Description
Step into the warm and inviting world of homemade bread with Grandma’s French Bread recipe. Easy to make and oh-so delicious!!
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ¼ c. warm water
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 2 Tbsp yeast
- 1 Tbsp salt
- 2 Tbsp oil (olive oil, canola oil, avocado oil or melted butter)
- 5 ½ –6 cups flour-stirred before measured
Instructions
- First dissolve sugar and yeast in the warm water. Let this proof—or sit for a few minutes until it bubbles.
- Then add salt, oil and 3 cups of flour and beat well (At this point I switch to my dough/kneading attachment on my stand mixer)
- Add in 2 1/2 -3 more cups of flour. The dough should clean off the sides of the bowl and not be too sticky. Knead for a few minutes.
- Cover the bowl with a towel and leave the dough in the mixer to rest for 10 minutes and then stir it down (turn on your mixer for 10 seconds) and then allow to rest another 10 minutes.
- Repeat for a total of 5 times.
- Then turn dough onto a baking mat or lightly floured surface. Divide into 2 equal parts.
- Roll each part into a 9×13 rectangle. Starting from long edge of loaf, roll dough into a long log and pinch to seal. Arrange seam side down on large baking sheet that’s been sprinkled with corn meal, allowing room for both loaves.
- Repeat with second part of dough. With a sharp knife, cut 3 gashes at an angle on the top of each.
- Cover lightly; allow to rise 30-60 minutes, depending on the warmth of your kitchen. The dough should be double in size.
- Brush entire surface with egg wash (one egg beaten slightly with 1 Tbsp of water). If desired, sprinkle with sesame seeds.
- Bake for 30 minutes at 375. Cool on racks
- NOTE: For a crustier loaf, a pie plate of water may be set on bottom of oven while bread is baking.