. . .

[Drama Llama]

. . .

Edited October 27, 2021 by BaseballandHockey

[Hilltopmom]

I’ve never been able to get them to taste like they did when I lived in North Africa so I gave up. The bakery ones we get here aren’t very good either.

[kristin0713]

This is my go-to.  It is really easy.  Having a baguette pan makes all the difference in results.  

https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/food-processor-french-style-bread-recipe 

[Drama Llama]

. . .

Edited October 27, 2021 by BaseballandHockey

[Eilonwy]

Yes, but the taste and texture do not match bakery baguettes.  It is difficult to get them formed up really nicely.  Letting them rise for a longer time (3 hours by my recipe) than typical yeast bread helps the taste.  A baguette pan helps them keep their shape better than a flat pan.  I wouldn’t say they are harder than other yeast breads, but they may look a bit funny. 
At least when I make them!

Edited August 14, 2021 by Eilonwy

[prairiewindmomma]

Williams Sonoma has the best baguette pan, imo. We found the best bread is by minimizing kneading and to fold instead. The baking pan of water at the bottom of the oven is essentially for the crusty exterior.

[kristin0713]

Here is one example of a baguette pan.  Mine is from KAF but I'm sure the WS one mentioned above is excellent. It keeps the shape so nicely and the holes in the pan help it to bake evenly. 

11 minutes ago, Eilonwy said:

Yes, but the taste and texture do not match bakery baguettes.  It is difficult to get them formed up really nicely.

Eh, it depends what you are going for and I guess what bakery you are using for comparison.  The recipe I linked above is really delicious.

The KAF website has so many wonderful tips for bread making.   

[Drama Llama]

. . .

Edited October 27, 2021 by BaseballandHockey

[Danae]

You want a super-steamy environment at the beginning of your bake.  Place a metal pan near the bottom of your oven when you start preheating, and have a spray bottle ready to go.  Pour hot/boiling water into the pan when you put the bread in and immediately close the door.  After a minute open the door, spray the walls of the oven and shut the door again.  Do that at least twice.  

[Katy]

I made them all the time when I was in high school.  I used the recipe for french bread from the better homes & gardens cookbook, just made them smaller.  I used a jelly roll pan. If you want the right texture you do an egg white wash at the end, which the recipe specifies.  It makes them golden brown, crunchy/chewy on the outside and soft inside.  I used to serve as sandwiches with roasted eggplant, garlic, and portobello mushrooms drizzled with balsamic  vinegar.  A bit like a deconstructed baba ganoush. It was my favorite meal for years.

Edited August 14, 2021 by Katy

[Eilonwy]

8 minutes ago, kristin0713 said:

Eh, it depends what you are going for and I guess what bakery you are using for comparison.  The recipe I linked above is really delicious.

I’m sure it is, and the ones I’ve made were very tasty, just not the same.  This could just be how I’ve made out with them. 

1 minute ago, Danae said:

After a minute open the door, spray the walls of the oven and shut the door again.  Do that at least twice.  

If you try this, don’t spray the glass.  My partner broke the oven door glass this way.  

[prairiewindmomma]

https://www.williams-sonoma.com/m/products/usa-pan-nonstick-baguette-pan/
 

Mine was like this one, only two loaves and gold. It looks like they are more widely available these days. Sur La Table, Amazon, and a number of other places had them. The air holes help build the crustiness.

[Drama Llama]

. . .

Edited October 27, 2021 by BaseballandHockey

[Danae]

1 minute ago, Eilonwy said:

I’m sure it is, and the ones I’ve made were very tasty, just not the same.  This could just be how I’ve made out with them. 

If you try this, don’t spray the glass.  My partner broke the oven door glass this way.  

o_O

Thank you, I will be sure to point that out to my kids.  It would never occur to me to spray the glass, but I could definitely see my oldest doing that.

[Drama Llama]

. . .

Edited October 27, 2021 by BaseballandHockey

[prairiewindmomma]

3 minutes ago, BaseballandHockey said:

So far, I've seen 3 suggestions for the humidity

1) Fill a bread pan with water and add a rolled up towel

2) Ice cubes

3) Boiling water

anyone tried more than one and can compare?

Don’t add the towel. If any part is not soaking, it can flame. (And cleaning the oven walls afterwards is a sooty mess.)

[Drama Llama]

. . .

Edited October 27, 2021 by BaseballandHockey

[Eilonwy]

5 minutes ago, prairiewindmomma said:

Mine was like this one, only two loaves and gold. It looks like they are more widely available these days. Sur La Table, Amazon, and a number of other places had them. The air holes help build the crustiness.

The ones we have are metal like this, but without holes.  I haven’t tried the one with holes or ceramic. 

[Danae]

1 minute ago, BaseballandHockey said:

OK, I ca pick up this one tomorrow:

https://www.surlatable.com/sur-la-table-platinum-triple-baguette-pan/PRO-6317820.html

Or this one:

https://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/emile-henry-baguette-baker/?pkey=cbaguette bread pans

Price makes me want the first one.  Anyone think I need the second one?

This is assuming my stone doesn't work.

Mine is like the first one.

[prairiewindmomma]

First one—Sur La Table—should be fine.

Fwiw, we did the pan because dh wasn’t happy with the baking stone method even with the steam injection. He is super picky though—used to eat baguette daily when he lived abroad.

[Eilonwy]

Good luck with this project, hope you have fun making them!

[kristin0713]

 

11 minutes ago, BaseballandHockey said:

OK, I ca pick up this one tomorrow:

https://www.surlatable.com/sur-la-table-platinum-triple-baguette-pan/PRO-6317820.html

Or this one:

https://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/emile-henry-baguette-baker/?pkey=cbaguette bread pans

Price makes me want the first one.  Anyone think I need the second one?

This is assuming my stone doesn't work.

Mine is like the first one.  I would not recommend spending $139 on a bread pan before you know if you even like making bread! 

[Drama Llama]

. . .

Edited October 27, 2021 by BaseballandHockey

[ktgrok]

I have, it was tasty. Better than local grocery store for sure. I don't remember it being hard, but I wasn't picky about shaping it. Somewhere I'm sure there is an episode of Julia making them - I think maybe Jaques Pepin was on that episode, actually. 

[Katy]

Before you order all that stuff just try this.  It's so easy.

https://www.bhg.com/recipe/rolls/french-bread/

[Tree Frog]

I think I might try @Katy's recipe tomorrow. These sound delicious! Do they freeze well?

@BaseballandHockey, will you post pictures of the finished baguettes? I'd love to see them!

[kirstenhill]

This is the video/recipe DD17 used...they turned out pretty well! https://youtu.be/vWdjqdmFHxw

[VickiMNE]

If you haven't bought your pan yet, I've had good success with this fairly inexpensiveUSA Bakeware pan:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00127Z4E2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Melissa in Australia]

I have tried to make them

as I have never had a real baguette before I couldn’t compare results. as I don’t think the French sticks from the supermarket count.

I lined a flat cookie sheet with baking paper and used some  rolled up tin foil to keep a narrow shape. But I am the master of make do living in the middle of nowhere and having a very limited budget

Iput a dish of water in the oven to Add humidity 

[Katy]

9 hours ago, wilrunner said:

I think I might try @Katy's recipe tomorrow. These sound delicious! Do they freeze well?

@BaseballandHockey, will you post pictures of the finished baguettes? I'd love to see them!

I have no idea.  I don’t think they ever laster long enough to freeze them!

[kristin0713]

Let us know how they turn out!  I love making bread, but my waistline doesn't agree.  

[Drama Llama]

. . .

Edited October 27, 2021 by BaseballandHockey

[Faith-manor]

Wait! To me "make baguette" means buy a baguette, cut it open, spread butter but in oven and toast.

People make these things from a recipe? Oy vey!!!! (Faith faints dead away) 😱