(I made 3 loaves of this bread this past weekend for my son's birthday dinner party and totally forgot to take pictures. I will make sure I take some and post them next time. Which will probably be in the next couple weeks because it's so good we eat it with everything!)
The first time I discovered this recipe, I was astounded that it worked, it was delicious, and it only took a little over an hour to make from start to finish. AND it makes 3 loaves! In a little over one hour, fresh, delicious, crusty, buttery bread. For this recipe, I combined Lil Luna's recipe with the Pioneer Woman's method.
The first time I discovered this recipe, I was astounded that it worked, it was delicious, and it only took a little over an hour to make from start to finish. AND it makes 3 loaves! In a little over one hour, fresh, delicious, crusty, buttery bread. For this recipe, I combined Lil Luna's recipe with the Pioneer Woman's method.
French Bread
Ingredients:
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Instructions:
- Take the butter out of the fridge and place it on the counter for at least an hour. (Butter can stay out on the counter for days, by the way! It's SO much more delicious and easier to spread at room temperature).
- Dissolve the yeast in 1/2 cup of warm water. Meanwhile, mix the hot water, sugar oil, and 2 cups of the flour in a separate bowl. Mix the yeast mixture and hot water mixture together in a stand mixer with the paddle attachment.
- Add in the rest of the flour, 1 cup at a time, until the dough sticks together in a ball and is elastic and springy. Add in more flour if needed. Let it sit for 10 minutes.
- Separate the dough into 3 pieces. Roll each piece out into 9 x 12 inch rectangle on a floured surface. Roll it up like a jelly roll, the long way, and place in a greased 9 x 12 inch baking pan, seam side down. Repeat with the other 2 dough balls and place in the same pan. Separate in pan as much as possible. I like to also stick some foil in between each loaf in the pan to prevent them from sticking together when rising.
- With a knife, score the bread 3 to 4 times per loaf, then brush the beaten egg across each loaf liberally. Let dough rice in a warm place, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
- Bake at 375 in the middle rack of the oven for 20 minutes.
- Let the bread cool after baking. If not using all 3 loaves immediately, take 2 loaves, divide them up into bags, and freeze them.
- Take a loaf of bread and cut it in half, lengthwise, like a large hot dog bun. Take those 2 sticks of butter, and spread 1 stick on each half. That's right, 1 stick per half slice of bread.
- Bake the buttered bread in the oven at 350 on a cookie sheet for 10 minutes. When 10 minutes is up, set the oven to broil and broil the bread on the top rack of the oven for 3-5 minutes, until butter browns on top. Make sure you watch the bread and check every minute to make sure it doesn't burn!
- Take out of the oven, slice up, and serve.