Easy French Bread in Under One Hour

This quick and easy bread recipe comes together in less than an hour making it the perfect loaf for those nights you didn’t plan ahead. 

Ingredients

  • Yeast - you can use either instant or dry active yeast. I included instructions for both.
  • Flour - all purpose is what I typically use, but bread flour works as well
  • Salt - bread does not taste right without salt! It also helps to add structure to your dough.

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 425.
  • DRY ACTIVE YEAST: In a small bowl combine dry active yeast and warm water (about 110 F). Mix to combine and let sit for about 5 minutes. It should be bubbly after 5 minutes.
  • INSTANT YEAST: If using instant yeast just combine in with flour in next step. You do not need to rehydrate it.
  • In a large bowl add 2.5 cups flour, salt, and yeast mixture. Mix to combine, then turn out to the counter and knead for about 5 minutes.
  • Once the dough is smooth, shape the dough into one large or two small loaf shapes and place on a baking sheet to rise for about 15 minutes.
  • Score the top of the loaf and bake for 15-20 minutes, until the crust is golden brown.
  • Brush with melted butter if you want a buttery soft crust.

Share Your Experience

I would love to hear about your experience making and enjoying my easy 1 hour french bread recipe! Feel free to tag me on Instagram or leave a review below. Your feedback helps me improve our recipes and provides inspiration to fellow home cooks.

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Easy French Bread in Under 1 Hour

5 from 1 vote
This quick and easy bread recipe comes together in less than an hour making it the perfect loaf for those nights you didn’t plan ahead. 
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings: 1 loaf
Course: Side Dish
Calories: 1151

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tablespoon yeast dry active or instant
  • 1 cup warm water about 110F
  • 2.5-3 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 ½ teaspoon salt

Instructions
 

  1. Preheat oven to 425.
  2. DRY ACTIVE YEAST: In a small bowl combine dry active yeast and warm water (about 110 F). Mix to combine and let sit for about 5 minutes. It should be bubbly after 5 minutes.
  3. INSTANT YEAST: If using instant yeast just combine in with flour in next step. You do not need to rehydrate it.
  4. In a large bowl add 2.5 cups flour, salt, and yeast mixture. Mix to combine, then turn out to the counter and knead for about 5 minutes.
  5. Once the dough is smooth, shape the dough into one large or two small loaf shapes and place on a baking sheet to rise for about 15 minutes.
  6. Score the top of the loaf and bake for 15-20 minutes, until the crust is golden brown.
  7. Brush with additional butter if you want a buttery soft crust.

Nutrition

Calories: 1151kcalCarbohydrates: 240gProtein: 34gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.4gSodium: 3508mgPotassium: 373mgFiber: 10gSugar: 1gVitamin C: 0.01mgCalcium: 57mgIron: 15mg

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7 Comments

  1. Pingback: Buttery Crescent Rolls - The Farmstyle
  2. Thank you for sharing your bread recipe. I lost mine and was looking for something similar. We loved it! I did add a teaspoon of sugar to the yeast/water before I let it rest. At the end of the kneading I used 3 teaspoons of olive oil, one at a time.

5 from 1 vote

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