Classic French Baguette

 

### Classic French Baguette Recipe

This recipe yields three delicious baguettes that are crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside, perfect for any occasion.

#### Ingredients

- **Flour**: 3 ½ cups (500 grams) all-purpose flour

- **Water**: 1 ½ cups + 2 tablespoons (370 grams) cool water

- **Honey**: 1 tablespoon (25 grams)

- **Instant Yeast**: 1 teaspoon (3 grams)

- **Salt**: 2 teaspoons (10 grams)

#### Instructions

1. **Mix the Ingredients**:

   - In a medium mixing bowl, combine the cool water and honey. Stir until dissolved.

   - Add the instant yeast, flour, and salt. Mix with a wooden spoon until just combined; the dough will be thick.

2. **Rest the Dough**:

   - Cover the bowl with a lid or plastic wrap and let it rest for **30 minutes**.

3. **Stretch and Fold**:

   - Over the next **2-3 hours**, perform a series of stretch and folds every 30 minutes. To do this, gently pull one side of the dough up and fold it over itself. Rotate the bowl and repeat until you’ve stretched all sides.

4. **Refrigerate**:

   - After completing the stretch and fold, cover the dough again and refrigerate for **12-18 hours** to develop flavor.

5. **Shape the Baguettes**:

   - Once chilled, turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide it into three equal pieces.

   - Shape each piece into a rectangle (about 11 inches by 8 inches). Fold it into thirds and pinch the seams to seal.

   - Roll each piece gently into a log about **15 inches long**, tapering the ends.

6. **Final Rise**:

   - Place the shaped baguettes on a floured couche or baking pan, seam side up. Cover them with a clean dish towel and let rise for about **45 minutes to 1 hour**, or until they are light and puffy.

7. **Preheat Oven**:

   - Preheat your oven to **500°F (260°C)**, placing a baking stone or an inverted baking sheet in the upper half of the oven. Add a pan with water to create steam.

8. **Score and Bake**:

   - Once risen, carefully transfer the baguettes onto parchment paper, seam side down. Score three diagonal slashes on each loaf using a sharp blade.

   - Slide the baguettes onto the hot baking stone or sheet in the oven. Reduce temperature to **475°F (245°C)** after placing them in.

   - Bake for about **15 minutes**, then rotate them, remove the water pan, and continue baking for another **10-15 minutes**, or until they are golden brown.

9. **Cool**:

   - Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack before slicing.

Enjoy your homemade classic French baguettes fresh with butter, cheese, or as part of any meal!

Citations:

[1] https://www.blessthismessplease.com/french-baguette-recipe/

[2] https://tasteofartisan.com/french-baguette-recipe/

[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTY9IUJhaHA

[4] https://www.culinaryexploration.eu/blog/Authentic-French-Baguettes

[5] https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/classic-baguettes-recipe