How to make Homemade French Bread from scratch. This recipe is simple and reliable — perfect fresh from the oven with butter or used for sandwiches and appetizers.
I had to share this easy French bread recipe. Once you start baking bread at home, store-bought loaves just don’t compare. Homemade bread offers superior flavor, texture, and no mysterious additives.
Making bread at home removes preservatives and odd ingredients, and it’s one of my favorite kitchen projects. The inspiration for this loaf was a batch of meatballs — in Cameroon we often pair meatballs with French bread, and the combination is heavenly. After preparing the meatballs, I couldn’t wait to eat them in a crusty loaf, so I baked this bread and was very pleased with the result.
The crumb is airy and the crust golden when baked properly. You can shape the loaves to a length that fits your baking sheet — I used a long 17-inch sheet for longer loaves, but a shorter sheet works just as well for compact loaves.
Ingredients For French Bread From Scratch
This dough uses straightforward pantry ingredients:
- Lukewarm water (about 110°F / warm to the touch)
- Active dry yeast or instant yeast
- Sugar
- Vegetable oil or another neutral oil
- Salt
- All-purpose flour or bread flour
Exact quantities are listed in the recipe card below.
How To Make Easy Homemade French Bread
1. In a large bowl, combine warm water, yeast, and sugar. Add salt, vegetable oil, and flour. Mix with a wooden spoon or a stand mixer until a dough forms.
2. Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead about 5 minutes until smooth, or knead in the stand mixer until supple.
3. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm spot until doubled in size (about 1–2 hours).
4. Punch down the dough to release the air, shape into a ball, and place on a floured surface.
5. Divide the dough into four equal pieces. Shape each piece into a long log. Work one piece at a time if you prefer.
6. Use a sharp knife to make several diagonal slashes across each loaf (about 5–8 slashes, roughly 1/2 inch deep). This helps the bread expand evenly while baking.
7. Place the loaves on greased baking sheets and let them rise in a warm spot for 20–30 minutes. Avoid overproofing or the loaves can lose shape.
8. Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (180°C) for about 25 minutes, until the loaves are golden brown and firm on the outside.
9. Remove from the oven and brush the hot loaves with melted butter for a rich flavor and shiny finish.
This homemade French bread is flavorful with a salty note balanced by a touch of sweetness. It’s excellent warm with butter or used to make hearty meatball subs.
Watch How To Make Homemade French Bread
For a step-by-step visual, watch the video demonstration embedded below to see shaping and scoring techniques in real time.
More Bread Recipes From Scratch You Might Love:
- Easy Sandwich Bread
- Dinner Rolls
- Milk Bread
- Cornbread Without Buttermilk
- Shawarma Bread
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Easy Homemade French Bread
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups warm water
- 4 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar (cane or brown sugar works)
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 tablespoon butter, melted (for brushing)
- 6 cups all-purpose or bread flour (about 720 g)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix warm water, yeast, and sugar. Add salt, oil, and flour and mix until a dough forms.
- Turn dough onto a floured board and knead about 5 minutes until smooth. Let dough rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1–2 hours.
- Punch the dough to release air, divide into four equal parts, and shape each part into a long log. Make 5–8 diagonal slashes about 1/2 inch deep across each loaf. Place loaves on greased baking sheets and let rise 20–30 minutes. Note: Don’t let them overproof or they may lose shape.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (180°C) for about 25 minutes until golden brown and crisp on the outside. Brush with melted butter as soon as they come out of the oven.
Notes
1. To create a warm proofing spot, preheat your oven briefly to about 110°F, turn it off, then place the covered dough inside while it rises.
2. Nutrition info assumes one loaf yields four servings.
Nutrition
Additional Info
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