French bread
French bread has been around for centuries, with the earliest recipes dating back to the Middle Ages. The traditional French bread recipe calls for flour, water, salt, and yeast, and the dough is typically kneaded by hand. The dough is then allowed to rise, before being shaped into a loaf and baked in a hot oven.
French bread is often associated with the country’s famous baguettes, which were first introduced in the early 20th century. However, there are many other types of French bread, such as brioche, pain de mie, and pain aux raisins.
While the basic ingredients and methods for making French bread have remained largely unchanged over the centuries, there have been some notable changes. For example, the addition of sugar to the dough was once common, but is now less common. And, while most French bread is still made by hand, some bakeries have started to use machines to speed up the process.
Advice
When making French bread, it is important to remember to use the right type of flour. Bread flour is the best choice, as it has higher gluten content which will help the bread rise better. In addition, make sure to knead the dough long enough to develop the gluten, allowing the bread to rise higher and have a better texture. When rising, use a warm place that is free from drafts. Finally, when baking, be sure to preheat the oven to the appropriate temperature and use a baking stone to help create a crispy crust. With these tips, you should be able to make delicious French bread in no time!
Jump to: Ingredient Breakdown Insights
Recipes
Meaty and Cheesy Stuffed French Bread
- mushroom soup
- bread
- ground beef
- oil
- celery
- milk
- onion
- worcestershire sauce
- salt
- black pepper
- parsley
Basic Machine French Bread
- water
- salt
- yeast
- all purpose flour
Failproof French Bread (Bread Machine)
- salt
- yeast
- water
- bread flour
Gluten Free French Bread
- butter
- tapioca flour
- vinegar
- water
- salt
- rice flour
- butter
- rise yeast
- sugar
- egg substitute
- xanthan gum
- egg white
Classic and Crusty French Bread
- egg white
- sesame seed
- water
- sugar
- salt
- yeast
- bread flour
Bread Machine Crusty French Bread
- egg white
- vegetable oil
- water
- all purpose flour
- bread flour
- cornmeal
- milk
- yeast
- salt
- sugar
One Hour French Bread
- sugar
- water
- butter
- yeast
- salt
- egg white
- all purpose flour

Perfect Homemade French Bread
- egg
- yeast
- salt
- water
- all purpose flour
Chef Rick's Classic French Bread
- honey
- yeast
- salt
- water
- bread flour
No-Knead French Bread
- cornmeal
- water
- salt
- all purpose flour
Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Stuffed French Bread.
- garlic
- loaf french bread
- cheddar cheese
- chicken
- buffalo sauce
- blue cheese
- smoked paprika
- parmesan cheese
- ranch dressing
- cream cheese
- cilantro jalapenos green onion
- salt
- olive oil
New Orleans French Bread
- water
- yeast
- bread flour
- sugar
- salt
- water
Buffalo Chicken-Stuffed French Bread
- cheddar cheese
- mozzarella cheese
- salt
- loaf french bread
- ranch dressing seasoning
- chili powder
- garlic powder
- cumin
- onion powder
- smoked paprika
- cream cheese
- mayonnaise
- sour cream
- blue cheese crumble
- hot sauce
- chicken
Whole Wheat French Bread
- wheat flour
- salt
- cornmeal
- brown sugar
- bread flour
- water
Chicken Parmesan French Breads
- parmesan cheese
- salt
- butter
- oregano
- thyme
- french baguette
- pasta sauce
- panko breadcrumb
- parsley
- mozzarella cheese
- olive oil
- chicken cutlet
Chef Rick's Classic French Bread
- honey
- yeast
- salt
- water
- bread flour
Classic French Bread
- egg white
- yeast
- salt
- water
- sugar
- all purpose flour

Jalapeño Popper Stuffed French Bread
- cheddar cheese
- bacon
- loaf french bread
- mayonnaise
- jalapeño
- cream cheese

New Orleans French Bread
- salt
- sugar
- vegetable shortening
- yeast
- bread flour
Easy Homemade French Bread
- water
- sugar
- egg
- yeast
- water
- salt
- all purpose flour
Ingredient Breakdown
Insights
Staple Ingredients
- salt 85%
Common Ingredients
- water 65%
- yeast 50%
Usual Ingredients
- bread flour 35%
- all purpose flour 30%
- sugar 30%
Rarey Ingredients
- egg white 25%