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.
I make this bread often. My husband loves it! I replaced 1 cup of white flour with whole-grain wheat flour. Delicious! Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Great recipe! My 97-year-old parents have a hard time finding white bread without soy or dairy, which they can’t digest well. This bread was a lovely surprise for them and they gobbled it up with a bowl of soup. Thank you so much for posting this recipe. We love it!
I made this French bread recipe a few weeks ago and it was amazing the first time I ever attempted to make this type of bread. The top split a little but didn’t mind as it still was good.
I’m making it again tonight and am
Going to try letting it rise longer as the first time I made it I only let it rise the minimal amount of time. Can’t wait to have it again!!! Thanks for sharing this amazing recipe. Super easy to make too btw!
This french bread is devine! I roasted a whole bulb of garlic, mixed a little pesto into the dough and glazed the top with a little butter pesto. So good!
I have made this many times ! It’s our favorite bread – today I am making it but with gluten free flour ! I hope it’s just as good !
This is a great recipe with excellent results. I have made many loaves. Big big hit at family gatherings and potlucks.
Thank you! I am so glad that you love this french bread. Thanks for sharing!
I have never made homemade bread. I tried this recipe and it was so delicious And easy. I definitely recommend this recipe. Thank you for sharing your recipe.
You are welcome! I am so glad that you loved this french bread.
Many compliments from friends. Deliciuos and easy to make. Great right out of the oven with a good French butter.
This French bread is perfect in every way!
That is a great comment! Thank you for sharing and trying one of my recipes!
Best French bread recipe yet! And I’m from NOLA, where we know French bread.
haha, yes you do! That is a great compliment coming from you! Thank you so much and thanks for trying one of my recipes!
Made this multiple times and it’s always a party favorite
Yay! That sounds like that perfect bread recipe. Thanks for sharing!
Just made this, yummy!!! So good!
Made this today. Tastes good. It took me a lot longer than 90 minutes to be ready. My husband gave it a 9/10. I worked hard on it. I am happy with it. I baked it on 375 the whole time – was afraid it would burn and be dry.
made these today. the dough rose beautifully in the bowl, and again as loaves.
i made one loaf regular and with the second, before rolling into shape, i spread a paste of butter, minced basil and crushed garlic, then sprinkled on chopped up olives. we haven’t tucked into the regular loaf yet as that one is reserved for sandwiches this week, but the warm garlicky olive loaf is amazing! the bread is chewy, which is exactly what i was looking for when i was searching up a recipe. i plan to enjoy some fresh basil, garden tomato, and gouda sandwiches and i know this bread will compliment that perfectly!
Wow! Excellent recipe with excellent results. Really great!
This is my go to recipe! Perfect every time and so easy. It always use this recipe when bringing a meal to a family.
This was yummmo!
Everyone enjoyed it. I will def make this again!
Cut the recipe and half and it came out soooo good ! Like wow I will make this again for sure.
So glad that you love it! Great idea to cut it in half.
This bread turned out beautifully! I used my bread machine to knead and warm for first 45, then I re-kneaded by hand and shaped, let rise for another 30-40 minutes, and baked! Made two large loafs.
That sounds perfect! I love that you used your bread machine to make it go quicker.