Craft the Ultimate Homemade Baguette Recipe with French Flair

Golden, crusty baguettes with a perfectly crisp homemade baguette recipe transport you straight to the charming streets of Paris.

French bakers have perfected this culinary art over generations, creating bread that’s both simple and sublime.

The magic lies in just a few quality ingredients and precise techniques.

Crafting these elegant loaves requires patience and a gentle touch.

Each slice promises a symphony of crisp exterior and soft, airy interior that melts in your mouth.

Professional and home bakers alike cherish this classic bread for its versatility and pure deliciousness.

Your kitchen will soon be filled with the irresistible aroma of freshly baked bread that rivals any European bakery.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Calories: 250 kcal

Servings: 5

Baguette Ingredient List

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides the fundamental structure and tender crumb, selecting high-protein flour ensures better gluten development and classic baguette texture.
• Lukewarm Water: Activates yeast and helps develop smooth, elastic dough, using filtered water can enhance overall flavor profile.

• Yeast: Crucial living organism that makes bread rise and creates complex, tangy undertones, choose fresh active dry yeast for reliable rising.
• Salt: Enhances flavor, controls yeast growth, and strengthens gluten network, using fine sea salt provides more even distribution and balanced taste.

Tools for Baking a Crusty Baguette

• Large mixing bowl: Essential for combining ingredients and initial dough preparation.
• Kitchen scale: Precise measurement of ingredients for perfect baguette consistency.
• Plastic wrap: Covers dough during long fermentation process.
• Baking sheet: Provides surface for shaping and rising baguettes.
• Sharp knife or razor blade: Creates scoring marks on baguette surface.
• Deep pan: Used for creating steam in the oven during baking.
• Kitchen towel: Covers baguettes during rising stage.
• Oven mitts: Protects hands when handling hot baking equipment.

Instructions to Make Baguette at Home

• Fermentation Prep

Mix ingredients in a bowl, starting with dry components and adding water until dough forms. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest overnight at room temperature for 12-20 hours.

• Dough Texture Check

Observe dough for wet, sticky, and bubbly appearance. Prepare workspace with generous flour coating on hands and baking surface.

• Shaping Process

Carefully transform dough into long slender loaves using floured hands. Create 2-3 baguettes by gently stretching and forming the dough.

• Rising Stage

Place shaped loaves on floured baking sheet. Dust with additional flour and make diagonal slashes across the surface. Cover loosely with kitchen towel.

• Oven Preparation

Heat oven to 450°F. Position lower rack with a pan of hot water to create steam environment for crispy crust development.

• Baking Technique

Slide baguettes onto middle oven rack. Remove water pan after ten minutes. Continue baking until exterior turns deep golden brown, approximately 30-35 minutes.

• Cooling Moment

Remove baguettes from oven and let rest on wire rack. Allow bread to cool completely before slicing to maintain internal moisture and texture.

Baguette Baking Tips and Tweaks

• Choose high-protein bread flour for superior texture and rise.
• Longer fermentation develops deeper, more complex flavor profiles that make baguettes taste authentically French.
• Practice gentle handling to maintain air bubbles within the dough, ensuring light and airy interior crumb structure.
• Using water pan creates professional bakery-style crust with beautiful golden-brown exterior and crispy texture.
• Freeze baguettes wrapped tightly in plastic for up to one month; thaw at room temperature and quickly refresh in hot oven for just 3-5 minutes to restore crusty exterior.

Ways to Serve Baguette Freshly

• Rustic Breakfast Delights: Slice warm baguettes and spread creamy butter or homemade jam for a classic morning treat that feels like a French countryside breakfast.
• Sandwich Spectacular: Create gourmet sandwiches by filling baguette slices with fresh deli meats, crisp vegetables, soft cheeses, and zesty spreads for a lunch that pops with flavor.
• Appetizer Adventure: Cut baguettes into thin rounds, toast them lightly, and top with bruschetta, olive tapenade, or herbed goat cheese for an impressive starter that will wow dinner guests.
• Soup's Best Friend: Serve chunks of crusty baguette alongside hearty soups or stews, perfect for dipping and soaking up rich, delicious broths that comfort and satisfy.

How to Store Baguette for Best Texture

• Freshness First: Consume baguettes within 1-2 days for optimal taste and texture, storing them at room temperature wrapped in a clean kitchen towel or paper bag.
• Quick Slice Strategy: Cut baguettes horizontally or diagonally only when ready to serve, preventing unnecessary moisture exposure and maintaining crispy crust integrity.
• Freezing Technique: Wrap completely cooled baguettes tightly in aluminum foil, then place inside a freezer-safe bag, where they'll remain delicious for up to one month without quality degradation.
• Reviving Method: Refresh slightly stale baguettes by spritzing water across the surface and warming them in a 300°F oven for 5-7 minutes, which restores crispness and makes them taste freshly baked.

Irresistible Baguette Recipe

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4.6 from 30 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

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Description

French baguette embodies Paris bakery tradition with crisp golden crust and tender interior. Professional techniques ensure perfect crunch and authentic flavor for home bakers seeking classic French bread experience.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 3 cups (720 milliliters/24.4 fl oz) lukewarm water
• 6 cups (720 grams/25.4 oz) all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons (8 grams/0.28 oz) yeast
• 2 teaspoons (12 grams/0.42 oz) salt

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Instructions

1. Overnight Fermentation: Blend dry ingredients in a large bowl, gradually incorporating water to form a shaggy dough. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest at room temperature for 12-20 hours to develop complex flavors and texture.
2. Dough Preparation: Observe the fermented dough’s bubbly, transformed state. Liberally flour the work surface and carefully stretch the dough, gently folding to create elongated baguette shapes with minimal deflation.
3. Shaping and Proofing: Transfer shaped loaves to a floured baking sheet. Using a sharp blade, make diagonal scoring cuts across the surface to control expansion. Allow baguettes to proof in a warm, draft-free area for 1-2 hours while preheating the oven to 450°F (230°C).
4. Steam Creation: Position a deep metal pan filled with boiling water on the lower oven rack to generate steam. This critical step ensures a crisp, caramelized exterior characteristic of authentic French baguettes.
5. Baking Process: Slide baguettes onto the middle rack, maintaining the steam pan underneath. After 10 minutes, remove excess water to prevent sogginess. Continue baking for 25-30 minutes until loaves develop a rich, golden-brown color and produce a hollow sound when tapped on the bottom.

Notes

• Fermentation Fundamentals: The overnight rest transforms simple ingredients into a complex, flavorful dough with enhanced texture and depth. This extended period allows natural yeast development and gluten relaxation.
• Flour Power: Generous flour application prevents sticky situations during shaping. Use a light, consistent dusting on work surfaces, hands, and baking sheets to maintain dough integrity.
• Scoring Secrets: Precise diagonal cuts across the baguette surface aren’t just decorative. These strategic slashes control bread expansion, creating signature crust patterns and allowing optimal oven spring.
• Steam Strategy: Introducing boiling water creates a professional bakery environment. The moisture develops a crispy, caramelized exterior while ensuring a soft, airy interior characteristic of authentic French baguettes.

• Prep Time: 25 minutes
• Cook Time: 50 minutes
• Category: Snacks, Lunch
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: French

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 250
• Sugar: 0 g
• Sodium: 24 mg
• Fat: 1 g
• Saturated Fat: 0 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 52 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 8 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg