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Easy Homemade French Bread with a Crackly Crust

A cross-section of homemade french bread showing a golden, crackled crust and an open crumb structure.
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Bake bakery-style French bread at home that features a wonderfully crisp, crackly crust and a soft, fluffy interior crumb. This recipe is straightforward and perfect for beginners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon instant yeast
  • 1 1/2 cups warm water (about 105-115°F)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil (for the bowl)

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and instant yeast.
  2. Pour in the warm water and mix with a wooden spoon until a shaggy dough forms. Do not overmix.
  3. Drizzle the olive oil over the dough, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead for about 5 minutes until the dough is smooth.
  4. Lightly oil your bowl. Place the dough in the bowl, turning to coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel. Let the dough rise in a warm place for 60 to 90 minutes, or until it has doubled in size.
  5. Gently punch down the dough. Divide it into two equal pieces. Shape each piece into a long, rustic loaf or baguette shape.
  6. Place the shaped loaves on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, leaving space between them. Cover loosely and let them rest for a second rise for 30 minutes.
  7. Preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C). Place a shallow metal pan on the bottom rack while the oven heats; this is for creating steam.
  8. Just before baking, score the top of each loaf twice diagonally with a sharp knife or razor blade.
  9. Carefully pour 1 cup of hot water into the preheated metal pan on the bottom rack to create steam. Quickly close the oven door.
  10. Bake the French bread for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the crust is deep golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped.
  11. Remove the loaves from the oven and transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

Notes

  • For the best crackly crust, the steam in the oven is essential. Do not skip adding hot water to the pan.
  • If you prefer a softer crust, skip the steam step and brush the loaves lightly with melted butter immediately after they come out of the oven.
  • This recipe makes a great sandwich bread loaf when baked as a single, thicker loaf.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://devourdish.com/easy-homemade-french-bread-crusty-soft/