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This easy Baguette recipe is perfect for beginners and experts alike. It’s incredibly easy, and only requires 4 ingredients. There’s truly nothing that beats a fresh, warm out of the oven baguette. This bread can be made in roughly 2 hours. Pair this bread with my restaurant style bread dipping oil for a delicious treat.

Is there anything better than a warm, fresh baguette out of the oven!? I absolutely love fresh bread and I love the smell of the kitchen as it bakes.

This easy baguette recipe is one of my favorite breads to make. It’s great eaten on it’s own, or with my restaurant style bread dipping oil. It’s equally delicious with butter or jam. You can also use this baguette recipe to turn the baguette into garlic bread, or use the baguette to make a delicious sandwich.

Here’s what you will love about this easy baguette recipe

it only requires 4, pantry staple ingredients
the bread takes roughly 2 hours to make, faster than most baguette recipes, yet produces a crusty bread, with a perfectly fluffy and chewy interior
this baguette is incredibly easy to make, and is perfect for both beginners and experts

Ingredient Notes

Instant vs. Active Dry Yeast – What’s the difference?

This easy baguette recipe uses instant yeast. I prefer using instant yeast, because it is easier, in my opinion, to use, and it helps the rise faster than active dry yeast.

Instant yeast can be added into all of the ingredients at the same time, meaning there is no activation step, like there is with active dry yeast. With that being said, I do like to add the instant yeast to the warm water and let it sit for around 30 seconds or so, usually while I am measuring out the flour. This is completely unnecessary. I just do it that way.

You can substitute active dry yeast for the instant yeast in a one to one ratio. The only difference is that you will have to mix the active dry yeast with the warm water. Whisk together and allow this mixture to sit for 5-10 minutes to activate the yeast. The yeast should appear frothy or expanded on the surface and you should be able to smell the yeast smell.

Regardless of which yeast you use, the baguette bread will taste the same. The active dry yeast will take slightly longer, so you will need to allow the bread to rise 10 minutes longer for the first rise.

Here’s how to make this easy baguette recipe

make the dough

In the bowl of a stand mixer, add all ingredients for your bread to the bowl. Knead on medium-low speed for 5 minutes, then transfer to a greased bowl.

first rise

This bread requires a 1 hour first rise in a warm place. I like turning my oven on and allowing the oven to reach 100F. Once the oven reaches this temperature, I turn the oven off and place the covered dough in the warm oven.

shaping the dough

Once the dough is done rising, you will flatten and shape the dough. Place the dough on a lightly greased surface, then pat the dough into a 9×13 inch rectangle. It doesn’t have to be exact. You don’t want to use a rolling pin, because it would completely deflate the dough. Also, you don’t want to use flour, because you want the dough to stick together once rolled, and not fall apart after baking. The flour could cause the rolled layers to not stick together.

Starting at the long edge, roll the dough into a cylinder. Pinch the edges together to seal. Pinch the ends on either side of the bread together, then pinch them inward to seal together with the center seam (in a way you are tucking the ends underneath the bread).

Place the dough, seam side down, on a parchment paper lined baking sheet or baguette baking pan, then cover with plastic wrap.

second rise

Now it’s time for the second rise. Allow to rise in a warm place for 30 minutes. (I turned my oven on and allowed it to reach 100F. Once it reached this temperature, I turned the oven off and placed the bread in the warm oven to allow it to rise)

baking

Now, it’s time to bake your Baguettes! Preheat your oven to 450F. Use a bread lame or very sharp knife and cut 4 slits in the bread, diagonally.

Place bread in center oven rack. Place the pan filled with water on the oven rack, directly below the bread. Bake 10 minutes with steam, then remove the water pan and bake 10-15 more minutes or until golden brown. The pan with water helps create a crispy crust for this baguette.

I love pairing this bread with my bread dipping oil and homemade jams

Here are some of my favorite bread recipes

Let me know what you thought!

If you make this easy baguette recipe, let me know what you thought in the ratings and comments below. I absolutely love reading all of your comments! Also, make sure to snap a picture and tag me @simplebakingwithpep on instagram. It truly makes my day to see all of your wonderful creations.

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Easy Baguette Recipe

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Author: Jolene
Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
Yield: 2 baguettes 1x

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Description

Ingredients

Units Scale

2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast
3 3/4 – 4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups water, warmed to 110F
1 teaspoon salt

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Instructions

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment, add the instant yeast, flour, water and salt. Knead for 5 minutes on medium-low speed. The dough is soft and will be slightly sticky, as this is a higher hydration dough (80%). If it is too sticky, add 2 tablespoons to 1/4 cup more all-purpose flour. Transfer dough to a large greased bowl. Spray the top of the dough with nonstick spray or a light drizzle of oil (this is to help prevent the dough from drying out and from sticking to the plastic wrap cover). Cover the dough with plastic wrap.

2. Allow the dough to rise for 1 hour in a warm place. (I like to turn my oven on until it reaches 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Once it reaches this temperature, I turn my oven off and place the covered dough in the warm oven. This allows for the bread to rise in a warm place.)

3. Turn the dough out onto a lightly greased surface, or a surface very very lightly dusted with flour (you don’t want to add too much flour, because you want the dough to stick together when rolling into a cylinder). Divide into two roughly equal pieces. Working with one piece of dough at a time and keeping the other covered, pat the dough into a rectangle that’s approximately 9×13 inches. Starting from the long edge, roll the dough up into a cylinder, pinching the dough together with each roll. Pinch the edges together to seal. Place the bread onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet, seam side down, or onto a baguette baking pan, seam side down.

4. Cover bread with plastic wrap and allow to rise for 30 minutes in a warm place.

5. Preheat oven to 450F.

6. Dust/sprinkle the bread with all-purpose flour, then using a bread lame, or very sharp knife, cut 4 slits in bread at an angle.

7. You will need two oven shelves, one directly above the other. Fill an 8×8 pan or 9×5 loaf pan halfway with hot water. Place the pan with the water on an oven shelf directly below the bread. Place the bread in the oven, above the water pan. This will create steam in the oven and help develop a crispy crust on the bread.

8. Bake for 10 minutes with the steam, then remove the pan with water and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, so 20-25 minutes total. Bake until the loaves are a deep golden brown.

9. Allow the baguette to cool 1 hour before slicing. I love pairing this bread with my bread dipping oil, but feel free to eat as is or with butter. You can also use the baguette to make garlic bread or a delicious sandwich.

Notes

Bread Dipping Oil – This baguette pairs perfectly with my restaurant style bread dipping oil

Prep Time: 20
Rise Time: 90
Cook Time: 20
Category: Bread
Method: Oven
Cuisine: French

Easy Baguette Recipe

Here’s what you will love about this easy baguette recipe

Ingredient Notes

Instant vs. Active Dry Yeast – What’s the difference?