Make fresh, crusty baguettes the same day with this easy recipe! No overnight rise needed. Golden crackly crust and soft airy crumb in just a few hours — beginner-friendly homemade French bread.
Baking traditional French baguettes is not about the ingredients but about the technique. A few simple ingredients form a shaggy dough that is folded and tucked, over and over to give you a smooth and airy texture of a good baguette. These beautiful loaves are steamed when baked, giving this delicious bread that crunchy crust that everyone wants in a baguette. One bite of crisp crust and fluffy crumb and you will be transported to a quaint Parisian bakery.
Easy Same Day Baguette Recipe | Crusty Homemade French Bread
There is no starter or overnight rise required to make this bread, and it is ready in about five hours. You can bake bakery-quality French bread at home today with this easy baguette recipe.
Fresh baguettes are perfect for cheese, dips, sandwiches, spreads, jams, jellies, and more! If your bread is more than a day old, cut baguette slices and toast them!
Tips and variations for making this baguette recipe:
● 2¼ teaspoons is 1 packet, .25oz dry yeast
● What if I don’t have bread flour? You can substitute equal amounts of all-purpose flour. Keep in mind that bread flour has a higher protein content than all -purpose flour. Higher protein helps create more gluten, which is what gives this bread the chewy interior. Using all-purpose flour just means that the bread will be less chewy and won’t drastically change the bread too much.
● I have been doing a lot of reading about flour in America for the last year or so. I have been buying Italian flour to bake our bread for the last year, and we have used it a lot.
● What if I do not have a baguette pan? That is totally fine, just use a cookie sheet. The bread may not keep its standard shape but will still taste great.
● Is the steam created by the water in the oven really necessary? In a word… no, it is not necessary, however, using steam is the only way to get that really crusty French baguettes crust. Without the steam, the bread will still taste great but the crust will be soft like a regular loaf, not a crispy crust like a traditional French baguette. So, for best results? Use the water pan to create steam.
● No bread maker is used for this recipe. No mixer, bread hook or dough hook attachment is used for this recipe. In other words, no special equipment is necessary to make this easy French baguette recipe.
● Store leftovers, covered or in a zipper bag, at room temperature for up to four (4) days.
● You can freeze this bread for up to three (3) months. Place in a zipper freezer bag and pull out and thaw at room temperature when you are ready to eat. I like to cut each loaf in half or thirds and just pull out a section at a time.
● You can freeze the dough to bake your baguettes later. Follow the recipe to step 6 where you divide the dough into fourths. Roll each section into a ball and place in a zipper freezer bag. Freeze up to 3 months. When you are ready to bake, place the dough in an oiled bowl for one hour at room temperature before starting to form and roll the loaf. Rise in the pan and bake as usual.
● This homemade French baguettes recipe is made with simple ingredients that are commonly found in the aisles of your local grocery store.
If you like freshly baked bread (and who doesn’t?) here are some other homemade bread recipes you might enjoy:
● Homemade Everything Bread Recipe: Fresh & Flavorful
● Easy Rustic Rye Bread Recipe | No-Knead – we make this one twice a month (or more!) at our house.
● Homemade Cinnamon Raisin Bread Recipe | Best + Easy
Easy Same Day Baguette Recipe Ingredients:
● 1½ cups Warm Water (105-115°F), divided
● 1 packet Active Dry Yeast (not instant yeast)
● 3½ cups Bread Flour
● 2 teaspoons Salt
Easy Same Day Baguette Mise en Place:
● Large Bowl
● Thermometer
● Measuring Cup
● Measuring Spoons
● Rubber Spatula or Wooden Spoon
● Clean Kitchen Towel or Tea Towel
● Dough Cutter or Knife
● Baguette Pan or Cookie Sheet (Baking Sheet)
● Oven safe pan that can hold at least 2-3 cups of hot water
● Wire Baking Rack (Cooking Rack, Baking Rack, Wire Rack)
Easy Same Day Baguette Recipe Directions:
1. In a large mixing bowl, combine ½ cup of the warm water with the yeast. Let the yeast stand for 5 minutes until it is bubbly and foamy.
2. Add the flour, salt and remaining water and stir until you get a moistened, shaggy dough. Do not knead the dough.
3. Cover the baguette dough with a clean towel and let it stand for 45 minutes.
4. This is where the baguette technique of folding and tucking comes in. Once the dough has rested, dampen your fingers with a bit of water. Grab a corner of the dough and stretch and pull it over to the opposite side of the bowl. Tuck your fold into the dough. Turn the bowl 90 degrees and fold the other side of the dough over itself. Turn the dough so that any seams are underneath or at the bottom of the bowl. Cover the bowl and let the dough rest rest for 30 minutes.
5. You are going to continue this folding technique (or step 4) two more times over the next hour and a half. Allow the dough to rest in between for at least 30 minutes. By the time you are done, the dough will be smoother and will have risen. It will not be quite double the size but it will be puffy.
6. Once all the folding and resting periods have happened, move the dough from the bowl to a lightly floured surface.
7. Cut the dough into 4 equal pieces.
8. Take one of the pieces of dough and use your fingers to shape the dough into a rectangle, approximately 18 inches long and 6-7 inches wide.
9. Starting on the long end, roll the dough so you have an 18 inch tube of dough. Taper the ends slightly.
10. Place the dough in your baguette pan. Cover with a towel and let stand to rise a little for the last 30 minutes.
11. Move an oven rack to the bottom rack of your oven. Fill an oven safe dish with water and place it on the lowest rack in the bottom of the oven and move your other rack to the middle position of the oven.
12. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
13. Once the bread has done its final rise, use a sharp knife to slash slits, about ½ inch deep in the top of the dough to allow steam to escape.
14. Bake in a preheated 375°F oven for 25-27 minutes or until the outside of the baguette is a golden brown and is very crispy.
15. Cool the freshly baked loaf (loaves) in the pan for 10 minutes before removing.
16. Cool the fresh baguette until only semi-warm before slicing and eating.
17. Store leftovers, covered or in a zipper bag, at room temperature for up to four (4) days.
18. Enjoy!
Easy Same Day Baguette Recipe | Crusty Homemade French Bread
Easy Same Day Baguette Recipe | Crusty Homemade French Bread. Make fresh, crusty baguettes the same day with this easy recipe! No overnight rise needed. Golden crackly crust and soft airy crumb in just a few hours — beginner-friendly homemade French bread.
Ingredients
- 1½ cups Warm Water (105-115°F), divided
- 1 packet Active Dry Yeast (not instant yeast)
- 3½ cups Bread Flour
- 2 teaspoons Salt
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine ½ cup of the warm water with the yeast. Let the yeast stand for 5 minutes until it is bubbly and foamy.
- Add the flour, salt, and remaining water and stir until you get a moistened, shaggy dough. Do not knead the dough.
- Cover the baguette dough with a clean towel and let it stand for 45 minutes.
- This is where the baguette technique of folding and tucking comes in. Once the dough has rested, dampen your fingers with a bit of water. Grab a corner of the dough and stretch and pull it over to the opposite side of the bowl. Tuck your fold into the dough. Turn the bowl 90 degrees and fold the other side of the dough over itself. Turn the dough so that any seams are underneath or at the bottom of the bowl. Cover the bowl and let the dough rest rest for 30 minutes.
- You are going to continue this folding technique (or step 4) two more times over the next hour and a half. Allow the dough to rest in between for at least 30 minutes. By the time you are done, the dough will be smoother and will have risen. It will not be quite double the size but it will be puffy.
- Once all the folding and resting periods have happened, move the dough from the bowl to a lightly floured surface.
- Cut the dough into 4 equal pieces.
- Take one of the pieces of dough and use your fingers to shape the dough into a rectangle, approximately 18 inches long and 6-7 inches wide.
- Starting on the long end, roll the dough so you have an 18 inch tube of dough. Taper the ends slightly.
- Place the dough in your baguette pan. Cover with a towel and let stand to rise a little for the last 30 minutes.
- Move an oven rack to the bottom rack of your oven. Fill an oven safe dish with water and place it on the lowest rack in the bottom of the oven and move your other rack to the middle position of the oven.
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Once the bread has done its final rise, use a sharp knife to slash slits, about ½ inch deep in the top of the dough to allow steam to escape.
- Bake in a preheated 375°F oven for 25-27 minutes or until the outside of the baguette is a golden brown and is very crispy.
- Cool the freshly baked loaf (loaves) in the pan for 10 minutes before removing.
- Cool the fresh baguette until only semi-warm before slicing and eating.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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USA Pan Bakeware Rectangular Cake Baking Pan, 9 x 13 inch, Nonstick & Quick Release Coating, Aluminized Steel -
P&P CHEF Extra Large Bread Box with Lid, Metal Bread Storage Container for Farmhouse Kitchen Countertop, 13.1” X 11.81” X 7.2” Inches for Holding 2+ Loaves, Indoor & Outdoor Use, Black -
BAMBANG Bread Box for Kitchen Countertop, Bamboo Bread Box for Homemade Bread, Wooden Farmhouse Bread Storage Container, Small Breadbox Bread Bin Organizer for Counter Cabinet Pantry, Brown
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
24Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 132Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 183mgCarbohydrates: 27gFiber: 1gSugar: 0gProtein: 4g
Note: for exact nutritional information, consult your dietitian. All nutritional information provided is simply a guideline.
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