
About five years ago, I found a baker’s lame at a local kitchen store and eyed it warily, wondering if this unassuming, lightweight tool could help me. And it has, oh it has.
It’s basically a razor blade on a stick shaped in a slight curve to get those gashes and slashes just perfect. Bonus: I have this one from Amazon {aff. link} now and it’s less than 15 buckaroos.
I use it for my homemade bread bowls, soft pretzel rolls, rustic crusty bread, sweet molasses bread…and any other bread that needs a swift, but loving, gash.
If you have a super sharp razor blade or knife (needs to be extremely thin and sharp so it doesn’t deflate the bread), that should do the trick as well.
How to easily get crusty golden French bread
The other little variation I’ve added for this homemade French bread is a nifty bread baking hack that I’m pretty sure one of YOU suggested to me years ago in the comments. And it’s stuck with me – I do it all the time for almost any freeform bread I make now.
Right as you place the bread in the piping hot oven, toss 3-4 ice cubes onto the bottom of the oven and close that door as quickly as you can (but gently! don’t slam it and make the bread fall, for Pete’s sake). The instant steam as the ice cubes hit the fiery bottom of the oven will lightly crisp up the outer crust as the bread bakes.
Quick note: consult your oven’s manual for details or caution on putting ice/water on the bottom of the oven floor – I’ve never had a problem, but everyone should do their own research and use their own best judgment (also take care not to toss the ice cubes on the glass oven door as it could crack).
And don’t blame me if you shriek in absolute delight and scare the children when your bread comes out of that oven looking (and tasting!) like a legit loaf of bakery French bread.
Truly, this homemade French bread is the stuff dreams are made of.
I make it often to deliver to people that need a pick-me-up or just because I like them or if I’m also taking dinner to someone.
It makes an appearance when we have family fondue night or opt for French bread pizza. And it is the bread recipe I turn to the most (along with these divine breadsticks) when I need (ok, let’s be serious, when I want) a no-fuss, easy bread to serve with dinner or just use for mood therapy.
Bread can do that you know. And it makes the best French toast. Just sayin’.
P.S. if you’ve struggled with your bread flattening out while baking instead of holding the perfect shape, you might try these French bread pans {aff. link}. I have them and LOVE them. I don’t use them every time I make this bread, but I do pull them out quite often (I also use them for this rosemary bread).
Using Whole Wheat Flour
I’ve noted this in the recipe below, but this homemade French bread is also a friend to whole wheat flour. I make this quite often with at least half whole wheat flour. And sometimes, I live on the edge and kick the white flour out completely, making it 100% whole wheat.
I’ve found that adding a couple tablespoons of vital wheat gluten, when going the 100% whole wheat route, helps fluff the bread up a bit and avoid the heavy denseness that can come from using whole wheat flour.
FYI: I always use white whole wheat (info on the different varieties of wheat can be found here).
Enough talking! If you haven’t made this homemade French bread, I hope you try it soon! Your life may or may not be changed for the better.
FAQs for Homemade French Bread
I would suggest halving all the ingredients –just keep an eye on the flour amount and judge the exact amount based on the texture of the dough.
Yes, it freezes great (after baking and cooling).
Sometimes moving an oven rack up or down in the oven is the trick to good browning. In my oven, it tends to be in the upper half of the oven that my bread browns the best.
You can mix the ingredients in a bowl with a spatula or spoon and knead by hand.
I always use the same amount interchangeably, however some people use 1/4 less if using instant yeast vs active dry yeast.
Yes, just adjust the baking time.
One Year Ago: Harvest Pasta Sauce {Trader Joe’s Copycat}
Two Years Ago: Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake with Chocolate Cookie Crust
Three Years Ago: Easy Homemade Egg Noodles {Step-by-Step Pictures Include Food Processor Method or By Hand}
Four Years Ago: Black Bean and Butternut Enchilada Skillet
Five Years Ago: Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter and Oatmeal Cookies
Easy Homemade French Bread
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ cups warm water
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon instant or active dry yeast
- ¾ tablespoon salt (see note)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, canola oil, vegetable oil or avocado oil
- 5 ½ – 6 cups (781 – 852 g) all-purpose flour or bread flour (see note)
Instructions
- In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, combine the water sugar and yeast. If using active dry yeast, let the mixture bubble and foam before proceeding (this can take 3-5 minutes). If using instant yeast, proceed with the recipe (no need to let the yeast activate).
- Add the salt, oil and 3 cups of flour and mix. Add in 2 1/2 to 3 more cups of flour gradually. The dough should clear the sides of the bowl and form a soft ball that doesn’t leave a lot of dough residue on your fingers. Knead for 2-3 minutes until the dough is smooth. If the dough starts to cling to the sides of the bowl (or the center column if using a Bosch or other mixer with a center), add 1/4 cup of flour at a time until a sturdy but soft ball of dough forms.
- Rising Method 1: Leave the dough in the mixer, cover with a lid or towel, and let the dough rest for 10 minutes. Stir it down by turning on the mixer for 10 seconds or so. Repeat the "rest and stir down" cycle five more times.
- Rising Method 2: Instead of letting the dough rest for 10 minute spurts and then stirring it down, transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl and cover with a towel or greased plastic wrap. Let the dough rise until doubled, about an hour or so, depending on the warmth of your kitchen.
- Turn the dough onto a lightly greased surface and divide in half. Pat each section into a thick rectangle, 9X13-inches or thereabouts (doesn’t have to be exact). Roll the dough up starting from the long edge, pressing out any air bubbles or seams with the heel of your hand, and pinch the edge to seal. Arrange seam side down on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper (I use separate baking sheets for each loaf). You can slash several gashes in the top of the bread now or wait until after it has risen (to avoid the risk of the bread deflating, especially if you don’t have a very sharp razor or knife, slash now – see pictures above in the post for a visual).
- Cover with greased plastic wrap or a kitchen towel, and let the loaves rise until noticeably puffy and nearly doubled in size, about an hour.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and make sure an oven rack is in the center position. If you haven’t already, with a very sharp knife or baker’s lame cut several gashes at an angle on the top of each loaf (see pictures above in the post for a visual).
- Optional: Place the baking sheet in the hot oven and immediately toss 3-4 ice cubes on the bottom of the oven (this gives a delicious, classic, French bread crispness to the crust). Close the oven door quickly.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden and baked through. Remove from the oven and slather with melted butter (optional, but delicious). Repeat with the 2nd loaf (or if you have convection setting, the loaves can bake at the same time, just rotate the baking sheets halfway through baking).
Notes
Recommended Products
Recipe Source: from The Sister’s Cafe
1,236 Comments on “Easy Homemade French Bread”
By far the best bread recipe I have found. My fist batch got deflated but my 8 year old said I should open a bakery. It tastes great even when you mess it up. ❤️❤️❤️
Nah, never use this again.
The bread came out so well I’m incredibly impressed! The dough fluffed up perfectly and the loaf tasted heavenly. This was my very first attempt at baking bread and I was not disappointed. I ended up halving the measurements to make only one loaf, but ended up with enough to make 2 slightly smaller loaves. Definitely worth giving this recipe a try, even for a beginner like me!
The recipe was easy to follow and the French Bread was amazing!
I made this recipe but ended up with 2 loaves that were completely as long if not slight longer than the bread mold suggestion in the post. I live in the Southwest USA at 5000 ft. elevation. Any suggestions of why the loaves were so huge? By the way the flavor of the bread was to die for.
You can split the dough into four loaves if you’d like. It could be that I roll them a bit thicker and not quite as long.
Love this recipe! Followed to the letter and came out beautifully! My family asked immediately when they could have a slice!
It passed the Hilary test (our daughter is very picky!). Thank you, Mel! I appreciate all your baking and look to you first for a very good recipe to use for my family and friends.
Amazing recipe! We liked ours on the lighter side.
Great!! I use half buttermilk half water to give it that twang French bread has. Can do tsp lemon juice or vinegar as well! I only use instant yeast so I cut both rise times in half. Also a good old fashioned straight razor is what I use can be found at any beauty supply “sallys” for under $3 pack of 10 will last forever if just using for bread!
Also you can brush with beaten egg b4 you bake if you want a darker crust
I’ve made this bread several times in the past few months and I get perfect bread every time. This time, however, I switched things up. I added more salt as the recipe is a little bland, and this time I seasoned with garlic powder, onion powder, sage and Italian seasoning after I rolled the dough out, just before rolling it up to form the loaf. And just before popping it in the oven I added the same spices to the top. Never in a million years did I think it would be possible for me to bake bread this well!
Used it several times. Now it is my forever french bread recipe
i really love this recipe! can i double the batch?
Yes, it doubles great!
What weird animals do you have at your farm?
Hey Eliza, we have miniature donkeys, kunekune pigs and a wide range of specialty chickens (not necessarily weird, I guess, just kind of fun and unusual)
Delicious and so easy, very good directions !
which do you prefere ap or bread flour
I almost always make this with unbleached all-purpose flour.
Made this today, turns out perfect just as u mentioned. Love this French loaf so much. TQVM
French bread does not contain sugar or oil.
I followed the instructions, just used a sharp knife to slit the top. Came out GREAT!
I have made this multiple times and it’s always a hit. Taste great the next few days too and makes good toast.
Thank you 🙂
Excellent but it needed more salt 🙂
This is the best French bread recipe! I have made it multiple times and always cut dough into 3 pieces so I have three lovely loaves. I make them a bit longer and cut the slashes in right then, never after they rise. They freeze beautifully (so make a full recipe) as long as you let the loaves fully cool. I double bag them for freezer.
Is 1 tablespoon of yeast the same as 1 packet of yeast?
I think I it’s 2&1/4 teaspoon so almost a tablespoon
Hi Barb, a packet of yeast is 2 1/4 teaspoons and one tablespoon is three teaspoons.
I was so excited for this bread. My bread never freaking rises but this one did. Then I made the slashes and it deflated 🙁 I should have read the instructions better. Since I don’t have a bread slashing tool and my knives aren’t the sharpest I should have done it before the second rise. This is like my 4th batch of bread and I swear the 5th batch will finally be perfect. Lol
No I haven’t where is the recipe looked all over
Made 1 loaf last night, Used a Kitchenaid for the mixing. Sprinkled 5-6 chopped cloves of garlic before rolling up and then served with lasagna. Excellent. Thanks.
Yes I halved the recipe it was fair . Definitely did not look like your loaves.
Made this today, easy recipe to follow and the bread is delicious!
Made this bread last night and it came out perfect. Was so easy. Cut in half to make just 1 loaf.
hi do you ever use the “proof” setting on your oven for this?
Just made this tonight and it was perfection!
This recipe turned out amazing! The only thing I did differently was I w used a European-style Artesian flour and in place of the water, I used whey I had from making mozzarella cheese. The crust is very and the inside is soft. It has alot of flavor. Thanks Mel for a great recipe!
Have you ever added cinnamon and sugar after the first prove before rolling it up to make a cinnamon bread? Do you think that would work? Thanks so much for the recipe! My family LOVES it, and we were thinking of switching it up and making one sweet loaf this time. Any suggestions appreciated!
I haven’t, but I definitely think it is worth a try!
I have totally done this multiple times and the kids love it! You can also add butter and garlic and spice it up. It’s all delicious! The recipe is amazing!
I’m at sea level and I don’t know if that was the problem or my oven, but the crust did not crisp up – even with the ice cube trick. It wasn’t the flavor I was looking for either.
You can brush with beaten egg for a darker crust. I use half butter milk half water to give it that twang French bread has otherwise this is just white bread. You can add a tsp of vinegar or lemon juice too! You may like it more if you try those tricks I do!
I just made this and its doing the second rise. I got confused when rolling it up. What is starting at the long side?
Hi Charlie, sorry for the confusion. In step #5 when the dough is patted into a thick rectangle, start rolling it up from one of the longest sides of the rectangle (vs a short side). Does that help?
I made the bread according to the recipe, using bread flour and instant yeast. I placed ice cubes in a tray underneath the bread. I baked both loaves at the same time, side by side. They came out beautifully! Thank you!
I made this recipe for my family and THEY COULD NOT GET ENOUGH!
They thought I had bought it from a bakery!
It turned out, light and fluffy inside with that crispy outside. Absolute perfection!
I used a loaf to make garlic bread and that was an enormous hit as well!
Hi I just finished making this last night, I want to use it Saturday for French toast, how do you recommend storing it?
I usually store sealed in a bag (once it has cooled completely).
Your bread looks delicious and I would like to try it. Just a little note, technically French bread does not have any kind of fat added, but Italian loafs do.
Hi! My bread came out very light in color. For some reason I’m not able to get that beautiful golden color. Do you know what the reason might be?
Hi Sabina, you can try increasing your oven temperature by 25 degrees and/or moving the oven rack to middle or upper middle position (I’ve found this helps my rolls or free-formed bread brown better).
Is the rise method an either or? Or do you do both rises?
The dough needs to rise but you can use either method #1 (rise in one big mass in a bowl) OR method #2 (rise in 10 minute increments).
This was so easy and turned out so yummy!
I’ve made this bread twice in 2 nights. We love this recipe. The bread tastes amazing, the texture is perfect and the crust is exactly how I like it. My boyfriend waited and waited to cut it but then photographed it first. Haha That was flattering. I used bread flour the first time and all purpose flour the second time. I think, I like the Ap best, but both were delicious! Thank you for a great recipe! I can’t wait to use this recipe on holidays.
Can’t wait to make this! If I plan on refrigerating the dough overnight, should I shape it into loaves first? (I am a novice baker). Also, how long would I wait to bake it after removing it from the fridge?
I would shape into loaves and then refrigerate. After you take it out of the fridge, I’d let the dough come to room temperature and continue rising until puffy.
I haven’t made bread in years and finally decided to give it a go. I used bread flour and followed the recipe perfectly and the bread came out absolutely delicious. Thank you for sharing!!
Easy and yummy!
Made this bread. Two large loafs! It was oh so good! Thank you for sharing this recipe.
bread tasted great but my loaves were flattened. they rose great both times and when i put them in the oven it flattened. any tips?
Try adding a bit more flour, if they flatten while they rise or bake it usually means the dough needs more flour for structure and/or they should rise for a little less time.
I made this bread today and almost half a loaf is gone. It is a very, very easy recipe to follow and the results had my hubby drooling.
Thank you for giving me confidence to bake bread, something I was always reluctant to do before, but it is easier than baking cookies or cakes! So little work for great results.
So good! Thanks for the recipe.
I’m not picky about fresh-baked bread (it’s all good!) but this was indeed tasty AND easy. I kneaded by hand and let it rise en masse. Thanks for the recipe!
I’m curious why your loaves have smooth, round ends, rather than looking rolled up like a cinnamon roll log?
Also, how do you keep your dough from spreading across the pan during the second rise?
This bread was pretty good the first day (a little dense but not chewy), but it was a bit chewy and not as good the next day.
This bread is definitely best fresh/same day. I tuck the ends of the loaves under so they are smooth and round. If the dough is spreading during rising, you probably need to add a bit more flour to the dough or roll/form into tighter loaves.
This recipe is excellent. Very easy to make and the results were outstanding. I did not use my Kitchen Aid mixer, I did it by hand and it came out perfect. I baked them on my pizza stone with parchment . Thank you for sharing such a great recipe
Best bread recipe I’ve ever used.
Family adore it.
Thank you so much for this wonderful recipe.
It turned out delicious! I used bread flour and good olive oil and yes I added the salt. My husband loved it!
This is my go to recipe for bread. I use it for rolls, burger buns, brat buns, and French bread loaves. My favorite
Do you just shape into the type of rolls you want after first rise?
What if you use butter instead of oil to give the bread a buttery taste? Will it work?
You can definitely try – should work fine.
So excited to try this! Would you recommend the same kneading time (3-5min) if you are doing it by hand rather than in the mixer?
If making by hand, I’d suggest kneading for double the time.
WOW!! Without a doubt this is one of the very best bread recipes I’ve tried in many years!! The texture is exceptional and the taste is perfection!! I know I will be making this frequently for quite some time! Simply scrumptious!! Thank you!!
Can the dough be kept in the fridge before the final rise and baking? Some of my recipes encourage 2-3 days in the fridge.
Yes, the dough should do fine in the refrigerator.
It did end up working out very well – it works great to bake some right away and the rest a few days later. There’s just two of us now, so we get the freshest outcome that way. 😉
Easy recipe and amazing taste. First made on New Year and now making twice every week. Stopped buying bread from store. Thanks so much for sharing this wonderful recipe!
THANK YOU! I tried this recipe and it turned out great!
Hi! I made this yesterday and halved the recipe. It turned out so well, I made another one. It is so freakin’ easy! Question, though. After spreading out the dough, prior to rolling up, would it hurt anything to sprinkle cinnamon/sugar and then roll? It seems such a mild and soft dough you could flavor it. TIA!
I haven’t tried that but it’s certainly worth a try!
I don’t know how to rate this recipe but it is 6 Stars for me! I made this with whole red wheat and added the gluten like you suggested. Topped it with some honey out of oven and let the honey soak in for a day. It is soooo light! Never made a wheat bread that wasn’t heavy. I’ll let you know how the cinnamon turns out. Thank you!
Can you make the dough, let it rise first time and put it in the fridge and bake the next day?
Thanks
I haven’t tried that but usually yeast bread dough does fine refrigerated overnight.
Oh my goodness, I just made this and sprinkled everything bagel seasoning on it right before I put it in the oven and it is so very very very good. I will be using this recipe often can’t wait to take it tomorrow my family for lunch after church. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe.
Absolutely delicious and easy to make! I have made this a few times and the bread has come out great each time. It’s very hard to not devour the entire loaf with butter when it come out of the oven!
Do you think that bread flour would be good for this recipe?
Yep! Works great.
I’ve made this recipe twice, first time flat, second flawless in looks but it tasted like sourdough. And it wasn’t as airy as I wanted it to be. What did I do wrong? My family loved it but I wasn’t a fan. How long should it rest after baking? I’ve got plenty of supplies for trial and error
If the bread was flat, it sounds like it needs a bit more flour to hold the structure of the bread as it rises. This bread isn’t airy and filled with holes like an artisan bread (that starts with a very wet dough). The crumb is tighter than that type of bread.
Made this and LOVE it. Very easy recipe to follow and results were perfect.
Could you let this rise in a banneton basket for shape, or does it have to be rolled?
Yes, you definitely can…I did that today with a double batch I made of this bread.
What a great way you phrase the ways to mix-after reading & successfully getting two loaves-I wish I had read it through twice&cooked them one at a time-must find how you get credit for the Amazon kit – lame& soon the weird pans you showed-
This was fantastic!!! Great recipe for beginners. I chose rise option 2 and threw 4 ice cubes in a separate cookie sheet under the bread in the oven. Wonderful rise, texture, and flavor. Will definitely use this one again and again!
I have made this recipe dozens of times and it always comes out perfect. I was wondering if you think I could turn it into rolls. I need some good crusty roll for french dips…any suggestions? Thanks!
The dough should work great as rolls! I’d roll them into balls (about 2.5-3 ounces each), let them rise and bake them for 15-17 minutes.
Made it a couple days ago and am already making it again. I halved the recipe and it came out perfectly (all purpose flour, active dry yeast since it’s what I had on-hand, the rest & stir down method, and used a lame to slash the loaf before rising). The loaf was huge! I am making the recipe again right now, this time doing the full recipe, and I plan to divide into 4 loaves, 3 of which I’ll freeze after baking. There are only 2 of us, and so I ended up eating 3/4 of the giant loaf in 2 days, whoops! Hopefully this spreads the wealth a bit. Am looking forward to making this for friends & neighbors in the future.
I used the french bread pans advertised above. They rose over the sides. Any suggestions?
You could try forming longer skinnier loaves or make three loaves out of the batch (also take care not to let the bread rise too long).
Great recipe! My only issue was my crust wasn’t as golden and crispy as it appears in your picture. Tasted great though and super easy to follow for a bread making rookie.
I’ve never made bread of any kind. This being my first attempt I had so many questions of the process and the end result after hearing how tricky it can be – well, it wasn’t at all. I followed to recipe to a “T” (1/2 batch) and it worked perfectly. Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, not a ton of flavor but wasn’t expecting too much. Made great French toast!
This is a perfect intro to bread making. Thanks for sharing!
2020 has been the year where I learned to make bread. I made all kinds of bread. And this, which I made on the last day of 2020, is the best! My kids and husband and I filled out bellies!
Have you ever used high gluten flour before? I have been trying to use it up. In the beginning of April after everything went nutty in the world, it was all I could find and I do not want to waste it. So even though I really don’t care for it too much, I try to use it. Works fine for cookies. Well I have been waiting for it to rise for a good hour and its not rising. So any suggestions on what to do now would be greatly appreciated. I suppose I may need to just toss it if not….
Hi Connie, is it bread flour?
I did make this bread several times before. It’s a fantastic recipe! It’s not a traditional French bread recipe but it does make a fabulous tasty and beautiful bread. Wish I could post pictures with this comment because my bread came out stunning.
My bread was done but didn’t really come out as brown and crispy looking. Any tips for what might have gone wrong?
You can try increasing the oven temp by 25 degrees and also baking the bread on a higher oven rack (I find the best browning happens above the halfway mark).
This is a good loaf of bread. That being said I think it lacks the typical French bread flavor. Possibly fermentation would make it taste more like French bread. Regardless it’s good bread and I’ll make it again.
Nothing better than the perfect French baguette! Thanks so much for sharing this recipe!
I’d like to make this for Christmas so is there a way that I can pre-make the dough and either freeze it or partially cook the bread so it comes out of the oven crispy and fresh on Christmas day?
I am not the author, but this is a pretty standard recipe and nearly the same as mine. You can freeze the dough at any point after the first rise. Let it come to room temperature, work it into a loaf and allow it to rise a final time and it’s good to go!
I would like to make this in one loaf, preferably in a bakers pan. What temperature and length of time would I use? I have clay pans (Emile Henry).
I love your recipe.
I’m making bread pudding and have always used French Bread.
Thank you!
I don’t have or use clay pans so I’m not sure how they bake, but you could try 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes and see how that goes. Good luck!
I would like to make this in one loaf, preferably in a bakers pan. What temperature and length of time would I use? I have clay pans (Emile Henry).
I love your recipe.
I’m making bread pudding and have always used French Bread.
Thank you!
What would be some suggestions if I wanted to cook both loaves at the same time? Use a bigger baking sheet and rotate during cooking? Does it matter if loaves are horizontal or vertical when cooking two? Also does this freeze well after baking & what’s the best way to reheat ? Thank you so much!
It doesn’t or shouldn’t matter how the loaves are shaped. You can experiment cooking both loaves at once by rotating the pans. Yes, it freezes well after baking.
How do I half this recipe. I only want one loaf. It looks really good but I know you’re not supposed to just half everything. So how should I half this properly.
I would suggest halving all the ingredients – should work just fine (just keep an eye on the flour amount and judge the exact amount based on the texture of the dough).
I just made it and it’s so good! It was so easy and I can’t wait to make it again!
The ice cubes tip was great. Recipe turned out a perfect french bread. Made a garlic bread on 1 out of the 2.
I’ve made this recipe a couple of times now and while it is easy… this bread has NO flavor. It’s incredibly bland… maybe I’m doing something wrong but I did follow directions and added ice cubes to oven.Next time I might try to experiment with adding more salt or sugar?? Or I’ll probably just look for a different recipe.
I have seen some other recipes call for baking at 400 or 450. What is the reason for 375? Genuinely curious as to what the higher temp does for it? Would it rise more or have a thicker crust?
Every recipe has differences – I like the 375 degree temp for a slightly lighter, less dense crust.
I wanted some French bread to go with a pot of chicken soup and didn’t want to venture into a store just for a baguette. This fit the bill perfectly! I think I could have used a little more flour – at the end of the 1st rise, it was just a bit stickier than I thought it was at the beginning. They still turned out great! Most of my bread making has been rye breads in pans. I tried to minimize loaf spread by placing wine bottles under the parchment on each side of each loaf during the 2nd rise. No idea if this was actually beneficial or not but they came out looking like loaves of French bread! I’m looking forward to making future batches. Thanks!
Kevin! Hopefully you solved my issues of the bread spreading out! Using wine bottles!! Brilliant. My bread is always 4 feet wide and 1 inch high!! Hope this does the trick! Thanks!
This was my second time making bread and I loved this recipe!!! It was so easy and it turned out amazing! Very nice crunch on the outside and very fluffy on the inside!
Has anyone tossed the ice cubes in a sheet pan underneath the baking bread? I don’t want to break the oven. It’s not mine.
I did this today and it worked out! I live in an apartment and wasn’t willing to risk ruining my landlords oven
I am not a baker! This recipe caught my eye and so I said why not! OMG! I even surprised myself with how good it turned out. The whole family loved it! One of my son’s said “ wow, it looks like the one from the store”.
I have bookmarked this recipe for future needs. I will for sure bake this again!
Great recipe Mel! I usually do my french stick with sourdough but I was in a hurry and this turned out really well. I especially liked the ice cube trick! I sometimes put a dish of water in but last week I broke a dish in the oven and this trick is much easier!
Im not sure why others fail at this recipe, I make it on average twice a week. I do sometimes add a quarter cup of sourdough starter (because I have the starter but not the patience to make that bread) in place of the last quarter cup of water. This does give the bread a bit of additional flavor for those who feel it is lacking.
Excellent recipe, first time success, just need confirmation of “cup” amount in grams for U.K. going to try more of your recipes. Thanks for helping me take a step forward.
I halved this recipe and boy does my family wish I hadn’t. I went with the original amount of salt and can see why the poster cut it down a bit. It wasn’t too overwhelming, but it was a lot of salt flavor. All in all it tasted great and the texture was perfect, I’ll definitely be using this recipe again.
Has anyone ever used a pizza stone to bake these on? I was thinking it might do a great job crisping them (of course they would be on parchment paper that would first go on the pizza stone until they are crisp enough on the bottom to remove the paper).
Hello,
First let me start by saying that this was my very first time making bread from scratch. I feel like I followed the recipe but my bread came out flat and pale. Did I under or over proof it? Also, how do you get a nice golden color on the bread?
It does taste good, so I’m definitely going to eat but I want to be able to improve it.
Hey Katie, just scrollin’ the comments and noticed yours, without any reply. 🙁
Flat is a very big problem, and could be related to the following? In order of importance?
Yeast. Internet “proofing yeast”, which will give you tons of info related to your specific yeast and techniques. Get this right e.g. make sure your yeast is proofing or bread-making will just go sideways. Thermometer for your proper proofing water temp is the only tool I might suggest.
Kneading. Might as well internet that as well. After making sure yeast is truly active, an appropriate amount of kneading for your recipe is pretty important. Sometimes less is better…for a beginner I would pick a less is better recipe. Try inter-netting “no-knead bread”, and I bet you’ll get very rewarding recipe ideas.
Proofing. All about the yeast first, and then kneading. if it ain’t rising, those steps failed.
if this advice fails…I’m sorry. Maybe replace your yeast (it can go bad quick), and start again! Bread can be very easy, but has some tricky beginnings before you can bake multiple loaves a day!
I am vegan and love this recipe made it so many times. I was wondering if I can make them into like small bread loaves instead of two big ones. If so would the temperature or time change?
Yes, absolutely! The baking temperature stays the same but you might want to check them about 5-7 minutes early (depending on the size of the loaves).
My second time making this & it has been great both times. I used Option #1 for rising.
Very easy to make in the stand mixer, almost zero cleanup!
My go to recipe for French bread, we use this for pizzas, meatball subs or just as a side with dinner. I’ve made it probably 10 times and always perfect
Horrible. Dry and crumbly. Worst recipe ever
Perhaps you didn’t follow the recipe? I just made it and they came out perfect.
This a great recipe! Delicious bread! Great texture. I added “Everything bagel” seasoning after the egg wash to one of those loaves, and it was delicious.
This recipe is delicious. I’ve never made French bread before and it turned out great. !, thanks for the recipe. I will be making this bread again. I wanted French bread for beef dips but didn’t want to go out… yumm
Why is there no egg?
Hard as a rock
Full offence, you did something wrong here. I’ve made this like 3 times already and its always turned out very soft and fluffy, not “hard as a rock”
Maybe you used dead yeast and burnt it?
Also tons of breads don’t use eggs. Dairy is not a requirement for delicious.
I have seen other French bread recipes suggest leaving a cast iron skillet in the lowest rack and using that as the place to put your ice cubes or just a cup of boiling water, to create the steam. No need to worry over whether the oven can handle the ice cubes.
My wife stores our cast iron skillet in the oven when the oven is not in use., so I would use the skillet for the above technique.
Very easy and very good! I have also mixed it up with wheat flour, turns out wonderful every time ! I divide into four loaves, bake and then freeze a couple loaves! Nothing like homemade bread! I’m not sure why a few people have given negative comments because this recipe is as I said very easy and delicious! Thank you for sharing!
I make your white sandwich bread every weekend. Absolutely awesome! I totally trusted your recipe to venture out to French Bread. It’s baking now and so far has been absolutely perfect! I used method 1 for the first rise and the dough feel was great when done. I was daring and scored the bread after the second rise. Had to adapt and use a thoroughly cleaned cutter that normally serves in the garage. Super sharp and worked like a charm. Have now ordered a lame only addition was an egg wash and a valiant attempt to cook two loaves on one pan. If that doesn’t work, that’s on me, the product going in was perfect. Baking keeps me happy, so this is a great addition to my repertoire.
The finished product was amazing! Loved by my whole family and half a loaf sent home for lunch box treat for the grandkids ❤️
Made this bread for the first time tonight. We all loved it, especially the crisp crust! I have been baking bread for some time now, and really enjoy finding new recipes! I only baked one loaf, because I decided to freeze half of the dough after the first rise (I’ve done that before with other bread doughs and have had success). I would’ve liked to see a video on shaping the dough, as my loaf did expand (widen) a bit more than I would’ve liked it to, and it was a very long loaf! I felt like the texture/feel of the dough after being kneaded was good, but perhaps I will add a bit more flour next time and it won’t spread out as much. I have always done an egg wash over my breads before baking, and so did that with this too. It did have a nice shine. I used a lame to slash it, as well. Overall, delicious bread and easy to make! Thanks for sharing and I’ll be watching for that video!
This is an excellent french bread recipe that doesn’t last long in my house. Yes, it is that good.
This is now my go to recipe! Everyone thought that it was bakery grade. One suggestion for cutting slits that works well for me is using scissors. It helps avoid deflation.
First time making bread. Brand new kitchen aid mixer. Came out perfect! I did the pit in a bowl for an hour rise and shaped mine into round loaves. My hubby loved it. Excellent flavor nice crust. Thank you Mel.
Seriously, 1 Tablespoon of active dry yeast? I figure you would’ve caught the mistake before 12 years went by, but a Tablespoon?
I am kind of confused by your comment. How is this a mistake? I’ve been making this recipe with 1 tablespoon yeast for almost 15 years – turns out great!
I think what Alex means is a tablespoon of active dry yeast is a TON of yeast for homemade breads. Most NY style pizza recipes call for 1/4 teaspoon of yeast, because using more than that causes the bread to taste very yeasty and turns it grey/brown in color. This recipe is similar to most pizza recipes, except for the amount of yeast. That is a lot of yeast.
Most bread recipes call for a packet of yeast, which is 2 1/4 teaspoons. A tablespoon is three teaspoons. Having made this recipe along with many others, this recipe uses less yeast per loaf that most other bread recipes. Pizza dough doesn’t need as much yeast because it ends up being flat anyway. I’ve never had a problem with bread being too yeasty either, and this is a phenomenal recipe. You did a great job Mel, thank you for the great recipe!
This may be why several comment that their loaves were flat – they may have used 1 packet instead of 1 tablespoon.
Sometimes I think trolls like this just have zero life. I just made these and totally came out perfect with 1 TABLESPOON of yeast… which also happens to be the exact amount they give you in the single serving packets….
This is my favorite bread recipe! I make it every week for my family. However, we are moving to a state with a much lower altitude than where we currently live. Do you have any suggestions for what I may need to change?
Hi Laura, I would suggest making the bread as is and see how it goes. Chances are you may not need to change much (possibly adding a bit less flour but maybe not)
I love this recipe! Sometimes I add butter Cinnamon and sugar before I roll it up. My daughter who has five kids puts cheese and ham in before rolling. Best recipe ever, thanks so much.
Had to scroll for 5 minutes are so to get to the recipe. Did not bother with the recipe.
Not sure if you know, but I don’t want anyone missing out on this great recipe…….. there is a link directly under the title at the top of the post that reads “jump to recipe”. If you click the link, you can bypass the blog post.
Hi Mel,
Sorry for the extreme rudeness and lack of brain power from some of your commentors. I hope that doesn’t discourage you from releasing recipes. Thanks for all you do!
Thanks for your kindness, Allison! I’m not going anywhere! 🙂 But I really do appreciate the comments that are civil and kind (even if they don’t love the recipe!).
Tastes ok. Ended up flat and pale and not at all appealing looking. Not sure what I did wrong.
If it went flat, you most likely over proofed it. “French” bread isn’t meant to be incredibly flavorful. The goal is a pretty neutral bread you can dip, or add flavor on top of.
Mine is also pretty flat and pale, unfortunately.
Thank you! I chose this recipe because I just bought a perforated sandwich bread pan that would accommodate five, foot-long subs. This recipe worked out perfect. I tossed everything in the bread machine on dough cycle. I should have transferred it to another bowl because it rose to the very top, thankfully didn’t spill over. But I really loved the crisp crust and tender interior. We enjoyed them as carne asada tortas and will have them for cheesesteaks. Also looking forward to trying other readers creations.
My family loves the bread and asks me to make it once or sometimes twice in a week. It is so easy! I add garlic salt just before I place the bread in the oven. Thanks.
The hardest part of this recipe is the waiting! Amazingly flavorful and delightful. I’m going to devour the rest of the loaf before my husband gets here.
I just ran a crossed this today, I have made 2 loads, one soft crust other crunchy. Have to say it was really good bread.
I don’t normally comment on recipes, but this one is so good and foolproof that I felt compelled. My rating is for the recipe exactly as written. I’ve also found that it makes excellent sandwich bread. I follow the recipe to the end, but instead of rolling into loaves, I put into two 9” loaf pans. Rise and bake time is no different. I also like to make one of the loaves with fresh chopped rosemary. This is my go to recipe for every day bread!
Kevin! Hopefully you solved my issues of the bread spreading out! Using wine bottles!! Brilliant. My bread is always 4 feet wide and 1 inch high!! Hope this does the trick! Thanks!
I am a novice bread baker trying to improve my skills. I have made this recipe twice and it turns out so beautifully every time! Thank you for such an easy recipe that yields perfect results! I would love to try the whole wheat version next.
I’ve used this recipe countless times and it always comes out amazing. The ice trick changed my life. This is the perfect french bread!
Needed a quick French bread for family dinner tonight, made this recipe, both loaves look beautiful, house smells wonderful – can’t wait for the family to show up – thanks for the recipe!
Can you cook this on foil instead of parchment paper?
All I had was wax paper or foil.
I just baked directly on the baking sheet, as I also did not have parchment.
The crust didn’t stay “crunchy” once it cooled. Any suggestions?
No punching down after the second rose method?
You kinda end up punching it down when you roll it out into the rectangles, so not really necessary.
First time ever making any kind of bread. I baked it for 25 minutes, took it out put some butter . Then put it in for another 5 minutes.
The crust is golden…but not brown. Also, it’s kind of crumbly, but it doesn’t actually crumble. I was making this for bruschetta …but I don’t think it will work.
Where did I go wrong? Should I have baked it longer? Suggestions?
Have you checked your oven temperature? (I recognize I’m a few months late!)
I had this struggle when my oven was dying and the temperature wasn’t actually hitting my set point.
I have made this recipe multiple times. I love it and so does everyone else who eats some. It is gone within two days or less. I have also used it to make garlic bread and it was the perfect bread to do so.I recently got whole wheat flour and want to use it in this recipe by substituting all the all purpose flour for whole wheat. You mention adding a couple of tablespoons of gluten flour if using 100% whole wheat flour. Is this vital gluten flour? How much tablespoons would you recommend?
Yes, gluten flour is sometimes labeled vital wheat gluten. For this recipe, I’d use about 1/4 cup.
I just made this bread today after meaning to make it for over a month, and it ended up absolutely beautifully. I would 100% recommend this to any first-time baker. This was my first time making actual loaves of bread, having done bread machine bread (that turned out badly) and breadsticks (that turned out beautifully), and they came out soft, fluffy, and flavorful with a crispy crust that started quite dull. However, as soon as I brushed it with the melted butter, the color became absolutely vibrant and shiny, and the loaves were picturesque. I’m going to use one on its own and one to make into garlic bread!
just made this as my first time ever baking bread!! the recipe was easy and yields delish results. thank u so much!
I cut recipe down to 2/3 and it made two beautiful french baguettes. Only rose each time in warmed oven for 1 hr! Baked 30 minutes. Texture was light and delicious. This will be my go to recipe from now on! The quickest and best recipe I’ve ever made!
I really liked the ease of this bread recipe. When searching for a good recipe ,I also looked at the pics, and yours looked lovely. However, I found my bread looked nothing like yours ! It was dull looking ,not golden and shiny. Tasted good ,but I was after that nice shiny golden crust. I did my own searching and found the egg white and water glaze ,Viola!! Now it looked more like yours. It was disappointing that you did not give out that information with your recipe. I know to get that crust that a glaze was needed. Bread tastes great!!
Mine came out like that, but the melted-butter wash will fix that up quick- it enhances the color and the shine!
The amount of time I’ve made this bread is ridiculously high. I love it and while I make changes (add more flour since my dough is always wet) I make round loaves, brush oil on the bottom and top, bake at 425 they always turn out perfect and I love it!!!
Hosnetly my favorite recipe!! A useful thing I learnt from a.frined is to get a spray bottle with water put the loaf in the oven and spray and much water as you can on the loaf it will help the get the crust, instead of the icecubes.
Do you think you could make this a day ahead a refrigerate it before it does the second rise?
Usually bread dough like this does well being refrigerated so I think that should work.
I made this recipe but added chopped fresh Rosemary. It was beautiful and DELICIOUS!
This bread is incredible, classic restaurant and bakery style. If you rated this poorly or it turned out bad it is because you failed to follow the instructions properly.
I have tried several bread recipes during the pandemic and this is by far the absolute best recipe! It was SO good! From now on it will be the only bread recipe I use!
Oh, That was good idea. About to make it for a third time, but with our new baguette pans. The directions are easy and even the ugliest outcome is delicious! Thank you for sharing!
I’ve messed up at least 2 different ways each time I make this, including using a packet of yeast instead of 1 tbsp and waaaaay overproofing because I forget about it for hours (life with toddlers). The bread is somehow still perfect every time. I never thought a yeast bread recipe could be described as “forgiving” but this one is practically a saint. I attribute 5+ miracles, and counting.
Easy to make, looks great, tastes even better. Two loaves don’t last more than an hour with the five of us!
Dough sunk in oven. Tasted great but was very flat.
I have made this recipe a number of times and it always turns out perfect! We love it at our house. I read the salt measurement wrong and have only been putting in 3/4 teaspoon haha. Still delicious! Mine are never as prettily rounded as yours. How do you get yours so evenly rounded? Thanks for an awesome recipe!
Hi Judy, it’s probably the way I shape the loaves. How do you shape yours?
Just about to make your Easy Salsa recipe, and got “lost” looking at different recipes in your posts!
A question about this French Bread recipe…have you, or do you know anyone who has tried a gluten-free version of this? I really need to stay away from wheat-based products (as I just finished a box of Mini Wheats!!), and bread is the most difficult item to “replace”.
I have a great recipe for regular bread, but when it comes to specialty breads, it gets more difficult!
Any direction would be much appreciated!
Hi Patti, unfortunately, bread like this doesn’t often translate well to gluten free without a whole truckload of changes. You’d probably be better off googling a tried and true gluten free french bread recipe.
One of my most go to recipes!!! Thanks for sharing your gifts!!
Can you make a video for making the French bread. I would love to make it, but I feel intimidated.
Trie this recipe for the first time yesterday,and the result?Perfect.Thanks for the best recipe so far.Cheerz!
I followed this recipe except cutting it in half for one loaf.
The rise time was a good bit shorter, both times of quick i attributed to a warm kitchen.
But …..the color was not there on the top…i baked it at 375 for whay ended up being 33 munutes. I was afraid to bake it any longer sp i took it out and buttered the top.
Oh and i did put the ice cubes in the oven bottom.
Any idea why the top didn’t brown?
It’s usually an issue with specific ovens as each individual oven will vary in specific temperatures as well as other factors related to baking. You can try increasing oven temp to 400 degrees and moving an oven rack a bit higher in the oven – both of those things can help the bread develop a nice golden crust.
Hi Mel,
I have made this Frenchbread 3 times now, and it has come out perfect each time. I use the rising method #1. I think doing it that way must build structure into the dough, similar to stretch and fold when you make sourdough. I put my 2 loaves about an inch apart on my baking stone, and then throw the 3 ice cubes into the bottom of the oven. I also spritz the loaves good with water about 4 or 5 times during baking. It makes the crust come out really light and crisp, and the bread inside is soft and perfect. I think next time I use this recipe to make dinner rolls.
This was so easy and came out awesome. I’ve struggled with other recipes coming out doughy in the middle. This recipe and instructions were perfect. Used it for garlic bread with spaghetti and Italian sandwiches the next day.
My only issue was that I ate way to much.
Fantastic recipe! I cut it in half and only made one loaf to go with my boeuf bourguignon dinner last night. So good…
Hello. The loaves seem pretty large in my baguette pan. Could I make 4 smaller ones instead of the 2 large ones? If so, how long should I bake them for? Thanks!
Yes, that should work just fine. Watch the baking time closely – maybe 10 minutes less depending on size and shape of loaves.
So Great! Perfect directions! my whole family loves it!
Thank you.
No doubt this recipe tastes good but French bread doesn’t have anything other than flour, water, salt, and yeast. Oil and sugar make it no longer french
I have made both this French bread and also your French bread rolls and both were delicious. My question is can I bake the bread in regular loaf pans? I’d like to use it more as sandwich bread.
Yes, I think so!
I made this bread. Super easy method using rising method 2. My family loves it. When the quarantine started back in may my husband bought 2lbs. Yes…that isn’t a typo I said TWO Pounds of yeast. We’ve got a lot of baking to do Lucy. Glad I found this recipe.
Hi Mel,
Would it be okay to let it rise more than an hour the first or second rise? Also, can I use regular honey since I don’t have any raw honey?
Yes, regular honey will work. The rising time depends on the temperature of your kitchen and other factors. You don’t want to let it over rise or it will affect the texture, shape, and taste of the bread.
I loved this recipe but my crust didn’t come out as pretty and golden as these pictures not sure if it’s because I used APflour instead of bread or if because I didn’t have enough ice but still solid result!
My electric Stand Mixer is broken. Can I make this without it/by hand?
Yep, per Mel “this dough can be made by hand using a large bowl and a wooden spoon the good old-fashioned way!“
Hi Mel!
This French bread recipe is simply the best!! The recipe is simple, instructions are clear, which probably explain why it’s always a success! I’ve been sharing it around with friends and it’s a hit for them too!
On a personal note, I started baking breads during the quarantine (from March to June in my part of Canada), and thanks to you, I gain self confidence in baking! I now bake every Saturday or Sunday for the whole week and your French breads are always on our menu.
Thanks for the great recipe!
Forgot to ask – what happens if you omit the slashing? Does that affect it when baking?
It might affect the rise in the oven, but overall, it probably won’t make a huge difference except in the way the bread looks.
Currently have the dough rising! I can’t wait. Instead of using ice cubes (hubby doesn’t think I should lol), would a pan of hot water in the oven work? And is it okay to bake one loaf at a time? My oven is super old and horrible and when I try and bake to baking sheets at a time, ultimately, one of them will burn
Hi!
I put the ice cubes the first time, and I omit them now. Hubby says it tastes better (crunchier dough), without the ice cubes. The melted butter – after baking – is a must.
I also bake one loaf at a time, no worries. Keep same baking time.
Good luck!
Yes, you can bake one loaf at a time…and a pan of hot water will work, too! 🙂
which method of riseing do you think is best and do you prefere a p or bread flour
Could I use the bread machine to make the dough, then continue on manually by hand to form and shape?
Can definitely try (I don’t own a bread machine so I haven’t tried it myself).
This bread tastes great but out of the 5 times I have made it, it always flattens out right before putting it in the oven. I proof the bread in the oven both times, heating it to 150 and turning it off (my house is cold). I put my timer on and wait the full hour. But after its been shaped during the second proof, it flattens out, especially after I score it and before I put it in the oven. Any ideas?
Hi Monica, try scoring the bread before it rises (as explained in step #5 of the recipe). That should help!
It could also be that your yeast is dying. Yeast only can survive while proofing around 120 degrees Fahrenheit at most. You might try letting your oven warm to just over a hundred degrees and see if that helps make them more fluffy, before you bake them. Happy baking!
I made this for the first time tonight. It was incredibly easy, very delicious and came out exactly like the picture. I followed the directions as written, but used a very sharp knife instead of a lame. My family devoured the first loaf and I’m saving the second one for tomorrow. I will definitely be making this again. Thank you Mel!
Followed the recipe exactly. Turned out great! So simple and delicious.
I’m making this bread et praying it turns out as my great grandson love garlic bread! I used rapid rise yeast as that was all I had!
I give this recipe 5 stars.
I’ve been feeding an active sourdough culture that’s been “alive” on my counter for almost 4 years. For those of us in that game we’re always looking for how we can incorporate the starter in recipes. Typically they include adding our starter to the base, then the recipes venture from there.
What I love about this recipe is that its quick and easy. Do I get the entire flavor profile by not adding some starter, or by not mixing then refrigerating for the cold ferment? Probably not. But my 8 year olds couldnt give a rip about your flavor profiles.
I made the whole recipe (2 batards). We kept one and gave one away. The neighbors ate the one we gave away in one sitting.
I make this bread often! When I first started making it I would make it once a week. It is a no fail french bread recipie. Only one I make now. It is SOooooo good! Thank you!
So I have made this twice. First effort was with the full ingredient list but the dough was just to big for my french bread pan. This time tried to make a 2/3rd recipe. Better fit on the pans but when I touch the raised loafs they seem to loose all their “air”. Did I do something wrong or is there a way to make the dough a little more “stiff”?
Love the taste regardless.
How would you make this bread using a bread maker even if only for the mixing?
I don’t see why you couldn’t use your breadmachine to mix and go thru the first rise……anybody???
For a stiffer dough, you can definitely add more flour! (But also try not to let the loaves over rise – they can also collapse if they’ve risen too long).
Did this again, but this time reduced the second raise to 40 minutes (seemed more than enough) and added a little extra flour. Results were perfect. No loss of lift and loafs came out just right. Also used a little egg wash before baking. Gave a nice shiny finish.
Over rising is true..trust me.. I’ve done it! Do the touch rule.. if once pushed on and dough returns… need more time rising. If after touching it stays down.. done rising!! Hope that helped!
I read the comments and saw that I could cut this recipe in half so that’s what I did because there’s only two of us. This bread baked up beautifully and looked just like the picture. I thought it was on the sweet side but that’s because I never put sugar in my French bread. The bread is delicious! I will definitely use this recipe again and next time I’ll omit the sugar.
The yeast needs the sugar, it feeds it and makes it active. I’d be careful omitting completely.
Thank you for this easy and delicious recipe. I have made this at least 10 times and my 12 year old grand daughter has also made it- always perfect. Thank you
I made this as instructed and it tastes great, however, mine wasn’t shiny nor did it have a nice crunchy crust as it came out of the oven. It just looked very sad and matte. Crust was kind of soft when pulled out of the oven. Kept it for 30 mins, I did add the ice cubes.
I had the same problem.
Mel???
LB – much of the end result (crust and color) will depend on your oven. You can try increasing the temperature by 25 degrees, moving an oven rack up higher in the oven, or using an egg wash prior to baking.
If I halve all of the ingredients, will that be ok to yield one loaf? Thanks!
Yep!
Can you make this dough ahead?
How far ahead are you wanting to make it?
I let the dough rise the first rise. Rolled out my loaves. And put one loaf in the fridge. Tomorrow I plan on letting it do the second rise and bake. I’m hooping this will work well.
So I have made this recipe so many times – it is my go to. Never had a problem with it.
Last night I made it and I guess too little flour as during second rise it would not hold a shape.
Today I remade and used the 6 cups of flour. Dough rose beautifully during second rise – but sank when I sliced with a lame.
Any advice on what caused this so I can avoid in the future?
Thank you.
If it’s turned out a lot of times for you, it’s hard for me to know exactly since I’m not there in the kitchen with you. Was it humid and rainy the last few times it hasn’t worked out? Sometimes making bread on rainy/humid days can cause the bread to turn out differently.
Hi,
Thank you for replying. No it wasn’t really any different than normal. I tried again today and though they rose better they’re still spreading. My normal loaves look like your picture but the ones today look more like flattened American footballs. The crumb is normal and they taste great – just frustrating that my loaves which normally look amazing look very much homemade 🙁
Loved this recipie i’m 13 and it’s my first time making bread. It turned out amazing and my whole family was impressed! I added a tablespoon of salt due to the comments and will add less next time. I used the 10 min and mix method as well as the ice cube tip. I cooked the loaves on seperate pans with parchment paper for 30 min and they looked great as well.
i have made this recioe with great success several times. I have started making cinnamon swirl bread with one of the two loaves and we just love it. I roll it out to 18 x 8 inches, sprinkle a mix of brown sugar Truvia and cinnamon on it, add some chopped nuts and dried cranberries and roll it up. Bake it in a loaf pan right alongside the other regular loaf. ❤
After baking, how long should I wait before cutting in?
I like to let the loaf cool completely, otherwise the texture can be a little gummy if it’s warm (but that doesn’t stop us from digging in when it’s hot and fresh from the oven)
This recipe didn’t work for me at all. The formed dough spread like crazy when rising and was almost completely tasteless upon baking. Another commenter suggested using the full 1 tbsp of salt and I agree. I think I’ll be sticking with other recipes that have clearer instructions and use weight measurements.
I used the full tbsp of salt, kneaded it by hand, and added a little more flour as I kneaded it, it came out perfect. Also, i added ice on a tray at the bottom of my oven, and repeated this again halfway through the bake.
Timing is always an issue for me. My goal is to have a freshly baked, warm loaf for the dinner table. Is it possible to make the dough, rise, shape the loaves and let them rise — and then refrigerate them to (like Cryo-sleep) and bake them to come out just as dinner is ready?
You can definitely experiment with this timing – my recommendation would be to put the loaves in the refrigerator prior to letting them rise otherwise, depending on how long they are in the fridge, they might over rise.
Love this recipe. I have made it multiple times. The only problem is that there are only two of us . I don’t want to cut the recipe in half just in case it’s doesn’t come out correctly. What is the best storage method for the remaining bread? I live in a very humid climate.
Hi Barbara – this recipe actually works great cut in half. But if you still want to make the full amount you could freeze the other loaf (or store well-covered at room temp).
I had the same problem.
Mel???
It fed my family of 8 quite easily, but I’ve also eaten both loaves on my own because it’s so tasty!
It makes me sad to see any ratings on here besides 16 stars. This was by far the easiest bread I have ever made. I tried it last week and it came out picture perfect. My wife thought I bought it from the local bakery. I’ve since made it 10 more times for friends and family. We have done it strict to this recipe and I feel like I could sell it at our local farmers market. Try brushing an egg on it before baking and using the ice cubes… nothing more beautiful!
how many people does this serve ?
It fed my family of 8 quite easily, but I’ve also eaten both loaves on my own because it’s so tasty!
How would you make this recipe in a high altitude. Would you cut down the rise time?
You can try googling high altitude adjustments for baking bread…a lot depends on the exact elevation. I’ve heard cutting down the yeast a bit and increasing the flour amount can help, but I don’t live at high altitude so I can’t say for sure.
Ok, thank you!
Very good, very easy. Thank you for sharing this recipe. <3
This bread was so good my family asks for this all the time. I will try and add sesame seeds the next time it sounds good.
If you add sesame seeds you can try brushing the top with some. water to. help them stick better! (In my experience they just fall off of you don’t)
This is the best and easiest French bread recipe yet. We live at 9,000 ft elevation and it comes out perfect every single time!! It’s my go-to recipe for quick bread and I freeze one loaf after it’s made. Lovely.
I wanted to make a good French Dip sandwich. I love them. Since I had the time I made your French Bread Recipe. WOW. The sandwiches turned out so so good. We had them for dinner, and then my family wanted them again for the next nights dinner. Since then we have them at least 1 time a week. Thank you for this delicious recipe. It is so good. Make extra bread for snacking. My family can eat bread like this all day long, with nothing else but maybe a little butter.
So I’m assuming then that you formed the dough into rolls? How many did you get? I’d love to make those!
This is one of my favourite recipes. I’ve made it dozens of times as the long loaf you show.
Could I also half the recipe to shape and bake it in a pullman loaf tin (9x9x4 inches)?
I haven’t tried that, but it stands a pretty good chance of working!
This is one of my favourite recipes. I’ve made it dozens of times as the long loaf you show.
Could I also half the recipe to shape and bake it in a pullman loaf tin (9x9x4 inches)?
Delicious and easy recipe! Used it for my garlic toast- which turned out so well!
look at that crumb. So fine like a milk bread. The worst part is that it’s intended to be a rustic bread but it failed rustic bread university. It aspired to be a rustic loaf, but it can’t. The folds are replaced by a knockoff version of stirring the dough down every 10 minutes. And “pressing out any air bubbles”??? Do you not know the definition of French bread? You can’t even see the ears produced by the lame. Look at all that yeast, 1 tablespoon of it. There’s no preferment either. The sugar and other ingredients degrade the bread’s title of being French and lead it to the sweet bread path. No cold retard, either. There’s probably very little lactic acids in that dough that you can’t even taste it. The baking sheet isn’t preheated, and the oven is at such a low temperature. The hydration of that dough is so low, only ~50%. This is more of a bagel than a French bread. Higher hydration doughs ferment faster and also become more crusty.
The baking hack can be improved by using boiling water since it steams faster idk. Also why not put the water in a tray like a normal person?
Is it really necessary to seek out a bread recipe and leave your nasty comments? If you’re such an expert on bread, why are you even looking up recipes from bloggers? Any true expert would educate, not belittle.
I might not be an expert on true “French bread” but I am an expert on being kind. You are just mean. If this is how you find a way feel good about yourself, I truly feel sorry for you.
Sara Sarah Higgins- Get a life! If you don’t like the recipe, don’t follow it. You can buy loaf of French bread instead.
In the words of Taylor Swift, why you gotta be so mean???
“Say it in the street, that’s a knock-out
But you say it in a Tweet, that’s a cop-out
And I’m just like, “Hey, are you okay?”
And I ain’t tryna mess with your self-expression
But I’ve learned a lesson that stressin’ and obsessin’ ’bout somebody else is no fun
And snakes and stones never broke my bones.”..TSwift.
Learn it. It’s good advice.
Also, BEST BREAD RECIPE online!!! Thanks Mel!
Get a life…Someone takes what was probably several hours of their time to share this recipe and you spend your time criticizing how bad it looks from the pictures and their instructions? Just move on to another recipe? How about you work on your writing skills with your spare time. “look at that crumb. So fine like a milk bread.” Couldn’t even capitalize the first letter of your paragraph and smartphones and tablets do that for us these days…Not to mention the broken english that doesn’t even form correct sentences.
Sara..so sorry you are such an unhappy person. Maybe you should not be baking but seeking help to find a positive life approach. I wish you well.
This recipie inspired my love of bread making. IT is so versatile, makes amazing garlic knots, and delicious, flavorful, bread. I love this recipie so much, I really can’t overstate the quality of the bread it makes. Even when I overprove it or forget about it, it still makes a decent loaf. Highly reccomend!
Made Bread at home for the first time .
Landed up with 2 amazing loaves of French bread
Fantastic recipe!
Thank you
I’ve made this twice. It has a good flavor but the cooked bread has a wetter texture than I expected. I was thinking of the fresh loaves you get at the bakery all light a fluffy inside and mine was much more dense and moist – not as springy. The outside crust was beautiful crunchy and browned perfectly at 22 minutes of bake time. Any suggestions for what I might have done wrong? Or do I have flawed expectations?
I don’t think this homemade bread recipe will produce the same super light and fluffy, almost “cloud-like” texture of the bread I can find at my supermarket. It’s going to be soft and chewy but a little more dense than that bread that just squishes together. 🙂
The taste of this bread is very good. I will have to order one of those pans, so the bread does not flatten. The bread was still good even though it flattened.
Delicious! I’m a bread snob, but NOT a cook and I totally pulled this off. My husband and kids were crazy impressed and all loved it!
Quick question though. I’ve made this twice. Both times, using the ice cube technique, my bread came out nice and crispy on the outside. But, after a few minutes, the outside went soft again. What am I doing wrong?
I just tried and face the same issue. The bread become soft after it cool down.
Te bread tasted great but once I cut the bread on the top it deflated and it was close to a flat bread
I have to say this is the best French bread I have ever made
I’m in Idaho have a gas oven and it was absolutely perfect
Hello, I’m going to make this without the stand mixer and I’ve been Googling – “how to knead dough without stand mixer.” Do you have any tips for this and can I follow the recipe as is if kneading manually?
I never use a stand mixer. I prefer hand kneading. Just follow the recipe exactly but once you cant mix with a utensil anymore, flour your hands and dig in. Once the dough is ball like, I fold in half, turn fold again, kinda just working it around. I find it easier to tell if more or less flour is needed when doing it with my hands. Once all the flour is worked in, lightly flour your working surface, turn the dough onto the counter and knead until it is smooth and soft.
Hello Mel and all bread-making people out there,
This is my second review of this recipe and yet again, it is amazing! Today I decided to prepare only half of the recipe for one loaf and it’s still a winner! 🙂 Do NOT skip the brushed butter!
Steam Side Note: If you’re worried about the ice cubes on the oven floor, throwing them in a small pan does the trick too – a couple sprays of water on your loaf while it’s getting cozy in the oven makes a world of difference too! Happy baking and stay safe!
I made your recipe several times by now. I like it. However, the baking time is too long. My oven is not overheating. I noticed that when I bake only 20 minutes, the bread is perfect. When I baked 30 min. for the first time the bread was too dry. Even 25 minutes is too long (at least for me). Thank you for this simple, yet delicious recipe.
Hi! I have an electric oven and I want to achieve the beautiful brown effect after baking.
1). Do I place the bread in the middle rack during the entire baking time?
2). Do I need to egg wash the dough before baking or slathering with butter right after out from oven will help?
Thank you! ^^
I would suggest using the middle rack or placing it a little higher in the oven (for better browning on top of the bread). I don’t egg wash the bread before baking but you can. (I do spread melted butter over the top of the baked bread after baking – that doesn’t help with browning but gives it a nice shine)
Is it okay to cut this recipe in half for just one loaf?
Yes, it can definitely be halved.
Thank you so much for this recipe! I make bread regularly but it’s nice to have a french bread that can be quickly and easily made for dinner. I have made this twice now and have had excellent results both times. It truly has the denseness and texture of a french bread. The tip about the ice cubes is wonderful.