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I absolutely love French Baguette.  I most definitely had to find a recipe to make it myself.  There is nothing better than homemade bread – except maybe homemade French baguette!

Here’s my recipe:

1 cup water 2 1/2 cups bread flour
1 Tbsp white sugar
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp bread machine yeast 1 egg yolk
1 Tbsp water

Directions:
1. Place 1 cup water, bread flour, sugar, salt, and yeast into the bread machine in the order recommended by your bread machine’s manufacturer. Select dough cycle and press start.
2. Punch down dough. Here’s where you have to methods you can choose from:

:: Method 1
Divide dough into two pieces and hand roll/shape each into a long thin loaf.  Roll gently back and forth to taper ends.  Place 3 inches apart on a greased cookie sheet.  Make deep diagonal slashes across loaves every 2 inches, or make one lengthwise slash on each loaf.  Cover, and let rise in a warm place for 30 to 40 minutes, or until doubled in bulk.

:: Method 2
On a lightly floured surface, roll into a 16×12 inch rectangle.  Cut dough in half, creating (2) 8×12 inch rectangles.  Roll up each half of dough tightly, beginning at 12 inch side, pounding out any air bubbles as you go.  Roll gently back and forth to taper ends.  Place 3 inches apart on a greased cookie sheet.  Make deep diagonal slashes across loaves every 2 inches, or make one lengthwise slash on each loaf.  Cover, and let rise in a warm place for 30 to 40 minutes, or until doubled in bulk.

Method 2 is probably more authentic but I am lazy so I use method 1 and the bread turns out wonderful!

3. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
OPTIONAL
: Mix egg yolk with 1 TBSP water, brush over tops of loaves.  (This will make it shiny but is unnecessary).

4. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown.