French Bread

This is a super easy french bread recipe. It comes out very moist with a crispy crust.

Ingredients

3 cups bread flour
1 Tbsp yeast
1 tsp salt
1 cup warm water
1 egg white
1 Tbsp cold water

Direction

In mixing bowl, combine 1 cup flour and yeast. Stir in 1 cup warm water. Let stand 5 minutes until yeast is activated. Add salt and 1 additional cup flour. Mix until dough is formd. Add additional flour if necessary.

Turn dough onto floured surface. Knead 10 minutes. Brush dough with oil and place in bowl. Cover and let dough rise until doubled in size.

Punch dough down and turn onto floured surface. Cover and let rest for 10 moinutes. Roll dough into large rectangle. Roll up, starting from long side. Taper ends and seal edges with water.

Grease baking sheet. Place loaf, seam side down, onto baking sheet. Lightly beat egg white with 1 Tbsp cold water and brush over dough loaf. Cover. Let rise until doubled in size.

Make several diagonal cuts about 1/2 inch deep across top of each loaf. Bake in preheated 375 degree oven for 20 minutes. Brush again with egg white. Loosely cover with foil (to prevent over browning). Bake 15-20 minutes longer Remove from baking sheet and cool on wire rack.