How to Make French Bread in a Vitamix Blender

Making homemade, fresh bread is a wonderful way to prepare something truly unique for your family, and it will make your whole home smell amazing too! Normally making bread involves a few different mixing machines and lots of elbow grease. This recipe however, is designed to utilize a Vitamix blender with the DRY BLADE attachment.

Used In This Recipe:

• Vitamix Professional Series 750 Blender 
• Vitamix 32 Ounce BPA-Free Container with Dry Blade and Lid
• Vitamix Nylon Spatulas - 3 Pack

Vitamix French Bread

- 1 cup (240 ml) warm water, divided use, 105˚F-115˚F (40˚C-46˚C)
- 1 package (1 Tablespoon) active dry yeast
- 2 1/2 cups (312 g) unbleached, all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons (15 g) whole grain cornmeal
- 1 large egg white beaten with 1 Tablespoon water (for brushing dough before baking)

Directions:

1. To proof the yeast, combine 1/2 cup (120 ml) warm water with the yeast. Stir slowly to combine. Set aside for 5 minutes.
2. Place flour and salt into the Vitamix DRY BLADE container and secure lid.
3. Select Variable 1.
4. Turn machine on and slowly increase speed to Variable 6.
5. Blend until a hole forms in the center of the flour mixture, about 5 seconds.
6. Select Variable 3. Turn machine on and remove the lid plug. Slowly add yeast mixture and remaining 1/2 cup warm water, a little at a time, just until incorporated, through the lid plug opening. Stop machine and replace lid plug.
7. Select High speed. Slowly turn machine On and Off two times. Stop machine and remove the lid.
8. While dough rests, grease a medium-size mixing bowl with the olive oil and sprinkle the cornmeal on a baking sheet.
9. Use a wet nylon spatula to scrape the sides of the container, pulling the dough away from the container sides and into the center of the mixture. Replace lid.
10. Select High speed. slowly turn the machine On and Off five times. Add additional water, 1 Tablespoon at a time, only if dough seems exceptionally dry. Repeat process five times, scraping the sides of the container until the dough binds together into a soft, elastic mixture.
11. To aid in removing the dough from the container, turn the machine On and Off five times (this lifts the dough up and away from the blades) and slowly invert the container over the prepared bowl, using a wet spatula to remove any remaining dough. Turn dough to coat well. Cover with plastic wrap and allow rising until almost triple in size, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
12. Lightly punch down dough and place on a floured work surface, adding additional flour as needed to make it workable but still soft dough. Roll into a 12-inch x 6-inch (30 cm x 15 cm) rectangle with a floured rolling pin. Roll from the long end down, pinching the seams together and using water to seal.
13. Place dough, seam side down, on the prepared baking sheet. Cover with a clean, dry kitchen towel and allow the dough to rise until it doubles in size, about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
14. Brush top of loaf with egg mixture and make three to four diagonal slits about ¼ inch deep on the top of the loaf using a sharp, serrated knife.
15. Bake in a heated 425°F (220°C) oven for 30 to 40 minutes or until bread is well browned and reaches an internal temperature of 190°F (88°C) when tested with an instant-read thermometer. Cool on wire rack 10 minutes, then carefully remove from the baking sheet and allow to cool completely before slicing.

Tip: A metal spatula helps in coaxing the bread off the baking sheet.