Crusty French Bread
- Crusty French Bread
- This recipe is a wonderful crusty outside, tender inside french bread. Very flavorful. There is a secret to the obtaining the perfect crust while retaining the chewing tender inside. See the recipe below.
- Course
Servings | Prep Time | Cook Time |
2 loaves | 20 minutes | 30 minutes |
Ingredients
- 2 cups Warm Water
- 1 tbsp Active Yeast
- 1 tbsp Butter melted
- 1 tbsp Sugar
- 2 tsp Salt
- 5-5 1/2 cups Bread Flour
Servings: loaves
Instructions
- Dissolve yeast in warm water (110 degrees) and sugar in large bowl; allow yeast to proof or foam. This takes about 10 min.
- Add butter, 2 cups of flour, and then the salt. Beat for 2 min.
- Stir in two cups of flour to make a stiff dough.
- Knead the dough until smooth and elastic. This should take about 10 min.
- Rub the sides of the bowl down with butter (or Oil) and Place the dough in the bowl making sure you turn the dough so all sides get a light coating of the butter (oil). Cover and let rise in warm place until double in size.
- Punch down and divide in half.
- Each half should be shaped into a long rectangle (12-18" long. Brushed with a light coat of melted butter, then tightly rolled length wise so you have a long cylinder. Move to French Bread pan or I use a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Tuck the ends under. Repeat with second loaf. Slash diagonal lines across top of each loaf.
- Cover and let rise until doubled in size.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Bake for 30 min. at 375 degrees. Now for the trick: Get a water bottle that is new and food grade. Fill it with water (you need one that sprays a nice mist not a stream) Every few mins. during the cook time, open oven and mist the bread with water. Seriously
- When the bread comes out brush it with butter while it is still hot. Yummy! Enjoy