Lately I’ve been on a bit of a kick making more of my food from scratch. The more I start paying attention to ingredient labels at the store, the more I realize how many unnecessary things get added to foods that should be simple.

Bread is one of those things.

Flour, water, yeast, and salt are really all you need. Yet if you flip over most store-bought bread, the ingredient list somehow turns into a paragraph.

So I’ve been enjoying the process of learning how to make simple staples myself. There’s something really satisfying about knowing exactly what’s in your food, and honestly, homemade just tastes better.

These baguettes are surprisingly easy to make and come out with a crispy crust and soft interior. I used bread flour for mine, which gave them a really nice texture. And of course I had to pair them with something extra good, a garlic honey butter made with homemade butter, fresh garlic, honey, and Italian herbs.

Warm bread with melted butter might be one of life’s simplest pleasures

Homemade Baguettes

Makes 2 medium baguettes

Ingredients

• 400 g bread flour (about 3 cups)

• 340 g lukewarm water (about 1½ cups)

• 7 g instant yeast (about 2 tsp or one packet)

• 2 tsp salt

• Optional: 1 tsp sugar (helps yeast bloom faster)

Instructions

1. In a bowl, bloom the yeast in lukewarm water (around 90–110°F) for a few minutes. If using sugar, add it here.

2. Add the flour and mix roughly until combined.

3. Add the salt after mixing (placing salt directly on yeast can weaken it).

4. Mix until the flour is incorporated and a shaggy dough forms. The dough will be sticky — this is normal since it’s a high-hydration dough.

5. Cover the bowl and let the dough rest for 1–2 hours, or until nicely puffed.

6. Generously flour your hands, the dough, and your work surface. Gently help the dough out of the bowl without deflating it.

7. Divide the dough into two pieces. Lightly shape each piece into a rectangle, fold the sides in, pinch to seal, and gently roll into baguette shapes without pressing down.

8. Preheat the oven to 480°F (250°C). Place a small dish of water in the oven to create steam — this helps develop the crust.

9. Let the shaped baguettes proof for about 20 minutes. Lightly flour them, score the tops with a knife, and bake for about 25 minutes, or until golden brown.

⸻

Garlic Honey Butter

This might be my favorite part of the whole recipe.

I used butter that I had made myself, but any good quality butter will work. The result is creamy, savory, slightly sweet, and perfect for spreading over warm bread.

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter (softened)

• 1 whole head of garlic, finely chopped

• ½ cup honey

• 1–2 tsp dried Italian herbs

• pinch of salt (optional)

Instructions

1. Finely chop the garlic.

2. In a bowl, mix together the softened butter, chopped garlic, honey, and Italian herbs.

3. Stir until fully combined and smooth.

4. Taste and adjust herbs or salt if needed.

Spread generously over warm baguette slices so it melts slightly into the bread.