Print

Rustic French Bread Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.9 from 99 reviews

This Rustic French Bread recipe produces a crusty, golden loaf with a soft and airy interior. Utilizing a dutch oven for baking ensures a perfect crust, while the long rise times develop deep flavor and texture. Ideal for homemade sandwiches or as a delicious accompaniment to any meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Ingredients

  • 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 tsp active dry yeast
  • 1 1/4 cups water (105 – 115 degrees F)

Instructions

  1. Activate yeast: Combine yeast, warm water, and sugar in the bowl of your stand mixer. Let sit for about 5 minutes until the yeast activates and becomes foamy.
  2. Mix and knead dough: Add half of the flour and salt to the yeast mixture. Attach the dough hook to your mixer and knead on medium-low speed. Gradually add the remaining flour and continue kneading until the dough just comes together; expect it to remain slightly sticky.
  3. First rise: Transfer the dough to a lightly floured bowl and cover with a clean towel. Let it rise for 2 hours until doubled in size. After rising, gently shape the dough into a smooth ball on a floured surface or parchment paper, sprinkle more flour on top, cover it with a large bowl, and let it rise for another 30 minutes.
  4. Preheat oven and dutch oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Place your dutch oven with its lid inside the oven to preheat for 20 minutes. If you don’t have a dutch oven, preheating is not necessary, but you should prepare a baking sheet instead.
  5. Score and bake bread: Using a very sharp knife, score the top of the bread dough. Carefully transfer the dough with the parchment paper into the hot dutch oven. Bake for 30 minutes with the lid on, then remove the lid and bake for an additional 10 minutes to achieve a golden crust. If using a baking sheet, bake the bread for 35 minutes. The bread is done when the internal temperature reaches approximately 210°F (99°C).
  6. Cool and store: Remove the bread from the oven and transfer it to a cooling rack. Allow it to cool completely before slicing. Store the bread in a storage bag or container at room temperature for up to 3-5 days.

Notes

  • Using a dutch oven helps create steam during baking, which is key for a crusty exterior.
  • If you don’t have a dutch oven, a baking sheet works, though the crust may differ.
  • Make sure water temperature is between 105 and 115 degrees F to properly activate the yeast without killing it.
  • Letting the dough rise slowly enhances flavor and texture.
  • Use a sharp knife or bread lame to score the dough to prevent tearing during baking.
  • Check internal temperature with a kitchen thermometer to ensure bread is fully baked.
  • Store bread properly to maintain freshness; avoid refrigeration which can dry it out.

Keywords: Rustic French Bread, homemade bread, crusty bread, sourdough replacement, easy bread recipe, dutch oven bread

Find it online: https://miarosetti.com/rustic-french-bread-recipe/