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Soft, simple and no-fail, this homemade French bread has simple step-by-step directions and comes out perfect every time!
the best homemade French bread!
We love a homemade loaf of bread and especially today’s French bread recipe.
Grandma mastered this homemade French bread recipe decades ago and now that she has taught us how to make it, we love it even more.
Like with most french bread recipes, this one uses basic pantry staples, simple ingredients, and the steps are easy (plus it stores and freezes well). If this is your first time making yeast bread, this is a great one to try – it’s no fail with our step-by-step directions. No need for a bread machine!
It’s especially delicious served with our favorite pasta and salads, right up there with our Italian Bread! Plus, this easy french bread recipe is versatile – it can be eaten on its own, used to make Croutons, French Toast Casserole, or served with your favorite soup recipe.
Ingredients
PREP TIME: 55 minutes
COOK TIME: 20 minutes
- 2 tablespoons rapid rise yeast – Active dry yeast, instant yeast, and rapid-rise yeast all work for this bread recipe.
- ½ cup warm water – This is used to activate the yeast. And should be between 110-115°F
- 2 cups hot water – adding hot water helps keep the dough warm which helps it rise better
- 5 tablespoons vegetable oil – canola oil or olive oil
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 6 cups all-purpose flour – or bread flour, see how to Measure the Flour Correctly. If you are baking on a wet or humid day you may need more flour. Add enough for the dough to be soft and not overly sticky.
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup cornmeal – or vegetable oil. It prevents bread from sticking to the pan and adds a delicious texture to the bottom.
How to Make French Bread
- PREP. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and sprinkle evenly with ¼ cup cornmeal. (Greased baking sheets work too, but we prefer the cornmeal method.)
- YEAST. In a small bowl, dissolve 2 tablespoons yeast in ½ cup warm water.
- DOUGH. In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer, combine 2 cups hot water, 5 tablespoons oil, 3 tablespoons sugar, 1 tablespoon salt, and 3 cups of flour. Mix with the paddle attachment (not the dough hook attachment).
- Add yeast mixture and mix to combine.
- Add the remaining 3 cups of flour 1 cup at a time, mixing after each addition. Once all of the flour is added, cover with a kitchen towel and let the dough rest for 10 minutes.
- SHAPE. Place dough onto a lightly floured surface and divide into three equal pieces. Roll each piece into a 9×12-inch rectangle (add extra flour if needed so it’s not overly sticky). Roll each rectangle up from the long edge like a jelly roll.
- Place each dough roll on a prepared baking sheet, seam side down.
- Score the bread across the top 3 or 4 times (diagonal slashes will allow the bread to expand as it bakes). Beat 1 egg and brush each loaf with the egg wash for a crisp and shiny crust. Let dough rise, uncovered, for 30 minutes in a warm place.
- BAKE. Toward the end of the rise, preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Some recipes call for baking in a French bread pan, but I found that for best results simply use a regular cookie sheet, jelly roll pan, or baking stone.
- Bake on the middle rack for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
Let cool and cut with a sharp knife and serve warm.
Make it extra crusty
You’re going to need to simulate a baker’s oven to create a crispy crust:
- Place a baking pizza stone on the center rack. Preheat oven to 450ºF. Put a metal broiler pan on the rack at the bottom of the oven (at least 4 inches below the baking stone).
- Once risen, transfer the bread to a baking peel sprinkled with flour, and lightly spray the loaves with water.
- Slide the loaves onto the preheated baking stone and add 1 cup of HOT water to the broiler tray. Reduce the oven temperature to 375°F and bake for 10 minutes. Use the water bottle to spray the bread every 3 minutes for the remainder of the baking time, 10 more minutes.
- Use the baking peel to remove the bread from the oven and cool. The result – crusty French bread which is to die for!!
Complete The Meal
Main Dishes
Bread Recipes
Italian Bread Recipe
2 hrs 40 mins
Baguette Recipe
15 hrs 14 mins
Focaccia Bread
8 hrs 55 mins
Sourdough Bread
8 hrs 40 mins
Collections
Complete the Meal
- Ways to eat French bread: Buffalo Chicken French Bread, Barbecue Chicken French Bread, Cheesy Spinach Artichoke Bread
Homemade French Bread Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¼ cup cornmeal
- 2 tablespoons rapid rise yeast
- ½ cup warm water, 110–115°F
- 2 cups hot water
- 5 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 6 cups all-purpose flour, divided
- 1 egg, beaten
Instructions
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and sprinkle evenly with cornmeal. (Greased baking sheets work too, but we prefer the cornmeal method.)
- In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine hot water, oil, sugar, salt, and 3 cups of flour. Mix with the paddle attachment.
- Add yeast mixture and mix to combine.
- Switch to the dough hook attachment and add the remaining 3 cups of flour 1 cup at a time, mixing after each addition. Once all of the flour is added, let the dough rest for 10 minutes.
- Place dough onto a lightly floured surface and divide into three pieces. Roll each piece into a 9×12-inch rectangle. Roll each rectangle up from the long edge like a jelly roll.
- Place each dough roll on a prepared baking sheet, seam side down.
- Score the bread across the top 3 or 4 times and brush each loaf with beaten egg for a crisp and shiny crust. Let dough rise, uncovered, for 30 minutes in a warm place.
- Toward the end of the rise, preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Bake on the middle rack for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
After you have shaped the dough, do not let it rise, instead place it on a baking sheet and freeze it. Once solid, wrap tightly with plastic wrap and again with foil. Freeze for 3-4 months. Thaw to room temperature (this will take several hours) and then let it rise for 30 minutes before baking.
Store baked bread inside a plastic bag, bread box, or aluminum foil. The bread should last 2-3 days.
To freeze, wrap it in parchment paper, then foil and freeze for 3 months. To reheat, thaw wrap in foil, and place in oven, preheated to 400°F, until warm.
Hi, This bread looks great. What kind of flour? Can i use Bread flour?
Thank you! I used all-purpose, but yes, you can totally use bread flour. I hope you like it!
I was not sure how this would turn out Using oil and Only one risE. I Used 2 cups of bread flour but not sure iT an affect on reSults.
Great texture, Tastes wonderful. Will make again. Thank you
You are so welcome! Thank you for trying it!
Thank you so much for this recipe came out PERFECT and DeliCious i doubled it in the making cause i knew one batch wouldnt be enough my kids loved it
I am so happy to hear that! Yes, one loaf is never enough! Thank you so much!
i AM GOING TO TRY MAKING THIS WONDERFUL FRENCH BREAD EVERYONE IS RAVING ABOUT! I LIKE CRISPY CRUST IS THERE A SECRET TO MAKING IT? I TRY TO SAVE MY BREAD BUT WHEN I STORE IT IN PLASTIC BAGS IT TURNS SOFT… WHAT AM I DOING WRONG?
I store mine in plastic bags, so not sure. It is a soft bread.
What if u don’t have a paddle mixer what can u use
Personally, I like to use my best tools..my hands 🙂 Your mixer might have the “PowerKnead” (spiral) attachment you could use.
I TRIED THIS RECIPE YESTERDAY BECAUSE MY HUSBAND LOVES HOMEMADE BREAD! IT IS EASY TO MAKE AND IS ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS. IT WAS A HUGE HIT AND WILL BE MY GO TO RECIPE FROM NOW ON. THIS IS HANDY TO FREEZE AHEAD FOR SANDWICHES! BESIDES…THREE FULL LOAVES FOR THE SAME EFFORT AS ONE!
You made my day! Thank you for sharing that! That’s why I love it!
Is the dough not meant tO be kNeaded? Also is it Supposed to be so wet? Thank you! :):)
If you aren’t using a machine, then yes, you would knead it until mixed & no, it doesn’t have to be wet. I mean it’s brushed with butter before rising, but then baked.
this is so good. I was a little INTIMIDATED to make but it actually was easy. i will be making it again, My family loved it.
The only recipe i use for french bread. Its easy and quick to make. My family loves it
Best homemade bread I’ve ever made! Thanks for the recipe!
Thanks for making French Bread less intimidating — so good!