Easy French Bread Recipe (a bread machine recipe)
Easy French Bread Recipe (a bread machine recipe)
If you’re looking for a bread recipe for dinner tonight, this Easy French Bread Recipe makes 2 loaves and is the perfect dinner bread! This bread is so much better than what you can buy at the grocery store!
Simple Ingredients
Make homemade bread for dinner tonight!
Yes, you can have homemade fresh bread ready for dinner tonight! Here’s a quick timeline to make that happen. This easy homemade French bread recipe takes just over 3 hours from start to finish, with most of that time just the dough proofing. So if I want to have it on the table for dinner at 6, I will have the ingredients in the bread machine by 3 in the afternoon, maybe even 2:45 so I’m not rushed. Or, you can make and bake these loaves ahead of time and freeze them for when you need bread.
Easy French Bread Recipe Tips
- WATER: Use warm water, or room temperature water. Warm water (NOT HOT water) promotes yeast growth.
- FLOUR: Use all-purpose flour or bread flour.
- YEAST: Use fresh instant yeast, also called Bread Machine Yeast and Rapid Rise Yeast.
- SHAPING THE DOUGH: This recipe makes 2 loaves. Separate the dough into 2 rounds, and shape into long oval loaves. You can see what that looks like in the images below.
- PREPARE THE BAKING SHEET: Grease a large baking sheet with oil (vegetable oil or olive oil). I like to generously drizzle olive oil directly under where the loaves will sit. We like the flavour and crunch it adds to the bottom of the baked bread.
- STORAGE: Store this bread in an airtight container to keep it fresh. If after a couple of days it dries out a bit, it makes great toast and French toast!
- FREEZING: This bread freezes very well. Let the bread cool completely before freezing. Freeze in a large airtight freezer bag for up to 2 months.
- TIP! Don’t try to slice into the bread too soon after baking or you’ll squish it.
Shaping the dough into 2 loaves:
This recipe makes 2 medium sized loaves (that fit nicely onto a standard baking sheet). I like the size of these loaves because 1 is perfect for dinner, and then I can freeze the other loaf of bread for another night. Anyway, here’s a quick visual for how I shape, prepare and place the loaves on a prepared baking pan.
After the dough has been mixed in the bread machine, separate into 2 balls, then lightly flatten each ball into a 12 x 6 inch rectangle. Then roll the dough into an oval loaf. Making sure to tuck the ends under and pinch all the seams together.
Generously grease the pan under where the loaves will sit (I use olive oil). Place the loaves on the pan and let rise for 45 minutes. After this time, use a sharp knife or lame and cut diagonal slits into the top of the dough, about 1/4 inch deep and an inch apart.
Bake at 375 degrees F for about 30 minutes.
Let cool for at least 15 minutes before slicing.
Bread Machine Recipe Tips
Don’t miss these Bread Machine Baking Tips! These tips will to help you get the most out of your bread machine, no matter which type you have. Also includes links to delicious recipes!
Serving Suggestions
This bread is delicious served alongside soup, stews, pasta or really anything! Try it with this Creamy Tomato Basil Shrimp Pasta, or this yummy Slow Cooker Beef Stew!
Easy French Bread Recipe (a bread machine recipe)
Ingredients
- 1 1/3 cups warm water (not hot)
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 3 1/3 cups all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tsp instant yeast
Instructions
- Measure all of the above ingredients into the bread machine.1 1/3 cups warm water, 1 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tbsp granulated sugar, 1 tbsp olive oil, 3 1/3 cups all purpose flour, 1 1/2 tsp instant yeast
- Choose the Dough Cycle.
- Once the dough cycle is complete, remove the bread dough to a lightly floured surface and cover with a clean tea towel. Let the dough rise for 15 minutes.
- Separate the dough into 2 balls, then use a rolling pin to lightly flatten each ball into a 12 x 6 inch rectangle. Roll each dough rectangle into an oval loaf, making sure to tuck the ends under and pinch all the seams together.
- Generously grease the pan under where the loaves will sit (I use olive oil).
- Place the loaves, seam side down, on the pan (space them apart), then cover with a clean tea towel and let the bread rise in a warm place for 45 minutes, or until they have doubled in size.
- After this time, use a sharp knife, lame or sharp razor blade to cut diagonal slits into the top of each loaf, about 1/4 inch deep and 1 inch apart.
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.
- Place the loaves into the hot oven, on the middle oven rack, and bake for about 30 minutes. When the bread is done, it will sound hollow when you tap the top, and the top will be golden brown.
- Right after the bread has baked sometimes I like to brush the top with melted butter. It softens the top and adds a nice buttery flavour. If you prefer more of a crisp crust you can leave out this step.
- Let cool for at least 15 minutes before slicing.
I hope you enjoy this homemade French bread recipe! With love, from Our Tasty Kitchen, to yours.
