Cookbook Table of Contents

French Bread

This recipe came from Diana.   She made it first on Easter 2024.

This makes 2 loave.
Prep time 3.25 hours
Cook time 25 minutes
Total 3 hrs 40 minutes   

Ingredients

.
Ingredients
2 - 1/4 Cup warm water (110 to 115 degrees)

2 TBLS

 granulated sugar
1 TBLS instant or active dry yeast (see note)
2 - 1/4 tsp salt (see note) 
2 TBLS olive oil, canola oil, vege oil, or avocado oil
5 - 1/5 oz or 6 Cups all-purpose flour or bread flour (see note)

Preparation

  1. Combine water, sugar and yeast in mixer bowl.  Let mixture bubble and foam before proceeding.  (3 to 5 minutes)

  2. Add salt, oil, and 3 cups of flour and mix.  Add 2-1/2 to 3 more cups of flour gradually. The dough should clear the sides of the bowl and form a soft ball that doesn't leave a lot of dough residue on your fingers.

  3. Knead for 2-3 minutes until the dough is smooth.  If the dough starts to cling to the sides of the bowl and 1/4 cup of flour at a time until a sturdy but soft ball of dough forms.

  4.  Rising Method #1: Leave dough in mixe, cover with lid or towel.  Let rest for 10 minutes.  Stir down by during on the mixer for 10 seconds.   Repeat rest and stir down cycle 5 more times. 

  5.  Rising Method #2: Instead of letting the dough rest for 10 minute spurts, transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl and cover with a towel or greased plastic wrap.  Let dough rise until doubled, about an hour or so depending on kitchen warmth.

  6.  Turn dough onto lightly greased surface and divide in half. Pat each half into a thick rectangle.  9x13" or therabout.   Roll the dough up startting from the long edge, pressing out any air bubbles or seams with heal of your hand.  Pinch the edge to seal. Arrange seam sidedown on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper or use sepearte baking sheets for each roll.

  7. Cut several gashes at an angle on the top of each loaf.

  8. Cover loaves with greased plastic wrap or kitchen towel and let rise until noticeably puffy and nearly doubled in size.  (1 hour)

  9. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and center oven rack.  You can increase heat to 400 or 425 if you find it's not browning enough, but watch it so it doesn't burn.

  10. Optional: Add 3 to 4 ice cubes on the bottom of the oven for extra golden crips crust.  Close door quickly but gently.

  11. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes

  12.  If desired, brush melted butter over top of loaves when done.  This softens the crust a bit