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–+ servings
Three loaves of bread on a cooling rack.

Copycat Jimmy John's French Bread Recipe

Author: Jessica Haggard
Learn how to make your own Jimmy John’s bread! This delicious copycat recipe is made with flour, yeast, olive oil, sugar, and salt. It’s an easy soft-bread recipe that's also great for sandwiches and subs. Not only is it cheaper than going to the restaurant, but it is also customizable.
4.87 from 118 votes
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Rise Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 5 minutes
Course Bread
Cuisine Copycat
Servings 12 small loaves
Calories 218 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 ½ cups warm water
  • 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour divided
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil plus a little extra for greasing

Instructions
 

  • Use a wooden spoon to combine the water, yeast, and sugar in a small mixing bowl. Let it stand for 5 minutes. 
  • Combine 1 cup flour with the olive oil in a second small bowl. Mix well until evenly combined.
  • Add 3 ½ cups flour and salt to a large mixing bowl. Then, stir in the flour and oil. Combine well. Finally, open a well in the center of the flour and pour in the activated yeast sugar water. Mix well with the wooden spoon. Continue mixing until a smooth dough forms.
  • Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead for about 8-10 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic.
  • Shape the dough into a ball and place it in a lightly greased bowl. Cover the bowl with a clean, damp kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let the dough rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until it doubles in size.
  • Once the dough has risen, punch it down gently to release any air bubbles. Turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and divide it into 12 equal portions.
  • Take one portion of the dough and roll it into a rectangular log. Repeat with all portions of dough.
  • Place the loaves on a lightly greased baking sheet. Cover again and let them rise a second time for about 15-20 minutes. While they are rising, preheat the oven to 400F.
  • Bake the bread for about 20-25 minutes or until the crust turns golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
  • Remove the loaves from the oven, transfer to a wire rack, and leave to cool completely.

Notes

  • Do not use old or expired packs of yeast. If your yeast doesn't show any activity in step one, then in all likelihood, it won't work.
  • The water should be warm to the touch, not too hot and not too cold because that won’t activate the yeast.
  • If you need to quicken the proof time, aka rise time, place the bowl with the dough in a warm water bath or warm oven at the lowest temperature.
  • Conversely, if you want to slow down the proofing, place the bread dough in the refrigerator for up to 12 hours and take care of it at your convenience.
Serve: Make your favorite sub sandwich or try the popular combinations listed in the post above.
Store: Keep the bread in an airtight container or bag in the refrigerator. Jimmy John's bread has a shelf life of three days.

Nutrition

Serving: 1loafCalories: 218kcalCarbohydrates: 37gProtein: 5gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gSodium: 355mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1g
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