The Pioneer Woman Tasty Kitchen
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Easy Homemade French Bread

4.89 Mitt(s) 19 Rating(s)19 votes, average: 4.89 out of 519 votes, average: 4.89 out of 519 votes, average: 4.89 out of 519 votes, average: 4.89 out of 519 votes, average: 4.89 out of 5

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Level: Easy

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Description

I’ve been making this bread for 30 years and it is easy, delicious and makes two loaves (one to give and one to keep).

Ingredients

  • ½ cups Warm Water
  • 2 packages (7g Packet) Dry Active Yeast
  • 2 cups Very Hot Water
  • ⅓ cups Oil
  • 3 Tablespoons Sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon Salt
  • 6 cups All-purpose Flour

Preparation

1. Combine the warm water and the dry active yeast. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, combine the hot water, oil, sugar, salt and half of the flour. Stir with a wooden spoon.
3. Add yeast mixture and stir.
4. Add the remaining flour and stir. Leave spoon in the dough.
5. Let rest for 10 minutes.
6. Stir and let rest for 10 minutes again.
7. Repeat rest and stir process three more times (for a total of five times).
8. Divide dough in half.
9. Turn out one half on a floured surface. Press out to a rectangle. Roll up (like making cinnamon rolls) and place on a greased baking sheet. Repeat with the other half.
10. Let rise in a warm place for 30 minutes.
11. With a sharp knife, make 3 diagonal slashes across each loaf. Brush with egg white.
12. Bake in a 400-degree oven for 25-30 minutes. Remove from the baking sheet to a cooling rack.
13. Enjoy!

12 Comments

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Carla P on 1.12.2012

Just tried my first slice. I am going to wait to rate and give a review because mine does not look like yours. Maybe it was the flour, maybe I need to cook it less time because they certainly are darker than yours. don’t want to do it injustice after all the rave reviews because of something I did. We will certainly eat it with supper tonight, but want to try it again.

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Carla P on 1.12.2012

I am in the process of making this bread. It seems very sticky. Have I done something wrong. I added all the flour, but have ‘sprinkled in a little more each time I stir. Is this how it is supposed to be?

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Patricia (baker4two) on 10.4.2011

I tried your recipe today to accompany some Chili my husband made. I am impressed! It is the only French Bread recipe that has turned out so well. (Easy, too)! Thank you!

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mistylynn on 9.30.2010

Truly an easy recipe as even my kitchen disaster prone self couldn’t mess it up. Makes BIG loaves if you do the whole recipe. We ate one loaf along with homemade chicken soup and plan on using the other for sandwiches for the next few days. I baked it on parchment paper with a little olive oil and it made a nice crunchy bottom.

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bunqui on 9.11.2010

I love this recipe, it was very easy and everyone loves it, I found that my oven baked it better at 350 though. Thank you for sharing.

19 Reviews

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Peggy T on 10.26.2015

This is truly bakery style French bread! It made 2 big loaves and so crusty I cut it while it was still warm without a bread disaster. All the other recipes — in the trash. This is the bread bomb. Thanks for a great recipe.

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terrilw on 1.22.2014

Made this today and it was wonderful! It was pretty easy and very quick to make. I made 2 huge loaves. One is going in the freezer. I will definitely be making this again.

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cherylovesfood on 7.7.2012

I’ve made this 3 times now and every time it’s sooo good! I just made half of it into cinnamon buns last night andI don’t think I should do that very often… Ridiculously yummy, perfect buttery just like you bought it at a bakery bread. Thank you!!

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Debra K on 12.7.2011

Absolutely AWESOME…and easy. Love the crust and very tasty bread. Thank you so much. This is exactly what I’ve been looking for!!! :)

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Kyra on 10.21.2011

I usually dread making bread but this made it so easy & it’s absolutely delicious! Perfect for the french dip sandwiches I made tonight!

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