How to Make French Bread From Scratch
Making bread is not that difficult to do from scratch. I know a lot of people think that there is a science to it but I can honestly say the only science to it is being able to get the temperature right!
Using yeast is simply a matter of adding the liquid ingredients at the correct temperature to activate the yeast and also making sure that the dough has adequate heat to rise. By applying these 2 simple theories in bread making, it is really very easy to be successful at it.
Moreover, there is nothing like the smell of baking bread in a house. I used a recipe that I had in my 30 year old Betty Crocker International Cookbook; however, that was before we had food processors and stand-up mixers. Instead of kneading the dough by hand, I simply mix the dough and then place in the mixer with the dough hook and knead it that way. Nothing could be simpler! For variety, try potato bread and rolls.
Photo Credit: Adam Pieniazek
Homemade French Bread
Makes 1 loaf
INGREDIENTS
1 package active dry yeast (or 2-1/2 teaspoons dry yeast)
1-1/4 cups warm water (105-115 degrees)
1 tablespoon sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
2-3/4-3 cups flour
1 tablespoon cornmeal
1 egg white or substitute egg white
2 tablespoons cold water
Paleo Banana Bread French Toast Recipe – One Cent Penny $0.01 No Reserve
Current Bid: $.01
BANANA BREAD FRENCH TOAST RECIPE-DESSERT-PAIN DORE- .99 CENT BUY IT NOW AUCTION
Current Bid: $.99
Gordon Bread Company 1890s French Bulldog Color Recipe Ad Card SEE!
Current Bid: $7.99
1957 Original Advertising: French’s Mustard on Food Bread Recipe Cold Cuts
Current Bid: $7.96
Pyrex Bake a Round Bread Roll By Corning French Recipes Holder Free Shipping
Current Bid: $17.99
PREPARATION
Dissolve yeast in warm water in large bowl.
Stir in sugar, salt and 2 cups of flour.
Beat until smooth.
Stir in enough of remaining flour to make dough easy to handle.
Remove dough and place in mixer with dough hook on or in food processor
with the dough hook on. Turn on and knead for 5-7 minutes. (Or turn
dough onto lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic – 5
minutes or so)
Place in a greased bowl. Turn greased side up.
Cover with damp cloth and let rise in warm place until double 1-1/2 to 2 hours.
Dough is ready if indentation remains when touched.
Punch down dough. Cover and let rest for 15 minutes.
Grease a cookie sheet. Sprinkle with cornmeal.
Roll dough into rectangle on slightly floured surface to 15 x 10 inches.
Roll up tightly and seal edge.
Roll gently back and forth to taper ends.
Place on cookie sheet.
Make 1/4-inch slashes in loaf at 2-inch intervals or make 1 lengthwise slash down length of the loaf.
Brush the top of loaf with cold water.
Let rise uncovered until double 1-1/2 hours.
Heat oven to 375 degrees.
Brush loaf with cold water.
Bake 20 minutes.
Mix egg white and 2 tablespoons water.
Brush over loaf.
Bake until loaf is deep golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped – about 25 minutes.
The 10-Minute Version
Crust and Crumb: Master Formulas for Serious Bread Bakers
Amazon Price: $10.93
List Price: $19.99
Bread of Three Rivers: The Story of a French Loaf
Amazon Price: $9.77
List Price: $16.00
Confessions of a French Baker: Breadmaking Secrets, Tips, and Recipes
Amazon Price: $19.88
List Price: $16.95
Bread Baking: An Artisan’s Perspective
Amazon Price: $19.05
List Price: $45.00
Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day: The Discovery That Revolutionizes Home Baking
Amazon Price: $14.92
List Price: $27.99
Good Bread Is Back: A Contemporary History of French Bread, the Way It Is Made, and the People Who Make It
Amazon Price: $12.14
List Price: $32.95
Old World Breads (Specialty Cookbooks)
Amazon Price: $79.32
List Price: $6.95
From a Baker’s Kitchen: Techniques and Recipes for Professional Quality Baking in the Home Kitchen
Amazon Price: $10.05
List Price: $18.00
More on Bread Making
Eight Tips for Using a Bread Machine
There’s something so wonderfully satisfying about the feel of bread dough in your bare hands. The kneading, punching and patting down just seems to satisfy some primal urge we have to produce food. …
How to make bread
It’s one of the things we often end up eating every day. Conveniently, bread is also rather simple to make. There is such a variety of different breads in the world that it is exciting to think about all the options open to you that you can create ri
Bread Machine Portioned Herbal Breads!
These pre-portioned mixes for the bread machine are the eighths item that are ready for the Christmas gift baskets. (Check out this hub for more details about the Bakers dozen gift baskets. I’ve also added…
Sourdough Bread: It’s Easy!
One of the most fun ways to bake bread at home is to make your own sourdough. My mother-in-law is a great cook and likes to can and make most of her food at home, she’s my inspiration. Unlike commercial…