Crusty French Baguette

Crusty French Baguette

delicious home-baked bread

Recipe by
Reviewed by Arturs Arnicans
Prep Time: 2h 15m
Cook Time: 30m
Total Time: 2h 45m
Temp.: 450 °F
Servings: 4
Difficulty: Easy
5.0 (15 Reviews)
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Ingredients

Adjust servings:

Nutritional Information

346
calories
1g
fat
72,1g
carbohydrates
10,3g
protein
0mg
cholesterol
586
sodium
1 baguette
serving size
Crusty French Baguette

Recipe Description

This Crusty French Baguette is one of my favorite bread recipes I’ve mastered. There is nothing like the smell of bread baking in the oven, is there? I love to serve this bread alongside a delicious, comforting bowl of soup. The key to authentic French bread is the slashes made with a razorsharp blade. Use a very sharp knife, razor, or a special baking tool called a lame to slash your loaves before baking.

To make this bread, start by making a dough from water, yeast, flour and salt. Leave the dough to rise before dividing the dough into 4 equal portions. Shape each one into a long loaf with pointed ends and leave to rise again until doubled in size. Bake the loaves until they are crusty and brown and sound hollow when tapped. 

To make the Crusty French Baguette, you will need the following ingredients:

Ingredients for Crusty French Baguette

Steps to make

  1. 1

    Mix yeast and water

    3 min
    Step 1 - Crusty French Baguette

    Place 1 ¾ ounces of warm water in a small bowl and sprinkle 1 ½ teaspoons of yeast on top. Leave until the yeast dissolves and becomes foamy.

  2. 2

    Combine ingredients

    3 min
    Step 2 - Crusty French Baguette

    Measure 16 ounces of bread flour into a large bowl and stir in 2 teaspoons of salt. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture, and stir in the dissolved yeast. Add the cool water, a little at a time, stirring constantly until a stiff, shaggy dough forms.

  3. 3

    Leave at room temperature

    30 min
    Step 3 - Crusty French Baguette

    Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and leave for 30 minutes.

  4. 4

    Lightly knead

    2 min
    Step 4 - Crusty French Baguette

    Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface. Press it into a rectangle and fold into thirds. Turn 90 degrees and repeat.

  5. 5

    Leave to rise

    1h
    Step 5 - Crusty French BaguetteStep 5 - Crusty French Baguette

    Transfer the dough to a large oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Leave the dough in a warm place for 1-2 hours until it doubles in size.

  6. 6

    Shape into loaf

    5 min
    Step 6 - Crusty French BaguetteStep 6 - Crusty French Baguette

    Divide the dough into 4 equal portions, and shape each one into a long loaf (approx 15-inches long and 1 ½ inches in diameter), with tapered ends.

  7. 7

    Leave to rest

    30 min
    Step 7 - Crusty French Baguette

    Place the dough on lightly greased baking sheets and cover loosely with a piece of oiled plastic wrap. Leave to rest for about 30-45 minutes until doubled in size.

  8. 8

    Heat oven

    5 min

    Preheat the oven to 450 °F. Place a small pan of water at the bottom of the oven.

  9. 9

    Prepare loaves for baking

    2 min
    Step 9 - Crusty French Baguette

    Sprinkle each loaf with flour. Slash each one 4 times using a lame bread tool, razor, or sharp knife.

  10. 10

    Bake

    30 min
    Step 10 - Crusty French Baguette

    Bake the loaves for 30-40 until crusty and brown. Baking time may vary depending on your oven.

  11. 11

    Serve

    Step 11 - Crusty French Baguette

    Serve with soup or simply slathered with butter, hot from the oven.

This Crusty French Baguette is a delicious recipe for making tasty French bread at home! Just don’t forget to post your photos on social media with the #cookmerecipes hashtag.

About the author

Lilly Mathuse

Lilly is an enthusiastic and cheerful young mom. She knows as well as any parent that children can be really picky when it comes to food. And she’s had plenty of experience trying to cook meals that are both tasty and nutritious, and able to satisfy the tastes of a fussy kid right away! To save you some precious time, Lilly's going to share with you all the tricks she learned the hard way, so you don’t have to! She has a wealth of recipes for quick and easy meals for kids and families on a budget.

Recipe Reviews

Have you made this recipe? Share your experience and help other cooks!

★★★★★
★★★★★
5.0 out of 5 (15 reviews)
Zoé
February 6, 2025
Verified

OMG, this Crusty French Baguette is just lit! The smell filled my place while baking, and my friends were wowed at dinner. So easy to make! Perfect with soup on a chill night.

Emily Johnson
January 11, 2025
Verified

Yum! Just baked these baguettes, and the whole house smells amazing! My kiddos couldn’t wait to dunk ‘em in soup. What a fun dinner experience!

Henry
December 23, 2024
Verified

Man, this baguette is the real deal! My kids love it with soup after school, and the smell is killer!

Natalie Anderson
November 17, 2024
Verified

Absolutely love it!

Grace Miller
October 27, 2024
Verified

Best bread ever!

Tina
October 7, 2024
Verified

I'm so thankful for this recipe. I made it last week and the smell filled my home, bringing back memories of my grandmother's kitchen. The crust was perfect and paired wonderfully with my soup.

Gabrielle Martin
September 23, 2024
Verified

Superb recipe, my kids loved it with soup.

Rachel
August 29, 2024
Verified

Baked this baguette during a rainy day. My friends loved it.

Quentin Brown
March 30, 2024
Verified

A superb baguette, my family's favourite!

Emily Johnson
October 13, 2023
Verified

Simply perfect bread!

Grace
October 10, 2023
Verified

OMG, this baguette is life! So easy to make, it’s like magic. My kitchen smells amazin'! 🥖

Ivy
February 4, 2023
Verified

I made this Crusty French Baguette last weekend for my friends, and it was a hit! The smell while baking was amazing, just like those bakeries in Paris. I served it with homemade soup, and everyone loved it. It's sooo simple to make too!

Walter
November 7, 2022
Verified

Superb recipe, my family loves it. Thanks!

Wendy Jansen
September 10, 2021
Verified

I made this Crusty French Baguette last weekend for a cozy night in with my favorite soup. The aroma filled my apartment, making it feel so warm and inviting. It was super simple to follow, and when I took the first bite, it reminded me of my travels in France. Just perfect!

Athina
July 9, 2021
Verified

I used this recipe recently and it worked perfectly! Thanks!

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