Easy French Bread Recipe
Author: Leigh Ann Wilkes for “Your Home Based Mom”
Hayley’s Notes: I did use an instant yeast and it worked great. I also followed the recipe directions exactly and had great success!
INGREDIENTS
- 1/4 cup warm water 105-115 degrees
- 1 pkg dry active yeast
- 1 tsp sugar
- 4 cups all purpose flour
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cups plus 2 Tbsp. warm water
- 1 egg white and 1 Tbsp water.
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
- Combine 1/4 C water, yeast and 1 tsp sugar into a bowl. Allow to stand for five minutes or until yeast is bubbly.
- Into the bowl of the stand mixer, add flour, 1 Tbsp sugar, salt and remaining water.
- Add in yeast mixture. Mix well and knead for 5 minutes or until dough is smooth.
- Cover and allow to rise until double (about 15-20 minutes)
- On a lightly floured surface roll out with a rolling pin. (May divide dough into two pieces for two smaller loaves if desired)
- Roll dough up jelly roll style and turn ends under and place seam down on a greased cookie sheet. Cut 3 diagonal slits into each loaf (only about 1/4 inch deep)
- Mix together egg white and 1 Tbsp water and gently brush on loaves. Or brush with olive oil and sprinkle with coarse salt.
- Boil a pan of water and then put it into a shallow dish, if your pan is not oven safe. Place a pan of water on the lower shelf of the oven.
- Place bread in oven on shelf above pan of water.
- TURN OFF OVEN
- Allow bread to rise and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove pan of water
- Leave bread in the oven and turn oven to 425 degrees and bake bread for 8-10 minutes. (this includes the preheating time)
- If the bread is not done at the end of the ten minutes, reduce oven to 350 and bake for an additional 5 minutes longer or until bread is golden brown.
