Crusty French Bread Rolls (Printable Version)

Golden, crispy exterior with tender interior. Classic French rolls perfect warm with butter or alongside soups.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dough

01 - 4 cups bread flour
02 - 1 1/4 cups lukewarm water
03 - 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
04 - 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
05 - 1 teaspoon sugar

→ Topping

06 - 1 tablespoon flour for dusting

# How To Make It:

01 - Combine lukewarm water, sugar, and yeast in a large mixing bowl. Let stand for 5-10 minutes until mixture becomes foamy.
02 - Add bread flour and salt to the yeast mixture. Stir until dough forms, then knead by hand for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
03 - Transfer dough to a greased bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and place in a warm area. Let rise for 1 hour or until doubled in volume.
04 - Punch down risen dough and divide into 8 equal portions. Shape each piece into a smooth ball or oval.
05 - Arrange rolls on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover with a kitchen towel and let rise for 30-40 minutes.
06 - Preheat oven to 450°F. Place a tray of water on the bottom rack to generate steam for a crispier crust.
07 - Lightly dust roll tops with flour. Make shallow slashes across each roll with a sharp knife. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and crusty.
08 - Transfer baked rolls to a wire rack and let cool completely before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The steam trick creates bakery style crust that shatters beautifully when you bite into it
  • These rolls freeze exceptionally well so you can always have fresh bread on hand
02 -
  • The water tray in the oven needs to be there when you preheat, not added later
  • Let the rolls cool completely before storing or the crust will soften from trapped steam
03 -
  • Use a spray bottle to mist the oven walls with water when you put the rolls in for extra steam
  • Let the shaped rolls rise until they barely hold an indent when you poke them gently

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