INTRODUCTION
Easy French Bread Baguettes are a simple bread to bake at home. This recipe makes four long loaves with a soft inside and a thin crisp crust. You can make them as a lighter option for family meals or as a base for high protein meals like chicken or tuna sandwiches. If you like easy French bakes, try this with other simple treats like my easy French apple tart for a full French-style table.
These baguettes are not hard. You will mix, rise, shape, score, and bake. The dough is forgiving. You can change flour, add seeds, or make smaller rolls for an air fryer. This recipe works well for meal prep and is a great base for healthy sandwiches.
WHY YOU WILL LOVE THIS RECIPE
You will love this recipe because it is easy and gives great results. It fits many diets with small swaps. Use whole wheat flour for more fiber, or add seeds for a heart healthy boost. These loaves are a lighter option than store breads with many additives. They are great for meal prep because you can bake a batch and freeze extra loaves.
This recipe is also good for weight loss plans when you use portion control and pair slices with protein and vegetables. For a low sugar, diabetic-friendly choice, keep servings small and eat bread with lean protein and healthy fats. If you want more fresh-baked choices, I also have a simple French apple tart that matches well with small slices of bread for brunch.
HOW TO MAKE Easy French Bread Baguettes
This section shows the steps you will follow. The dough is simple and quick to shape. Follow the recipe below for a soft crumb and golden crust. For best results, keep your hands lightly floured and use a warm place for the rises.
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
- Stand mixer with dough hook (or large bowl and wooden spoon)
- Baking sheet or pan
- Sharp knife or lame for scoring
- Clean towel
- Spatula
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Oven with a spare baking sheet for steam
Ingredients You’ll Need :
1/2 cup very warm water, 2 Tbsp instant yeast, 2 cups hot water, 3 Tbsp sugar, 1 Tbsp salt, 5 Tbsp canola oil, 2 cups bread flour, 3-1/2 to 4 cups AP flour, Egg wash: 1 egg whisked together with 1 Tbsp water
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS :
In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in the 1/2 cup very warm water. Set aside and let it do it’s thing!, In your mixer bowl, add the 2 cups of hot water, sugar, salt, canola oil and bread flour. Stir together till combined. Add the yeast mixture and stir it all together., Place the mixer bowl on the mixer with the hook attachment and add the AP flour 1 cup at a time until the dough comes together and is smooth and not too sticky. (You don’t have to use the full four cups though in my climate in Utah, I usually do – the dough should not stick to your hands, but it will feel a little tacky.), Cover with a clean towel and and let sit in a warm place for an hour, using a spatula to scrape down the sides and flip it over to deflate the rise every ten minutes., After an hour, turn the dough out onto a well floured surface. Divide the dough in to four equal pieces., For each section of dough: Sprinkle a little flour on it as needed to stop it from sticking to anything. Gently roll out into a rectangle, (mine were about 10×4). Roll along the long side as if you were making cinnamon rolls. Pinch the ends closed, shape the loaves and place each loaf on your pan., Score each loaf with a sharp knife 4-5 times, cover with a towel and let rise in a warm place for another 20-30 mins., Preheat the oven to 375 with 1 rack placed in the bottom position and 1 rack in the middle position. Place a spare baking sheet on the bottom rack., Brush the loaves with the egg wash and place the pan on the middle rack., Throw 4-5 ice cubes on the spare baking sheet on the bottom rack and close the oven door immediately., Bake at 375 for 25-30 mins or until golden brown., Remove from the oven and brush with melted butter immediately. Cool and serve!
HOW TO SERVE Easy French Bread Baguettes
Slice the baguette thin for controlled portions. One thin slice is often enough with a good protein or salad. For a healthy version, top a slice with hummus and roasted vegetables, or make a sandwich with turkey, spinach, tomato, and a small smear of avocado. These choices make a balanced meal with protein, fiber, and healthy fat. This bread also pairs well with soup or a big green salad for a lighter option at lunch or dinner.
For a simple breakfast, toast a slice and top it with a high protein spread like ricotta and fresh berries. This gives you a filling meal with more protein and less sugar. If you want a sweet side, try a small piece of lemon zucchini bread for variety and a bright flavor.
STORAGE & FREEZING : Easy French Bread Baguettes
Store cooled baguettes at room temperature in a paper bag or wrapped in a clean cloth for up to two days. For longer storage, slice and freeze in a freezer bag for up to three months. To reheat, thaw slices at room temperature and toast or warm in a 350°F oven for 5–10 minutes. Freezing single slices makes it easy for meal prep and helps control portions, which is good if you want a diet that supports weight loss.
If you want the bread soft again, sprinkle a little water on the loaf and wrap it in foil before warming. This step brings back some moisture and a fresh-baked feel. For diabetic-friendly storage, portion slices and pair them with protein at each meal to keep blood sugar steady.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS
- Balanced dinner: Two slices with grilled chicken, steamed green beans, and a side salad. This makes a balanced meal with protein and fiber.
- Healthy snack: One slice with cottage cheese and sliced cucumber.
- Light lunch: Open-faced sandwich with smoked salmon, light cream cheese, dill, and arugula.
- Meal prep idea: Slice and freeze bread for quick breakfasts or lunches through the week. This is great for meal prep and saves time.
A good, balanced side is a big salad with leafy greens and beans for extra fiber and protein. This keeps the meal heart healthy and more filling.
VARIATIONS
- Healthier version: Swap half the all-purpose flour for whole wheat flour to add fiber. Use olive oil instead of canola oil for a heart healthy fat. Reduce sugar if you prefer less sweetness. This makes a healthier version that keeps good texture but adds nutrition.
- High-protein or low-carb version: To make a higher-protein loaf, add 2–4 tablespoons of vital wheat gluten to the flour mix or make sandwiches with lean protein like tuna, chicken, or turkey to turn your bread into a high protein meal. For a low-carb option, make small rolls using a low-carb flour recipe or use a high-protein flatbread instead, as classic baguette dough is high in carbs.
- Air fryer or oven-baked version: This recipe already bakes in the oven. For air fryer baking, make small roll-sized loaves (about 4–5 inches). Preheat the air fryer to 350°F and cook small rolls for 8–12 minutes, turning once, until golden. The oven method gives a better crust for full-size baguettes, but the air fryer works well for quick small batches.
These variations let you tune the recipe to fit low calorie plans, diabetic-friendly needs, or to boost protein.
FAQs
Q: Is this recipe good for people watching calories?
A: Yes. You can control calories by slicing thin, using whole wheat flour, and pairing the bread with lean protein and vegetables. That makes it a lighter option and a good choice for weight loss plans.
Q: Can I make this diabetic-friendly?
A: You can make better choices for diabetes by keeping portions small, using whole grain flour, and eating bread with protein and fat to slow sugar rise. Monitor your portions and talk to a diet coach if you need exact carb counts.
Q: How long will fresh baguettes stay soft?
A: Fresh baguettes are best the first day for the soft crumb. Use a paper bag or cloth wrap to keep the crust crisp but not soggy. For later use, slice and freeze to keep the bread fresh.
Q: Can I freeze the dough instead of the baked bread?
A: Yes. After the first rise, shape the loaves, wrap well, and freeze. Thaw in the fridge overnight, let rise 20–30 minutes, then bake. This is a great meal prep trick for busy weeks.
Q: Can I make this recipe without a mixer?
A: Yes. Mix by hand in a large bowl and knead on a floured counter until smooth. It takes a bit more time and elbow grease, but it works.
Q: Is this bread good for people who need more protein?
A: The dough itself is not high protein, but you can turn a baguette into a high protein meal by topping it with lean meats, cheese, eggs, or beans. You can also add vital wheat gluten to boost bread protein during mixing.
MAKE-AHEAD TIPS FOR Easy French Bread Baguettes
- Mix and rise: Do the first rise, then shape and wrap the shaped loaves in plastic. Refrigerate overnight and bake the next day. This saves time in the morning or on a busy day.
- Freeze baked slices: Bake, cool, slice, and freeze single slices in a zip bag. Take out what you need and toast. This is great for meal prep and helps with portion control.
- Prep toppings: Make a batch of tuna salad, chicken salad, or roasted veggies ahead. Keep these in the fridge so you can make a quick high protein meal with bread when you need it.
- Batch bake: Make a double batch and freeze extra loaves. This saves time and delivers fresh bread for weeks. Reheat slices for quick breakfasts or lunches.
These make-ahead tips make this bread a smart choice for meal prep. They help you build faster, balanced meals for work or home.
Easy French Bread Baguettes
Ingredients
Method
- Dissolve yeast in the 1/2 cup very warm water in a small bowl. Set aside.
- In a mixer bowl, combine the 2 cups of hot water, sugar, salt, canola oil, and bread flour. Stir until combined.
- Add the yeast mixture to the bowl and mix well.
- Using the mixer's hook attachment, add the all-purpose flour one cup at a time until the dough is smooth and slightly tacky.
- Cover the bowl with a clean towel and let it sit in a warm place for one hour, deflating and flipping the dough every ten minutes.
- Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and divide into four equal pieces.
- Roll each piece into a rectangle and shape into a baguette by rolling along the long side, pinching the ends closed.
- Score each loaf 4-5 times with a sharp knife, cover, and let rise for another 20-30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F, placing one rack in the bottom position and one in the middle, with a spare baking sheet on the bottom rack.
- Brush the loaves with egg wash and place the pan in the middle rack.
- Add 4-5 ice cubes to the bottom sparing baking sheet to create steam, then close the oven door immediately.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.
- Remove from oven and brush with melted butter immediately. Allow to cool before serving.