Reading Time: 7 minutes Easy French Bread Recipe: Only 5 Ingredients! Low Knead
Best French Bread Recipe
Are you looking for the perfect homemade french bread recipe? Here it is. This delicious french bread recipe has only 5 ingredients. It does not require much kneading and it has no preservatives. This recipe is so quick and easy that our 4 year old helps make it.
Perfect Side to Bring To Thanksgiving
Often when we are invited to holiday parties, or any dinner parties, the question is “what should we bring as a side?”. This bread is the easiest answer! After all there is just something special about fresh bread, hot out of the oven. Everyone loves it, and besides you, no one knows how easy (and inexpensive) this delicious french bread recipe is.
I love this recipe because there are only 5 ingredients, and they’re all things you probably already have in your pantry and cabinets. I also love that I can pronounce all of the ingredients. This easy French Bread recipe gives me a bit of comfort knowing what is in the foods we’re eating. Because there aren’t any preservatives in this bread, if your family doesn’t scarf it all down the day you make it, (if you have left overs, there won’t be much,) it will only last a day or two in a Ziplock or storage container.
I like to use my stand mixer to make this bread, but if you don’t have one, a food processor or blender with a dough blade will also.
The Only 5 Ingredients You Need For Easy French Bread
- 1 Packet Active Dry Yeast ( 2 1/4 teaspoon if you’re using a jar)
- 1 Tablespoon Sugar
- 2 1/4- 2 3/4 Cups Flour
- 1 Teaspoon Salt
- 1 Cup Warm Water (120* is ideal, but it’s not necessary to measure, hot tap water works perfectly)
Here’s the step by step including photos! Enjoy!
Using the dough hook of your stand mixer, or the dough blade of your food processor or blender combine:
2 C Flour, Sugar, salt, and yeast. Mix well. Add 1 C warm water and mix for approximately 3 minutes, increasing the speed from slow to medium. If the dough is sticky, sprinkle more flour until a it forms dough that is you can knead.
Place the dough on a floured surface- I like to work on a a square of parchment paper, floured to make clean up easy!
No one likes a needy dough. That’s another reason why this recipe is great. It requires very little kneading. When I make this easy French Bread recipe, I only knead the dough for a minute, maybe 2 at the most.
Return the dough back to the bowl for 45-60 minutes. Place the bowl in a warm place to allow the dough to rise (allow 60 minutes if your home is cold.) Most bread recipes recommend a tea towel to cover the bowl…I don’t know that I own a tea towel, I use damp paper towels, and I’ve always had tasty bread!
After allowing the dough to rise (it will nearly double) in size, punch it down.
Then using a rolling pin, roll it out on a floured surface.
Again, I like to do this on the parchment paper for easy clean up.
Roll the dough into a rectangle shape, or as close as you can. I always struggle with getting a good shape, so don’t worry about it too much.
Sometimes I use a pizza cutter to trim the edges of my dough to ensure a good shape rectangular.
Once your dough is rolled out to a shape you’re happy with, start with the long end of the rectangle.
Then roll your dough into a loaf.
Place your roll, seam side down onto your baking sheet or stone.
Cover with a tea towel (again I use damp paper towels because what’s a tea towel,) for 45 minutes letting it double in size (this might take a bit longer if your house is cold.)
Baking Details
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees well before baking. Having the oven hot and ready to go helps with the perfect bake.
I also like to do this while the bread is on the 2nd rise, especially when I’m making this during the winter and the house is cold.
Just before you bake, remove the tea towel or damp paper towels.
Use a knife slice 3-4 diagonal slashes into your loaf.
You can whisk an egg white with a splash of water and brush the mixture onto your loaf before baking. This step is optional, and will result in a shiny crust for your baked bread.
Bake for 18-20 minutes until the crust is golden brown.
When baking this easy French Bread, I like to plan my bake time to be done as dinner is being served. Hot fresh bread just adds a little something extra special to dinner.
Enjoy!
Perfect Easy and Quick French Bread Recipe
Easy Homemade French Bread
Ingredients
- 2 1/4-2 3/4 Cups Flour
- 1 package Active Yeast If using yeast from a jar, use 2 1/2 teaspoon
- 1 TBSP Sugar
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 Cup Warm Water using hot tap water works, if you want to test the temperature 115 degrees Fahrenheit
Instructions
- In the bowl of your mixer, blender, or food processor combine 2 1/4 C flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. Add water and mix for 3 minutes. If the dough is too sticky, add more flour 1 Tablespoon at a time until the dough forms a workable dough.
- Transfer the dough to a floured work surface- I like to work on floured parchment paper- knead the dough for 1-2 minutes, or until it's smooth. Return back to your bowl and cover with a wet tea towel (I use wet paper towels) for 45-60 minutes or until it's doubled in size.
- Punch the dough down and place it on your floured work surface (I like to do this on parchment paper.) Using a rolling pin, roll dough in a rectangular shape (or as close as you can get.) From the long end of the rectangle roll up the dough into a loaf and place of a parchment paper covered baking sheet. Cover with a damp tea towel (I use damp paper towels.) Rise for 45 minutes until doubled in size.
- While your loaf is rising, preheat your oven to 400
- Remove damp towel OPTIONAL mix together 1 egg white and a splash of water until foamy. Using a baking and pastry brush, brush onto your loaf.
- Using a sharp knife cut 3-5 slashes diagonally on the top of your loaf.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack, or slice and serve warm.
Notes
Additional French Bread Tips and Tricks
- Double the recipe! That way you can bake two loaves.
- Freeze a loaf. This french bread recipe actually freezes well.
- Use the same parchment paper you cooked the bread on to wrap up any leftovers.
- Bread sticks. You can easily divide the dough up to make smaller bread sticks. Our identical twins often want their own of whatever they are eating, so mini french bread loaves are perfect.
There you have it! A quick, easy, versatile, delicious french bread recipe that requires little kneading and only has 5 ingredients that you already have around the house!
If you like this bread recipe, be sure to check out our Best Challah Recipe or all of our recipes.
Erin is the mother of identical twin girls and their slightly older brother. She is a domestic engineer, and previously had a career leading customer service teams for a major HVAC company. Cleaning without harsh chemicals, and cooking easy and usually healthy meals are part of Erin's daily life. She volunteers with youth leaders, and genuinely wants to help others win. Erin has a degree in Communications, with a focus on Broadcast Journalism.