Description
Crusty, golden, and airy on the inside—this classic French baguette captures the soul of traditional Parisian baking. Made with just four ingredients, it’s surprisingly simple and perfect for pairing with butter, cheese, or soup.
Ingredients
3 1/4 cups (400g) all-purpose or bread flour
1 1/4 cups (300ml) warm water (about 100°F or 38°C)
2 teaspoons (6g) salt
1 teaspoon (3g) active dry yeast
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and yeast.
- Stir in warm water until a shaggy dough forms. Let it rest for 20 minutes (autolyse).
- Add salt and knead the dough for about 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Transfer to a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let rise at room temperature for 1.5 to 2 hours until doubled in size.
- Turn the dough onto a floured surface and divide it into two equal portions.
- Shape each portion into a rectangle, fold like an envelope, and roll into baguette shapes.
- Place the loaves on a parchment-lined baking sheet or baguette pan. Cover and rest for 45 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 475°F (245°C) with a metal pan on the bottom rack for steam baking.
- Score the tops of the loaves with a sharp knife.
- Pour 1 cup of hot water into the metal pan to create steam and quickly place the loaves in the oven.
- Bake for 20–25 minutes until the baguettes are deep golden and crusty.
- Let cool on a wire rack before slicing.
Notes
Add fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme to the dough for a flavor twist.
Swap some white flour with whole wheat flour for a heartier loaf.
Sprinkle sesame or poppy seeds on top before baking for added crunch.
Wrap in paper or a towel and store at room temperature for up to 2 days.
Reheat in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 5–10 minutes to refresh crustiness.
Freeze fully cooled loaves for longer storage and reheat directly from frozen.
- Prep Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 290mg
- Fat: 0.5g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 33g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
