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Rustic French Bread Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 114 reviews

This Rustic French Bread recipe produces a crusty, golden loaf with a soft, chewy interior—a perfect homemade bread for any meal. Utilizing a dutch oven for baking ensures even heat distribution and a beautiful crust, while the simple ingredients and straightforward steps make it accessible for bakers of all levels.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

  • 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 tsp active dry yeast

Wet Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 cups water (105 – 115 degrees F)

Instructions

  1. Activate Yeast: Combine the active dry yeast, warm water (between 105 and 115°F), and sugar in the bowl of your stand mixer. Let this mixture sit for about 5 minutes until the yeast becomes foamy and activated.
  2. Mix Dough: Add half of the all-purpose flour and salt to the yeast mixture. Attach the dough hook to your mixer and knead on medium-low speed. Gradually add the remaining flour and continue kneading until the dough just comes together. At this point, the dough will still be sticky.
  3. First Rise: Transfer the sticky dough to a lightly floured bowl and cover it with a clean towel. Allow it to rise undisturbed for 2 hours in a warm spot until it roughly doubles in size.
  4. Shape and Second Rise: Lightly flour a piece of parchment paper or a cutting board, then transfer the dough onto it. Gently shape the dough into a smooth ball. Sprinkle additional flour on top, then cover the dough with a large bowl acting as a dome. Let it rise for another 30 minutes.
  5. Preheat Dutch Oven: While the dough is rising the second time, preheat your oven to 425°F. Place a dutch oven with its lid inside the oven to heat for 20 minutes prior to baking. If you don’t have a dutch oven, use a baking sheet but do not preheat it.
  6. Score and Bake: Using a very sharp knife, score the top of the dough with shallow cuts. Carefully lift the dough with the parchment paper and place it into the preheated dutch oven. Bake for 30 minutes with the lid on, then remove the lid and bake for an additional 10 minutes until the crust is nicely golden brown. If using a baking sheet, bake for approximately 35 minutes. The internal temperature of the bread should reach about 210°F.
  7. Cool and Serve: Remove the bread from the oven and transfer it carefully onto a cooling rack. Allow it to cool completely before slicing. Store any leftovers in a storage bag or container at room temperature for 3 to 5 days.

Notes

  • Using a dutch oven helps create steam inside, resulting in a crispier crust.
  • Ensure water is warm, not hot, to properly activate the yeast without killing it.
  • Scoring the dough allows for expansion and prevents tearing in uncontrolled places.
  • If you don’t have a dutch oven, a baking sheet will work but the crust will be less crispy.
  • Allow the bread to cool fully before slicing to maintain its texture.

Keywords: Rustic French bread, homemade bread, crusty bread, dutch oven bread, easy French bread recipe

Find it online: https://platedbyemma.com/rustic-french-bread-recipe/