Whole Wheat French Bread (Baguette)

5 from 13 votes

Learn how to make a healthier but soft and fluffy French bread or baguette with a crispy crust using my step by step guide.

Prep Time15

Cook Time30

Rising time:3

Total Time3 45

Course: Bread

Cuisine: French

Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian

Servings: slices (1 baguette)

Calories: 91kcal

Mix the water, yeast and sugar in a large bowl. Let stand for a few minutes until the mixture becomes quite bubbly, about 5-10 minutes.
Add the flour, vital wheat gluten and salt to the yeast.
Mix to combine and then knead by hand about 10 minutes or in a stand mixer set to medium speed for eight minutes until you have a very smooth, elastic dough.

Form the dough into a ball and place in an oiled bowl, turning over once to coat the top with oil. Cover with a lid or cling wrap and set aside to rise in a warm spot, like a cold oven with the light turned on, for 1½ to 2 hours.
After this first proof, the dough should have doubled. Turn it over so the smooth top is down, then use your fist to deflate the dough and punch it into a circle, about 8-10 inches in diameter.

Begin rolling the dough, pressing in the seams thoroughly with your knuckles or the heel of your hand, until you have a long cylinder.
Roll the cylinder of dough, using your palms to taper the ends, to get a baguette shaped loaf that's about 12 inches long.

Place the loaf on an unoiled baking sheet, seam side down. Cover loosely with a kitchen towel and set aside in a warm spot for an hour or until the loaf is puffy and has doubled in size.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit/232 degrees Celsius. Place a baking pan with water on the lowest rack and position another rack in the center of the oven.
Use a sharp knife or bread lame to make three long, diagonal cuts in the top of the risen loaf.
Place the French bread loaf in the oven and immediately reduce heat to 425 degrees Fahrenheit/220 degrees Celsius. Bake 30 minutes until loaf is golden brown. Let the bread cool thoroughly on a wire rack before cutting into slices.