French Bread
Crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside, this french bread recipe is simple and delicious.
French Bread Recipe
PREP TIME:
2 hours 20 minutes
COOK TIME:
25-35 minutes
SERVINGS:
2 loaves
Ingredients
5-5 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons salt
2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
2 cups hot water (120-130°F)
1 large egg white, unbeaten
Directions
In a stand mixer bowl, mix 2 cups flour, sugar, salt and yeast. Add the hot water and beat for 2 minutes at medium speed, scraping the bowl in the process. Gradually mix in the remaining 3-1/2 cups of flour to make a soft dough. Knead dough for 5-7 minutes with the stand mixer dough hook until smooth.
Place the dough into a greased bowl, and cover. Set in a warm place to rise until double - about 1 hour. Punch down, divide the dough in half and shape into 2 balls. Cover and let rest for 5 minutes.
Grease palms of your hands with a little shortening. Roll each ball of dough in your hands to form 2 long, slender loaves, about 3 inches around. Sprinkle cornmeal on light greased baking sheets and place loaves about 4 inches apart. Cut 4 inch deep diagonal slashes, 1/2 inch apart into the top of each loaf. Cover and let rise about an hour, until a little more than double in size. Place a shallow pan of water on the lower oven rack and preheat oven to 425°F (282°C). Bake for 25-35 minutes. Remove from the oven and brush tops of loaves with egg white. Bake for 2 minutes. Remove loaves and cool on wire racks.
