🥖 Homemade Breads · Kid-Approved
Homemade French Bread (Crusty Baguettes)
Two golden, crackly-crusted baguettes with a light, airy inside, made with just four ingredients. Better than the bakery, and a fraction of the price.
Diet swaps
- Gluten-free: Use gluten-free bread, wraps or buns. Use a gluten-free flour blend (or cornstarch to thicken).
Check labels on packaged foods if you have an allergy or celiac disease.
Ingredients
- 500 g All-purpose or bread flour
- 7 g Instant yeast (1 packet)
- 10 g Salt
- 360 g Warm water
Directions
- Mix the flour, yeast, salt and water into a shaggy dough. Knead 8 minutes (or 5 in a stand mixer) until smooth.
- Cover and let rise until doubled, about 1 1/2 hours.
- Divide in half, press each into a rectangle, roll up tightly and stretch into 14-inch logs. Place seam side down on a floured baguette pan or parchment and let rise 40 minutes.
- Heat the oven to 475°F with a pan on the bottom rack. Slash the tops diagonally, put the bread in and pour 1 cup of hot water into the pan for steam.
- Bake 20 to 25 minutes until deep golden. Cool on a rack.
Calorie breakdown
Flour 114 · yeast 1
💡 Lighter tip: The burst of steam in the first minutes gives baguettes their crackly crust. Don't skip the pan of water.
Helpful for this recipe
Perforated baguette panShop on Amazon →Bread lame scoring toolShop on Amazon →How to choose real extra virgin olive oilRead the guide →Our guide to safe, non-toxic cookwareSee picks →