Homemade French Bread

By Tarah716

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups warm water (think bath water)
• 2 tbsp yeast
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 1 tbsp salt
• 2 tbsp vegetable or olive oil
• 5 cups all purpose flour* + up to 1/2 cup more
• 1 egg + 2 tbsp water, beaten

Details

Servings 2
Adapted from somethingswanky.com

Preparation

Step 1

Pour the warm water into a small bowl (I use a 4-cup Pyrex measuring cup). Sprinkle the yeast over the water. Sprinkle the sugar and the salt over the yeast. Add the oil. Let water sit for about 5 minutes until the yeast is foamy (see this post on how to proof yeast).

Fit your stand mixer with the dough hook and add the 5 cups of all purpose flour to the mixer bowl. Add the water to the flour (be sure to scrape the sides of the bowl so that all the sugar comes out). Turn the mixer on low speed and mix until a dough forms. The dough should neatly pull from the sides of the bowl. If it sticks to the sides, add the additional 1/2 cup a little bit at a time until the dough is smooth, elastic, and pulling from the sides.

Once the dough looks just right, turn the mixer off and cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel. Let rest for 10 minutes. Then knead dough for a minute.

Allow to rest and rise for another 10 minutes. Then knead again for a minute. Repeat 3 more times (for a total of 5 rests and 5 kneads).

Preheat oven to 375ºF.

Divide dough into two equal portions. Roll out each portion of dough into a large rectangle, about a 1/4 inch thick. Roll the dough from the long end, cinnamon roll-style. Fold the ends underneath to seal it and shape the bread with your hands a little bit (just to move some of the thickness from the ends to the middle).

Place each loaf on a baking sheet (I bake both loaves on the same baking sheet). Use a sharp knife to cut diagonal gashes in the top of the dough. Brush the egg wash on top of each loaf.

Bake for 30 minutes. Serve immediately or let cool.

You can store in an airtight container for up to a week.

*I've used half whole wheat flour with no problems.