I always wanted to make homemade French bread, but thought it would be difficult. Wrong! Our Rustic French Bread is as easy to make as it is delicious to eat.
If there is one thing in this life that is SURE to make me happy, it’s fresh homemade bread. Does anyone else just get so many endorphins from bread, or is it just me? Regardless, you will love how easy this rustic French bread is, guaranteed.
Rustic French Bread
If you love bread as much as I do, you absolutely need my Grandma’s Famous Crescent Roll recipe, too. Or if sweet breads are what you prefer be sure to check out our yummy Chocolate Chip Banana Bread or our Lemon Zucchini Bread recipes.
Back to this delicious homemade French bread. I have always been intimidated by making fresh bread, but as soon as I made this recipe I was immediately mourning lost time. Guys, it was so easy! It takes less than an hour start to finish to make both loaves.
I love that the recipe makes two loaves, so perfect to share with friends or neighbors.
Homemade French Bread
Below you will find a picture tutorial and step by step instructions. There is also a video in the recipe card if you’d like to watch the whole process unfold.
Top Left – Add hot water, yeast and sugar to a large mixer and let rise.
Top Right – Once your mixture puffs up and the yeast is activated, add in your oil, salt, butter and flour. Add flour gradually and mix to combine. If dough is too sticky, add a little bit of flour at a time until the dough pulls off the sides of your mixer. You don’t want dough to over mix, but you want it to be well incorporated. 2-3 minutes is typically perfect.
Bottom Left – Divide dough in half and shape into two loaves.
Bottom Right – Make diagonal scores across the dough to give the loaves room to grow and expand in the oven. Bake at 375 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until golden brown.
When bread is done remove from oven and immediately butter the top of each loaf.
Pro Tip: The lack of rise time in this recipe causes the bread to be a little more dense than French bread you would buy at the grocery store. If you would rather have your bread be a little more airy you can allow the loaves to rise after you shape them and before you put them in the oven. If you do let them rise spray some Saran Wrap with cooking spray and cover the loaves with it so the tops don’t harden or dry out during rising.
Easy Homemade French Bread
If you make this recipe and enjoy it we’d love for you to leave us a positive comment and review, they mean so much to us.
Rustic French Bread
Video
Equipment
- Large Bowl or Mixer
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 Cups Hot Water
- 2 Tablespoons Yeast
- 1/4 Cup Sugar
- 1 Tablespoon Salt
- 1 Tablespoon Oil
- 6 Cups Flour
- 1 Tablespoon Butter
Instructions
- Add hot water, yeast and sugar to a large mixer and let rise.
- Once your mixture puffs up and the yeast is activated, add in your oil, salt, butter and flour. Add flour a gradually and mix to combine. If dough is too sticky, add a little bit of flour at a time until the dough pulls off the sides of your mixer. You don't want dough to over mix, but you want it to be well incorporated. 2-3 minutes is typically perfect.
- Divide dough in half and shape into two loaves.
- Make diagonal slices across the dough to give the loaves room to grow and expand in the oven. Bake at 375 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until golden brown.
Notes
Nutrition
Happy bread making,
xo,
This recipe was so easy to follow and the results were amazing! Best French bread I’ve ever made.
This french bread was delicious! So soft and tender on this inside!
I am so bad at making homemade bread but somehow, I pulled this off! Yay. Your tips were so helpful. Spread some Nutella on it and enjoyed it for breakfast today.