Simple French Bread for the Bread Machine

Crusty on the outside with a soft and tender airy crumb on the inside. Hot from the bread machine this bread is hard to beat! 

With everyone at home baking has boomed.  The grocery stores are low on stock for everything you need to bake with.  I got lucky and found some flour, yeast, baking powder, chocolate chips (gotta have them!) and a few odds and ends to bake, and I was a happy camper.

Several weeks ago I posted a recipe for Basic White Bread Machine Bread and it was a major hit, so I thought I'd bring you another version of bread using a bread machine.   Let's make french bread!  So while your typical French bread comes in a baguette this one is in loaf form since it is made in a bread machine.  You can certainly use the dough only setting and then form the dough into a baguette if you prefer but I'm going to take the easy route and make it in my bread machine.  It really is a dump and go method which I just love.

So what is the outcome?  Crusty on the outside with a soft and tender airy crumb on the inside. Hot from the bread machine this bread is hard to beat!  This recipe make a 1 lb. loaf and is best eaten within a few days.  It's great for making toast, sandwiches, garlic bread, slathered with butter along side soup, and makes a mean french toast.

Any way you choose to eat it, you'll love this bread!

Enjoy!

Simple French Bread for the Bread Machine

1 - 1 lb. loaf

2/3 cup warm water
1 tsp margarine or butter softened
2 cups bread flour (can use all-purpose)
2 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1 3/4 tsp quick acting yeast or regular yeast

Place all ingredients in bread pan in order listed.  Close lid and set your bread type.  Mine has a French setting.  Otherwise use the White setting.  Choose crust color, and then hit the start button.

Remove bread pan when completed.  After about 5 minutes, gently shake the pan to dislodge the loaf, and turn it out onto a rack to cool.

Store, well-wrapped, on the counter for 4 days, or freeze for up to 3 months