finding time for cooking

for the time-starved or curious culinary adventurer

  • Recipes By Type
    • Appetizers, Dips, & Snacks
    • Bread Recipes
    • Breakfast Goodies
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes & Veggies
    • Sauces, Spices, & Other Basics
    • Snacks
    • Full Recipe Index
  • Drinks: Cocktails & More
    • Best Cocktail Gifts: For the At-Home Bartender or Mixologist
  • Whatcha Need??
    • Foods I’m Obsessed With
    • 30 Minutes or Less…for the Time-Challenged Cook
    • What Bread To Make (Based on Your Time)
    • Gluten-Free Recipes
    • Pasta Recipes
    • Super Healthy
    • Cooking for One
    • Soup
    • Unleavened Bread Recipes
  • About Me & More
    • Get In Touch!
    • How-Tos
    • Kitchen Tools I’m Obsessed With
    • Food and Travel—Two of My Favorite Things
    • Bunion Surgery Recovery Tips
    • Tips for Liver Detox / Gut Health Protocol

Easy Crusty French Baguettes in 30 Minutes

July 27, 2014

You know those times when you realize that you’re having a bunch of people over and that you forgot to figure out a bread? But you’re like an hour from dinner and pretty much everything would take way too long?

(umm…me neither??)

But fear not—because this quick & easy baguette recipe is coming to the rescue!

Quick & Easy French Baguettes...Ready in 30 Minutes! | This quick baguette recipe is the perfect answer to a last-minute dinner party or anytime you need delicious crusty French baguettes in a rush. Super easy baguette recipe, easy bread recipe! #bread #baguette #quickbread #frenchbread

Save for later:  What Bread You Should Make Based On How Long You Have…

Lucky for me, I’ve found a couple of pretty quick bread recipes that are pretty quick (and aren’t just biscuits). I have this 1-hour focaccia bread and a 1-hour french bread, but this goes even further.

You can have this quick baguette recipe coming out of the oven golden and piping hot in about a half hour (give or take a few minutes depending on how long it takes to bake). And the flavor is AMAZING!

30-Minute Crusty Baguettes - a quick & easy baguette recipe

This is a key part of bread making…

30-minute crusty baguette dough wine

Bread is a non-negotiable part of meals for my mom, so super happy to have another great recipe in the arsenal.

30-Minute Crusty Baguette

Preheat the oven to 425 F.  If you can’t put ice cubes directly on the bottom of your oven for safety (e.g. an exposed heating element), put a metal baking pan on the bottom rack so it can heat up.  This becomes important later.

In a large bowl, stir together the warm water, yeast, and sugar. Set the bowl on top of the preheating oven for ten minutes, until the yeast “proofs”—the foam forms on top.

30-minute crusty baguette yeast

Stir in a cup of the flour and the salt, then start adding the flour a half-cup at a time. The dough should stop being sticky and become quite soft. For me, I had to use the full 4 cups of flour.

30-minute crusty baguette dough

Turn the dough out onto a well-floured surface and knead the dough until it’s elastic and not sticky at all.

For me, I get the flour worked in initially and then begin folding the dough in quarters, smooshing it flat, and doing it again. It should have a lovely silky quality.

30-minute crusty baguette dough rough flour

30-minute crusty baguette dough kneaded

Cut the dough into four equal pieces and roll each of them into four long, thin ropes. Take two of ropes, pinch them together at one end, and twist the two ropes together to form one loaf (pinch the other ends together once you get there).

(Side note, you can see in these pics that I didn’t knead them enough because of how wrinkly and slack the dough is…go a bit further than this so it’s got a little more stability to it)

Do the same for the other two ropes, and transfer both loaves onto a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

this quick & easy baguette recipe is perfect for when you're in a rush

If you’re pressed for time, you can bake the loaf right away, or you can also allow it to rise for an additional 15-30 minutes on top of your warm oven.  I’ve done both, and both yield great results (this time I let it rise a little because the oven was otherwise occupied). Place the baking sheet in the oven.

Now for the most important part:  fill a large bowl with 2-3 cups of ice, open your hot oven, and toss the ice cubes on the bottom of the oven and quickly shut the door. Do NOT open your oven for 15 minutes (because, steam). This is what gives the baguette its crusty exterior.

Or, if you’ve preheated a metal pan (see initial instructions), toss the ice into that instead.

30-minute crusty baguette baked

Bake until golden brown, about 15-18 minutes.  You want it to register 200 F inside (use a thermometer to check) and should sound hollow when tapped on the bottom.

30-Minute Crusty Baguettes - an easy baguette recipe for when you're in a rush

30-Minute Crusty Baguette - an easy & quick baguette recipe

30-Minute Crusty Baguettes with Butter - quick & easy baguette recipe

Serve fresh and hot with your favorite olive oil for dipping. My mom had made fresh homemade butter, which was the perfect complement!

Other easy bread recipes you’ll love:

  • Flaky, Buttery No-Yeast Flatbreads
  • “Quick” Rosemary & Caramelized Onion Focaccia
  • Easy Drop Biscuits from Outlander Kitchen
  • Caramelized Onion, Feta, & Spinach Quick Bread
  • One-Hour Skillet Focaccia Bread
  • 1-Hour French Bread

Crusty Quick & Easy Baguettes (in 30 Minutes!)

  • 2 cups of very warm water
  • 1 packet (2 1/4 teaspoons) of yeast
  • 2 tablespoons of sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon of salt
  • 3-4 cups of flour (I used closer to 4)

Preheat the oven to 425 F.  If you can’t put ice cubes directly on the bottom of your oven for safety (e.g. an exposed heating element), put a metal baking pan on the bottom rack so it can heat up.  This becomes important later.

In a large bowl, stir together the warm water, yeast, and sugar. Set the bowl on top of your preheating oven for ten minutes, until the yeast “proofs” (the foam forms on top). Stir in a cup of the flour and the salt, then add the flour a half-cup at a time, until the dough becomes soft but not sticky. Turn out onto a well-floured surface and knead the dough until it’s elastic and not sticky at all.

Cut the dough into four even pieces. Roll each of them into four long, thin ropes. Take two of ropes, pinch them together at one end, and twist the two ropes together to form one loaf. Do the same for the other two ropes, and transfer both loaves onto a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

If you’re pressed for time, you can bake the loaf right away, or you can also allow it to rise for an additional 15-30 minutes on top of your warm oven.  I’ve done both, and both yield great results. Place the baking sheet in the oven.

Now for the most important part:  fill a large bowl with 3-4 cups of ice, open your hot oven, and toss the ice cubes on the bottom of the oven and quickly shut the door. Do NOT open your oven for 15 minutes (because, steam). This is what gives the baguette its crusty exterior. Or, if you’ve preheated a metal pan (see initial instructions), toss the ice into that instead.

Bake until golden brown, about 15-18 minutes.  You want it to register 200 F inside (use a thermometer to check) and should sound hollow when tapped on the bottom.

Let cool for at least 10 minutes, and serve fresh and hot with your favorite olive oil for dipping.

Original recipe here

Pin for later!

Quick & Easy French Baguettes...Ready in 30 Minutes! | This quick baguette recipe is the perfect answer to a last-minute dinner party or anytime you need delicious crusty French baguettes in a rush. Super easy baguette recipe, easy bread recipe! #bread #baguette #quickbread #frenchbread

6 Comments CATEGORIES // Bread Recipes

« Heirloom Tomato Risotto (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
Moist Strawberry Shortcake (for a Large Group) »

Comments

  1. Melissa W. says

    July 28, 2014 at 4:58 pm

    Haha, shot down by Mom! I would be a little nervous about ice in the bottom of my oven as well. Did the bowl method for ice work just as well? I could alternately put the ice on an old cookie sheet, which would be closer to mimicking the bottom of my oven…

    Reply
    • starshy926 says

      July 28, 2014 at 5:25 pm

      Lol, I thought I made a persuasive case (It’s just water!) but she was having none of it. The pan method works well, and would work even better if you heated it up before throwing the ice into it. It’s delicious either way.

      Reply
      • Melissa W. says

        July 28, 2014 at 9:00 pm

        “It’s just water”…AND ELECTRICITY!

        Reply
  2. starshy926 says

    July 28, 2014 at 9:50 pm

    Or gas.

    Reply
  3. Melissa W. says

    July 31, 2014 at 12:39 pm

    So, I made this this morning using the ice-on-a-cookie-sheet method discussed above, and it definitely didn’t crisp up the bread that much on the outside. I don’t think that putting ice on a room temp baking sheet and then placing in the oven is nearly as effective as placing the ice directly onto a preheated surface where it instantly will steam vigorously. But I still can’t bring myself to dump them directly on the oven floor! Next time, I think I will just use the technique I’ve used in the past, where I preheat a baking pan on the lower rack and then dump a cup of ice-cold water into it once I put the bread in.

    I used freshly ground whole wheat flour for my recipe, and I needed to knead it quite a while to get the gluten to develop. I’ve noticed this is true in general for my freshly ground whole wheat bread recipes. The dough ate a lot of extra flour during the long kneading process (in order to avoid it sticking to my hands), so that I probably added about 5 cups of flour to the recipe in the end, rather than the 3-4. This didn’t make it too dry or hard, though. The end result is a soft, lovely bread.

    This is definitely not a 30-minute bread for me, but it can easily be done in under an hour (which is less time than it takes me to cook most meals!), and the texture is really impressive for such a quick bread.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 14 of My Favorite Thanksgiving Recipes – finding time for cooking says:
    November 14, 2015 at 7:08 pm

    […] 30-Minute Crusty French Baguettes – another great fast option […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Melissa W. Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About Me

Welcome to my little corner of the internet! I created this blog for people who love cooking & baking but are challenged to find the time and energy to do it. Recipes run the gamut from super healthy to indulgent, but the focus is on using REAL food no matter what.

Follow Along!

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Recent IG Adventures!

When the mellow sweetness of roasted carrots 🥕 When the mellow sweetness of roasted carrots 🥕 meets up with a tangy sweet & savory sauce, the result is a super easy but elevated side dish that's perfect any night of the week. I've been making these on REPEAT...in both the air fryer and oven.

Tap the link in my IG bio & choose this photo to get the recipe!
#sidedish #roastedveggies #carrots #vegetarianrecipes
It's taken me a long time to find the perfect clas It's taken me a long time to find the perfect classic shortbread recipe, but after a few tiny tweaks, this one is a winner! And even better?? I can whip the dough up in the food processor (or stand mixer, if you prefer) in like 5 minutes.

To get the full recipe, tap the link in my IG bio & click on this picture!
#shortbread #shortbreadcookies #bakingfromscratch #shortbreadbiscuits
Anyone who knows me know that travel + pastries is Anyone who knows me know that travel + pastries is one of my favorite combos. So when I was in Finland a couple months ago, I obvs couldn't resist eating an insane amount of their traditional cinnamon buns (called korvapuusti, or "little ear buns"). 

And a few days after I got home, I needed some comfort food, so decided to recreate them for myself...these Finnish cinnamon rolls are heavily spiced with cardamom, chewier and denser, and super easy to make! 

Tap the link in my IG bio (@onegirlwholeworld) & click on this photo to get the whole recipe & shaping technique!
#korvapuusti #finnishfood #cinnamonbuns #visitfinland
I am OBSESSED with these double chocolate peanut b I am OBSESSED with these double chocolate peanut butter brownies. They are a total crowdpleaser, and can even be made gluten-free if desired!

Tap the link in my IG bio & click on this photo to get the full recipe...
#chocolatepeanutbutter #brownierecipe #peanutbutter #chocaholic
I've got a weird & delightful one comin' at ya tod I've got a weird & delightful one comin' at ya today. Some of you may think I'm crazy. But this citrus cardamom coffee spritzer is refreshing & unique, a fascinating twist on an iced cardamom coffee. 

Plus, I've got an extra oleato (shaken with olive oil) version...get the recipe by tapping on the link in my IG bio & choosing this photo! 

#cardamom #icedcoffee #spritzer #citrusrecipes
If you're looking for a unique drink that practica If you're looking for a unique drink that practically shouts "SPRING!", this lemon curd gin cocktail 🍋 has you covered...it's a twist on a classic gin sour (or like a gin sour and a flip cocktail had a baby), and is the perfect combo of bright, creamy, tart, and sweet! It's also a great way to use up leftover lemon curd from your Easter or Passover baking...

Tap the link in my IG bio & choose this photo get the recipe! --> @findingtimeforcooking
#lemoncurd #springcocktails #gincocktails #cocktailrecipes
These delicious savory rosemary parmesan shortbrea These delicious savory rosemary parmesan shortbreads are so pretty & spring-y...a great appetizer option any time of year, including the Days of Unleaved Bread, wedding or baby showers, or Mother’s Day brunch!

Tap the link in my IG bio & choose this photo to get the recipe! 
#shortbread #unleavenedbread #appetizers #bakingfromscratch
A silky & tart lime curd that's perfect for spring A silky & tart lime curd that's perfect for spring...and only takes 10 minutes to make! Pile it on pavlova, slather it on crepes, or just dip shortbread cookies in it (like I did last week). 

Tap the link in my IG bio & choose this photo get the recipe!
#limecurd #limerecipes #limelove #citrusrecipes
As someone who's never been the biggest fan of sto As someone who's never been the biggest fan of storebought hummus, I was stoked to find what I believe is the BEST homemade hummus recipe...with an easy extra step that's a great hack for getting it extra creamy! 

Tap the link in my IG bio & click on this photo to get the recipe! --> @findingtimeforcooking
#hummus #hummusrecipe #kitchenhacks
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Popular Posts

Sweet Potato Chickpea Buddha Bowl

The Most Epic Single-Serving Molten Chocolate Lava Cake

Quick Healthy Thai Chicken Cauliflower Rice Bowl

Traditional Finnish Cinnamon Buns (Korvapuusti)

French Onion Pasta

Recent Posts

  • Easy Roasted Maple-Mustard Carrots
  • The Absolute Best, Easiest Classic Shortbread (Pla…
  • Traditional Finnish Cinnamon Buns (Korvapuusti)

Categories

  • Appetizers, Dips, & Snacks
  • Bread Recipes
  • Breakfast Goodies
  • Cooking for One
  • Desserts
  • Drinks: Cocktails & More
  • Eating Out
  • Family Secret Recipes
  • Food-Related Miscellany
  • Foods I'm Obsessed With
  • Gluten-Free Recipes
  • Go-To Recipes
  • How-Tos
  • Kitchen Gear
  • Main Dishes
  • Pasta Recipes
  • Recipe Experimentation
  • Sauces, Spices, & Other Basics
  • Side Dishes & Veggies
  • Snacks
  • Soup
  • Super Healthy
  • Travel and Food
  • Uncategorized

Privacy Policy & Disclosures

Copyright & Terms of Use

Copyright 2023 Finding Time For Cooking

164 shares