French-Style Country Bread

Name: French-Style Country Bread
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Cuisine: European, Mediterranean, French
Ingredients: 1 cup (227g) water, cool to lukewarm (90°F to 100°F); 1/2 teaspoon active dry yeast or instant yeast; 1 1/4 cups (150g) King Arthur Unbleached Bread Flour; 1/4 cup (28g) King Arthur Whole Wheat Flour; all of the preferment (above); 1 cup (227g) water, lukewarm (100°F to 115°F); 3/4 teaspoon active dry yeast or 1/2 teaspoon instant yeast; 1 tablespoon (14g) granulated sugar; 3 3/4 to 4 cups (450g to 480g) King Arthur Unbleached Bread Flour; 1 1/2 to 2 1/4 teaspoons table salt, to taste; King Arthur Semolina Flour or yellow cornmeal, for dusting the pan

Instructions

Prep:15minCook:30min

You could make this bread, and no other, for the rest of your baking career, and never feel cheated. It uses the sponge method: sort of a poor man's or woman's sourdough starter — no feedings, little pre-planning, lots of flexibility, and superb bread. If you've always wanted crusty, hole-ridden, French-style bread, this is it.

Updated at: Thu, 20 Nov 2025 00:54:28 GMT