This French baguette recipe is designed for bread machines, making it easy to create authentic, crusty baguettes at home. With just a few simple ingredients, you can enjoy the delightful aroma and taste of freshly baked bread.
The process is straightforward, allowing you to focus on other tasks while the bread machine does the work. This recipe yields two baguettes, perfect for sharing or enjoying throughout the week.
Creating the Perfect French Baguette
Crafting a French baguette at home is an enjoyable experience that fills your kitchen with the delightful aroma of freshly baked bread.
With a bread machine, the process becomes even simpler, allowing you to focus on other tasks while the machine does the hard work.
The result is a golden brown baguette with a crispy crust and a soft, airy interior, perfect for any meal.
Ingredients for Success
To achieve that authentic French baguette flavor, you’ll need just a few basic ingredients.
Warm water, sugar, salt, bread flour, and active dry yeast come together to create the dough.
A sprinkle of cornmeal for dusting and an optional egg wash add the finishing touches to your baguette.
The Dough Cycle
Once you’ve gathered your ingredients, the first step is to prepare the dough in your bread machine.
Start by adding warm water, sugar, and salt to the pan, followed by the bread flour to cover the liquid completely.
Finally, create a small well in the flour and add the yeast. Set your machine to the dough cycle and let it work its magic.
Shaping Your Baguettes
After the dough cycle is complete, it’s time to shape your baguettes.
Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and divide it into two equal pieces.
Gently roll and stretch each piece into a long baguette shape, ensuring they are even for consistent baking.
Preparing for Baking
Once shaped, place the baguettes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper dusted with cornmeal.
Cover them with a clean kitchen towel and allow them to rise for about 30-45 minutes until they double in size.
This step is crucial for achieving that light and airy texture.
Baking to Perfection
Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C) while the baguettes rise.
For an extra crispy crust, consider placing a shallow pan of water in the oven to create steam.
Before baking, you can brush the tops with a beaten egg for a shiny finish and make a few diagonal slashes on top for that classic baguette look. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and hollow sounding when tapped.
Serving Suggestions
Once baked, allow the baguettes to cool on a wire rack before slicing.
Serve them fresh with butter, cheese, or use them for sandwiches.
Accompanying your baguette with a small dish of butter and fresh herbs creates an inviting scene, perfect for any rustic meal.
Easy Bread Machine French Baguette Recipe
This baguette features a crispy crust and a soft, airy interior. The recipe takes about 3 hours from start to finish, including rising and baking time, and serves approximately 10 slices per baguette.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups warm water (110°F)
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 4 cups bread flour
- 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 tablespoon cornmeal (for dusting)
- 1 egg (for egg wash, optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: In the bread machine pan, add warm water, sugar, and salt. Then, add the bread flour on top, making sure to cover the liquid completely. Finally, add the yeast in a small well in the flour.
- Select the Dough Cycle: Set your bread machine to the dough cycle and start. The machine will mix, knead, and rise the dough for you.
- Shape the Baguettes: Once the dough cycle is complete, remove the dough from the machine and place it on a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into two equal pieces. Shape each piece into a long baguette by rolling and stretching it gently.
- Prepare for Baking: Place the shaped baguettes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper dusted with cornmeal. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let them rise for about 30-45 minutes until doubled in size.
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C). If desired, place a shallow pan of water in the oven to create steam for a crispier crust.
- Bake the Baguettes: Optionally, brush the tops of the baguettes with beaten egg for a shiny finish. Make a few diagonal slashes on the tops with a sharp knife. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and hollow sounding when tapped on the bottom.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the baguettes from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack before slicing. Enjoy fresh with butter, cheese, or as a sandwich.
Cook and Prep Times
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 3 hours
- Servings: 20 slices
- Calories: 120kcal per slice
- Fat: 0.5g
- Protein: 4g
- Carbohydrates: 24g