Fluffy Homemade Soft French Bread Recipe Everyone Loves

Crafting a delectable soft French bread can transport you to the charming streets of paris with minimal effort.

Fragrant loaves emerge from home ovens, promising golden crusts and pillowy interiors.

Bakers of all skill levels find joy in this simple yet magical process.

Whispers of butter and fresh herbs dance around warm, freshly sliced bread.

Kneading dough becomes a meditative experience that connects you to centuries-old culinary traditions.

Crisp exterior and tender crumb await your skilled hands and passionate heart.

You’ll fall in love with how effortlessly this recipe brings comfort and warmth to any meal.

What’s So Good About Soft and Fluffy French Bread

• Knead with Ease: Perfect for baking beginners, this French bread recipe requires minimal technical skills and basic kitchen tools, making it accessible for home cooks of all levels.
• Quick Weekend Wonder: From start to finish, this bread takes just about 2-3 hours, ideal for lazy weekend baking sessions when you want fresh, warm bread without spending all day in the kitchen.
• Versatile Crowd-Pleaser: This soft and fluffy loaf pairs wonderfully with soups, sandwiches, or as a standalone snack, making it a flexible recipe that suits multiple meal occasions and satisfies different taste preferences.
• Stress-Free Comfort: The straightforward process and minimal ingredients create a relaxing baking experience, offering a therapeutic cooking session that results in a delicious homemade loaf everyone will enjoy.

Soft French Bread Ingredient Guide

• All-Purpose Flour: The main structure and body of the bread, provides soft and fluffy texture.
• Salt: Enhances flavor and controls yeast growth, essential for bread development.

• Active Dry Yeast: Crucial for bread rising, creates airy and light texture.
• Warm Water: Activates and helps yeast grow, provides moisture to dough.
• Sugar: Feeds yeast and helps with fermentation, promotes golden brown crust.

• Vegetable Oil: Adds moisture, helps create soft crumb and prevents dryness.
• Egg (for brushing): Creates shiny, golden-brown exterior with beautiful sheen.

Homemade French Bread Baking Directions

Step 1: Awaken the Yeast

Grab warm water and sprinkle sugar into it.

Gently dust yeast over the liquid and let it hang out for 5-10 minutes.

Watch for tiny bubbles that signal the yeast is coming to life, creating a frothy playground.

Step 2: Mix the Foundation

Combine flour and salt in a roomy mixing bowl.

Create a cozy crater in the center and pour in the energetic yeast mixture along with oil.

Stir everything until a shaggy, rough dough starts to form.

Step 3: Massage the Dough

Transfer the dough onto a flour-dusted surface.

Start kneading with your hands, pushing and folding rhythmically.

Work the dough for 8-10 minutes, adding extra flour if it feels sticky.

You’ll know it’s ready when the texture becomes smooth and bouncy.

Step 4: First Rising Adventure

Nestle the dough into an oiled bowl.

Drape a damp cloth over the top and find a warm, peaceful spot for it to rest.

Let the dough expand and grow for 45-60 minutes until it doubles in size.

Step 5: Shape Your Bread

Gently deflate the risen dough.

Roll it out into a rectangular landscape.

Starting from the long edge, roll the dough tightly like a cozy sleeping bag.

Pinch the seam closed to seal in the magic.

Step 6: Second Rising Journey

Place your shaped loaf on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Cover with a soft, damp cloth and let it rise again for 45-60 minutes.

Watch it plump up and get ready for baking.

Step 7: Prepare the Oven

Crank up the oven to 375°F.

Let it warm up and get ready for bread transformation.

Step 8: Final Touch and Baking

Grab a sharp knife and create 5-7 gentle slashes across the loaf’s surface.

Brush the top with beaten egg for a gorgeous golden shine.

Slide the bread into the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until it turns a beautiful golden brown.

Step 9: Cool and Enjoy

Rescue the bread from the oven and let it rest on a wire rack.

Allow it to cool completely before slicing into your masterpiece.

Soft French Bread Baking Pointers

• Ensure water is warm (not hot) to prevent killing yeast microorganisms, creating the ideal environment for rising.
• Develop gluten by stretching and folding dough consistently, which creates those signature soft and airy bread textures.
• Add flour gradually during kneading to prevent dry bread, keeping dough slightly tacky but not sticky for optimal texture.
• Make diagonal cuts about ¼-inch deep across loaf surface to allow beautiful expansion and create professional bakery-style appearance.
• Let dough rise in draft-free, warm spaces like near a preheated oven to encourage proper fermentation and maximum volume.

Soft French Bread That Doesn’t Dry Out Overnight

• Store cooled bread in an airtight container or sealed plastic bag for up to 4 days, keeping it fresh and preventing moisture loss.
• Wrap the entire loaf or individual slices tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer bag, where it can last up to 3 months without losing quality.
• Warm bread at 350°F for 5-7 minutes, wrapped in foil to retain moisture and restore its soft, crusty texture.
• Heat individual slices for 10-15 seconds to revive softness, being careful not to overheat and make the bread tough.

Easy Combos for Soft French Bread

• Savor Complementary Flavors: Pair this soft French bread with robust cheeses like aged cheddar or creamy brie for a delightful taste experience.
• Match with Savory Spreads: Enhance the bread's texture with garlic herb butter, olive tapenade, or rich hummus that complement its fluffy interior.
• Wine and Dine Perfectly: Select a crisp white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or a light Pinot Grigio to balance the bread's richness and cleanse the palate.
• Create Mediterranean Moments: Serve alongside fresh salads, roasted vegetables, or classic French dishes like coq au vin for an authentic culinary journey.

French Bread Done a Different Way

• Whole Wheat Wonder: Replace half the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour for a nutty, hearty bread packed with more nutrients and fiber.
• Gluten-Free Guardian: Swap regular flour with a gluten-free blend and add xanthan gum to maintain the bread's structure and softness for those with gluten sensitivities.
• Herb-Infused Hero: Mix dried herbs like rosemary, thyme, or oregano directly into the dough for an aromatic and flavorful French bread that elevates any meal.
• Seeded Sensation: Sprinkle sesame, poppy, or sunflower seeds on top of the loaf before baking to add crunch, texture, and extra nutritional value.

FAQs

• Why is letting yeast sit important?

When you combine warm water, sugar, and yeast and let it sit, you’re “proofing” the yeast. This process helps activate the yeast, ensuring it’s alive and will help your bread rise properly. If the mixture doesn’t become frothy, your yeast might be old or inactive.

• How do I know I've kneaded the dough enough?

The dough should become smooth, elastic, and slightly springy when touched. When you press your finger into the dough, it should spring back slowly. Proper kneading develops gluten, which gives bread its structure and texture.

• What does punching down the dough mean?

Punching down releases air bubbles that formed during the first rise. This helps redistribute the yeast, relax the gluten, and create a more even texture in your final bread. It’s not actually a hard punch, but a gentle deflation of the dough.

• Why make slashes on top of the bread?

Scoring the bread allows steam to escape during baking and helps control how the bread expands. These cuts create those beautiful, professional-looking lines on your French bread and prevent the loaf from splitting randomly in the oven.

Soft French Bread Recipe

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4.7 from 23 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Warm, golden French bread rises to culinary perfection with this classic recipe that whispers comfort and tradition. Crisp exterior and pillowy interior promise a delightful experience you’ll savor with each aromatic, freshly baked slice.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Bread Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 to 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup warm water (approximately 90-110°F or 32-43°C)

Yeast and Sweetener:

• 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

Finishing and Seasoning:

• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon olive oil or vegetable oil
• 1 egg, beaten (for brushing the loaf)

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Instructions

1. Initiate the yeast activation by blending warm water with sugar in a compact vessel. Gently disperse yeast granules across the liquid surface and allow it to transform for 5-10 minutes until a frothy texture emerges.
2. Merge flour and salt within a capacious mixing container. Excavate a central cavity and introduce the yeast liquid along with oil. Amalgamate ingredients until a rough, uneven dough materializes.
3. Transfer the nascent dough onto a flour-dusted workspace. Engage in vigorous kneading for 8-10 minutes, incrementally incorporating additional flour to achieve a silky, resilient consistency.
4. Nestle the dough within a lightly lubricated receptacle, drape with a moistened fabric, and permit fermentation in a temperate environment for 45-60 minutes until volume doubles.
5. Depress the risen dough and elongate into a rectangular formation measuring roughly 9×13 inches. Commence rolling from the extended edge, constructing a compact cylindrical shape while meticulously sealing the longitudinal junction.
6. Position the sculpted loaf on a parchment-lined baking surface. Envelop with a dampened cloth, allowing a secondary expansion period of 45-60 minutes until near-maximum volume.
7. Calibrate oven temperature to 375°F (190°C), ensuring thorough preheating.
8. Execute precise diagonal incisions across the loaf’s superior surface using a razor-sharp implement. Apply an egg wash to enhance surface luminosity. Roast for 20-25 minutes until achieving a golden-bronze hue and producing a resonant hollow sound when tapped.
9. Extract from oven and permit complete cooling on a wire grid before slicing to preserve structural integrity.

Notes

• Proofing Perfection: Choose a warm, draft-free spot like near a preheated oven or inside a turned-off oven with the light on to help yeast rise consistently.
• Flour Power: Use bread flour for extra protein content, which creates a chewier texture and better gluten development compared to all-purpose flour.
• Moisture Magic: Brush the loaf with egg wash or water to achieve a gorgeous golden-brown crust with beautiful shine and crispy exterior.
• Gluten-Free Adaptation: Swap wheat flour with a commercial gluten-free bread flour blend and add xanthan gum to maintain structure and texture.

• Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: French

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 150
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 200 mg
• Fat: 3.5 g
• Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 2.5 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 28 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 10 mg