Soft Homemade French Bread

Is there anything better than freshly baked bread?  I think not, especially when you can make it right at home.  This recipe for soft homemade french bread is seriously so simple that absolutely anyone can make it (including your kids!)

It’s the perfect thing to serve alongside a bowl of soup, the perfect companion for pasta night, paired with a crisp salad, you can use it for making sandwiches, or simply for tearing into and eating as a snack (yes & amen)

Trust me when I tell you that this soft homemade french bread recipe is so much easier than you might think!  It tastes just like those big fluffy loaves that you can get at the grocery store, only it’s even more fresh, more delicious, and more economical. Plus! You get to control the ingredients you use AND you get to eat it hot out of the oven (my favorite)

What is French bread?

This homemade French bread is made with flour, water, yeast, sugar, oil, and salt. It can be mixed either by hand or a stand mixer and shaped into your favorite form. As it cools, it becomes a super soft French loaf that you can use for anything.

Why you’ll love this soft homemade French bread recipe

It’s easy for any bread baking level! This simple bread recipe is tried and trusted among bread beginners and skilled bakers alike.

It only uses six ingredients – You only need flour, sugar, oil, water, yeast, and salt to make this homemade french bread dough.

It’s economical! The ingredients for this soft homemade French bread are a fraction of the cost of store bought bread.

It’s fun to make your own bread at home!! It’s fun and relaxing to make bread yourself, especially when it makes your whole house smell like a bakery.

Homemade French bread is actually a simple bread recipe that is easier to make than you might think. Once you try this soft homemade French bread recipe you will never want to go back to grocery store loaves again.

TIPS FOR SOFT FLUFFY FRENCH BREAD:

Make time for two rises! Rising time is key for soft, fluffy bread. Double in size is the rule of thumb for most bread recipes.

Stiffer dough for a taller loaf. If the dough is too sticky and wet, it spreads flat as it rises.

Make sure your water is not too hot or it will kill the yeast! It should be slightly too warm to the touch. The combination of sugar and hot water should activate the yeast causing it to bubble and foam.

HOW TO MAKE FRENCH BREAD WITHOUT A STAND MIXER:

Simply follow the recipe using a medium sized mixing bowl and knead by hand for 5-7 minutes until the dough is smooth.

Soft Homemade French Bread Ingredients

Water – you want your water to be between 100-110 degrees F, so a touch above lukewarm.  This helps activate the yeast.

Sugar – yeast loves sugar and makes it nice and bubbly.  You can also substitute honey if you’d like.

Yeast – you want to use active dry yeast in this recipe. The packages are usually labeled as quick rise, rapid rise, and fast rising. They are all the same product.

Oil – we chose to use olive oil, but you can use any other cooking oil you’d like.

Salt– Use sea salt, kosher salt, or non-iodized salt for this recipe because iodized table salt can affect yeast fermentation and flavor.

Flour – we like unbleached all-purpose flour for this soft French Bread recipe!

How to make Homemade Soft French bread

Here’s a brief overview. Visit the printable recipe card below for detailed instructions.

These are bread tools needed for this recipe.

• mixing bowl – to mix bread dough by hand and/or proof dough
• measuring cup and spoon
• instant read thermometer – used to gauge water temperature and baked bread temperature
• your hands – to knead dough if not using a stand mixer
• stand mixer with dough hook attachment– if not kneading by hand
• baking sheet
• clean dish towel– for covering your dough while it rises
• sharp or serrated knife – used for scoring dough
• oven mitts – for safe handling of hot bread and bakeware

Recipe For Soft Homemade French Bread

• Heat your water to 100-110 degrees F
• Preheat oven to 350
• Add yeast & sugar
• Stir and let foam for 5 minutes
• Add your flour, oil, and salt
• Mix together
• Add more flour until smooth and not sticky
• Form into ball
• Cover with a towel and let rise for 10-15 minutes
• Divide dough in half and roll into cylinder shapes
• Place on baking sheet and make a few diagonal cuts on top
• Cover with towel and let rise for another 15-30 minutes
• Bake at 350 for 18-22 minutes
• Slice and enjoy!

Storage

This bread is best when enjoyed fresh, but it will keep well for 2-3 days on the counter wrapped in plastic wrap or stored in a Ziploc bag or up to 1 week in the fridge.

Freezing

You can freeze loaves of soft homemade French bread wrapped tightly in two layers of plastic wrap and stored in a freezer-safe Ziploc bag or wrapped in aluminum foil for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before slicing and enjoying.

FAQ’s

What is the secret to soft french bread?

The first way to soften breads is to add fat somehow. Liquid fats are your best bet from sandwich breads or soft rolls. It could be as easy as replacing some if not all of the water in the recipe with whole milk.

What is the best flour for French Bread?

For this soft homemade French Bread recipe, I recommend that you use all-purpose flour.  It has a slightly lower gluten content that is perfect for creating the soft chewy crumb.  You can try using bread flour if you would like, but keep in mind that you may need to add a little less than the amount of all-purpose flour.

Can this recipe be halved to make 1 loaf?

Yes, if you only want 1 loaf of bread, you can definitely halve the ingredients. But keep in mind that French bread freezes well, so as long as you are going to the effort you might as well get a second loaf for sharing or storing for another day.

What Kind of Pan to Bake French Bread On

Baking sheet – use a lightly greased regular baking sheet

French Bread or Baguette pan – you can find these for sale online for relatively cheap and they are a great option for a home oven.  Many are non-stick but it’s still a good idea to spray lightly with baking spray.

What’s the Difference between Italian vs. French Bread?

One of the main differences between the two is their shape.  French bread is typically in more of a long and lean baguette shape while Italian bread tends to be flatter and rounder.  French bread also tends to have a little lighter crumb, where Italian bread is often denser.

What ingredient makes bread soft and fluffy?

Carbon dioxide is responsible for all the bubbles that make holes in bread, making it lighter and fluffier. Because gas is created as a result of yeast growth, the more the yeast grows, the more gas in the dough and the more light and airy your bread loaf will be.

What is soft French bread called?

Brioche. Brioche is a French bread made with enriched dough. It is a rich bread that is lightly sweet and has a soft texture.

What is the difference between French baguette and French bread?

French bread is wider and longer than a baguette, with a much softer crust. It doesn’t require any special equipment to make and it’s just as versatile as a baguette, but its soft outside makes it perfect for toast or garlic bread.

How do I make my bread taste like a bakery?

You can try adding a malt or honey into the mix to level up your bread’s flavor. Malt, a sweetener that is available in powder and liquid form, can easily be added to almost any bread recipe.

Is homemade bread better with milk or water?

Water vs. Milk changes bread recipes by producing a softer loaf, due to the milk fat content, which also gives bread a richer flavor. Bread made with milk browns more easily than bread made with water, as lactose or milk sugar will caramelize as it bakes

Homemade Soft French Bread Recipe

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