The BEST homemade french bread recipe made in just 90 minutes! So easy to make and comes out golden and crispy on the outside, while remaining soft and chewy on the inside.
Homemade bread is one of my favorite things to make. It can seem a bit intimidating at first, but this easy french bread recipe is a great place to start. It has a quick rising time and takes only 90 minutes from start to finish. If you’re a beginner to bread baking, make sure to check out my 3 ingredient artisan bread and my 45-minute breadsticks. Both are so simple along with my favorite dinner rolls and french bread rolls!
Easiest French Bread Recipe
If you’re looking for an easy french bread recipe, this is it! You’ll have 2 beautiful loaves in 90 minutes. The actual time you’ll be working will only be about 15 minutes, the rest of the time will be patiently waiting for the dough to rest/rise. This homemade french bread is golden and crispy on the outside, while remaining soft and slightly chewy on the inside. We love to serve it with a bowl of warm soup and the first time I made it, my husband said “this bread is SO good, where did you get it?” He thought I picked it up from our local bakery. It is just that good and really so easy to make. You’ll never want to buy store bought french bread again.
I absolutely love making bread and rolls of all kinds. There’s something so satisfying about making them in your own kitchen. The smell is unbelievable. We love to serve this homemade french bread with softened butter, honey and/or strawberry jam. So so good. Trust me when I say, this is the best french bread recipe!
How To Make Homemade French Bread
- Proof the yeast. In a small bowl, combine the warm water, yeast and sugar. Let sit for 5 minutes, or until it has begin to foam.
- Mix and let rest. Place 2 cups of flour into a large mixing bowl with the salt. Stir in the yeast mixture and begin to knead by hand or using a dough hook and stand mixer. Add 1/2 cup of the remaining flour at a time until the dough is smooth but not sticky. Rub the olive oil around the dough ball and let rest for 15 minutes.
- Shape and let rise again. Turn the dough onto a floured surface and divide it in half. Roll one half into a rectangle. Starting from the long side, roll the dough into a cylinder. Turn both ends in and pinch the seams closed. Round the edges and place onto a baking sheet. Repeat with the second dough ball. Let rise for 30-45 minutes. Make three diagonal cuts across the top of each loaf.
- Bake in oven. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Bake for 17-20 minutes or until the tops are golden brown. Brush the top of the homemade french bread with melted butter if desired. Slice and enjoy! :)
Baking Tips
- The key to the perfect consistency is to knead in flour a little at a time, until the dough becomes soft and not sticky.
- If using a bread dough hook to knead the dough, knead the last couple of minutes by hand.
- Let the dough rest a minute during the mixing process (this allows the gluten to relax).
- Let the dough rise in a warm spot by the window or on top of the stove.
- Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and then press down with your finger tips to remove any air pockets.
- Use a rolling pin to roll out the dough and any extra bubbles.
- Roll the dough into a loaf and then make sure to tuck the ends under and pinch all the seams together tightly to create a nice seal.
- For a crispier/shinier crust, brush on egg wash (1 egg white (whisked) with a teaspoon of water) before baking.
- For a softer and more flavorful crust, brush with melted butter right when it comes out of the oven.
Favorite Ways To Enjoy
- Top with butter, garlic herb butter, honey, cinnamon butter, jam or apple butter
- Dip in olive oil bread dip as an appetizer
- Use it to make classic bruschetta or bruschetta caprese
- Serve with all types of soup, like lasagna soup, corn chowder and hearty vegetable soup
- My family loves to make french bread pizza, stuffed french bread or garlic bread
- We also like to make spaghetti boats using leftovers of my easy spaghetti recipe.
- Make a french dip sandwich
- Once it’s a few days old, make french bread french toast, bread pudding or croutons
- Cut into cubes and serve with this cold Knorr spinach dip.
Freezer Instructions
Since this recipe makes two loaves, sometimes we freeze one of them for later. To freeze, wrap the bread tightly in foil or saran wrap (make sure it has cooled completely). Then place in a zip top bag and store in the freezer for up to 2 months.
More Homemade Bread Recipes To Try:
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Homemade French Bread Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 2 cups warm water , about 105°F
- 1 Tablespoon active dry yeast
- 2 ½ teaspoons granulated sugar
- 5 cups (650 g) all-purpose flour , or bread flour (add more as needed)
- 2 ½ teaspoons table salt or fine sea salt
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- Melted salted butter , optional
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let sit 5 minutes, or until it begins to foam.
- In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment or in a large mixing bowl, stir together 2 cups flour and salt. Stir in the yeast mixture on medium-low speed or by hand. Knead in 1/2 cup of the remaining flour in increments until the dough is smooth but not sticky (depending on climate you could use more or less than 5 cups). Add more flour as needed.
- Rub the olive oil around the dough ball, cover the bowl with a towel and let rest 15 to 30 minutes. If you have more time, let rise up to 1 hour.
- Turn the dough onto a well-floured surface and divide it in half. Set one half aside. Roll the other half into a rectangle (about 15 inches). Starting from the long side, roll the dough into a cylinder.
- Turn both ends in and pinch the seams closed. Round the edges and place onto a baking sheet. Repeat with the second dough ball. Make three diagonal cuts across the top of each loaf. Cover loaves lightly with a towel. Let rise 30 to 60 minutes (the longer the better, if you have the time).
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper. Bake 17 to 23 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown. When you knock on it, it should sound hollow. If it's browning too fast, lightly cover with foil and lower the temperature to 375°F.
- Brush the top with melted butter, if desired. Slice and serve while warm.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: Bread, Dairy-Free, Reader Favorites, Vegetarian, Yeast Bread
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
This was sooo good! This is an excellent recipe and has very good instructions along with step-by-step pictures that I could compare to which I found very helpful. The bread came out perfect. As a first-time french bread maker, I was amazed. I brushed my loaves with butter, and it brought out the beautiful golden color. If I had to improve on anything, it would be that the recipe card indicates paddle attachment and in the other instructions it mentions dough hook. Maybe you’re supposed to switch after the first two cups of flour? I just used the dough hook with some help from a spatula. Thanks for this great recipe!
I love this recipe. I even use it to make breadsticks sometimes.
My husband’s family is Italian and he loves this recipe. He says this reminds him of his grandma’s homemade bread. ❤️
After years of off and on looking for the perfect baguette recipe, I have finally found it. I have tried so many recipes that I have lost count. This is my new go-to. It is crusty and chewy, it is just an all around perfect baguette for sandwiches and for snacking.
A little tip: if you have a silicone baking mat or maybe parchment paper, you can put a cylinder piece of foil on each side to the prepared baguette before it rises so it holds it shape.
What type of pan?
I have a French bread pan for 2 loaves. It holds the shape and has holes to crisp the bread while in the oven. Have had it many years. Got it at Macy’s (then Dayton’s) in Minneapolis.
This recipe was absolutely delicious! I like a crunchy crust and decided to broil the top a little bit, the first time I burnt the top a bit, but it was still delicious! I made it for a big party and it was devoured! The second attempt at broiling the top went better, but I definitely need to keep a closer eye on it. 😂I have to say this is my new favorite recipe! It’s so quick and easy I am absolutely ✨obsessed✨my only question is how long does it keep for storing it in the paper bag in the counter?
If I wanted to make this into 4 loaves instead of 2, how long would you suggest I bake them for?
I would cook them about 15 minutes and then double check to see if they’re done :)
Bread was very dense everything was good till second rise before baking, the loafs rose and spread out ,which made for low and wide loafs. I used 3/4 tablespoon salt but they tasted bland, they looked pretty though.
Hi Odessa, I’m sorry to hear they didn’t turn out as well as expected. If they were dense my guess is there was too much flour added or the yeast didn’t properly proof.
Just made this , it’s fantastic! Crunchy on the outside lovely and pillowy on the inside.
So glad you enjoyed the french bread!
Just made this for the second time this week, I had to make sure it was as easy and delicious as the first time I made it! This is a keeper, really simple to put together and so much tastier (and cheaper!) than store bought.
I’ve made this recipe so many times now (because this is so good I’ve sworn to never buy it from a store again!) My family loves every time I make this and it’s so easy!
It works, it’s easy even by hand. Mt dad really loved it and took half a loaf home! Thank you. Kneading dough is my happy place.
Absolutely delicious and so easy to make! My family loves it and was impressed how beautiful it looks!
Flavor and texture came out perfect! Problem I had was the baked bread could be separated in the spiral shape I rolled it up in. Was my dough too dry? Maybe too much flour on the counter when rolling it out?
There probably was a little too much flour when rolling it up. I like to just dust it with flour until it’s not longer sticky. Glad you still enjoyed the french bread!
I’ve made French bread a few times using another recipe but it lacked the flavor I wanted. I tried this recipe and it’s been the best one I’ve made yet! I did add a little bit more salt than the recipe called for and it turned out great! I’ve added this to my regular rotation. Next I’m going to try the sandwich bread. Thank you!
This is my go to bread. Even for sandwiches. So easy and the best texture. It took me a couple of tries to get the rolling and tucking tight enough. I wish i could posy a picture of how wonderful this bread turned out. Thank you!
I made this today. 1 hour proof, shaped, put into baguette pan and 1 hour last rise. Baked at 475 at 100% steam in my steam oven, 14 minutes at 475 no steam. Bread was soft as a pillow inside with wonderful chew to the crust. Perfect recipe!
Sounds perfect! So glad you enjoyed the homemade french bread!
I have had no luck with other bread recipes. I loved this recipe!
Glad you enjoyed this french bread recipe :)
I made it like the giant store loaves and it was perfect! Delicious, simple enough for me, and absolutely gorgeous. I got those little pockets of air but not missing spaces, just uniform light airy pockets to catch the butter. I’ll be using this recipe often because I can remember it.
Sounds perfect Patti! So glad you enjoyed the homemade french bread!
I wish I could post a picture of how mine turned out. Pure perfection. Used rapid rise yeast to cut down the proofing time. Doubled in 30 minutes and then straight into the oven after shaping. Put egg wash on the tops and wow! Crispy crunchy outside, soft and fluffy inside. We can have this every night if we wanted! Simple, quick and oh so yummy!! ❤️