If you’re looking for a soft homemade bread recipe with a buttery golden crust and light fluffy texture, this homemade French bread is the perfect recipe to bake. Made with simple pantry ingredients, this easy bread recipe creates beautiful bakery-style loaves that are soft on the inside with a delicious buttery finish.
This homemade French bread is perfect for serving alongside soups, pasta, salads, sandwiches, or simply enjoying warm with butter. The dough comes together easily and bakes into soft golden loaves with a tender texture the whole family will love.
Whether you’re new to bread baking or an experienced baker, this easy French bread recipe is simple, comforting, and perfect for everyday homemade baking.
Why You’ll Love This Homemade French Bread
This easy bread recipe is:
- Soft and fluffy
- Easy to make
- Perfect for beginners
- Made with simple ingredients
- Great for sandwiches and dinner sides
- Delicious with butter, soups, and pasta
Brushing the warm bread with melted butter after baking creates a soft buttery crust and gives the bread its beautiful golden finish.
Ingredients
- All-purpose flour
- Lukewarm water
- Butter
- Egg
- Granulated sugar
- Salt
- Instant yeast
How to Make Homemade French Bread
Start by combining lukewarm water, instant yeast, sugar, flour, butter, egg, and salt in a large mixing bowl or stand mixer.
Mix and knead the dough until it becomes soft, smooth, and elastic. Cover the dough and allow it to rise until nearly doubled in size.
Once risen, gently deflate the dough and divide it into two equal portions. Shape each piece into a loaf and place them onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Cover the loaves and allow them to rise again until puffy and expanded. While the bread rises, preheat the oven.
Bake the loaves until golden brown and baked through. Remove the bread from the oven and immediately brush the tops with melted butter for a soft buttery crust.
Allow the bread to cool slightly before slicing and serving.
Tips for the Best French Bread
For perfect homemade French bread:
- Use lukewarm water to activate the yeast properly
- Allow enough rising time for soft fluffy bread
- Knead the dough until smooth and elastic
- Avoid adding too much flour
- Brush with butter while warm for a softer crust
The dough should feel soft and slightly tacky, not dry or stiff.
Ways to Serve Homemade French Bread
This soft French bread pairs perfectly with:
- Soups and stews
- Pasta dinners
- Garlic butter
- Sandwiches
- French toast
- Homemade jam and butter
For bread bowls:
- Divide the dough into 4 equal portions for standard soup bread bowls.
- Shape each portion into a tight round ball instead of a loaf.
- Let them rise until puffy.
- Bake at 375°F until golden brown and hollow sounding when tapped.
For larger bakery-style bread bowls, you could make:
- 3 large bread bowls
For smaller side-sized bowls:
- 6 mini bread bowls
A good rule is:
- About the size of a grapefruit = standard bread bowl
- About the size of an orange = smaller bread bowl
They work great for soups like broccoli cheddar, potato soup, chili, and creamy chicken soup.
It also makes delicious garlic bread when toasted with butter, garlic, and herbs.
Storage Tips
Store the bread in an airtight container or bread bag once cooled to help maintain freshness. This bread also freezes well for future meals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my French bread dense?
Dense bread can happen if the dough does not rise long enough or if too much flour is added.
Can I freeze homemade French bread?
Yes! Wrap the bread tightly and freeze for up to 3 months.
What does brushing with butter do?
Butter softens the crust and gives the bread a rich buttery flavor and golden appearance.
Can I make this bread without a stand mixer?
Absolutely. The dough can easily be mixed and kneaded by hand.
More homemade bread recipes to enjoy.
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Ingredients
Method
- Mix and knead all of the ingredients — by hand, mixer, or bread machine — to make a soft, smooth dough.
- Cover the dough and let it rise until it’s nearly doubled in bulk, about 1 to 2 hours.
- Gently deflate the dough and divide it into two pieces, shape each one into a loaf.
- Place each loaf on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover and let rise until noticeably puffy, about an hour. Toward the end of the rising time, preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Bake the for 12 – 15 minutes, until golden. Remove them from the oven and brush with melted butter; this will give a soft, buttery crust.
