Simple and delicious French bread

This recipe is so simple that even I can make it! The recipe makes for some wonderfully fresh and yummy bread. The approach below is inspired by other recipes but I wanted to capture my unique version here to share and also for myself not to forget!

Love to learn how you end up making it - or if you have other bread recipes, tweaks, or tips on this one. Happy baking!

Quick note: It may look like there are a lot steps to making the bread, there really isn't! - it's just that I've tried to callout everything that I would need to remember! :)

Time

Actual work time: 15 minutes
Wait time: 180 minutes / 3 hours

Ingredients

1 tablespoon active dry yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
1 1/4 tablespoon salt
2 cups of warm water at 100°F
5 to 6 cups bread flour

Equipment

Dutch Oven (you might be able to bake the bread without one, love to learn about your approach and we can update here if you want)
Parchment paper
Bowl (large size)
Measuring tablespoon
Measuring cup
Woodenspoon or similar to stir with (I stir with the spoon upside down)
Basting pastry brush (optional, used for brushing water on dough before baking for crispy crust)
Oven

Steps

Mix the dough
1. In the large bowl start by adding the 2 cups lukewarm water and check the temperature (water temperature should be between 98°F and 104°F) - I was messing this part up until I started using a thermometer
2. Then mix together in the 1 tbsp yeast, 1 tbsp sugar, and 1 1/4 tbsp salt
3. Let this stand for 7 minutes until the yeast is dissolved (the top of the mixture will be bubbly/foaming)
4. Slowly add the 5 to 6 cups of flour, one cup at a time, to the bowl and mix thoroughly until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl
Knead the dough
1. Empty mixed dough onto a floured surface to knead (it will still be a bit sticky, and your fingers are going to get messy!)
2. Press into the dough with the heels of your hands from the lower part and up to the top of the dough
3. After each push, rotate the dough a bit
4. Repeat this process in a rhythmic motion over and over for 5 minutes
5. Add small amounts / sprinkles of flour to your surface and dough every now and then
Rest the dough
1. Form the dough into a loaf
2. Clean the big bowl
3. Lightly grease the big bowl with 1 tablespoon of olive oil
4. Place the dough into the big bowl
5. Cover the top of bowl with 1 or 2 tea towels
6. Let the dough rest for 2 hours at room temperature (approximately 70°F). You could shorten the rest time but I find that the longer I let the dough rest the lighter is the texture of the bread
Bake the bread
1. Place Dutch Oven with lid in the middle of your cold oven
2. Heat oven to 450°F (depending on how fast your oven is, you can start heating your oven when the dough has rested for 80 minutes)
3. When the oven is ready 450°F take out Dutch Oven (carefully as it will be super-hot of course) and close the oven again
4. Place dough on parchment paper (paper should be oversized so that you later can confidently grab it within the Dutch Oven without burning yourself)
5. Make cut into dough with a sharp knife (an X or 2 lines parallel - make your personal mark!)
6. Sprinkle 3 tablespoons of water on top of the bread (you can sprinkle, spray or brush it on. The water will help make the top of the bread crispy)
7. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of flour on top of the bread (will make it look artisan!)
8. Grab sides of parchment paper and transfer and lower paper + dough in side of your very hot Dutch Oven
9. Put the hot lid on Dutch Oven again
10. Transfer Dutch Oven into oven
11. Bake for 30 minutes with the Dutch Oven's lid on
12. Remove the lid from the Dutch Oven and bake for an extra 10 minutes
13. Check if your bread is golden brown, consider leaving for 2 - 5 minutes longer depending on desired crispiness/goldenness
Cool the bread and eat!
1. Wait 5 minutes while you set the table with butter, your favorite toppings, etc.
2. Invite everyone!
3. Enjoy! :-)