French bread is a long, thin loaf of white bread with a crisp crust that is made using yeast and white flour. It is the American version of a French baguette. The only differences are that French bread tends to have more rounded ends and is longer and wider than the skinny baguette. The word baguette, meaning “wand,” “baton,” or “stick,” was not used to refer to bread until 1920. Unlike the baguette which is specifically defined by French law, French bread can be made with sourdough or whole grain flour.
Recipe Servings: 24
Prep Time
15 minutes
+ 1 hour resting
+ 1 hour resting
Cook Time
20 minutes
Total Time
1 hour 35 minutes
Vegetarian
Vegan
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Kosher
Halal
Ingredients
Directions
- Combine the warm water, yeast and sugar in a small bowl and let it sit for 5 minutes or until it becomes frothy.
- Combine 2 cups of flour and the salt in a large bowl. Stir in the yeast mixture and begin kneading the dough by hand. Add the remaining flour a ½ cup at a time until the dough is a smooth ball and not sticky.
- Rub olive oil on the dough and let it rest for 15 minutes.
- Place the dough on a floured surface and divide it equally.
- Press one half into a rectangle and roll it into a cylinder starting at the long side. Turn in both ends and pinch the seams closed. Round the edges and place it onto a baking sheet. Repeat this process with the second half of the dough.
- Let the dough rise for 30–45 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Make three diagonal cuts across the top of each loaf.
- Bake the loaves for 17–20 minutes or until the tops are golden brown.
- Remove the loaves from the oven and brush the tops with melted butter, if desired.
Recipe introduction and directions © Copyright 2016-2024 World Trade Press. All rights reserved.