This French Bread is soft and airy with a delicious crust on the outside. Best of all, this bread can be easily made from the comfort of your home! You will obsess over this recipe, guaranteed!

Slices of French bread with butter

French Bread is a long and narrow loaf with a soft inside and a crusty outside. It consists of the most basic ingredients, and by French law, cannot have any added oils or fats. Since there are no preservatives added, this makes people buy their fresh French bread daily.

If you are looking for the classic crispy baguette recipe, you are in for a treat! We have a shortcut version for you.

How to Make Homemade French Bread

Making homemade French Bread takes just under 3 hours from start to finish. With only a few simple steps during this time, you’ll be enjoying the bread sooner than expected.

  • Mix water with instant yeast and let sit. Add sugar and salt and mix in the flour in small portions.
  • Knead for 2 minutes and let the dough rest for 5 minutes to fully absorb the flour. Knead for 5 more minutes.
  • Let dough rise for 1 ½ hours.
  • Divide the dough in half. Roll each half into a 10 x 8 inch rectangle and then roll up the long side jelly-roll style.
  • Place the seam side down onto lined pan; let it rise for 30 minutes.
  • Whisk egg with water, brush the tops of the bread. Using a sharp knife, cut 4 slashes over each bread.
  • Bake in a preheated 375°F oven for 20-25 minutes until golden.

FAQ

What is the difference between French bread and a baguette?

French bread is a simple bread recipe, often long in shape with rounded edges. The baguette is a specific type of French bread, translated to “stick” and refers to the popular shape.

How can you make the dough without a stand up mixer?

You can make dough without a stand up mixer by using your hands. Simply mix or knead the dough for the same amount of time on a floured surface.

How can I get my French bread more golden?

To get the golden look on your French bread, lightly brush the bread dough with an egg wash right before baking.

Is French Bread considered white bread?

Yes. In fact, it is best to make this bread with white flour. It makes for the soft chewy texture.

What is the best flour fro French Bread?

Bread flour works perfectly for this recipe. Two of my personal favorite brands are Bob’s Red Mill or King Arthur flour.

Serving French Bread

You can never go wrong by snacking on French bread just by itself. However, if you need some creative ways to serve your French Bread, we got you covered!

Slices of French bread with butter

Storing French Bread

Need to store away French Bread for later? We got you covered.

If you need a quick way to store French Bread for a short time, seal it in an airtight container or a plastic bag. This method will keep your bread fresh for several days.

To store French Bread for longer periods of time, it’s best to freeze it. Just wrap up your bread in a heavy duty freezer bag or aluminum foil and freeze it. Before serving it, place it into the fridge overnight to thaw out. Right before serving, pop it into a 375°F oven for 3-5 minutes and it’s ready to be enjoyed.

Hot Tip: To refresh your French Bread, warm up the loaf in a 375°F oven for 3-5 minutes.

french bread on a counter

Other Bread Recipes To Try

About Author

Avatar photo

Natalya Drozhzhin

Natalya founded Momsdish to demonstrate that placing a homemade meal on the table is not hard at all. Natalya makes cooking easier and approachable, by simplifying the ingredients, while still producing the same great taste.