French Bread Recipe

French Bread! One of my personal favorites. Don't worry, you will be surprised by how simple this recipe is.

French Bread Ingredients

French Bread Ingredients

This recipe calls for:

4 1/2 Teaspoons Yeast

2 Teaspoons Sugar

1/2 Cup Warm Water

1 Cup Milk

2 Teaspoons Salt

4 Teaspoons Sugar

2 Tablespoons Butter

4 Cups Flour

1/4 Cup of Corn Meal (for the bread sheet)

French Bread Equipment

French Bread Equipment

For this recipe you will need:

2 Mixing Bowls

Measuring Cups

Measuring Spoons

Mixing Spoon

Kitchen Scissors

Bread Sheet (Cookie Sheet)

Cutting Board

French Bread Yeast

First Step: Yeast

If this is your first time using yeast it might be a little scary. "Why is is moving? It smells funny. Did I add too much sugar? Why is it making bubbles? Is this really edible?" I am not going to explain the scientific process of yeast, but I will tell you that yes, it is in bread. Almost all bread contains yeast. Just let it take its cores. The only thing necessary for success with yeast is to make sure it is fresh enough to react with the sugar.

In a bowl, mix together the following ingredients and let them set for three minutes or until the yeast has reacted:

4 1/2 Teaspoons Yeast

2 Teaspoons Sugar

1/2 Cup Warm Water

Butter and Milk

Second Step: Butter and Milk

Once the yeast has risen, in another bowl  microwave until melted the 2 tablespoons of butter and 1 cup of milk. Stir this every 30 seconds. Then stir into this mixture 2 teaspoons of salt and 4 teaspoons of sugar. Now Stir this new mixture into the yeast and sugar in the other mixing bowl. 

French Bread Dough

Third Step: Dry Ingredients

Now, all you have to do is slowly add  3 cups of flour (the 4th cup is used in the next step) while stirring the mixture.  I like to shake the flour slowly into the mixture using a paper plate. This is the easiest way.

Kneading French Bread

Forth Step: Kneading Dough

Pour the last cup of flour out on the cutting board and then knead this into the bread dough until it is no longer tacky at first touch. This usually takes around 2 minutes.

Forming French Bread

Fifth Step: Forming Dough

Form your kneaded dough into a ball by pulling and tucking the dough underneath itself. Then once it looks like the upper left picture slice it in half. Using the same motion mentioned above (pulling and tucking) stretch both halves into loves. Place these under a dish towel and let them rise for 20 minutes. Preheat your oven to 375.

Bread Sheet

Sixth Step: Bread Sheet

Spray the bread pan with Pam (cooking spray). Then place the corn meal in your fist and sprinkle it evenly over the bread sheet.

Raw French Bread

Seventh Step: Baking

Now score the top of the French bread using kitchen scissors. Make sure that the middle score is deep and the two outer cuts are about half its depth.  

Bake this for 15 minutes.

Brushing With Milk

After 15 minutes remove the French bread loves from the oven and brush the tops of their crusts with milk. Then place them back into the oven for 5 minutes. This will cause the crust to become crisp and brown. 

French Bread

French Bread

Now enjoy your French Bread!

Click Here For: French Bread Serving Tips