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Yields:
1
Prep Time:
5 mins
Total Time:
2 hrs 45 mins
French bread is an easy homemade bread that's perfect for any use. It's great to rip apart and eat as is, sliced open for sandwiches like a banh mi, or toasted for garlic bread. It's an all purpose bread that gets better every time we make it.
Don't have a stand mixer? That's okay! You can knead this dough by hand just note that the dough is a little sticky. Flour your surface generously and wet your hands slightly to keep the dough from sticking to you. Try not to add too much flour during the kneading process and use a bench scraper to help you lift and fold the dough.
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Ingredients
- 1 cup
lukewarm water
- 2 tsp.
granulated sugar
- 1
(0.25-oz.) packet active dry yeast
- 3 1/4 cups
all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tsp.
kosher salt
Egg white, for brushing
Directions
- Step 1In a glass measuring cup or small bowl, combine lukewarm water and sugar. Sprinkle yeast on top and let sit until foamy, 5 to 8 minutes.
- Step 2In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine flour and salt. Pour in yeast mixture and mix on medium speed until a soft dough forms, 10 minutes. Dough will still be sticky. Transfer dough into a greased bowl and cover with a kitchen towel. Let rise until doubled, 1 hour.
- Step 3Punch down dough and turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead dough a few times, then roll dough out into a 16"-x- 9” rectangle. Starting on a long end, roll dough into a log. Tuck ends under to seal them. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet and cover with a kitchen towel. Let rise another 45 minutes.
- Step 4Preheat oven to 425°. Beat egg white until foamy and brush over top of loaf. Using a serrated knife, make a diagonal slice every 2 inches or so along the loaf of bread. Bake bread until bread is golden and sounds hollow when you tap on it, about 25 minutes.
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