French baguette with a crispy crust

Cookinero 22 Apr 2025

The French love to eat fresh bread for breakfast, as do people from many other countries, but this used to be a big problem for bakers. They had to get up at 3 a.m. to open their shops by 8 a.m. and have time to knead the dough. Bakers demanded that their rights be respected, and in the early 19th century a law was passed that prohibited them from starting work before 4 a.m. That's when they came up with the baguette - a bread that could be made fairly quickly.

How to cook French baguette with a crispy crust

Step 1

French baguette with a crispy crust

Knead the dough. Place the flour on a flat surface in the form of a mound with a depression in the center. Pour a quarter of the yeast dough into this depression and, constantly stirring, add the remaining liquid. Add olive oil and knead the elastic dough, mold it into a ball, cover with a towel and leave for 60 minutes.

Step 2

French baguette with a crispy crust

Form the baguettes. Cut the dough into 4 equal parts, roll each one out and form a sausage. Place them on a baking sheet and leave in a warm place for 15 minutes.

Step 3

French baguette with a crispy crust

Bake the bread. Preheat the oven to 220 degrees. Make diagonal cuts on each baguette and place in the oven for 15 minutes until golden brown.

French baguette with a crispy crust - FAQ About Ingredients, Baking Time and Storage

Yes, you can substitute instant yeast for active dry yeast. Use the same amount, but you can skip the initial activation step and mix it directly with the flour.
Store baguettes in a paper bag at room temperature for up to 1 day. For longer storage, wrap tightly in foil and freeze for up to 1 month.
Yes, substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend. Add 1 tsp xanthan gum per cup of flour to help with texture, and expect a slightly denser result.
For a crispier crust, place a pan of water in the bottom of the oven while baking to create steam, or spritz the baguettes with water before baking.
Serve with cheeses, cured meats, olive oil and balsamic, or use for sandwiches. They're also delicious dipped in soups or made into bruschetta.
Absolutely! Divide the dough into 6-8 pieces for mini baguettes. Reduce baking time to 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.
Possible causes include old yeast, insufficient kneading, or dough that wasn't left in a warm enough place to rise. Ensure your yeast is fresh and the rising area is draft-free.
Thaw at room temperature, then refresh in a 175°C (350°F) oven for 5-7 minutes. For extra crispness, sprinkle with water before reheating.

Reviews: 0

0 Overall rating
5
0
4
0
3
0
2
0
1
0

Have you already prepared this recipe? Tell what you think.

Write a review

Will be displayed on the comment.
Your review must be at least 50 characters.

Trending

Wafer rolls
Waffles, Waffle rolls,

Wafer rolls

Total Reviews:

Wafer rolls are baked very quickly, they can be filled with your favorite cream, but they are good with tea and without filling.

Achuchuk salad

The peculiarity of this salad is that the tomatoes and onions are cut into thin slices. This can only be done with a very well sharpened knife. Actually, this is reflected in the name of the salad: "Achuchuk" is translated from Uzbek as &qu

Lazy lavash lasagna

If you want to make lasagna but are afraid of working with sheets of dough, there is an alternative recipe - lazy lavash lasagna. The ingredients are almost the same as the original recipe. The main difference is the use of lavash instead of lasagna

Baked pears with cottage cheese

There are those who love pears in their simplest and most natural form - "from the tree" or bought from a trusted market merchant, and there are adherents of pears baked, grilled or stewed in sugar syrup. This recipe is for the latter, alth

Ginger tincture

Ginger is a well-known and beloved spice. In the kitchen, only the root of the plant is used, which is rightfully considered one of the most useful natural products. Ginger tincture, when consumed in moderation, helps improve memory, restores skin co

Chicken basturma

A simple recipe for a great snack for all occasions - spicy spicy chicken!

Categories Menu Recipes
Top