Description
Delightful homemade French bread that fills your home with warmth, perfect for sandwiches or as a side.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups warm water (about 110°F)
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (optional for flavor)
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy.
- In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Create a well in the center and pour in the yeast mixture and olive oil.
- Mix until a dough forms. Transfer it to a floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Punch down the risen dough and turn it onto a floured surface. Divide it into two equal pieces and shape each into a loaf.
- Place the shaped loaves on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, cover, and let rise for another 30-40 minutes.
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) while the loaves rise.
- Once the second rise is done, place the loaves in the oven. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
- Remove from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack.
Notes
For a crustier loaf, place a shallow pan of water in the oven while baking. You can also experiment with adding herbs, cheese, or garlic to the dough.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 2g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 29g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 0mg