Description
This Crusty French Bread is a rustic, golden loaf with a crispy crust and soft, chewy interior. Made from just four simple ingredients, it’s the ultimate comfort bake—perfect for sandwiches, soups, or warm with butter.
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 cups bread flour
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon instant dry yeast
- 1 1/3 cups slightly warm tap water
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine bread flour, salt, and yeast. Add warm water and stir until a dough forms. If too sticky, add flour one tablespoon at a time until smooth.
- Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 8–10 minutes until soft and elastic.
- Place dough in a greased bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and let rise in a warm spot for 1 to 1.5 hours or until doubled in size.
- Punch down dough and shape into a long oval loaf. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Cover loosely and let rise again for 30–45 minutes until puffy.
- Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C). Place a shallow pan of water on the bottom rack to create steam.
- Slash the top of the loaf with a sharp knife and bake for 25–30 minutes until golden brown and the bottom sounds hollow when tapped.
- Cool on a wire rack before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Use all-purpose flour if bread flour is unavailable—texture will be slightly softer.
- Refrigerate dough overnight for deeper flavor; bring to room temperature before shaping and baking.
- Add fresh herbs, garlic powder, or whole wheat flour for variations.
- Sprinkle sea salt, sesame seeds, or cheese on top after slashing the dough.
- Reheat in a 350°F oven for 5–10 minutes to restore crustiness.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 33g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
