Homemade Baguette Recipe with a Crisp Crust
Bake two homemade baguettes with a crisp golden crust, airy center, and simple yeast dough. This approachable recipe explains shaping, steam, baking, and storage.
Prep
: 10
Total
: 25 minutes
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups warm water about 105°F
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 1/2 teaspoons fine salt
- 3 1/2 cups bread flour plus more for shaping
- 1 cup ice cubes for steam
Instructions
Instructions
- Stir the warm water, yeast, and honey in a large bowl and rest for 5 minutes, until foamy.
- Mix in the salt and 3 cups flour, then add remaining flour to make a soft, slightly tacky dough.
- Knead for 8 minutes by hand or 5 minutes with a dough hook, until smooth and elastic.
- Cover and let rise about 60 minutes, until doubled.
- Divide in half, shape into tight ovals, place seam-side down on a lined sheet, cover, and rest 30 minutes.
- Heat oven to 450°F and slash each loaf three times with a sharp knife.
- Bake with the ice cubes in a low pan for 20 to 25 minutes, until deeply golden.
- Cool on a rack at least 20 minutes before slicing.