Crusty French Bread Rolls (Printable Version)

Golden crispy rolls with tender centers, ideal for any meal

# 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

# Directions:

01 - Combine lukewarm water, sugar, and yeast in a large mixing bowl. Let stand for 5-10 minutes until foamy and activated.
02 - Add bread flour and salt to the yeast mixture. Stir until dough forms, then knead on a floured surface for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
03 - Place dough in a greased bowl, cover with damp cloth, and let rise in warm place for 1 hour until doubled in size.
04 - Punch down risen dough and divide into 8 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a smooth ball or oval.
05 - Arrange rolls on parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover with towel and let rise for 30-40 minutes until puffy.
06 - Preheat oven to 450°F. Place a tray of water on bottom rack to create steam for crispy crust.
07 - Lightly dust rolls with flour and slash tops with sharp knife. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and crusty. Cool on wire rack.

# Quick Tips:

01 -
  • These rolls transform the simplest ingredients into something that feels like a special occasion
  • The steam trick creates that professional bakery crust you thought you could only buy
  • Nothing beats pulling warm bread apart with your hands, straight from the oven
02 -
  • The steam step is not optional, it is what creates that crackly, professional crust
  • Underbaked bread is the most common mistake, let them get dark golden brown
  • These rolls freeze beautifully, so double the batch and save half for later
03 -
  • Weigh your ingredients if possible, flour measurements can vary wildly depending on how you scoop
  • If your kitchen is cold, let the dough rise in your oven with just the light on

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