Gold Medal Classic French Bread Recipes

Steps:

• In large bowl, stir 3 1/2 cups of the flour, the sugar, salt, shortening and yeast until well mixed. Add warm water. Beat with electric mixer on low speed 1 minute, scraping bowl frequently. Beat on medium speed 1 minute, scraping bowl frequently. Stir in enough remaining flour, 1 cup at a time, to make dough easy to handle.
• Place dough on lightly floured surface. Knead about 10 minutes or until dough is smooth and springy. Grease large bowl with shortening. Place dough in bowl, turning dough to grease all sides. Cover bowl loosely with plastic wrap and let rise in warm place 40 to 60 minutes or until dough has doubled in size. Dough is ready if indentation remains when touched.
• Grease bottoms and sides of two 8x4-inch or 9x5-inch loaf pans with shortening or spray with cooking spray.
• Gently push fist into dough to deflate. Divide dough in half. Flatten each half with hands or rolling pin into 18x9-inch rectangle on lightly floured surface. Roll dough up tightly, beginning at 9-inch side. Press with thumbs to seal after each turn. Pinch edge of dough into roll to seal. Pinch each end of roll to seal. Fold ends under loaf. Place seam side down in pan. Brush loaves lightly with butter. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rise in warm place 35 to 50 minutes or until dough has doubled in size.
• Move oven rack to low position so that tops of pans will be in center of oven. Heat oven to 425°F.
• Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until loaves are deep golden brown and sound hollow when tapped. Remove from pans to wire rack. Brush loaves with butter; cool.

Steps:

• (Note: I proof my yeast by mixing 1 cup of the water [tepid only, ~ 80 degrees F], the sugar or honey, and the yeast in a bowl & setting aside to proof while getting the flour, etc., measured out.).
• In a large bowl, stir 3 1/2 C flour, salt, and butter until well mixed. Add warm water (and proofed yeast). Beat on low speed 1 minute, scraping bowl frequently. (may switch to dough hook about this time, OR just use the dough hook from the beginning.) Beat on medium speed 1 minute, scraping bowl frequently. Stir in remaining flour, 1 C at a time, to make dough easy to handle.
• Knead 10 minutes with dough hook on mixer or by turning out on lightly floured surface & kneading by hand. Dough should be smooth & springy. Grease a large bowl, place dough in & turn so all sides are greased. Cover, loosely, with a damp towel and let rise in warm place until doubled in size.
• Grease bottoms & sides of two loaf pans.
• When dough has doubled in size, gently push fist in to deflate. Divide dough in half. On a lightly floured surface, flatten each half, with hands or rolling pin, into a 9 x 18 inch rectangle. Roll dough tightly, beginning at 9 inch side. Pinch edge of roll to seal, and then ends to seal. Cover loosely and let rise in a warm place 35 - 50 minutes, or until dough has doubled in size.
• Place oven racks in low position so tops of pans will be in the center of the oven. Heat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Bake 25 - 30 minutes. (Bread is done at 200* F. I check with a probe thermometer).
• Remove from pans to wire rack & brush tops with the last 2 T of butter.
• Cool before slicing.