Bread Machine French Bread (Simple, Simple, Simple)
🕒 Prep Time: 5 minutes
🍽️ Cook Time: 3 hours
⏲️ Total Time: 3 hours 5 minutes
👨🍳 Yield: 1 loaf
Description:
Indulge in the simplicity of homemade French bread with this easy-to-follow recipe. With just a handful of ingredients and your trusty bread machine, you can whip up a delightful loaf of French bread that’s perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/4 cups water
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 3 1/2 cups bread flour
- 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
Instructions:
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Prepare the Bread Machine:
- Before you begin, ensure your bread machine is clean and ready for action.
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Add Ingredients:
- Measure out 1 1/4 cups of water and pour it into the bread machine’s baking pan.
- Next, add 3/4 teaspoon of salt to the water.
- Carefully measure out 3 1/2 cups of bread flour and add it to the pan.
- Finally, add 2 teaspoons of active dry yeast to the mixture.
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Start the Machine:
- Place the baking pan into the bread machine and secure it in place.
- Select the appropriate settings on your bread machine for a 1.5-pound French loaf.
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Initiate Baking:
- Once you’ve selected the settings, initiate the baking process by pressing the start button on your bread machine.
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Wait Patiently:
- As the machine works its magic, allow yourself to be enveloped by the delightful aroma of freshly baked bread.
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Check for Doneness:
- After the baking cycle is complete, carefully remove the loaf from the bread machine.
- To ensure it’s fully baked, tap the bottom of the loaf. It should sound hollow.
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Cool and Enjoy:
- Allow the bread to cool on a wire rack for a few minutes before slicing.
- Serve slices of warm French bread with your favorite spreads or enjoy it plain.
Nutritional Information (Per Serving):
- Calories: 1618.5
- Total Fat: 4.9g
- Saturated Fat: 0.8g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 1765.8mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 337.1g
- Dietary Fiber: 14g
- Sugars: 1.2g
- Protein: 48.4g
Recipe Notes:
- This recipe yields one delicious loaf of French bread, perfect for slicing and enjoying with your favorite meals.
- Feel free to customize your French bread by adding herbs, spices, or cheese to the dough for extra flavor.
- For a crispy crust, consider brushing the loaf with water before baking and spritzing the inside of the oven with water during the first few minutes of baking. This creates steam, which helps develop a crisp crust.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days, or freeze slices for longer storage. Reheat frozen slices in a toaster or oven for a quick and easy snack or meal accompaniment.
