Easy French Bread Recipe
Prep Time:
2 hours
Cook Time:
15 minutes
Servings:
2 Loaves
Ingredients
  • 2 tablespoons active dry yeast
  • 2 ¼ cups warm water
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 6 cups all-purpose flour, divided
Directions
  1. Add the warm water to a large bowl and add the yeast and sugar. Stir to combine and let sit for 10 minutes. It should turn bubbly on the top.
  2. Add the salt and olive oil and stir well with a whisk. Then add 2 ½ cups of flour and mix until that is combined well. Add 3 cups more flour and keep stirring with a whisk until it is too thick to work with. Turn the dough onto a flat surface and knead the dough for 5 minutes or until it is smooth. As you knead, add in more flour to keep your hands from sticking to the dough.
  3. Place the dough into a clean bowl and cover with a dish towel or plastic wrap. Let it sit for an hour in a warm place.
  4. Divide the dough in half and roll each half into a 9-inch by 13-inch size. With the dough sitting horizontally in front of you, roll it up to form a long loaf. Place the rolled loaves on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Take a sharp knife and make about 10 small, thin slits on the top of each loaf.
  5. Cover the loaves with a damp dish towel and let sit for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 425 F.
  6. Add 10 to 15 ice cubes to a baking dish and place on the bottom rack of your oven. Place the baking sheet with the 2 loaves on the top rack and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until the loaves are browned.
  7. Remove the loaves from the oven and let them cool for 15 minutes before slicing.