Hi, so I’ve now had feastingisfun.com for a year! Thank you to everyone who has taken time to read and comment on my blog. I appreciate you more than you could ever know. If I could bake each and everyone of you a cake I would. Instead I have a bread recipe for you!!! I know, I’m all heart – but this is a recipe you will, hopefully, thank me for. Easy Crusty Baguettes.
You may be thinking – “why bake my own baguettes when I can pick them up from the grocery store?”
Well, not everyone can get to a shop, they can be out of stock – but mostly I’m the kinda girl who is inquisitive. If I can buy something, I want to know if I can make it! Personally I get a real kick out of making something that’s so easy to buy – knowing exactly what’s gone into my creation! Easy Crusty Baguettes are so easy to make (if you have a stand mixer with dough hook or a bread maker they are easier still!) and taste so good.
The only ‘special’ piece of equipment I use is a French Baguette Tray.
I purchased my baguette from Amazon UK
Swift Faringdon Collection Bakers Pride Non-Stick French Bread Pan Carbon Steel 39 cm x 16 cm x 2.5 cm
I have made baguettes on a baking sheet, they were ok but tended to spread a little. I decided to buy one French Baguette Tray, used it, was thrilled with the results and quickly purchased a second tray. The advantages of using the baguette tray are that they really do hold the shape of the baguette, whilst it’s proving and baking and they are longer than most baking trays so you can put them in your oven at an angle – giving you longer baguettes. These Easy Crusty Baguettes are made using these trays.
Recipe : makes 3 x 16″ (40cm) Easy Crusty Baguettes
500g/1lb 2oz Strong White Bread Flour
1 x 7g Sachet Fast Action Dried Yeast
1tsp Sugar or honey
300ml/10floz Lukewarm Water
25g/1oz Unsalted Butter
1tsp Salt
Method :
I use a bread maker to mix, prove and knock back the dough, instructions will also be given for a stand mixer using a dough hook.
Place the water into the bowl. Add the yeast and sugar. Swirl with clean fingers to mix.
Add the flour so that it covers the water/yeast mixture. On top of the flour add the salt and butter.
If using a bread maker set the program to mix and prove.
If using a stand mixer slowly start to mix the ingredients. Once combined increase the speed to medium and mix for 10 minutes. Once mixing is complete form the dough into a ball, place back into the stand mixer bowl, cover with a clean tea towel and leave in a draft free place until doubled in size.
When the bread mixer has finished proving, or the dough in the stand mixer is doubled in size it is time to knock back the dough.
Using the bread maker mix and prover cycle, start again and allow to knead for the mix part of the cycle then stop the machine and remove the dough.
Using a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment as before, remove the towel and start the mixer on low increasing to medium to knock back and knead the proved dough. If the dough doesn’t all pull together, stop the mixer. Using clean hands pull the dough into a ball shape. Knead the dough on a medium speed for a further 10 minutes. Stop the mixer and remove the dough from the bowl/dough hook.
I could have recombined my dough to create three equal sized baguettes. What I did instead was to place the smaller baguette in a separate tray, knowing it would cook a little quicker than the other two! Very lazy I know!!
Place the trays in a draught free place and cover with a clean tea towel. Leave to prove until doubled in size.
Preheat the oven to it’s hottest setting and place a tray of hot water in the bottom of the oven. The steam produced will help give your Easy Crusty Baguettes the super crusty, crunchy exterior that is required in a baguette!
Removing the towel place the baguette trays into the oven diagonally. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the baguettes are golden, with a hard crust. They should sound hollow when rapped on the base with your knuckle.
Remove from the oven and place the baguettes on a cooling rack.
We ate one baguette the day they were made. The other two were stored in our bread tin. 2 days later I sprinkled them with a little water and placed in a preheated, hot oven for 5-8 minutes. Below is the baguette I refreshed in the oven. It tasted as good as the day it was made. Absolutely delicious with a really crunchy crust.
If you have enjoyed this recipe for Easy Crusty Baguettes then you may also like these:
Garlic Rosemary Focaccia Bread
Cheddar Cheese Thyme Soft Breadsticks
Of course there are times when we all buy baguettes – because, LIFE! If I lived near an artisan bakery I may never have made these. Really I am so glad I tried. For minimal effort, delicious bread is on hand. Easy Crusty Baguettes so worth the few minutes prep time.
Have you ever made baguettes?
I love reading your comments and appreciate you taking the time to write them.
You may also like Crusty White Bread Wholemeal Cob Loaf
Sammie x
This is not a sponsored post, item links provided for information purposes only.
So that’s how they get the shapes for baguettes. I always wondered how they were made. I eat vietnamese sandwiches and they use french bread to make them so I eat these all the time. Thanks for the recipe.
these are great looking baguettes, and I love the imprint that the pan leaves – I have lusted over the pans myself…but then I buy a baguette from the supermarket for less than 50p & I forget all about them!
Congratulations. The first year anniversary is always the most exciting . It feels quite something that you’ve made it. Those baguettes look fantastic. I’ve never made them and now feel I need one of those baguette trays.
Thank you Choclette. I never dreamed I would enjoy blooging as much as I do and that others would appreciate it too.
Sammie, I have exactly the same baguette tray!! Your baguettes look perfectly crusty!
Thanks Angie. I was amazed that they tasted as good as freshly bake, 2 days later when I refreshed them in the oven. I love my baguette tray. It makes them look professional!!!
Congratulations on one year of blogging! That is awesome! I love making homemade bread and those are some fantastic looking baguettes.
Thank you Laura. One of my goals in my second year of blogging is to encourage more people to bake their own bread. It really is so worth it for such a little amount of effort.
I see the word “easy” and I jump on it!! baguettes trays? never knew there was such a thing!! Pinning!
Thanks Nagi. They make a world of difference to the finished baguette.
oh my! this is the first time I have craved bread in a long time (I am currently on a low carb diet). Nothing is better than fresh crusty bread with warm butter!
great post!
withloveamrit♥
Ah Amrit sorry to bust your diet 😉 I’m working on a seeded baguette, maybe a little healthier for you? Or maybe you could bake some, invite friends round and share so your not tempted to over indulge 😉
They made baguettes on Great British Bake Off last week. I’ve never had a lot of success with baking bread. Mostly the proving problem because my flat is so cold, but I think I’ve sorted it by proving the bread in the oven. Will have to give these a go!
http://www.theycalleditthediamondblog.com
Thank you Flick for your lovely comment. Just as a helpful tip, if you start your loaf/baguettes the night before and leave them to prove (covered), overnight, they will rise slowly and should be perfect for putting straight into a hot oven first thing in the morning! They will also taste AMAZING as the slow prove will allow the flavour to really develop. Hope this helps?
Congratulations on your first bloggiversary!
Lovely looking baguette – I’m still scared of baking with yeast!
Ah thank you. Please don’t be scared. Baking with yeast, especially a simple loaf couldn’t be easier an the results are so satisfying (and delicious)!!
When you heat up the oven at it’s highest (550F for my oven), do you bake the bread at such high heat for 20 minutes??
Hi Lorraine, I’m not sure what the C/F conversion is – but bake at your highest temperature until the baguettes are golden brown. Tap the bottom of the baguette with your knuckle, if you hear a hollow sound then the baguette is cooked. The crustiness of the baguette is directly related to it’s colour. If you cook it for longer, to a dark golden colour, the baguette will be extra crusty. I hope this helps? Please leave a comment if you require more help? Thank you very much for taking time to look at my blog and comment. Sammie
Thanks for your help. I did bake the baguettes at 450F for 20 min. and they turned out perfect. I’ll be adventurous and will try using 1/2 whole wheat and 1/2 white flour next time. next step will be adding whole grains for a healthier bread. I enjoyed my first experience and certainly will bake more in the future.
Ah I’m so glad you were happy with the results Lorraine. I’d love to see what you bake in the future. Sammie x
HAPPY 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY of your beautiful blog! I’m sure when you started, a year seemed so very far away. Congrats Sammie – you have inspired and encouraged so many of us readers and fellow bloggers. I have never tried bread or baguettes other than beer bread (bonus – no proofing required!) Your instructions make it seem less intimidating though and you make me want to put on my big girl pants and give it a try! 😉 I love your tip about “refreshing” the bread with a few sprinkles of water before popping in the oven to crisp up – so clever! Thanks for sharing and CHEERS to you! xo
Thank you Liz. I never thought anyone would read my blog at the start. I thought of it as an online recipe diary, so I feel very humbled and blessed that you and all my other readers and fellow bloggers enjoy and take time to comment on my blog. I have learnt a lot and still have plenty more to learn. However, I can honestly say the blogging community has welcomed me with open arms. Love Sammie x
Oh I LOVE baguettes, so this is a fab recipe, thank you! I’ll definitely be trying this out this weekend.
Congrats on one year of blogging as well!
Sian xx
Thank you Sian. I’ve made the baguettes quite a few times and they have always turned out great. Sammie x
These look great! Have thought about making these before but would buy the specialist trays for it. Thanks for the recipe. Your breads always look good 🙂
Thank you Zoe. I definitely think the trays are worth buying and they aren’t that expensive. The results from baking the baguettes in them are great – especially the professional marks underneath! 🙂