Easy French Bread

sliced bread on cutting board with balsamic vinegar and olive oil

Print Recipe

5 from 7 votes

Fluffy, delcioius crusty easy french bread recipe.

Prep Time35

Cook Time25

Total Time1

Course: bread

Cuisine: American

Servings: servings

Calories: 182kcal

Author: Kadee & Desarae

Ingredients

3 cups warm water
2 Tablespoon yeast
2 Tablespoon sugar
3 teaspoon salt
4-6 cups flour
2 Tablespoon melted butter
*2 tsp fresh thyme (leaves removed from stem)
*2 teaspoon fresh rosemary (removed from stem)
2 teaspoon oregano leaves dried or fresh

Instructions

In a large mixing bowl (I use my kitchen aid and dough hook) dissolve yeast into water. Let sit for a few minutes to grow and bubble.
Add salt, sugar and start mixer on slow speed.
Slowly mix in the 4 cups of flour, increasing to med speed. *if adding in herbs mix in 1 teaspoon thyme, rosemary and oregano leaves. Once smooth add ½ cup flour at a time, letting it mix for 1-2 minutes until incorporated then adding another ½ cup. When the dough is smooth, elastic and pulls away from the sides stop mixing.
Cover and let rise (about 10 minutes).
Divide into two loaves. *Combine remains spices (1 teaspoon rosemary, 1 teaspoon thyme, 1 teaspoon oregano) and roll top of dough in them.
Pinch ends together and score with sharp smooth knife.
Let rise, about 20 minutes here- or doubled in size.
Place on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 25 minutes or until done.
Brush top with melted butter and serve hot!

Notes

* optional ingredients. You don't have to make this a rustic herb french bread. To keep it a simply fluffy white french bread omit the herbs in the ingredients.

If your kitchen is on the cool side cover loaves with a clean dish towel to help the bread rise.

WHAT DO I DO IF MY DOUGH IS TOO STICKY?

Weather, humidity, temperature and altitude always play apart in baking and bread. If you are making bread on a cool humid rainy day your dough might be too sticky and won't rise as fast as it would in a dry warm climate. If this is the case and your dough feels too sticky slowly add more flour, ¼ cup at a time, until the dough pulls away from the sides. Again DON'T over flour to the bread will turn out dry. You want the dough to just barely pull away from the sides, but have a nice shine

Nutrition