Baguette

In France, the dough and weight of a baguette are defined by law.

Baguettes on sale at Nerac Market in France

This quintessentially French bread has become common worldwide, but it is still as popular in France as it has ever been. The word baguette derives from the Italian bacchetta, simply meaning "wand" or "baton," an appropriate descriptor of its shape. Though the name baguette has only been in use since 1920, it is believed the type of bread itself dates back to the time of Louis XIV in the mid to late 17th century. Recipe Serving: Makes 2 baguettes

Prep Time

45 minutes
+ 2 hours resting

Cook Time

25 minutes

Total Time

3 hours 10 minutes

Vegetarian

Vegan

Gluten Free

Dairy Free

Kosher

Halal

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups (600 ml) all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp (15 ml) sugar
1 1/2 tsp (7.5 ml) instant dry yeast
1 cup (240 ml) warm water
1 tsp (5 ml) salt
1 egg white
1/2 Tbsp (7.5 ml) water

Directions

Combine flour, sugar, and yeast in a large bowl of a stand mixer. Add water and knead with a dough hook for 5 to 7 minutes until dough is smooth. Cover with a cloth and let dough sit for 15 minutes. Sprinkle uniformly with salt and knead with dough hook until salt is mixed in. Cover again with a cloth and set in a warm place. Leave until dough has doubled in size, around 30 minutes. Lightly flour a work surface, turn dough out, and roll dough into a 16” by 12” (40 cm by 30 cm) rectangle. Cut dough in half to create two 8” by 12” (20 cm by 30 cm) rectangles. Start with the 12” side and roll each rectangle up tightly, flattening any air bubbles and tapering off the ends. Put dough on a baking sheet sprayed lightly with nonstick cooking spray. Cut diagonal furrows across the tops of the dough. These can be quite deep as they will become smaller as the dough rises. Cover loaves and place in a warm place. Allow to double in size, around 30 to 40 minutes. Mix the egg white and water in a small bowl. Brush over the tops of the risen dough. In a preheated oven, bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius) for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly. Serve warm.