Easy French Bread : Hearts Content Farmhouse

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A simple and delicious recipe for French bread made in the Dutch Oven– crisp crust, soft crumb, and perfect to serve with dinner.

This is the easiest bread recipe ever and is great for beginners. I still make it all th time because it’s good, not just easy. This is a great place to start if you are brand new to bread making. It rises easily and uses very few ingredients.

We love it sliced with butter or dipped in olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Easy French Bread in a Dutch Oven

4.46 from 48 votes

The easiest bread recipe you will ever make, but still an excellent loaf.

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Prep Time: 30

Cook Time: 50

rising time: 1 30

Total Time: 2 50

Servings: pieces

Calories: 159kcal

Author: Katie Shaw

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Equipment

Dutch oven
Parchment paper

Ingredients

4 cups bread flour
2 teaspoons salt
2½ teaspoons instant yeast (SAF brand recommended)
1½ cups water
pinch cornmeal for sprinkling on the parchment

Instructions

Mix. Combine all ingredients by hand, stand mixer, or bread machine. If you use instant yeast, there is absolutely no need to proof it; you can combine everything at once. The dough should clear the sides or the bowl and be slightly sticky but not too hard to handle. Add a small amount of water or flour as needed.
Knead. Knead the dough until soft, smooth, and elastic. You should be able to stretch the dough and see slightly translucent areas. This can take up to 5-10 minutes by machine for 15-20 minutes by hand.
First rise. Allow dough to rise, covered, in a warm place. It will take about 60 minutes in a setting that is about 90 degrees. You can use an oven that has been slightly warmed and then turned off or a sunny windowsill.
Shape. After the dough has risen, remove from bowl and place on floured surface. Prepare your baking sheet or Dutch oven by laying down a piece of parchment and sprinkling cornmeal on the parchment sheet. Shape the loaf by pinching the bottom until the top is smooth. Place the loaf on top of the parchment.
Second Rise. Cover the dough, either with heavily greased plastic wrap or the lid of your Dutch oven. Allow the dough to rise again. This will take another 45-60 minutes, in a warm place. Towards the end of the second rise, preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
Slash and flour. Rub flour on top. Slash with a very sharp knife.
Bake. When sufficiently risen, bake. Bake for 35-40 minutes, with the lid on for the first 20 minutes. Remove and bake until golden brown and the internal temperature is at least 190℉. Cool on wire rack and serve warm or room temperature. .

Notes

This recipe does not keep well at room temperature (will go stale the next day), but freezes very well. Just wrap well to freeze, then defrost at room temperature a few hours and reheat briefly in a warm oven. Or just use it for toast or croutons on day 2.

If you don’t have a Dutch oven, there is a workaround! Preheat a rimmed, metal baking sheet on a lower rack of your oven. Before baking, pour 1 cup of water in to create steam. This will mimick the humidity that the lidded Dutch oven creates.

Nutrition

Did you make this?Let me know how it was! Please see below for serving ideas, storage instructions, and substitutions.

🧂 about the Ingredients

You’ll need the following for this french bread:

bread flour (just get some! you’ll never regret having bread flour on hand!)
salt
instant yeast (SAF brand recommended)
water
cornmeal for sprinkling on the parchment
Dutch Oven (if you don’t have one, no problem! Preheat a baking sheet in your oven and pour a cup of water in to create steam. This mimics the high humidity created by a Dutch Oven.)

🥣 Equipment

dutch oven
stand mixer/bread machine (optional)
bowl
parchment paper

🥫 Storage instructions

Once the french bread has cooled, you can store it in a bag or container on the counter for a day or two. If you want to store it for longer, you can place it in the fridge or freezer.

🔍 FAQs

What is the difference between French bread and regular bread?

French bread is made with a higher ratio of flour to water, which results in a crisper crust and a softer crumb. It is also often baked in a Dutch oven, which gives it a nice crisp crust.

Can I make this bread in a different type of oven?

This recipe is specifically for the Dutch Oven, but you could try making it in a regular oven by baking it at a high temperature.

👩🏻‍🍳 Expert tips

When making french bread, it is important to use a high-quality flour. This will help to create a crisp crust and soft crumb
Dutch ovens are perfect for baking french bread, as they provide consistent heat and create a nice crust.
Make sure to score the bread before baking, so that it will expand properly in the oven.
The key is to make sure the oven is nice and hot before you put the dough in, and that you bake it for a long time to get a nice crispy crust.

📘 Related Recipes

🍽 Serve it with

Soup and bread are a match made in heaven, and this creamy tomato basil soup is amazing.
Try serving with broccoli salad as a side.

Want more bread recipes?

I’ve rounded up my favorite Dutch Oven bread recipes for beginner friendly baking.
Check out my archive of bread recipes for some of our family favorites, from rolls to sandwich loaves to artisan breads.
This is the same dough recipe I use for french sandwich rolls, just a different method.