The weather is warming up, which means it’s time to fire up the grill! Side dishes like salads and corn on the cob are expected, but why not add an elegant twist with homemade crispy baguettes? Served with homemade herb butter, this is a side that may just take over the whole show!
How to Make Homemade Herb Baguettes
No, you don’t need to be walking down a sun-soaked boulevard in order to enjoy a baguette. With the right ingredients and know-how, you can bring this iconic bread home. Dare we say, and also improve upon it? Don’t blame us, if once you make this recipe’s herb butter that you find that you can’t stop making it. Trust us, this is all easier than it sounds!
When preparing your baguettes, remember to start with the dough. It needs a few hours to rise and double in volume. While time is the main ingredient for a proper dough, there are, of course, tips and tricks for helping it along its way. Place the dough in the warm bathroom, on the radiator, or in a warm water bath. Alternatively, an unheated oven is also a great option, as it shields the precious dough from any unwanted drafts.
Meanwhile, as the dough is rising, your hands will be free to prepare the herb butter. When making the butter, timing is also of the essence. It will need to be soft and room temperature to properly infuse with the garlic and herbs. But, afterward, it will need to be refrigerated so that it firms up and chills. This will ensure it doesn’t burn when baking with the baguette! All in all, this recipe is a bit of a dance! But, once you catch the rhythm, you’ll find it’s quite intuitive.
Once risen, divide the dough into two equal portions. Then, flour your hands, and shape both into baguettes. Place the breadsticks on a baking sheet, cut them a few times at regular intervals, and pre-bake them. After the first baking process, you’re in the final stretch and can finally add the herb butter. Cut the chilled butter into chunks and insert it piece by piece into the baguettes. Let the baguettes bake for a few more minutes until the butter has melted and the surface of the homemade herb baguettes is nice and crispy. And then you can finally enjoy! We promise, you’ll relish every bite.
We are big bread fans here! It can add such a warm and filling element to any meal. That’s why we’ve developed our oatmeal quark bread, banana oat bread, and tortilla garlic bread recipes. Check them out now!
Homemade Herb Baguettes
Ingredients
For the dough:
- 2 tsp active dry yeast or ½ ounce fresh yeast
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1¼ cups water lukewarm
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ tsp salt
For the herb butter:
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 bunch chives or to taste
- ¼ bunch parsley or to taste
- ¼ bunch thyme or to taste
- 1 cup butter softened
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- For the dough, dissolve the yeast and sugar in the lukewarm water. Let it sit for 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, mix the flour with the salt. Pour in the yeast mixture and knead everything into a smooth dough.
- Cover the dough and let it rise for 2 hours.
- As the bread rises, you can make the herb butter. Start by peeling and pressing the garlic. Rinse the herbs, shake them dry, and chop them.
- Mix the ingredients with the softened butter and season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate.
- After the resting time has passed, divide the dough into two equal portions. Using floured hands, shape the dough into baguettes and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Carefully cut the surface of the baguettes diagonally several times with a knife and bake in a preheated oven at 450°F for 20 minutes.
- Remove the baguettes from the oven and cut the cold butter into pieces. Insert a piece of herb butter into each of the previously made cuts and return the baguettes to the oven for another 5 minutes. The butter should be melted and the baguettes crispy. Serve warm.