Really Easy, Really Good French Bread

stonecoldcrazy's Note:

A dear friend gave me this recipe, swearing that it is too easy to mess up- and she was right! It was delicous, better than anything fresh from the bakery!

• Total Time: 30 mins
• Prep Time: 0 mins
• Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 10

• 1/4 ounce dry active yeast (1 packet)
• 1/4 cup warm water
• 1/4 teaspoon sugar
• 1 cup hot water
• 1 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1/2 tablespoon salt
• 1/4 cup oil
• 2 1/2-3 cups all-purpose flour

Directions:

1. Dissolve yeast, warm water, and sugar in a small bowl.
2. In a large bowl or stand mixer, combine hot water, granulated sugar, salt, and oil. Add 1 1/2 cups of flour to the mixture in the large bowl/mixer and mix well. Stir in yeast mixture.
3. Add 1 – 1 1/2 cups more flour and mix until well blended. (At this point your dough will still be quite sticky). Leave in bowl and let rise for 1 hour, mixing a few strokes a couple of times during the hour.
4. Divide dough into 2 (or 3 if you want smaller loaves) pieces. Roll out each piece on a floured surface into the length desired then roll up length wise like a jelly roll.
5. Put on a greased cookie sheet, sealed side down, and tuck the ends under. Slash the top diagonally across the top every couple of inches with a sharp knife. Brush with egg white. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Let loaves rise 30 more minutes.
6. Bake for 25 - 30 minutes.

Reviews

[Belabean]

Very good! So much better than store bought! Will be using this a lot! Thanks for the recipe and thank your dear friend too!!!

[AZPARZYCH]

So easy and so good! I cut down on the cooking time based on other revirew but made as directed otherwise. Will make this for dinner rather than have DH stop on the way home from work and pick up a loaf at the store! Made for Fall 2009 PAC.