SOFT AND CHEWY FRENCH BREAD

Published Date: October 23, 2020 | Last Updated: March 17, 2023
Attention bread lovers:  Did you know that you can make really delicious, soft and chewy French bread from home? And it’s way better than from a grocery store bakery! I gave the full recipe demo on my Insta-stories .😊
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Attention bread lovers: 
Did you know that you can make really delicious, soft and chewy French bread from home? And it’s way better than from a grocery store bakery! I gave the full recipe demo on my Insta-stories .😊

 

 

Recipe from my sister, @erinhead. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Amber (@amberskitchen)

 

Soft and Chewy French Bread

If you're anything like me... the hardest part of making this bread will be trying not to eat the entire loaf in one sitting!
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Course: Breads
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Rising time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 50 minutes
Servings: 2 loaves

Ingredients

  • 4 tsp active dry yeast
  • 2 cups warm water
  • 1/4 cup` sugar
  • 1/4 cup oil
  • 1 T salt
  • 4-5 cups flour (I prefer to use Lehi Roller Mills Turkey Flour)

Instructions

  • In a large mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water with the sugar. Wait 5-10 minutes. 
  • Add oil, and salt. Mix well. Add flour one cup at a time, kneading well in between. Knead until smooth and elastic but don’t add too much flour so the dough becomes dry. 
  • Cover the dough with a dish towel and let rise until doubled in size, about one hour. 
  • Punch dough down and cover to rise again for 30 minutes.
  • Remove dough from bowl and put onto countertop lightly dusted with flour. Separate dough in half and gently roll each half into a long skinny loaf. Lay carefully onto French bread loaf pan, or onto a cookie sheet dusted with cornmeal. With a sharp knife, cut 3-4 diagonal skits into the top of each dough loaf. 
  • Cover with a kitchen towel and let rise a 3rd time, for 25 minutes. Then lightly brush with a mixture of egg white and 1 teaspoon water. 
  • Bake at 375° F for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.

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Recipe Rating




  1. I’ve made several different French bread recipes. I always seem to have flat bread. I do the appropriate risings and follow all directions. I think someone once told me it’s was because I didn’t have enough flour. I don’t think it’s the yeast, I just bought this yeast. I do store my yeast in the freezer, but I never h ave problems with baking nice fluffy rolls. Any suggestions ?

    1. Post
      Author

      Tami, when you dissolve the yeast in water, does it get foamy? If so, the yeast is fine but if not it’s not dissolving properly. Also, it could just come down to the rise time. Maybe the yeast is being stubborn and you need to let it rise a little longer.

Ambers-Kitchen-Sourdough-Bread-2

Hi! I'm Amber

I'm obsessed with all things food and a mom to five. Baking bread and using my instant pot are my favorite things to do in the kitchen, and I can't wait to bring all that I have learned to you! Connect with me on Instagram because there's where I basically live these days.