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Dan Leader's 4-Hour Baguette (Batard)



I've been cooking this version of a baguette -- ok, ok, technically a batard -- for 6 years now. It's extremely approachable, though of course, now that I've learned a bit more about bread technique (specifically for French breads), I may try mixing in some of the fancier techniques re: folding and slashing. But if not, this is a feasible French bread for us in a home kitchen. Typically takes me more than 4 hours to make (usually about 6). And while I should let them cool before serving, I never have waited that long.
Dan Leader's 4-Hour Baguette
Food52

1 1/2  c tap water, at 115 degrees
1 tsp active dry yeast
3 1/4 c flour
3 tsp coarse salt
canola oil
1/2 c ice cubes


Whisk together water and yeast in a large bowl; let sit until yeast is foamy, about 10 minutes. Add flour, and stir with a fork until dough forms and all flour is absorbed; let dough sit to allow flour to hydrate, about 20 minutes. Add salt, then transfer dough to a lightly floured work surface, and knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Transfer dough ball to a lightly greased bowl, cover bowl with plastic wrap, and place bowl in a cold oven or microwave. Let dough rest until doubled in size, about 45 minutes.

Transfer dough to a lightly floured work surface, and shape into an 8-inch x 6-inch rectangle. Fold the 8-inch sides toward the middle, then fold the shorter sides toward the center, like a T-shirt. Return dough, seam side down, to the bowl. Cover with plastic again, and return to oven. Let sit until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

Remove bowl with dough from oven, and place a cast–iron skillet on the bottom rack of oven; position another rack above skillet, and place a baking stone or upside down or rimless sheet pan on it.

Heat oven to 475° F. Transfer dough to a lightly floured work surface, and cut into three equal pieces; shape each piece into a 14-inch rope. If you have a baguette pan, prep the pan for the 3 ropes. If not, flour a sheet of parchment paper on a rimless baking sheet; place ropes, evenly spaced, on paper. Lift paper between ropes to form pleats; place two tightly rolled kitchen towels under long edges of paper, creating supports for the loaves. Cover loosely with plastic wrap; let sit until it doubles in size, about 50 minutes.


Uncover; remove towels, and flatten paper to space out loaves. Using a sharp razor, knife, bread lame, or scissors, slash the top of each baguette at a 30–degree angle in four spots; each slash should be about 4 inches long. Pull out the oven rack with the stone or baking sheet on it and, using the corner of the parchment paper as a guide, slide the loaves, still on the parchment paper, onto the baking stone or pan. Place ice cubes in skillet (this produces steam that lets the loaves rise fully before a crust forms). Bake the baguettes until darkly browned and crisp, 20 to 30 minutes; cool before serving.
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LBT said…
This is an easy recipe that has success...including high altitude adjustments.
July 28, 2020 at 2:34 PM
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