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5.0 from 15 votes

Baguette Bread

An easy homemade French baguette recipe for beginners! Learn how to prep, proof, bake, and serve delicious homemade bread with this beginner-friendly recipe.

Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Additional Time
1 hr 30 mins
Total Time
2 hrs 5 mins
Servings: 2 loaves
Calories: 140 kcal
Course: Bread
Cuisine: French

Ingredients

  • 2 (0.25 ounce) Packets Dry Active Yeast (about 1 ½ tablespoons total)
  • 1 ¼ cups lukewarm water (about 100-110°F), divided
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour, plus more as needed
  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt
  • Cornmeal, for dusting

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Combine the yeast, ½ cup of warm water, and the sugar in a small bowl. Let the mixture rest for 5-10 minutes to activate the yeast. It should look a little bit foamy.
  2. In the large bowl of a stand mixer, whisk together the flour and salt. Add the yeast mixture. Gradually (not all at once) add the remaining ¾ cup of warm water and mix (or stir by hand with a wooden spoon) until a soft dough comes together in a ball. You might not need all of the water. If the dough is too sticky, you can add a bit more flour. It shouldn’t be sticking to the sides of the bowl.
  3. Once the dough comes together in a ball, knead with a dough hook or by hand until smooth and elastic – about 4-6 minutes. If the dough is sticking to the bowl or to your hands, add extra flour (one tablespoon at a time).
  4. Transfer the dough to a greased bowl (I spray my bowl with a light coating of nonstick cooking spray). Turn to coat the dough with the grease on all sides.
  5. Cover the bowl and let the dough rest in a warm place until it's doubled in size, about 45 minutes.
  6. Punch the dough down to release the air. Cut the dough into two equal portions.
  7. Working with one piece at a time, flatten the dough slightly into a small rectangular shape. Fold one edge into the center, and seal the seam. Turn the dough around, and repeat on the other side. Repeat this process again, using your thumb and the heel of your hand to seal the seam as you go. With the seam side down, gently roll from the center outwards, lengthening the dough into a log that’s about 12-14 inches long. Taper each end of the log slightly to create the baguette's typical "pointy" end, if you like.
  8. Place the dough onto a cornmeal-dusted baking sheet or baguette pan. Cover with lightly greased plastic wrap; allow the loaves to rise until they're slightly puffy (but not doubled in bulk), about 25-45 minutes.
  9. Towards the end of the rising time, place a cast iron pan (or other non-glass oven-proof pan or bowl) on the lowest rack in the oven. Place another rack in the middle of the oven. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Bring 1 ½ cups of water to a boil.
  10. When your dough is puffy, remove the cover and use a baker's lame (a special curved blade), a razor blade, or a very sharp knife held at about a 45° angle, to make three to five long lengthwise slashes in each baguette.
  11. Transfer the dough to the middle rack of the 450°F oven, while at the same time carefully pouring the boiling water into the cast iron pan. Quickly shut the oven door. The steam from the water will help to create a crusty exterior on the bread. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the loaves are a deep golden brown. The bread should sound hollow when you tap it. Remove the bread from the oven and cool on a wire rack before slicing.

Notes

  • While I typically prefer bread flour in homemade breads, the baguette recipe works best with all-purpose flour. All-purpose flour is a blend of hard and soft wheats and is wonderful for making airier (less-chewy) breads, like baguettes.
  • I like a darker, crispier crust, so I bake my bread for about 18-20 minutes. If you prefer a softer, lighter crust on your baguette, you may only need to bake it for about 15 minutes. Check it early and pull it out when it reaches your desired color.
  • Recipe slightly adapted from Food Network.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1hunk (about 1/6 of a loaf) Calories 140kcal (7%) Carbohydrates 29g (10%) Protein 4g (8%) Fat 1g (2%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Sodium 292mg (12%) Potassium 50mg (1%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 1g (2%) Calcium 5mg (1%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 2loaves

Amount Per Serving

Calories 140

% Daily Value*

Serving 1hunk (about 1/6 of a loaf)
Calories 140kcal 7%
Carbohydrates 29g 10%
Protein 4g 8%
Fat 1g 2%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Sodium 292mg 12%
Potassium 50mg 1%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 1g 2%
Calcium 5mg 1%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.