Experience the joy of artisanal bread-making with this easy and foolproof Basic Machine French Bread recipe, perfect for beginners and seasoned bakers alike. Crafted with just five simple pantry staples—bread flour, warm water, active dry yeast, salt, and sugar—this recipe utilizes the convenience of a bread machine to create irresistibly crusty French bread with a soft and airy crumb. Whether you're selecting a light, medium, or dark crust setting, this hands-off recipe ensures consistent results with minimal effort. Ready in just a few hours, this homemade French bread is perfect for sandwiches, soups, or as a side for your favorite pasta dishes. Plus, the heavenly aroma of freshly baked bread will fill your kitchen, offering a bakery-quality experience right at home!
Add the warm water to the bread machine pan.
Sprinkle the bread flour evenly over the water, ensuring it completely covers the liquid.
Add the salt and sugar, placing them in separate corners of the bread machine pan to prevent direct contact with the yeast.
Make a small well in the center of the flour (don’t let it reach the water) and add the active dry yeast into the well.
Place the bread machine pan into the bread machine and close the lid.
Select the 'French' bread cycle (or equivalent) on your bread machine. If your machine allows, choose a crust setting (such as light, medium, or dark) based on your preference.
Press start and allow the bread machine to mix, knead, rise, and bake the bread.
Once the cycle completes, carefully remove the bread from the machine pan and let it cool on a wire rack for at least 15 minutes before slicing.
Calories |
1412 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 5.9 g | 8% | |
| Saturated Fat | 1.1 g | 6% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 3552 mg | 154% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 294.0 g | 107% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 11.5 g | 41% | |
| Total Sugars | 7.4 g | ||
| Protein | 47.7 g | 95% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 58 mg | 4% | |
| Iron | 16.8 mg | 93% | |
| Potassium | 518 mg | 11% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.