I’ve always preferred baking my own bread rather than buying it from the store because I like them served freshly baked and hot, plus they are more delicious that way. My Mom has been requesting me to try making baguettes this time so that we can try a delicious sandwich and I was immediately excited with the thought, so as always, I quickly browsed for a recipe online that I can easily follow. Luckily, I found this version by artisanbreadwithstev on YouTube and I loved it instantly because it doesn’t require any machine or kneading!
Ingredients:
- 3 cups of flour
- 1½ tsp of salt
- ¼ tsp of instant yeast
- 12 ounces or 1½ cups of cool water
Egg wash
- 1 egg
- 1-2 tbsp of water
Directions:
Step 1
In a large mixing bowl, add the flour, salt, and instant yeast, then whisk them well until evenly distributed and combined, and pour in the water. Stir them all together using the handle of a spoon until combined, then scrape the sides, and continue to stir until the dough comes together. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, then leave it on the counter to proof for about 8 to 24 hours.
Step 2
Set a piece of parchment paper on the counter the same size as your baking stone, then dust it with flour, and scrape the dough out of the bowl transferring it to a well-floured counter. Flour your hands as well, then shape the dough into a ball, and cut it into 4 parts shaping each dough into a log before placing them in the prepared paper.
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Step 3
Allow the dough to rest for about 10 minutes, then make the dough logs longer so it’s the same length as the parchment paper, and cover them with a flour sack to proof for another 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours. Position the rack on the lower part of the oven, then insert the baking stone and preheat the oven to 450°F for about 30 minutes.
Step 4
Prepare the egg wash by whisking together the egg and water, then generously brush it all over the proofed dough until completely covered, and then slide the pizza paddle under the paper. Transfer and slide the paper with the dough into the baking stone, and allow them to bake for about 15 minutes. Serve however you want and enjoy!
*All these images are credited to artisanbreadwithstev via YouTube. Give his channel a visit and subscribe for more!
