French Bread In One Hour

This is my French bread recipe, which you can prepare in just one hour, making it perfect for last-minute meals. It’s straightforward to make, and it’s moist and chewy in the center, with a crispy exterior. This recipe is an old family recipe, and my four daughters would sell the bread door-to-door to make a little spending money when they were younger.

Of course, nowadays, I would never send my girls door-to-door to sell it. That was 45 years ago, boy, things have changed.

We sold it at church bazaars and at school functions. We got orders ahead of time when people were having spaghetti and meatballs for dinner. It’s a favorite bread when taking dinner to neighbors with a pot of chicken noodle soup.

The original recipe, dating back almost 50 years, calls for shortening. I use butter these days, but nearly any solid oil could be substituted. Here’s the deal with this recipe: it claims to make three loaves. You could make two larger loaves or make three skinny loaves. I made two loaves today with a special bread pan I’ve had for years.

Bowl or Bread Mixer

You can make this bread dough in a large bowl or use a Bosch bread mixer as I did. As you know, I love pictures to visualize what I’m going to make, so here are my photos for this bread today.

So that you know, I dump everything in my Bosch and start mixing. Yep, I start it on low and work up to high. I emphasize it’s easy to make this recipe, I promise. It’s actually a no-fail recipe that anyone can make. You can actually make French bread rolls with the same recipe.

If you have fresh ingredients, you can make this recipe. Fresh is the keyword here. It’s so easy that even a beginner can make this bread.

Mold them differently and adjust the cooking time accordingly to suit the size of the rolls. You can also make these loaves on a greased cookie sheet. You may remember that I worked at a fabulous Kitchen store, and I love to buy quality kitchen tools because I enjoy cooking and baking almost everything.

What I like about this recipe is that it doesn’t require eggs. So let’s get started with this easy French bread recipe.

Items You May Need In The Kitchen

• Bread Mixer
• Mixing Bowls
• Cookie Sheet or French Bread Pan
• Measuring Cups and Spoons

French Bread In One Hour

Step One: Gather The Ingredients

I love to gather my ingredients before I start making the day’s recipe. You only need six ingredients, including the water!

Step Two: Dump Everything in Bosch

I dump everything in a bowl or my Bosch bread mixer and mix the bread dough for about 6-8 minutes.

Step Three: Mix Until The Dough Pulls Away

Mix until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bread mixer bowl.

Step Four: Cut the Dough Into Two Pieces

I then cut the dough with a dough cutter into two sections. 

Step Five: Roll Out The Rectangles and Shape The Dough

I roll out the two pieces of dough into a rectangle shape, roll them up into tube shapes, and then place them on a greased cookie sheet or French bread/baguette pan. I love my French bread pan; I think it helps the loaves maintain their shape.

Step Six: Place in Greased Pans

Ensure they are centered in the French bread pan to bake evenly. They may flatten out slightly if cooked on a cookie sheet.

Step Seven: Cover and Let Rise

Grease a piece of plastic wrap to cover the dough and let it rise until it doubles in size.

Step Eight: Bake as Directed

Preheat the oven to (400°F) = (204°C). Just before placing the loaves in the oven to bake, remove the plastic wrap and use a sharp knife to make a few shallow diagonal cuts on the top of the dough. Bake for 25-35 minutes, or until golden brown.

Finished Product

Lightly brush the baked loaves with butter on top and serve them while still warm.

French Bread In One Hour Recipe

Print

French Bread In One Hour

Course Bread, Side Dish

Cuisine French

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Let Rise 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour

Servings 3 loaves

Author Linda Loosli

Ingredients

• 2-1/2 cups hot water
• 4 teaspoons SAF instant yeast
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 tablespoon shortening or melted butter
• 6 cups bread flour

Instructions

• I dump everything in a bowl or my Bosch bread mixer and mix the bread dough for about 6-8 minutes.
• I then cut the dough with a dough cutter into two sections. 
• I roll out the two pieces of dough into a rectangle shape and roll up into a tube shape and place them on a greased cookie sheet or French bread/baguette pan.
• Grease some plastic wrap and cover the dough, then let it rise until it has doubled in size. Just before placing the loaves in the oven to bake, remove the plastic wrap and use a sharp knife to slice a few shallow cuts diagonally on the dough.
• Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C) and bake for 25-35 minutes or until golden brown.
• After baking, lightly brush the top of the baked loaves with butter and serve them while still warm.

How do I store this bread?

I actually store my bread in bread bags. They are disposable and very inexpensive. Remember, this bread doesn’t contain any preservatives, so it will only be good for about 1-2 days when stored on your countertop. My favorite: Bread Bags. We love homemade bread and appreciate that it doesn’t contain all the chemicals, including no preservatives, but it does prompt us to eat it more quickly.

Can I freeze the baked item?

Yes, you can; that’s what I love about this recipe. You can make two loaves, or three smaller ones, and freeze some for another day. The frozen loaves will be good for 1-2 months in your freezer.

Can I freeze the dough?

I can’t recommend it because I haven’t tried freezing the dough. You must remember that commercial bread companies use preservatives to prevent the dough from freezing.

Can I make French Bread Pizza with one of these loaves?

Absolutely, slice a loaf after baking it lengthwise. Scoop some pizza sauce on the halves, and top with slices of pepperoni, chopped onions, sliced olives, green onions, and chopped tomatoes. Bake at 400°F = (204°C) until the cheese is melted.

How do I reheat my French Bread?

Preheat your oven to 350°F (176°C). Wrap the bread tightly in foil and bake for about 15 minutes.

Do I need a Baguette or a French bread pan?

No, I used a cookie sheet for years. You do not need a special pan to make this recipe.

Final Word

I hope you try making my French Bread in one hour! There really isn’t anything like fresh-baked bread right from the oven. My kids still tell me how much they loved coming home from school to fresh bread, smothered with butter and jam – yummy. Please let me know how making this recipe went. I love to hear from you. It’s all about cooking from scratch and teaching our kids and grandkids this critical skill. May God bless this world, Linda

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