Total Time: 4 hrs
Two golden-brown loaves of homemade simple French bread cooling on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

French Bread

Prep Time 30 mins Cook Time 30 mins Rest Time 3 hrs Total Time 4 hrs

Description

The smell of fresh bread has the magical ability to summon people to the kitchen. :-) Recipe makes 2 loaves.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Dissolve 1 tsp of Sugar into 1/2 cup of warm water. Sprinkle yeast and stir gently until dissolved. Cover for 10-15 minutes to allow yeast to bubble. 

  1. In main mixing bowl, add the remaining sugar, warm water, salt and half the bread flour and mix. 

  1. Add shortening, yeast mixture and remaining bread flour and mix thoroughly for 10 minutes using dough hook on standing mixer or by knead dough by hand on clean, floured surface. 

  1. Put dough back into main mixing bowl, cover with clean cloth and let rest for 90 minutes. 

  1. Punch dough down and cut in half. Shape into 2 balls and cover with clean cloth and let rest for 10 minutes. 

  1. Roll each ball into a 12x9 inch rectangle and roll as for jelly roll, seal edges. 

  1. Place on baking sheet, score the top 6 times diagonally. Cover with towel and let rise for an additional 90 minutes. 

  1. Bake for 30 minutes in preheated 400˚F (205˚C) oven.

  1. Brush with melted butter before enjoying.