Homemade French Bread with Fresh Milled Flour

If you haven’t tried homemade French bread made with fresh milled flour, then you’re missing out! It’s time to fix that with this easy and delicious recipe. Best French bread ever!

Baking time! Are you ready to make something special? Today, I’ve got a bread recipe for you that’s a step above the ordinary. It’s whole grain French bread made with fresh milled flour and my goodness! This stuff is amazing!

This bread has it all – a soft fluffy center, a lovely crust, incredible flavor, and great nutrition. It also makes the most perfect garlic bread of all time.

While this homemade French bread might feel fancy (it is!) it’s well within the skill set of a beginner baker. You don’t need a bakery, you just need this French bread recipe and a little bit of practice and you’ll be on your way to Neighborhood Baker of the Year!

So, get ready to slice up some fantastic French bread for sandwiches, garlic toast, or for dipping into soup. No matter how you serve it, you’re going to love this easy French bread recipe!

The Secret Ingredient – Freshly Milled Flour!

I love freshly milling my own flour from wheat berries. I give a rundown on the benefits of freshly milled flour here.

In a nutshell: you get the best nutrition and flavor within the first hours and days after milling your grains. You also get to customize your flour texture and grain blends while saving money. Plus it’s an easy-peasy process that takes very little time.

Trust me, it’s worth the effort and you will taste the difference!

French Bread vs Baguette

The bread loaf we’re making today could be shaped into French bread or a baguette. Typically, French bread is a shorter, wider loaf of bread than a baguette which will be longer and narrower. You can use this recipe to make either – it’s all in the shaping. And no matter what you call your loaf, it’ll be good!

Supplies and Ingredients for Homemade French Bread

Supplies

• A stand mixer and a dough hook attachment or a large mixing bowl and mixing spoon
• Baking sheet or French bread or baguette molds

Ingredients

• 2 cups lukewarm water
• 1-2 teaspoons honey
• 5 cups (570 grams) of freshly milled whole wheat flour
• 1 tablespoon instant yeast
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 teaspoons salt

How to Make Homemade French Bread

Sponge the Yeast

Pour the warm water into a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, and add the honey and half (about 2 1/2 cups) of flour. Add the yeast and mix together to form a thick batter. Cover and let this sit for about 15-20 minutes to allow the mixture to sponge and get bubbly.

Mixing the Dough

Add your remaining flour, salt and oil. Mix these ingredients together until well incorporated.

Knead by hand or with your mixer for about 10 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic.

First Rise

Oil your bowl, roll your dough ball into the oil, and cover with plastic wrap, a reusable bowl cover, or a moist tea towel.

Let the dough rise in a warm spot until doubled.  This usually takes about 30-45 minutes with the instant yeast.

Shaping the French Bread

Prepare a full size sheet pan by spraying with non-stick spray or lining with parchment paper.  

Dump your French bread dough onto a slightly wet, oiled, or floured surface.  

Divide the dough in half.  Press each half out into a long rectangle shape, and begin to roll and seal to form a long log shape.  Pinch the seams, tuck the ends, and roll across the surface of the table until it has a uniform shape and thickness.

Second Rise

Place both loaves on the prepared baking sheet, ensuring there is enough space so they will not touch when risen or cooked.

Using a very sharp knife or scoring blade, cut diagonal slashes down the top of each loaf about ½ inch deep.

Cover and let rise until about double in size, about 30 minutes.

Baking Instructions

To get the chewy and crusty exterior, you will need to create steam inside the oven.  To do this, place a pan of hot or boiling water on the bottom rack of the oven while you are preheating.

When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 475 degrees fahrenheit.  

Using a pastry brush or spray bottle, wet the dough loaves with water.  This will help achieve that crusty, chewy exterior.

Bake at 475 degrees for 10 minutes and then lower to 375 and bake for another 15 minutes.

Note: Instant yeast tends to work better for this recipe.

Printable French Bread Recipe Card

Frybread Instructions

If you want a delicious twist to this recipe, try making it into frybread.

Frybread is what it sounds like – bread dough that has been deep fried in oil. All you need to do it take this dough and form it into patties (think of a pancake shape) and fry it is some hot oil until golden brown, flip onto the other side and repeat.

The dough will puff to a pastry-like consistency with a soft pillowy center and slightly crisp exterior. So, so good!

Serve your frybread with savory toppings like chili or taco meat and their fixings, or go sweet with jams or butter and honey. You can even dust it with powdered sugar for a donut-inspired version. Either way it’ll taste absolutely heavenly!

Where to Buy Breadmaking Supplies

Need an easy way to get all your bread baking supplies and ingredients without spending hours researching? I’ve done all the trial and error for you and put together the TIDBITS & Company Bread Making Supplies Moonsift page. Here you’ll find all of my favorite bread making items along with links and product descriptions. Check it out!

More Recipes You’ll Love

I’m obsessed with this delicious French bread! The freshly milled flour and whole grains give it an unbeatable flavor that you won’t find in a traditional French bread. Best ever, hands down. Try it for yourself and you’ll see what I mean.

I think that homemade bread is pretty much the best food in the world. If you love bread too, then check out some of my other delightful recipes. You can never have too many bread recipes! 😉

• 100% Whole Grain Spelt Sourdough Bread
• 100% Whole Grain Einkorn Sourdough Bread Simplified
• 100% Whole Grain Sourdough Bread Made Simple
• Delicious Crescent Rolls Recipe with Fresh Milled Flour
• Healthy Whole Wheat Breadsticks | Quick and Easy!
• 100% Whole Wheat Focaccia Bread Recipe
• Honey Whole Wheat Bread Recipe
• 100% Whole Wheat Hamburger and Hot Dog Buns Recipe
• Easy Recipe for Bagels with Freshly Milled Flour
• Pumpkin Dinner Rolls with Freshly Milled Flour
• Traditional Challah Bread Recipe with Fresh Milled Flour