Easy French Bread Recipe
Servings: 10 servings
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 Cups Warm Water
- 1 Tablespoon Instant Yeast
- 2 Tablespoons Sugar
- 5-5 1/2 Cups Flour
- 1 Tablespoon Canola Oil or Vegetable Oil
- 2 1/2 teaspoons Fine Sea Salt
Instructions
- In a glass measuring cup, add the warm water, yeast and sugar. Stir to combine and set aside to foam.2 1/4 Cups Warm Water , 1 Tablespoon Instant Yeast , 2 Tablespoons Sugar
- In a standing mixer, add 3 of the 6 cups of flour, oil and the salt, mix to combine.5-5 1/2 Cups Flour , 1 Tablespoon Canola Oil or Vegetable Oil , 2 1/2 teaspoons Fine Sea Salt
- Add the yeast and water mixture and mix on low using a dough hook. Gradually add in more flour by 1/2 cup until the dough is slightly sticky but has pulled away from the sides of the bowl. You should use 5 1/2-6 cups total flour in this recipe. Continue to mix for 2-3 minutes.
- Cover the bowl with plastic or a towel and set aside for 10 minutes. Place the bowl back in the mixer and mix again for another minute and then allow to rest for 10 minutes.
- Continue for 4 more cycles of allowing the dough to rest and then kneading it just as you do with many artisan breads. If you do not have time, (our professor had told us she usually skips the kneading and resting part but I never do) you can add a drizzle of oil to a clean bowl and then place the dough in, immediately turning it over so that the oil coats all the dough. Cover and allow to rest for 1 hour.
- Place a little oil directly on your counter and spread it out. Now place the dough on the oiled counter and divide the dough in half.
- Press each section into a thick rectangle the size of a 9x13" pan (our professor always set one next to the dough). Roll the dough up starting from the long edge and pressing gently to seal out any air bubbles.
- Finally, pinch the edge to seal. Arrange seam side down on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper and cover with a towel to rise for an hour.
- Place the oven rack in the center and heat to 400. Using a sharp blade, slash through the dough to create a marked topping.
- Place the bread in the oven and throw 4 ice cubes into the bottom of the pan to create steam and shut the oven door.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, covering with foil if needed. Remove from the oven and open a stick of butter then rub all over the top. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Serving: 2slices | Calories: 546kcal | Carbohydrates: 112g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 587mg | Potassium: 158mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 7mg