Crusty French Bread Rolls (Printable)

Golden, crispy exterior with tender inside. Perfect warm with butter or alongside soups and salads.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dough

01 - 4 cups bread flour
02 - 1 1/4 cups lukewarm water
03 - 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
04 - 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
05 - 1 teaspoon sugar

→ Topping

06 - 1 tablespoon flour for dusting

# Steps:

01 - Combine lukewarm water, sugar, and yeast in a large mixing bowl. Let stand for 5-10 minutes until mixture becomes foamy.
02 - Add bread flour and salt to the yeast mixture. Stir until dough forms, then knead for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
03 - Place dough in a greased bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour until doubled in size.
04 - Punch down dough and divide into 8 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a ball or oval form.
05 - Arrange rolls on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover with a towel and let rise for 30-40 minutes.
06 - Preheat oven to 450°F. Place a tray of water on the bottom rack to create steam for a crispy crust.
07 - Lightly dust tops with flour and slash each roll with a sharp knife. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and crusty.
08 - Transfer rolls to a wire rack and cool completely before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The crackling sound they make when you pull them from the oven is pure kitchen music
  • Nothing beats tearing into a warm roll fresh from your own oven
  • They transform any ordinary dinner into something special
02 -
  • The water tray in the oven is not optional, it creates steam that gives you that professional bakery crust
  • Letting the dough rise properly makes all the difference between dense and airy rolls
03 -
  • Slash the tops with confidence, shallow cuts at an angle give you those classic bakery looks
  • Let them cool completely on a wire rack to prevent the bottoms from getting soggy

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