The Pioneer Woman Tasty Kitchen
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Very Best French Bread

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Level: Easy

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Description

This is hands down, bar none, without a doubt, the best French bread you will ever make, and, as a bonus, it is very easy to make. You just need the right equipment and time to let the bread rise. My recipe is loosely adapted from a Southern Living recipe from 1980, I believe. Their recipe was adapted from a larger recipe used in a restaurant. For this, I cut down quantities even more and adjusted ingredients to fit.

Ingredients

  • 5-½ cups All-purpose Flour, Divided
  • 2 packages (1/4 Oz. Size) Active Dry Yeast
  • 2 cups Less 2 Tablespoons Water, Divided
  • 4-½ teaspoons Sugar, Divided
  • 1 Tablespoon Plus 3/4 Teaspoon Vegetable Shortening, Divided
  • 2-¼ cups All-purpose Flour
  • 1-¼ teaspoon Salt

Preparation

Combine 3 1/4 cups flour, 1 cup and 2 tablespoons water, yeast, 1/2 teaspoon sugar, and 3/4 teaspoon shortening together in a heavy duty stand mixer using the paddle at first and then switching to the dough hook. Mix at high speed for 5 minutes, and then put the dough in a large greased bowl turning to grease the top, cover, and put in a warm place to rise for 4 hours. This step allows the yeast and the flour plenty of time to do their magic and develop a wonderful flavor.

In the same mixer with a paddle attachment, combine remaining 2 1/4 cups flour, remaining 3/4 cup water, salt, remaining 4 teaspoons sugar, and remaining 1 tablespoon shortening and mix well. Now add the dough that has been rising and, with the dough hook, beat at high speed for 10 minutes. The dough should very soft and pliable.

Form dough into loaves. For this amount, I make 3 medium size loaves. You can shape them any way you like, either the traditional French look or a round loaf. Using a very sharp knife, make some slashes on the top of the loaves which helps them rise better.

Put loaves on baking sheets in a 425ºF oven with a pan of water on the bottom rack to create steam for a better crust. Bake for 25–30 minutes or until you hear a hollow sound when you tap on the bottom of the loaf. Cool on a wire rack.

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