This French baguette recipe yields crispy, golden-brown loaves with a soft and chewy interior, perfect for sandwiches, soups, or simply enjoying with butter and cheese. With just a few simple ingredients and some patience, you can create homemade baguettes that rival those from a Parisian bakery. Here’s how to make them:
Ingredients:
- 3 cups bread flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 packet (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast
- 1 1/4 cups warm water (110°F/45°C)
- Cornmeal or semolina, for dusting
Instructions:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the bread flour, salt, sugar, and yeast. Stir to combine.
- Gradually add the warm water to the dry ingredients, stirring until a shaggy dough forms.
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic.
- Shape the dough into a ball and place it in a lightly greased bowl. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let it rise in a warm, draft-free place for 1-2 hours, or until doubled in size.
- Once the dough has risen, gently deflate it and divide it into two equal portions.
- Roll each portion of dough into a rectangle, then roll it up tightly from one of the long sides to form a cylinder.
- Place the shaped baguettes onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, seam side down. Dust the tops lightly with flour and cover them loosely with a kitchen towel. Let them rise for another 30-60 minutes, or until puffy.
- Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C) and place an empty baking pan on the bottom rack.
- When the baguettes have finished rising, use a sharp knife or razor blade to make 3-4 diagonal slashes across the tops.
- Fill the empty baking pan with hot water to create steam in the oven. Carefully transfer the baking sheet with the baguettes to the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the loaves are golden brown and sound hollow when tapped on the bottom.
- Transfer the baguettes to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
Nutritional Information (per serving, based on 10 servings):
- Calories: 160
- Protein: 5g
- Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 33g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugars: 0g
Enjoy your homemade French baguettes warm from the oven with your favorite toppings, or use them to make delicious sandwiches and bruschetta. Bon appétit!
