Easy One Hour French Bread – Soft, Crusty & Perfect Every Time
There’s just something about the smell of fresh bread baking in the oven that makes a house feel like home. This One Hour French Bread is one of those recipes I come back to again and again—simple, reliable, and ready in under 60 minutes. It’s soft on the inside, crusty on the outside, and made with just a few pantry staples. Whether you’re serving it alongside a warm bowl of soup or slathering it with butter right out of the oven, this easy French bread recipe is a keeper for busy weeknights and slow weekends alike. No fancy equipment, no long rise times—just good, honest homemade bread in a hurry.
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Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Ready in less than one hour
- No special equipment is necessary
- Simple ingredients you most likely already have on hand
- Perfect for beginner bakers
- Versatile– Delicious with pasta, creamy soups, or great with butter or olive oil dipping
Ingredients You Will Need
- Water– warm (NOT hot!)
- Granulated Sugar
- Dry Yeast
- Salt– I like to use pink Himalayan salt but you can use any of your choosing
- Butter
- All-purpose flour
- Egg White– optional, for egg wash brushing
Step-By-Step Instructions
Preheat Oven
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. You will want to do this first so the oven is nice and hot when you put the bread in.
Activate the Yeast
In a large bowl or stand mixer, combine the warm water, sugar, yeast, and salt. Make sure your water is warm, like bath water and not too hot or you will kill the yeast and your bread will not rise properly. You can feel it with your wrist to get a better idea of the warmth.
Set the bowl on the preheating oven for a few minutes. The warmth from the oven will help activate the yeast. You should see bubbles form if the yeast is active. If you do not, you might have had the water too hot and killed your yeast. No worries though-you can start again!
Prepare the Dough
Add the softened butter and 1 cup of the flour. Mix together. Using the dough hook in your mixer, gradually mix in the rest of the flour. The dough will be sticky but start to pull away from the sides of the bowl.
Knead the Dough
Knead in the mixer for about 6-7 minutes or until the dough is smooth and elastic.
Prepare The Baking Pan
You can use a baguette pan or a baking sheet. Make sure to grease or line with a silicon mat to prevent sticking.
Shape the Dough
- Shape the dough into 2 smaller loaves or one larger loaf. I made one large loaf.
- Using a bread lame or sharp knife, make 3 or 4 slits on top.
Rise
Cover with a tea towel and let rise for about 20 minutes or until doubled in size.
Egg Wash
- In a small bowl, whisk one egg white until foamy.
- Using a pastry brush, apply the egg wash to the top and sides of the dough. I use all of the egg white.
Bake
- Transfer the bread to the oven and bake for 20 minutes. The top of the bread should be shiny and golden brown. The longer you leave the bread in the oven, the more crispy the crust will be.
- Let cool for a bit then slice and serve!
Baking Tips for the Best French Bread
- Use a HOT oven
- Add steam for extra crustiness (pan of water, ice cubes, or a spray bottle work great)
- Do not over flour the dough– stickier dough creates softer inside
- Rest the bread before slicing to prevent gumminess on the inside. The bread will continue to cook when removed from the oven.
How To Serve Easy One Hour French Bread
Slathered with butter or jam
Dipped in Olive Oil and Herbs
Served alongside soup, stew, or pasta
Used for sandwiches or garlic bread
Storage & Freezing Tips
- Store at room temp in a linen bread bag or paper bag
- Freeze up to 3 months- simply thaw first and then warm in the oven
- If you are not able to eat or freeze the fresh bread within 3 days, simply blend it in your food processor to make bread crumbs! Add your favorite savory seasonings and store in the freezer until you are ready to use it for casseroles or even dishes like meat loaf!
FAQs
- Can I use wheat flour? Yes! You may use wheat flour or even freshly milled flours. Just keep in mind that the taste and texture will be altered a bit.
- What if I only have instant yeast? You can absolutely use instant yeast in this Easy One Hour French bread recipe! Simply skip the step where you proof the yeast in warm water—just mix it right in with the dry ingredients. The rest of the recipe stays the same!
- How do I know when it is done baking? The crust should be golden on top and slightly browned on the bottom. For added crustiness, you may cook a couple of minutes longer.
- Can I make this into dinner rolls? Yes, you sure can! After the initial rise, divide the dough into 8–12 equal pieces (depending on how large you want your rolls). Shape into balls and place them on a greased or parchment-lined baking sheet. Let them rise for about 20–25 minutes, then bake at 400°F for 15–18 minutes, or until golden brown on top and hollow-sounding when tapped. They’re perfect for dinner or sandwiches!
Other Breads You Will Love
Whether you are a beginner or seasoned baker, you will love these bread recipes:
Made From Scratch Sourdough Bread
Simple Sourdough Discard Sandwich Bread
Healthy Whole Grain Sandwich Bread
The Art of Sourdough: From Starter To Slice
Love baking but new to the world of Sourdough? I know first hand how intimidating it can be! So many new terms to learn, questions are circling your head about feeding schedules, and wondering if you even have the time to learn a new skill….but the delicious and nutritious bread is calling your name. You want to learn but are unsure where to even start.
Well friend, let me make this a little bit easier for you. I created a 23 page e-book called The Art of Sourdough: From Starter To Slice. In this FREE book, I go over all the information you will need to know about the starter, common terminology, tools you will need, frequently asked questions, troubleshooting, and even some of my favorite recipes sent directly to your inbox! Simply visit Our Manor On Main Community Library and download this valuable resource. I know it will be of great help to you. Please let me know what you think!!
Easy One Hour French Bread – Soft, Crusty & Perfect Every Time
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup warm water
- 1 TBSP white sugar
- 1 1/2 TBSP dry yeast *can use instant yeast
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 TBSP butter softened
- 3-4 cups flour
- 1 egg white for brushing
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. You will want to do this first so the oven is nice and hot when you put the bread in.
- In a large bowl or stand mixer, combine the warm water, sugar, yeast, and salt. Make sure your water is warm, like bath water and not too hot or you will kill the yeast and your bread will not rise properly. You can feel it with your wrist to get a better idea of the warmth.Set the bowl on the preheating oven for a few minutes. The warmth from the oven will help activate the yeast. You should see bubbles form if the yeast is active. If you do not, you might have had the water too hot and killed your yeast. No worries though-you can start again!
- Add the softened butter and 1 cup of the flour. Mix together. Using the dough hook in your mixer, gradually mix in the rest of the flour. The dough will be sticky but start to pull away from the sides of the bowl.
- Knead in the mixer for about 6-7 minutes or until the dough is smooth and elastic.
- Shape the dough into 2 smaller loaves or one larger loaf. I made one large loaf. Using a bread lame or sharp knife, make 3 or 4 slits on top. Cover with a tea towel and let rise for about 20 minutes or until doubled in size.
- In a small bowl, whisk the egg white until light and foamy. Brush on all sides of the bread.
- Transfer the bread to the oven and bake for 20 minutes. The top of the bread should be shiny and golden brown. The longer you leave the bread in the oven, the more crispy the crust will be. Cool for a bit then slice and serve.
Notes
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