Basic French Bread recipe
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Basic French Bread

Fresh bread is simple to make -- you just need to plan a good 4 hours before you need it!

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Servings: 1 Servings
Total Time (median): 3 : 30 Active Time: 1 : 00

US/Metric: [convert to metric]

Ingredients


Preparation

In a large bowl dissolve yeast in the water, add the sugar and let sit 5 min until it starts to foam. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir into a shaggy mass. Scrape onto a lightly floured board or stone, and kneed 8 to 10 min., adding more flour as needed to get a smooth, elastic dough. Transfer to a lightly oiled bowl and turn to coat. Cover with plastic. Let it sit at room temperature to double, 45 min to 1 hr. Punch, re-shape and rise again to double, 30 to 45 min.

To bake: 400 degrees, 30 to 40 min. The bread should be deeply golden, and sound hollow by tapping on the bottom.


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Basic French Bread Reviews

100% would make "Basic French Bread" again.

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Very good, easy recipe. I used half unbleached white and half whole wheat. Good tip about tossing ice or water in oven at start. Makes a crustier crust. It is importannt to slash top so as to allow dough yo expand w/o collapsing.

StCloudDadStCloudDad : posted from mobile device :  1d 23h 6min ago


slashed 3 cuts in top with baker's lame. Great bread and crust

deeder5deeder5 :  :  2y 16w ago


[I made edits to this recipe.]

stevemurstevemur :  :  2y 16w 1d ago


Very good, basic bread recipe. I made it with my two young sons on a rainy day and we had fun. Used unbleached flour. I also heard a tip to place an edged cookie sheet into the oven when preheating, on which I tossed half a dozen ice cubes (for steam) just as the bread was set in the oven. And I kept the oven door closed the entire time. The steam gave the bread a nice crust, shown in photo. Very good served warm with a salad and/or soup.

stevemurstevemur : : 3:30 total time : 1:00 active time :  2y 16w 1d ago


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