Easy Homemade French Bread

By á-4677

These homemade French bread loaves are so easy and taste great! Makes 2 larger or 3 smaller loaves and is perfect for sandwiches or alongside soup.

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups warm water
• 2 tablespoons yeast
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons white vinegar
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1/3 cup oil (I use Canola)
• 6 to 7 cups flour (or a little more if it's too soft)
• 1 egg, beaten

Preparation

Step 1

Add warm water, yeast, sugar, and white vinegar together in a bowl and let sit until bubbly (about 3 to 5 minutes).

Once yeast mixture is bubbly, add salt and oil. Add the flour 1 cup at a time until the dough is soft, but firm enough to mold into dough loaves.

Knead dough for 2 to 5 minutes and then put in the oven with a small pot of boiling water.The water will keep the dough moist.

Watch the dough and punch it down when it gets to the top of the mixing bowl. Do this every time it gets to the top of the bowl, as long as you have time to babysit it (2 to 5 times).

Put the dough on a greased countertop and divide into 3 sections. Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray and sprinkle a thin layer of cornmeal on the bottom of the sheet. Roll the dough balls into rectangle/long French bread shapes. Slash tops of bread diagonally 3 to 5 times and cover with a beaten egg wash.

Let rise 30 minutes (or until doubled) on the counter, then bake at 375°F for about 30 minutes until done. OR you can put them in your oven to rise at 170°F and wait until they are the size you want to cook them at. Once they are to the right size, turn up your stove to 375°F (without opening the door!) and let them bake until done.