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Easy French Bread

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

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

round French bread in red Dutch Oven

❤️ Why you’ll love this recipe

The best French Bread. This is the easiest bread recipe ever, and is great for beginners.  I still make it all the time because it’s good, not just easy.

Quick and easy. It rises easily and uses very few ingredients. If you knead it in the bread machine or stand mixer there is very little hands-on time, just rising time.

Good for beginners. If you are brand new to bread making, this is a great place to start.  

Works well with many recipes. It’s good sliced with butter or dipped in olive oil and balsamic vinegar. It also slices nicely for sandwiches or toast if you allow it to cool completely.

This is an overview of the ingredients. You’ll find the full measurements and instructions in the printable recipe at the bottom of the page.

You’ll need the following for this french bread:

  • bread flour
  • 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.)

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

🍴Instructions

Step One: combine all ingredients and knead

The first step is simply to combine all the ingredients. There is absolutely no need to do things like testing the yeast and waiting for it to foam up, or anything like that. And if you are using instant yeast, you can just dump it in with everything else.

If you’re using a bread machine just add everything to the bucket and set it on the dough cycle. If you’re using a stand mixer, add it to the bowl and fit the machine with the dough hook.

You can also knead by hand, which is a bit tedious but get’s the job done.

After a few minutes of kneading, evaluate the dough. It should come together as a ball might be slightly sticky, but it should still cleanly pull away from the sides of the bowl or bread machine bucket. If it’s overly sticky, add flour a teaspoon or so at a time. If it seems too dry and is not coming together, add water a teaspoon or so at at time.

When the dough forms “windowpanes” when pulled apart, it’s done kneading and it can begin the rising process. Shape it into a ball and place into a lightly oiled bowl. Cover with a damp tea towel and place in a warm place to rise, about 1 hour.

Step Two: bake

Prepare the Dutch Oven by lining it with parchment paper. Once the dough has risen, shape into a ball again. Place on top of the parchment, rub the top of the loaf with flour, and slash the loaf with an X.

french bread dough placed on a parchment paper

Cover with the lid and let it rise again for about 45 minutes. Towards the end of the rising time, preheat your oven to 450. Make sure that you leave a big enough space for the Dutch Oven to fit in between the racks!

puffy french bread dough in a parchment paper

Once the dough is very puffy, it’s time to bake! Bake for 20 minutes with the lid on and 20 minutes with it off, until golden brown!

Step three: let it cool

Golden brown french bread after being baked for 20 minutes

Let it cool on a wire rack before slicing.

🥫 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

Want more bread recipes?

📖 Here’s the recipe

French bread in red dutch oven
4.44 from 46 votes

Easy French Bread in a Dutch Oven

Print Recipe
The easiest bread recipe you will ever make, but still an excellent loaf. 
Prep Time:30 minutes
Cook Time:50 minutes
rising time:1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time:2 hours 50 minutes
Click here to grab a free seasonal e-cookbook!

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 4 cups bread flour
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • teaspoons instant yeast (SAF brand recommended)
  • 1 ½ cups water
  • pinch cornmeal for sprinkling on the parchment

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients to form a smooth, soft dough, and knead.  If you do this in a bread machine on the dough cycle, life will be good.  Otherwise, a stand mixer with a dough hook will work, and will take about 7-9 minutes on a low setting.
  • 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 sunny windowsill. (The bread machine takes care of this for you too.)
  • After the dough has risen, remove from bowl and place on floured surface.  Shape the loaf by pinching the bottom until the top is smooth.
  • Prepare your baking sheet or Dutch oven by laying down a piece of parchment  and sprinkling cornmeal on the parchment sheet.  Place the round loaf on top of the parchment and rub flour on top.  Slash with a very sharp knife.
  • 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.
  • When sufficiently risen, bake.  If using a baking sheet, it will take about 30 minutes. The clay baker will take a bit longer.  I bake for 20 minutes with the lid on, then another 20. with the lid off. The internal temp should be 200.
  • Cool on wire rack and serve while still warm.

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.

Nutrition

Calories: 159kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 390mg | Potassium: 66mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 1mg
Course: bread
Cuisine: American, French
Keyword: easy french bread, french bread in dutch oven, vegan french bread
Servings: 12 pieces
Calories: 159kcal
Author: Katie Shaw
Did you make this recipe?If you loved it, please leave a review!
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59 thoughts on “Easy French Bread”

  1. 5 stars
    I was sent this recipe from a friend and have made it easily a dozen times. Sometimes adding nuts, oil, even a bit of sugar. everyone loves it and I even bring it as a gift when going for dinner at a friends house. Thanks for posting such a useful recipe.!

    Reply
  2. 5 stars
    I use my 4.5qt enamel Dutch oven. It’s perfect every time and this bread is very good for French toast or when used for grilled cheese sandwiches!

    Reply
  3. First time making bread! I wouldnt say this recipe is beginner friendly…. Initially my dough looked VERY dry, I added more water until it became a dough i could knead. It was tough for ages and despite kneading for 30 minutes it didnt seem to want to past the windowpane test. After some googling I have no idea if my yeast was active or not active…. It just says its dry yeast!!

    TLDR I have no idea what im doing but i tried XD

    Reply
  4. 5 stars
    This bread turned out excellent.
    I mixed it in a stand mixer for four minutes and finished kneading on a floured counter.
    The crust is flakes crisp and chewy.
    Will definitely be making it again.

    Reply
  5. 5 stars
    I made this recipe today and it looks sooo good! I can’t wait to try it in the morning. I used my bread machine to mix and do the first rise then into my Dutch oven for the second rise and baking. I just wondered if you had any tips to get it to have more holes in the dough? Or maybe this isn’t that kind of recipe.

    Reply
    • I’m not an expert but from what I’ve read and the few recipes I’ve tried, to get the air holes in the bread (the more traditional baguette structure) you want a no-knead bread recipe with a wetter dough that you fold.

      Reply
  6. 5 stars
    Thank you for this really easy recipe! I am a newbie to the bread machine and also baking bread and this was very simple, easy to follow. Thanks again!

    Reply
  7. 5 stars
    I have used this recipe many times in my bread machine and it comes out wonderful every time. I do add 2 TBS of olive oil . Sometimes I add flax seeds , or 7 grain cereals to make it multigrain. But, it is a great recipe to keep and modified from time to time the way you want it. I love the fact that there is no sugar in this recipe. Thank you so much for sharing.

    Reply
    • if it over-rises it can ccollapse in the oven (or before you bake) i’d recommend putting it in the fridge and that way it will rise muuuuuch slower. you can take it out and put it on the counter an hour or so before you’re ready to bake

      Reply
  8. 4 stars
    I also dissolved the yeast into warm water and it turned out great. I guess it’s just a habit I have and when I saw it wasn’t mentioned I thought I better do that. So instant yeast doesn’t need dissolving, good to know 🙂 Great bread so soft and delicious. Thank you for this easy recipe and one that doesn’t need me to wait 12-16 hours before baking like other recipes I have tried.

    Reply
  9. My dough didn’t rise on my first try, I started over but dissolved the yeast in warm water and then added to the dry ingredients. This worked much better. Other than that the recipe is very easy. I’m keeping this recipe with a note to dissolve the yeast.

    Reply
    • Regular yeast (it looks like little balls) should be proofed in water with a little sugar or honey before adding to the flour and other ingredients.

      Instant yeast (it looks all ground up) can be used without prior proofing. Just add the dried instant yeast in with the dry ingredients.

      Reply

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