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.
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.
Video
Notes
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. Serve with butter, or to go above and beyond try with our homemade raspberry jam or delicious balsamic bread dip.