Simple French Bread
This creative recipe can be used as either a French Bread loaf or as a simple sandwich loaf. I can guarantee you that if you make and try this, you will never return to store bought bread again. It is simple and uses ingredients you have in your pantry.
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1½ teaspoon sugar or honey
- 1½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter sliced thin
- 3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoons instant yeast
Instructions
Bread Machine Instructions
- Place all ingredients into bread machine in order.
- Select dough cycle.
- Watch as dough mixes to see if dough looks dry. If so, add a teaspoon of water at a time until dough looks a little wetter. If it looks a little dry, add a small amount of flour.
- Once the dough cycle has completed, remove dough from machine onto a lightly floured surface. Push dough down to remove the bubbles.
- Shape dough into a loose ball and let rest for 15 minutes.
- For French bread, roll the dough into an oval shape approximately 9x12 inches. Starting on the long side, roll into a cylinder shape. Pinch seams together. Pull ends to reach seams and pinch together. Flip the loaf onto a prepared baking pan. Cover and allow to rise for approximately 1 hour or until doubled in size. Time depends on the temperature of your home.
- For the sandwich loaf, simply roll the dough into the shape of your bread pan and place the seams on the bottom of the pan. Cover and allow to rest for approximately 1 hour or until double in size. Time depends on the temperature of your home.
- Preheat oven to 425℉. Score the loaf and brush with olive oil.
- Bake 20 minutes. After that time, reduce heat to 350℉ and bake for another 5-10 minutes until golden brown.
Mixing by hand or with stand mixer:
- To mix by a heavy duty mixer, place all ingredients into the bowl in the same order. Turn mixer on LOW. Mix until all ingredients are moistened. Then, using a dough hook, turn the speed to 2 or 3. Continue beating/kneading until dough becomes smooth and elastic (about 5-10 minutes). Cover and allow to rise in a warm place. Deflate dough gently and shape as indicated in the recipe.
- To mix by hand, combine all ingredients into a shaggy ball in a large bowl. Turn dough out onto a floured surface. Knead with your hands until the dough becomes smooth and elastic. Knead for approximately 10 minutes. Place the dough ball into a greased bowl. Cover and allow to rise until double. Deflate the dough gently and shape as indicated in the recipe.