This homemade French bread recipe is an easy yeast bread recipe made with simple ingredients for a flavorful, soft bread perfect for using in French toast, sandwiches like grilled cheese, and making into French bread pizza.
This homemade French bread is a simple and easy homemade yeast bread recipe. Made with simple ingredients, this bread is ready in less than 2 hours and is perfect to use in French toast, grilled cheese, French bread pizza, and so many other recipes.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Easy Homemade Bread
- Great for French Toast, Grilled Cheese, Sandwiches and More
- Yeast Bread Recipe
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Yeast - A dry active yeast works beat for this recipe.
- Water - Warm water helps to proof the yeast.
- Sugar - Cane sugar helps to proof the yeast as well as add a sweet flavor to the bread.
- Butter - Melted butter gives the bread a soft texture and delicious flavor.
- Flour - We recommend using an unbleached flour.
- Salt - Salt helps the dough work together and enhances the flavor of the bread.
- Egg White - We recommend brushing the loaves with an egg white wash before baking to give the bread a shiny golden brown top.
Complete list of ingredients and amounts is located on the recipe card below.
Kitchen Tools & Equipment
- Mixing Bowl - A large mixing bowl is necessary to mix the dough together.
- Dough Hook - A dough hook helps to easily mix the dough together.
- Plastic Wrap - We like to cover the dough with plastic wrap while it is rising.
- Sheet Pan - A sheet pan is necessary for baking the bread on.
- Bread Lame - A bread lame or knife help to easily score the loaves.
- Basting Brush - We recommend using a brush to brush the loaves with the egg white wash.
How to Make French Bread
Step 1. Mix the dough together.
Step 2. Allow the dough to rise.
Step 3. Shape the loaves and allow to rise.
Step 4. Bake the bread in the oven.
Recipe Serving Suggestions
This recipe makes 2 French loaves that can be sliced into 10-12 slices. We love serving this bread warm with butter, as French toast, garlic bread, and for sandwiches like grilled cheese.
If you like this recipe, you will love our other easy bread recipes.
- Homemade Bagels
- Italian Bread
- Easy Sourdough Bread
- Gluten-Free Sandwich Bread
- Cinnamon Twist Loaf
- Homemade Biscuits
- Cinnamon Rolls
- Gluten-Free Sourdough Bread
Expert Tips & Variations
- Use active dry yeast. We have made this recipe with quick acting yeast and regular active dry yeast. The regular active dry yeast works best.
- Allow the dough to rise and double. When you allow the dough and then the shaped loaves to rise, make sure they double in size before moving to the next step.
- Freeze sliced bread. I keep one loaf at room temperature to enjoy throughout the week. I like to slice the second loaf into 10-12 slices and freeze in a freezer-safe container to enjoy later.
How to Store French Bread
- Countertop - in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Freezer - slice the loaf then freeze the slices in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
Recipe FAQ
We recommend using active dry yeast as the leavening agent in this bread recipe.
More Easy Recipes
Homemade French Bread
This homemade French bread recipe is an easy yeast bread recipe made with simple ingredients for a flavorful, soft bread perfect for using in French toast, sandwiches like grilled cheese, and making into French bread pizza.
Ingredients
- 2 and ¼ teaspoons (1 package) active dry yeast
- 2.5 cups warm water
- 3 Tablespoons cane sugar, divided
- 4 Tablespoons butter, melted
- 6 cups unbleached flour
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 egg white
Instructions
- Add the warm water, yeast and 2 Tablespoons sugar to a small bowl. Stir to combine and allow the yeast to proof for 7-10 minutes.
- Once the yeast has proofed, pour the proofed yeast mixture into a large mixing bowl.
- Add the melted butter and remaining sugar.
- Whisk to combine.
- Add 1 cup of the flour and the salt to the bowl and whisk to combine.
- Continue to add the flour 1 cup at a time until you've added 6 cups and knead together to form a ball of dough.
- Place the ball of dough in the mixing bowl and cover the bowl with plastic wrap.
- Allow the dough to rise for 30 minutes or until doubled in size.
- After the dough rises, line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
- Transfer the dough to a clean work surface.
- Divide the dough into 2.
- Knead each dough ball into a log shape by pinching the outsides of the dough into the center and rolling it into a log.
- Place the shaped dough on the sheet pan.
- Use a bread lame or knife to make ¼ inch slits in the top of each loaf.
- Paint each loaf with the egg white wash.
- Cover the loaves with plastic wrap and allow to rise for 30 minutes or until doubled in size.
- While the loaves rise, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Place the risen loaves in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes at 350 degrees.
- Remove the loaves from the oven when the tops are golden brown.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 138Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 195mgCarbohydrates: 25gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 3g
