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    Urban Bliss Life » All Recipes » Bread Recipes » Homemade French Bread

    Published: July 3, 2022 / Updated: September 16, 2022 by Marlynn Jayme Schotland · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Homemade French Bread

    7 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Homemade French Bread from scratch is easier than you might think, and the results are absolutely worth it! This is a great bread made with basic pantry ingredients that goes with almost any meal, but especially with pastas, soups, and salads.

    homemade French bread loaf in a basket with blue and white striped cloth on a tiled table.

    Where are my bread lovers at?

    Whether you're enjoying a Thai chicken salad, a beautiful plate of Dairy-Free Instant Pot Tuscan chicken pasta, or a hearty, satisfying Instant Pot lentil soup, this Homemade French Bread is the perfect side dish to serve.

    Jump to:
    • 🥖 Why you'll love this homemade French bread
    • 🧂Recipe ingredients
    • ✅ Step-by-step instructions
    • ❓Recipe FAQs
    • 🍽 What to serve with homemade French bread
    • 🥘 Kitchen tools and equipment
    • More bread recipes
    • Homemade French Bread

    🥖 Why you'll love this homemade French bread

    homemade French bread loaf in a basket with blue and white striped cloth on a tiled table.

    Making bread from scratch is easier than you might think! While it does take more time than buying store-bought bread, the little bit of extra work is absolutely worth it.

    And this French bread recipe is so simple and versatile. I think you're gonna love it as much as my family does!

    • Homemade bread is healthier. You just need 4 basic pantry ingredients plus water. No extra ingredients that the store brand breads have.
    • It's less expensive. Making bread from scratch saves you money, and we all love that, right?
    • You can adjust the shape of the bread to suit your needs. For instance, when I made the loaves for these photos, I made them specifically with French Bread Pizza made in the air fryer in mind. So, I shaped mine wider and a little flatter than I normally would. Normally, I would shape my loaves to be a little narrower and have more of a dome top.
    • This bread freezes well. That means you can make a batch or two (or three!) and freeze some loaves for later.

    🧂Recipe ingredients

    bowls of ingredients to make homemade french bread on a blue and white tiled table.

    You probably already have all of the ingredients you need to make this French bread!

    • All-purpose flour
    • Yeast - use active dry yeast.
    • Honey
    • Salt - I use kosher, but you can use table salt if you prefer.
    • Water

    ✅ Step-by-step instructions

    glass Pyrex measuring cup with yeast rising on a marble countertop.
    glass Pyrex measuring cup with yeast rising on a marble countertop.
    1. In a medium bowl or glass measuring cup (like the one pictured above), add the yeast, honey, and ½ cup of warm water around 110°F. Stir gently to combine then allow to sit as the yeast is activated, rises, and foams, around 5 minutes (see second picture above for how much it can rise).
    bread batter in a mixer with rough hook.
    french bread dough risen to twice its starting size in a glass bowl.

    2. In a stand mixer with the dough hook attachment, add the flour and salt. Mix together. Then slowly add up to 1 cup of warm water (you may not need all of it) and mix until the dough comes together in a ball. If the dough is too sticky, gradually add more flour, a couple of tablespoons at a time, until the dough easily forms a ball and is not too sticky to the touch.

    3. Lightly grease the inside of a large bowl with the olive oil. Transfer the dough ball into the bowl. Cover with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel and allow to rest and rise in a warm place until the dough doubles in size. This takes around 25 minutes.

    homemade French bread dough ball on a floured marble countertop.
    A hand kneading homemade French bread dough ball on a floured marble countertop.

    4. Remove the dough ball from the bowl onto a lightly floured surface.

    5. Once the dough has doubled in size, punch it down on a lightly floured surface and divide it in half.

    Two homemade French bread dough balls on a floured marble countertop.
    two french bread loaves on a parchment paper-lined blue baking sheet ready to bake.

    6. Shape the dough into flat rectangles.

    7. Working one at a time, fold in the top and bottom toward the middle. Seal the seam with your fingers. Then continue folding in the top and bottom toward the middle and sealing the seams until you get a loaf that is about 12 inches long and about 2 to 3 inches wide. Repeat with the other loaf.

    Place bread loaves seam sides down onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover with a kitchen towel and allow to rest and rise until about double in size, which takes around 25 minutes.

    a knife scoring a raw french bread loaf on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
    two french bread loaves baking in an oven with a sheet of ice beneath it.

    8. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Once the French bread loaves have doubled in size, use a serrated knife to make a few small slices on the top of each loaf. This will help the bread rise evenly.

    9. Once the oven is preheated, working quickly but carefully, remove the towel from the bread and place the baking sheet in the middle rack.

    Place a baking sheet on the lower rack and quickly - but carefully! - place the ice cubes onto the lower baking sheet.

    Close the oven door immediately and allow to bake for 15 minutes, or until the tops and sides of the French bread loaves are a nice golden brown.

    ❓Recipe FAQs

    Is French bread the same as a baguette?

    The main difference between French bread and baguettes is the size and shape. French bread tends to be wider and have less of a domed top, although some bakers do make French bread in this style as well. Baguettes are the most common type of French bread; they are simply longer and narrower.

    What are the secrets to making the best French bread?

    The best French bread starts with the best ingredients. Use the highest quality flour you can afford.

    What's the best way to store French bread?

    Allow the bread to cool completely, then store in a breadbox or in a ziplock bag for 2 to 3 days. You can also freeze French bread: allow it to cool, then store in freezer-safe ziplock bags or airtight containers for up to two months.

    🍽 What to serve with homemade French bread

    bowl of spaghetti, side of french bread in blue and white towel, glass of red wine, all on a tiled table.

    French bread is a wonderful side dish to serve at almost ANY meal! One of our favorite ways to enjoy this french bread recipe: in Air Fryer French Bread Pizza. SO good!

    It's fantastic for soaking up the yummy flavors of One Pot Lasagna Soup, Instant Pot Turkey & 3-Bean Chili, or Sausage Tortellini Soup.

    Or enjoy sliced French bread with pasta dishes like Pasta with Clams and White Wine Sauce, Lemon Garlic Shrimp Scampi, or even this hearty Cajun Shrimp Pasta.

    🥘 Kitchen tools and equipment

    Baking Sheets - You will need two baking sheets: one to bake the French bread loaves, and a second to place on the rack below the bread to hold the ice cubes that will help create steam that will create the nice crusty exterior.

    More bread recipes

    • fresh pinterest image for Garlic Rosemary Focaccia Bread
      Garlic Rosemary Focaccia Bread
    • slices of Guinness brown bread with pats of butter and a Guinness beer
      Guinness Brown Bread
    • colorful plate with baked Filipino Pandesal rolls
      Filipino Pandesal Recipe
    • garlic bread rolls with parmesan cheese and parsley stacked on top of a white plate and bed of greens.
      Garlic Parmesan Knots

    Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!

    loaf of french bread in a basket lined with blue and white striped towel.

    Homemade French Bread

    5 from 6 votes
    Prep Time: 15 mins
    Cook Time: 15 mins
    Proofing time: 1 hr
    Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins
    Recipe by Marlynn Schotland
    A classic recipe for crusty French bread.
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 311kcal
    PRINT PIN RATE

    Ingredients

    • 1½ Tablespoons active dry yeast (about 2 packets if using packets)
    • 2 Tablespoons honey
    • 1½ cup warm water, divided
    • 3½ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting and possibly more for dough, as needed
    • 1½ teaspoons kosher salt
    • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
    • 5-6 ice cubes

    Instructions

    • In a medium bowl, add the yeast, honey, and ½ cup of warm water around 110°F. Stir gently to combine then allow to sit as the yeast is activated, rises, and foams, around 5 minutes.
    • In a stand mixer with the dough hook attachment, add the flour and salt. Mix together. Then slowly add up to 1 cup of warm water (you may not need all of it) and mix until the dough comes together in a ball. If the dough is too sticky, gradually add more flour, a couple of tablespoons at a time, until the dough easly forms a ball and is not too sticky to the touch.
    • Lightly grease the inside of a large bowl with the olive oil. Transfer the dough ball into the bowl. Cover with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel and allow to rest and rise in a warm place until the dough doubles in size. This takes around 25 minutes.
    • Once the dough has doubled in size, punch it down on a lightly floured surface and divide it in half. Then shape the loaves into flat rectangles. Working one at a time, fold in the top and bottom toward the middle. Seal the seam with your fingers. Then continue folding in the top and bottom toward the middle and sealing the seams until you get a French bread loaf that is about 12 inches long and about 2 inches wide. Repeat with the other dough.
    • Place bread loaves seam sides down onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover with a kitchen towel and allow to rest and rise until about double in size, which takes around 25 minutes.
    • Preheat the oven to 450°F. Once the the loaves have doubled in size and the oven is preheated, working quickly but carefully, remove the towel from the loaves and place the baking sheet in the middle rack. Place a baking sheet on the lower rack and quickly - but carefully! - place the ice cubes onto the lower baking sheet. Close the oven door immediately and allow to bake for 15 minutes, or until the tops and sides of the French bread loaves are a nice golden brown.

    Notes

    Important notes:
    • If your oven has a glass window in the oven door, cover it with a towel when you place the ice cubes onto the baking sheet just in case any stray ice leaps onto the window, which could cause the glass to shatter. 
    • No matter how tempting it is, do NOT open the oven door while the bread is baking. Check on it by using the oven light. 
    • You can sprinkle some cornmeal onto the parchment paper lining the baking sheet before the loaves go through their second rise, if you wish. This helps them not stick to the parchment paper, but also adds a nice crust to the bottom of the bread loaves when they bake. Totally optional, though.
    Tried this recipe?Please leave a star rating and comment! Then snap a pic of your dish and share it on social media. Tag @UrbanBlissLife and #UrbanBlissLife!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 311kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 584mg | Potassium: 91mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 3mg

    Nutrition information is a general estimate. Actual nutrition details may vary depending on the exact foods & brands you use to make this recipe. It does not take into account any substitutions, toppings, or optional ingredients.

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      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. Tayler Ross says

        July 27, 2022 at 11:50 am

        5 stars
        You just can't beat homemade bread, and this is one of my favorite recipes! It turned out perfectly and I can't wait to make it again!

        Reply
      2. Mairead says

        July 27, 2022 at 11:03 am

        5 stars
        Crusty French bread is the best, and this homemade bread recipe ticks all the boxes for me. Simply delicious!

        Reply
      3. Kelley says

        July 27, 2022 at 11:02 am

        5 stars
        This bread looks amazing and has a perfect crust! Can't wait to give this bread a try thank you!

        Reply
      4. Qashang says

        July 27, 2022 at 10:40 am

        5 stars
        I have always been scared of trying out bread-making at home but your recipe is spot on. My entire family enjoyed it!

        Reply
      5. Cara says

        July 27, 2022 at 10:33 am

        5 stars
        Loved this crusty French bread. We eat baguettes all the time, this is such a great alternative to the grocery store kind!

        Reply

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      Marlynn Jayme Schotland 2021 profile pic

      Hi! Thanks for stopping by! I'm Marlynn - a cookbook author, writer, photographer, and mom of two teenagers + a lovable lab retriever. Here you'll find my fast, easy, and delicious recipes, wine pairings, and travel guides. I hold a WSET 2 with Distinction in wine, and am a member of Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA).

      More about me →

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