Pillsbury French Bread Dough Recipes

HOME-STYLE FRENCH BREAD

Steps:

• Using an electric mixer with a dough hook, combine the yeast, sugar and warm water and mix for 2 minutes to dissolve the yeast. Add the salt and flour. With the mixer on low, mix until the dough starts to come together. Increase the speed to medium-high and mix until the dough comes away from the sides of the bowl and crawls up to dough hook.
• Grease a mixing bowl with the oil. Place the dough in the greased bowl and turn once. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place in a warm, draft free place until the dough doubles in size about 1 1/2 hours.
• Remove the dough from the bowl and invert it onto a heavily floured surface. Divide the dough into 2 equal portions. Pat each portion into a large rectangle, about 3/4-inch thick. Roll up the dough, beginning with the short side and stopping after each full turn to press the edge of the roll firmly into the flat sheet of dough to seal. Press with your fingertips. Tuck and roll so that any seams disappear into the dough.
• Sprinkle a baking sheet evenly with 2 tablespoons of the cornmeal. Place the loaves on the baking sheet, about 3 inches apart. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons cornmeal. Cover the loaves with a cloth and let rise until double in size, about 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• With a sharp knife, make diagonal slashes, about 1-inch apart, on the top of each loaf. With a pastry brush, brush the egg wash evenly over each loaf. Place a cup of hot water in an oven-proof container on the baking sheet with the loaves.
• Bake for 45 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool on a rack. Slice to serve.

ABBY'S FRENCH BREAD BRAIDS

Steps:

• In a bowl combine 3 cups flour, sugar, salt and yeast, mix well.
• In a small sauce pan heat 2 cups water and shortening until very warm.
• Add warm mixture to flour mixture, blend on low speed until moistened and then for 3 min on medium speed.
• By hand stir in an additional 1 1/2 - 2 1/4 cups flour to form a stiff dough.
• On a floured surface, knead 1/4 - 1/2 cup flour until dough is smooth and elastic, about 8 minute.
• Place in a greased bowl, cover loosely with greased plastic wrap and a cloth towel. Let rise in a warm place until light and doubled in size, about 45-60 min.
• Grease a large cookie sheet. Punch the dough down several times to remove all air bubbles. Divide the dough in half and then divide each half into 3 equal parts.
• Roll each part into a 14 inch rope. Braid the 3 ropes, sealing the ends. Place on greased cookie sheet. Repeat with other dough half.
• In a small bowl combine 1 tbsp water and the egg white, beat slightly. Carefully brush over the loaves. Cover, let rise in a warm place until light and doubled in size, 20-30 minute.
• Heat over to 375. Uncover the loaves, brush again with egg white mixture. Bake for 25-30 min or until golden brown.
• Remove from oven and cool on wire racks.

FRENCH BREAD BRAIDS

Steps:

• 1. In large bowl, combine 3 cups flour, sugar, salt and yeast mix well. In small saucepan, heat 2 cups water and shortening until very warm (120 to 130°F.). Add warm liquid to flour mixture blend at low speed until moistened. Beat 3 minutes at medium speed. By hand, stir in an additional 1 1/2 to 2 1/4 cups flour to form a stiff dough.2. On floured surface, knead in 1/4 to 1/2 cup flour until dough is smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes. Place dough in greased bowl cover loosely with greased plastic wrap and cloth towel. Let rise in warm place (80 to 85°F.) until light and doubled in size, 45 to 60 minutes.3. Grease large cookie sheet. Punch down dough several times to remove all air bubbles. Divide dough in half divide each half into 3 equal parts. Roll each part into 14-inch rope. Braid 3 ropes together seal ends. Place on greased cookie sheet. Repeat with other half of dough.4. In small bowl, combine 1 tablespoon water and egg white beat slightly. Carefully brush over loaves. Cover let rise in warm place until light and doubled in size, 20 to 30 minutes.5. Heat oven to 375°F. Uncover dough brush loaves again with egg white mixture. Bake at 375°F. for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheet cool on wire racks for 1 hour or until completely cooled.High Altitude (above 3500 feet): No change.Nutrition Information Per Serving: Serving Size: 1 Slice * Calories: 80 * Calories from Fat: 10 * % Daily Value: Total Fat: 1 g 2% * Saturated Fat: 0 g 0% * Cholesterol: 0 mg 0% * Sodium: 180 mg 8% * Total Carbohydrate: 16 g 5% * Dietary Fiber: 1 g 2% * Sugars: 1 g * Protein: 2 g * Vitamin A: 0% * Vitamin C: 0% * Calcium: 0% * Iron: 6% * Dietary Exchanges: 1 Starch or 1 CarbohydrateSee Cook's Note: Keep Rising Dough Covered, and Cook's Note: How to Braid Yeast Bread Dough

FRENCH DOUGH

Steps:

• Make the starter: Stir together flour, yeast, and water with a rubber spatula in a medium bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, and let stand at cool room temperature until it has risen slightly and bubbles cover entire surface, 12 to 15 hours.
• Make the dough: Whisk together flour and yeast in a large bowl. Add water and starter, and stir with spatula until mixture comes together in a slightly sticky, loosely formed ball of dough. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest for 20 minutes.
• Gently turn dough onto an unfloured work surface. Sprinkle with salt.
• To knead: Gather dough, lifting it above work surface. Hold one end of dough close to you while you cast the other end in front of you, onto the surface. Pull the end of dough in your hands toward you, stretching it gently, then fold the dough in half on top of itself. Repeat. Lift, cast, stretch, and fold. Knead the dough until it is smooth, supple, and elastic, 8 to 10 minutes. Use a dough scraper to clean the surface as needed, adding the scraps to the dough. (Dough will be very sticky, but avoid adding more flour until the end, when it may be necessary to add a very small amount. Add the flour to your fingers, not the dough.) Form into a ball.
• Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl. Cover with oiled plastic wrap. Let rise at cool room temperature for 45 minutes.
• Gently turn dough onto a lightly floured surface. (Do not punch down.) Fold into thirds, as you would a business letter. Then fold it in half crosswise. Return to bowl, cover, and let rise at cool room temperature until it has almost doubled, at least 75 minutes.
• Gently turn dough onto a lightly floured surface. Using a dough scraper or a knife, divide dough into equal portions (3 if making baguettes, 2 if making boules or rolls). Cover with oiled plastic wrap, and let rest for 20 minutes.
• On a lightly floured surface, spread each portion of dough into a rectangle that's roughly 10 by 6 inches. Fold dough into thirds again, as you would a business letter, pressing seams with your fingers. Shape portions into baguettes, rolls, or boules.

PILLSBURY BREAD BOWL - A BOWL YOU CAN EAT

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Place 4 (10-oz) custard cups upside down on ungreased cookie sheet.
• Spray outside of cups with cooking spray.
• Cut loaf of dough crosswise into 4 equal pieces.
• Press or roll each piece into 6-inch round.
• Place each round over custard cup on cookie sheet, shaping dough to fit around cup and form bowl shape.
• Dough should not touch cookie sheet.
• Bake 11 to 13 minutes or until golden brown.
• Place bread bowls with custard cups on cooling rack; cool 5 minutes.
• Remove bowls from cups.
• Place bread bowls in shallow soup bowls or pasta plates.
• Ladle soup into bread bowls; serve immediately.