Bread Machine French Bread (Dough Cycle)

December 10, 2025

This French Bread recipe is so easy to make using the bread machine dough cycle setting! This French Bread has only 5 ingredients and is so simple, even a beginner can make this loaf of bread! It is soft on the inside and crunchy on the outside--just like real French Bread should be. Try out this recipe and let me know how you like it!

Bread Machine French Bread

Ingredients:

1 1/4 c warm water (295 g)

2 tsp sugar (8 g)

2 tsp yeast (6 g for active dry yeast)

2 tsp salt (12 g)

3–3.5 c all-purpose flour (360–420 g)

Directions:

Put ingredients in bread machine bread pan in the order listed. Choose the dough cycle setting on your bread machine. It should be about 1.5 hours long. Check your ball of dough a few minutes into the dough cycle to be sure that the dough isn't too wet/sticky (add about 1/4 cup more flour if it is sticking to pan and paddles) or too dry (add a Tbsp more water) until the ball of dough looks like mine in the video. After the dough setting is complete, punch down and turn out dough. Shape into a long French bread loaf shape. Place on oiled baking pan. Let rise 20 minutes. Mix one egg and 1 tsp water to make an egg wash if you’d like. Paint onto risen dough, taking care not to press too hard and make it collapse. Cut/score slits for vents in the top of the loaf and bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes, or until it is the desired golden color. Enjoy your beautiful loaf of homemade French bread!

Click here for the Printable Recipe !

*If you're looking for an alternative to plastic bread bags, our beeswax bread bags are a healthy way to store your bread! They are reusable, made of 100% cotton, infused with organic beeswax and coconut oil, naturally antibacterial to keep your bread from molding, and handmade by me and my daughters on our family farm!