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Easy Homemade French Bread with a Crusty Exterior

Close-up of a freshly baked french bread loaf cut in half, showing a crusty golden exterior and an airy, open crumb structure.
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Bake bakery-style French bread at home. This recipe balances a crispy, crackly crust with a soft, tender interior, perfect for serving with soup or making sandwiches.

Ingredients

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  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon instant yeast
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 1/4 cups warm water (about 105-115°F)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil (for the bowl)

Instructions

  1. Mix the flour, yeast, and salt together in a large bowl.
  2. Add the warm water and mix with a wooden spoon until a shaggy dough forms. Do not overmix.
  3. Lightly grease a clean bowl with olive oil. Place the dough in the bowl and turn it over to coat.
  4. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and let the dough rise in a warm place for 1 to 1.5 hours, or until doubled in size.
  5. Gently punch down the dough. Turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into two equal pieces.
  6. Shape each piece into a long, narrow loaf, about 12 to 14 inches long. Do not knead or overwork the dough.
  7. Place the shaped loaves on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, leaving space between them. Cover loosely with a clean kitchen towel. Let them rest for 30 minutes.
  8. Preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C) about 20 minutes before the end of the second rise. Place a shallow pan on the bottom rack for steam.
  9. Just before baking, use a sharp knife or razor blade to make three diagonal slashes, about 1/2 inch deep, across the top of each loaf.
  10. Carefully pour 1 cup of hot water into the shallow pan on the bottom rack to create steam. Immediately place the baking sheet with the bread into the oven.
  11. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through, until the crust is deep golden brown.
  12. Remove the bread from the oven and cool on a wire rack before slicing.

Notes

  • For an extra crispy crust, spray the inside walls of the oven with water twice during the first 5 minutes of baking.
  • This bread is excellent served warm with butter or used for sandwiches.
  • If you prefer a softer crust, omit the steam step in the oven.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookincorner.com/crusty-homemade-french-bread-recipe/