For all of you who get carb cravings and don’t want to wait the hour and a half to let your dough rise, this is a great recipe. These baguettes are incredible- very crispy outside and soft, airy inside and they only take about 30 minutes.
- 2 cups warm water (110-115)
- one packet yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 3-4 cups flour
** I would definitely go for 4 cups of flour. I actually had to add a bit more than that to get the right consistency.
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk together the warm water and yeast. Stir in the salt and sugar and add the flour a half-cup at a time, until the dough becomes soft but not sticky. Knead the dough until elastic.
Cut the dough into four even pieces. Roll each of them into four long, thin ropes. Twist together two of the ropes to form one loaf. Twist the other two ropes together to form a second loaf. Transfer both onto a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper or greased.
You can now bake the loaf right away (if you’re in a hurry) or allow it to rise for an additional 15-30 minutes.
** I let my dough rise for about 20 minutes
Now for the SECRET: Fill a large bowl with 3-4 cups of ice. Open your hot oven and place the baking sheet with the baguettes inside, then toss the ice cubes on the bottom of the oven and quickly shut the door. Do NOT open your oven for 15 minutes. Bake until golden brown, about 15-18 minutes.
