French Bread

Homemade French bread made with simple ingredients. A little kneading and patience give you golden loaves with crispy crusts and soft, chewy interiors. Ready in just under two hours!

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups warm water (110°F to 115°F)
2 Tablespoons active dry yeast
3 Tablespoons granulated sugar
2 Tablespoons white vinegar
1 Tablespoon salt
1/3 cup oil
6 1/2-7 cups all-purpose flour
1 large egg beaten
1 Tablespoon water

Instructions

In a large mixing bowl, add the warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let sit for 3-5 minutes or until it becomes bubbly.
Add the vinegar, salt, oil, and flour, one cup at a time, until dough begins to form. Knead on medium speed for about 10 minutes.
Place dough into a greased bowl and let it rise, covered, for about 1 hour, or until it doubles in size. Punch dough down and let rise again for another 30 minutes.
Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray and sprinkle a thin layer of cornmeal over it. Punch down the dough again and divide it into 2 sections.
Roll the dough into long, French bread shapes and place onto the prepared cookie sheet. Slash the tops of the loaves diagonally with a sharp knife.
Combine the egg and water together and brush it over the tops of the bread loaves to create a shiny, golden crust.
Allow the dough to rise again for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 375°F, then bake the loaves for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown and crusty.

Notes

You can make the bread a little softer by reducing the baking time or increasing the water content slightly.
For a shinier crust, add an additional egg wash before the second rise.
Make sure to slash the tops of the loaves to allow the bread to expand properly as it bakes.