Everyday French Bread is a delicious and super easy to make crusty bread that pairs perfectly with soups and stews!
Everyday French Bread is a tried and true recipe in our house. Baking homemade bread from scratch may seem a little intimidating but it is absolutely something that anyone can do.
This recipe is easy to follow and makes a delicious and tender loaf of everyday french bread!
What You’ll Need to Make Everyday French Bread
- Warm Water – Optimal temperature is between 110° to 115° F.
- Sugar – Regular, white granulated sugar.
- Active Dry Yeast – One 1/4 oz package, found in the baking aisle of the grocery store.
- Flour – We prefer to use all purpose flour or bread flour for best results.
- Olive Oil – We use extra virgin olive oil but any olive oil, avocado oil, vegetable oil or canola oil may be used for this recipe.
- Egg White – Separated from the egg yolk and beaten with a little water, the egg white helps to make the top of the loaf golden brown.
- Everything Bagel Seasoning or Sesame Seeds – We like to sprinkle these on the top of the loaf after we have done the egg wash for a little extra texture and flavor but this step is completely optional.
How to Make Everyday French Bread
Everyday French Bread is a simple and delicious bread and overall a pretty easy recipe to make.
We like to top with Everything Bagel Seasoning but you can use sesame seeds, kosher salt, minced onion flakes, garlic powder or nothing at all on the top. This is truly a pantry bread recipe. Use what works for you!
In a measuring cup or small bowl, combine sugar and warm water until sugar has fully dissolved. Sprinkle yeast over the top.
Proofing the yeast is a step that can be skipped if you are sure that your yeast is good and is going to be active. I have been heartbroken too many times by making bread with yeast that wasn’t good (and resulted in hockey pucks) so I take the extra 10 minutes to be sure! If it’s frothy, it’s good.
To the bowl of a stand mixer equipped with a dough hook add 2 cups of flour, olive oil, salt, and the proofed yeast mixture.
On low speed combine the ingredients until blended. Slowly add in the remaining cup of flour until it forms a stiff dough. If dough seems too wet, add additional flour in small amounts slowly until the desired consistency is reached.
Once the dough has come together, knead on low speed for three minutes.
Remove the dough from the mixer, shape into a ball and place into a greased bowl, turning once to grease top.
Punch the dough down and turn it onto a lightly floured surface. Shape into a loaf with tapered ends. Place loaf onto a lightly greased baking sheet or one lined with a silicone baking pad. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 375°.
In a small bowl lightly beat the egg white and water then brush the mixture over the top of the loaf.
Sprinkle with everything bagel seasoning if desired. (Or any other topping that you want!)
Bake until golden brown, about 25 minutes.
Remove from oven to a wire rack to cool. Store in a zip top bag or wrapped in foil at room temperature for up to three days. Enjoy!
Other bread recipes you may like
Same Day Sourdough Bread – baking artisan sourdough at home is a whole lot easier than you think!
Jalapeno Cheddar Focaccia Bread – Flavorful Italian inspired bread gets kicked up a notch with the addition of cheddar cheese and spicy jalapenos. The perfect combination of yum.
Parker House Dinner Rolls – A family favorite for special occasions these also make great slider buns and little sandwiches.
Cheddar-Dill Dutch Oven Bread – Easy to make bread with a great texture and a complex flavor.
No Fail Pizza Dough – Simple and delicious – great in the oven or on the grill, just add your favorite fixins!
Rustic Dutch Oven Bread – Five pantry ingredients come together in this easy to make crusty bread, a delicious addition to homemade soup or chili.
Everyday French Bread
Ingredients
- 1 cup warm water 110° to 115°
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 package active dry yeast 1/4 oz
- 3 cups bread flour or all purpose flour
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 egg white
- 1 tsp water
- 1 tsp everything bagel seasoning optional
Instructions
- In a measuring cup or small bowl, combine sugar and warm water until sugar has fully dissolved. Sprinkle yeast over the top. Proof for 5-10 minutes until the yeast becomes frothy.
- To the bowl of a stand mixer equipped with a dough hook add 2 cups of flour, olive oil, salt, and the proofed yeast mixture.
- On low speed combine the ingredients until blended. Slowly add in the remaining cup of flour until it forms a stiff dough. If dough seems too wet, add additional flour in small amounts slowly until the desired consistency is reached.
- Once the dough has come together, knead on low speed for three minutes.
- Remove the dough from the mixer, shape into a ball and place into a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place for about an hour until doubled.
- Punch the dough down and turn it onto a lightly floured surface. Shape into a loaf with tapered ends. Place loaf onto a lightly greased baking sheet or one lined with a silicone baking pad. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 375°.
- In a small bowl lightly beat the egg white and water then brush the mixture over the top of the loaf. Sprinkle with everything bagel seasoning if desired.
- Bake until golden brown, about 25 minutes. Remove from oven to a wire rack to cool.
- Store in a zip top bag or wrapped in foil at room temperature for up to three days. Enjoy!
Nutrition *
* The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator.
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