Rosemary French Bread

Rosemary French Bread is an easy scratch bread recipe to follow that’s also delicious! A seasoned crispy crust with a fluffy rosemary-filled center makes it so hard to just eat one slice.

The easiest french bread recipe.

This is an easy bread recipe that makes a huge impact. Rosemary French Bread can be perfectly sliced for sandwiches, breakfast toast topped with eggs and avocado, or to dip in your favorite soup recipe or sop up some sauce. We are a family who L O V E S scratch bread and even more so when we can add garden herbs to the dough. Rosemary is our choice herb for the flavor and scent but the recipe is versatile enough to add your favorites. It’s so easy to make that you may never buy store-bought bread again.

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What do you need to make Rosemary French Bread?

This delicious bread recipe makes two average-sized loaves or one oversized loaf.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• All-purpose flour, 6 cups
• Active dry yeast, 2 1/2 .25-ounce packages
• Kosher salt, 1 1/2 teaspoon
• Rosemary, fresh and chopped – 2 1/2 tablespoons
• Warm water, 2 cups

Egg Wash:

• Egg white, 1 large
• Water, 1 tablespoon

Topping:

• Kosher salt, 3 teaspoons
• Rosemary, fresh and chopped – 1 tablespoon

How do you make Rosemary French Bread?

Using a large mixing bowl for a stand mixer, combine 2 cups flour with the yeast, salt, and rosemary. Stir in 2 cups of warm water, and beat the ingredients with a dough hook attachment until well blended. Then gradually stir in the remaining flour about 1/2 a cup at a time.

NOTE: You may not need all 6 cups of flour. Add your flour in gradually. When it is fully combined and pulling away from the sides of the bowl yet still sticky to touch, there is no need to add more flour. It’s different for us every time based on the humidity in the environment at that time.

Next, lightly sprinkle flour on a flat surface, and knead the dough for about 10 minutes to create a dough that is stiff, yet smooth and elastic in texture. Shape the dough into a ball with your hands and then transfer to a greased bowl. Turn it over in the bowl, cover it with plastic wrap, and place it in a warm spot of the kitchen to rise until it has doubled in size.

Then, punch the dough down in the bowl with your fists, and then separate it into two portions. Place the two balls of dough onto a lightly floured smooth and dry surface. Cover each with plastic wrap and allow it to rest for at least 10 minutes.

Roll each portion of dough into a large rectangle and then begin to roll from one of the long ends to the other long end. Use water and your fingertips to moisten the edge and seal it to the rolled loaf. Taper each end.

Cover a large baking sheet with parchment paper, and lightly spray with non-stick baking spray. Place each loaf, seam side down, on the parchment paper.

Create your egg wash by beating the egg white with water, in a small bowl. Brush the egg wash over the tops of each loaf and cover the dough with a damp cloth. Set the remaining egg wash to the side for later use.

Allow the loaves to rest and rise for about 40 minutes, to double in size.

Preheat the oven to 375° F.

Create 4 diagonal cuts about ¼ of an inch deep across the top of each Rosemary French Bread loaf with a sharp knife. Bake for 20 minutes.

Remove the french bread from the oven to brush the top with the egg wash. Then sprinkle with pinches of salt and chopped rosemary. Transfer back to the oven to bake for 15 to 20 minutes.

NOTE: If the bread is browning too quickly during the baking process, place a piece of foil loosely over the loaves.

Allow the loaves to rest and cool on a wire rack for about 10 minutes.

Another favorite bread option is our Garlic Rosemary Breadsticks. Click here to try this recipe!

How to store leftover Rosemary French Bread …

If your family is like mine, then the Rosemary French Bread won’t last long but if you do have leftovers place in a plastic ziplock bag or use a bread box if you have one. Leftover bread will last about a week.

Looking for more tasty and easy recipes? Try a few here:

• Italian Chicken and Acorn Squash Couscous
• Chicken & Pork Crostina Pasta
• Creamy Beef and Potatoes
• Wild Rice Chicken Casserole – (Easy Recipe)
• Meat and Potato Timballo Pie

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