Have you ever given somebody a recipe and then when they turn around and serve it to you—you don’t even recognize it? That’s what happened with this Crusty French Bread. I gave the recipe to my daughter-in-law, Amanda. Later, she baked it and served it to me and I asked HER for the recipe. How did that happen? Now she is famous in our family for this French bread.
This bread has a soft, compact crumb with a crispy crust. It is NOT a chewy kind of artisan bread with big holes in it. Nope, nothing too sophisticated. Just a fresher than fresh loaf of bread you may want to add to your regular rotation or bring out for company. Slice it for eating out of hand, smear garlic butter on it to accompany pasta or make sandwiches with it (see below).
Amanda recently made this for my mom’s birthday party. We used it to make sandwiches for beef au jus. My other daughter-in-law, Susie, told me about McCormick’s Au Jus Gravy mix. It’s a touch salty but I forgive. Place the browned beef roast in a crock pot, pour seasoning mixed with water (according to the package) over the meat and cook it on high or low, depending on when you want to eat. 5 hours later on high — perfectly seasoned broth and fork tender shreds of beef.
Crusty French Bread
Ingredients:
1 cup lukewarm water
1-1/2 teaspoons shortening or butter
1-1/2 teaspoons sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
3+ cups bread flour
1 teaspoon instant yeast
Glaze: 1 egg white + 1 teaspoon water whisked together well.
Directions:
Instructions for making in a bread machine are given below. To make with a stand mixer, see general directions here.
First: Place all ingredients in bread machine pan in order listed. Start dough cycle. After 5-10 minutes, lift the lid and check dough. If dough is too sticky (levels out), add more flour 1 tablespoon at a time. If dough is too dry, add water a teaspoon at a time. Dough should be a loose ball that sticks to the sides, then pulls away.
Second: When dough cycle is complete, turn dough out onto lightly floured board. Roll into oval shape slightly longer than you want your final loaf to be. Starting from long side, roll into a cylinder shape. Pinch seam together. Turn over so seam is hidden. Pinch ends together and turn under making a small rounded shape on each end. Cover with a tea towel and allow to rise in warm place.
Third: Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Make glaze and brush over loaf. Using a sharp knife, (I use a serrated knife) or a single edge razor blade, cut diagonal slashes about 2 inches apart and 1/2 inch deep across the top of loaf.
Fourth: Bake loaf for 20 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake another 5-10 minutes until golden brown. Remove to cooling rack or slice and eat immediately.
Adapted from One Hundred Years of Bread by Sidney Brockman Carlisle.
If you enjoy making bread, you might consider these recipes made in a bread machine…
Rosemary-Parmesan Foccacia
My Favorite Dinner Rolls
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{ 33 comments… read them below or add one }
Looks good! I’ll have to try this. I haven’t been happy with any French bread from my bread machine. Great pictures too, as always!
I fear the yeast, but it looks like your loaves turned out beautifully! Perfect for that delicious-looking sandwich!
I really like this kind of bread! I`m going to try this
have a nice time!
Paula
I wonder if I will ever find this bread on our front porch
You might.
It looks PERFECT! There is nothing better than fresh baked bread.
This sounds like a great recipe. We love fresh French bread. I may try it this weekend.
thanks for nice recepts
))
Ooh, what wonderful loaves! The sandwich is making my mouth water. This looks like a perfect bread for french dip sandwiches.
Popped in from Pam’s to say hi! Oh, my husband loves beef au jus and crusty bread. He’ll be so pleased!
i agree, the au jus is definitely not for those on a low sodium diet. but is it tasty!
Wow!! Looks great! All the ingredients are really easy to produce. I really love bred making.!
Wow, your pictures look way better than my bread ever looks! Thanks for the recipe we now pass around!:)
Yum i love good crusty bread! The texture looks delicious!
That bread looks terrific. I wish I made bread more often — there’s nothing better than when it’s homemade!
I think I am finally embracing bread making. I made two loaves of the same bread in two days. Yeast still doesn’t really like me too much but i won’t complain because it was deeelish. I’m thinking of trying this!
I love bread, Paula and this looks perfect! Aren’t bread machines so convenient. Looking forward to trying this recipe.
I want to make your Greek Yogurt too. I have to pick up a strainer though. Years ago I made regular yogurt frequently for my children just using a yogurt maker. This sounds infinitely better!
I’ll dig out the bread machine for this! It looks so good in that sandwich- yum!
wow..thats awesome..it looks delicious..my mouth goes watery
I also love bread. btw this really looks perfect!
I’ve made this bread three times already within the past month and I can’t get enough of it! Thanks so much for sharing your recipe!
The bread looks fantastic!
i’m just now about to make this recipe for the 1st time (with beef au jus for dinner, of course!)…..is there any way to add a pic or two of the second step? it’s hard for me to follow words & i’m not sure exactly what you are talking about. does the recipe really only call for 1.5 tsp of shortening? that really surprised me. is that correct? guess i’m about to find out.
oh and i’m also trying out the “quick dough” cycle on my bread machine…not enough time for me to allow for the basic dough cycle. i’ll let you know if it turns out…
ok, so here’s the verdict….quick dough cycle seemed to work ok, although probably the basic dough would have allowed for more rise time. but this is a denser, crustier bread so it may not have mattered anyway. my loaves (or should i say loaf) weren’t as pretty as yours, but guess this will just come with experience as i make it more. you may want to mention that this recipe makes only 1 loaf (or at least that’s how mine turned out) of about 8 thinner slices. i used bread flour & bread machine yeast. hope this helps someone else out who may be making the recipe for the 1st time
I’ll dig out the bread machine for this! It looks so good in that sandwich- yum!
Looks absolutely fantastic.
I make a lot of bread at home and it never ever ends up looking like that. I’ll give the recipe a shot and pray for the best.
Wow very nice, I tried it, I dont think the yeast likes me too much, but it could be that I made it into two loaves instead of one. It tasted great thou!!
looks good!Practice is very simple!If I have a kitchen must try to do it.I can’t resist the temptation of delicious.
Looks like a great recipe…I’m always looking for ways to get the crust right!
Thanks for sharing
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I am a huge fan of great recipes. I write great recipes for bread machines. I have a bread machine reviews blog that i work very hard on and really appreciate all the work you have done to make this site what it is.
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I will be making this recipe this week! I make bread deserts and pizza for my have a north Miami beach pizza delivery company called Frankie’s Pizza Cafe. I will test this one out on my customers.
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I’ve made this breads 3 times already within the past 30 days and that i can’t get enough! Many thanks so much for sharing your formula,best bread maker!
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