Fresh French bread

Today I made French bread so we could have hot turkey sandwiches for dinner since we had left over turkey from Christmas! This recipe is so easy and you get such great tasting bread! 

First measure out 2 tbsp of sugar and pour it in the bowl of your stand mixer (you don't have to use a mixer you can do everything by hand but it will just end up taking a lot longer) 

Then add in a cup of warm water. 

After that measure out 2 1/2 tsp of yeast and add it to the water sugar mixture. 

Mix it up and let it sit for a couple of minutes, it should start to bubble and that's when you know it's ready. 

Next add in the oil and salt along with half of the flour. Mix all of the ingredients with a spatula until combined. 

Once combined put the dough hook attachment on your mixer and lock the bowl in. Add in the remaining flour and mix. 

Keep mixing until the dough reaches a ball form. If you prefer you can take it out of the mixer and knead it with your hands until smooth. It should look something like this. 

Next grease a mixing bowl with oil and place the dough in it. Cover the dough and let sit for an hour. 

After an hour take off the wrapping and punch it down to get all the air out. 

Then re-cover it and leave it for another half hour. Once the dough has risen back up take it out and roll it into a rectangle shape. 

Once shaped into a rectangle, roll up the side. 

Once rolled up pinch the edges so they stick together and fold in the sides. 

Then place on a parchment lined baking sheet and cover again for another hour to rise. 

Once risen turn your oven to 375F. Uncover dough and brush with an egg wash if you'd like (I didn't for this particular bread, I was too lazy to do it!) Then take a very sharp knife and cut slits in the top of the bread. 

When oven is heated, place bread inside for 25 minutes. 

Remove bread from oven and either let cool or slice right away! This bread is delicious! 

French bread recipe

2 tbsp sugar

1 cup warm water

2 1/2 tsp yeast

2 tbsp oil

1 1/2 tsp salt

3 cups flour

In the bowl of a stand mixer combine sugar and warm water. Then add in the yeast and mix. Let sit until yeast begins to bubble. 

Add oil, salt and half of the flour. Stir to combine. Add the dough attachment to your mixer and lock in the bowl. Add the rest of the flour to the bowl and turn on mixer. Mix until a ball forms and all the dough is stuck together. 

Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover and let sit for an hour to rise. Once risen punch down dough then cover and let sit for another half hour. 

Take out of bowl and roll into a rectangle. Once rolled out roll up the edge of the dough. Pinch in the corners and the edges. Brush with an egg wash. Take a sharp knife and cut slits in the top. Place on a parchment lined pan and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise for an hour. 

Once risen heat oven to 375F and place in the oven. Bake for 25 minutes. Let cool or cut and enjoy immediately!