Description
Enjoy the comforting aroma and delightful chewiness of homemade crusty French bread rolls, perfect for any meal.
Ingredients
- 3 cups bread flour
- 1 1/4 cups warm water
- 2 teaspoons active dry yeast or instant yeast
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar (optional)
- Egg wash (optional, for shine)
- Additional water (for steam in the oven)
- Herbs or seeds (optional, for variation)
Instructions
- Mix warm water, yeast, and a pinch of sugar in a bowl. Allow sitting for 5-10 minutes until foamy.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt.
- Add the yeast mixture to the flour bowl.
- Knead the dough by hand or use a stand mixer for about 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Cover the dough with a damp towel and let it rise for 1.5 to 2 hours until doubled in size.
- Punch down the dough gently and transfer to a floured surface.
- Divide the dough into equal-sized portions and shape each into a tight ball.
- Place the shaped rolls on a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving space between each roll.
- Cover the rolls loosely with plastic wrap or a towel and let rise again for 30-45 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C) with a pan of hot water on the bottom rack for steam.
- Score the tops of the rolls with a sharp knife.
- Optionally, brush with egg wash or spray with water.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown and crisp.
- Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack.
- Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
For extra flavor, consider adding different herbs or seeds to the dough.