Grain Baguette

This Grain Baguette recipe comes from All About Baguette book by Jean-Marie Lanio and Jérémy Ballester. A mix of roasted sesame, flax, millet, and pumpkin seeds adds a nutty depth and hearty texture to the classic French baguette. With autolyse, bassinage, and long cold fermentation, the method yields a crisp crust, soft open crumb, and a wholesome, flavorful bread that’s perfect for everyday baking.

Makes 7 baguettes, 290g each

Ingredients

Grain Pre-treatment

Levain

Final dough 

  • 1000g French flour (Tradition T65) (100%)
  • 650g water A –(65%)
  • 21g baking salt ( 2.1%)
  • 7g fresh yeast ( 0.7%) or 2.3g dry instant yeast
  • 150g liquid levain (15%)
  • 50g water B (5%)
  • 250g pre-treated grains ( 25%)

Directions

The Night Before

  • Pre-treated grains
  • Mix all the grains together, then roast them in a convection oven at 175°C / 350°F for 20 minutes to enhance their nutty flavor. 
  • Soak the roasted grains in water, cover, and refrigerate overnight at 3°C / 37°F.
  • Starter
  • Dissolve starter in the water, whisk together, add flour, mix well, cover and let it sit at room temp 74-78F until it increases in volume in 2 or more times.
  • Learn how to make sourdough starter from scratch here).

Next Morning

  • Combine the flour and water A in the mixer and mix for 3 minutes at medium speed (base temperature 62–66°C / 143–151°F). 
  • Allow the dough to rest for 60 minutes at 23–24°C / 73–75°F. This autolyse step improves dough elasticity.

Final Dough

  • Add the salt, yeast, and levain to the autolysed dough. 
  • Mix for 5 minutes at medium speed , then 2 minutes at medium high speed. 
  • Add water B using the bassinage technique and mix until fully absorbed. Incorporate the pre-treated grains and mix until well blended; the dough temperature should be around 24°C / 75°F. 
  • Transfer the dough into a lightly oiled container and ferment for 45 minutes at 23–24°C / 73–75°F. 
  • Perform one gentle fold (rabat), then cover and refrigerate for 15 hours at 3°C / 37°F.

Dividing & Pre-shaping

  • Remove the dough from the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature for about 1 hour at 23–24°C / 73–75°F. 
  • Transfer it onto a floured surface (Tradition T65), divide into 290g portions, pre-shape into ovals, and let rest for 30 minutes at 23–24°C / 73–75°F.
  • Gently flatten the dough to release air. 
  • Fold the top edge two-thirds of the way down, rotate, repeat the fold, and seal the seam with the heel of your hand. 
  • Fold in half using your thumb to guide the seam, then seal it tightly. 
  • Roll from the center outward until each piece is 35-40cm ( 18-20inches) long. 
  • Place seam-side up on a floured couche.
  • Proof the dough for about 60 minutes at 23–24°C / 73–75°F. The dough is ready when a light fingerprint remains visible.

Baking

  • Preheat the oven to 250°C / 480°F (top and bottom heat). 
  • Transfer the baguettes seam-side down onto a peel or flipping board, dust lightly with flour, and score one long slash at a 45° angle. 
  • Bake with steam for 10 min and 10 min without steam.

Enjoy!

Grain Baguette

Author: Natalya Syanova
133kcal
No ratings yet
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Prep 1 hour 45 minutes
Cook 20 minutes
Total 18 hours 5 minutes
A nutty, textured take on the classic French baguette. This recipe uses a “soaker” for the grains and a long cold fermentation to create a crisp crust and a soft, open crumb.
Servings 7 baguettes

Ingredients

Grain Pre-treatment (Soaker)
  • 25 g white sesame
  • 25 g black sesame
  • 25 g flaxseeds
  • 25 g millet
  • 25 g pumpkin seeds
  • 125 g water
Levain (Build Night Before)
  • 75 g bread flour
  • 75 g water
  • 10 g active sourdough starter
Final Dough
  • 1000 g French flour (Tradition T65)
  • 650 g water (A)
  • 21 g baking salt
  • 7 g fresh yeast (or 2.3g dry instant yeast)
  • 150 g liquid levain (from build above)
  • 50 g water (B)
  • 250 g pre-treated grains (the prepared soaker)

Method

The Night Before
  1. Grains: Roast all grains at 175°C (350°F) for 20 mins. Soak in the 125g water, cover, and refrigerate overnight.
  2. Levain: Dissolve starter in water, add flour, and mix. Let sit at 74-78°F until doubled or tripled.
Mixing & Autolyse
  1. Combine T65 flour and Water A. Mix for 3 mins at medium speed.
  2. Let rest (autolyse) for 60 mins at 23-24°C (73-75°F).
Final Dough & Fermentation
  1. Add salt, yeast, and levain to the dough. Mix 5 mins (medium speed), then 2 mins (medium-high).
  2. Add Water B (bassinage) until absorbed, then fold in the pre-treated grains.
  3. Ferment for 45 mins at room temp. Perform one gentle fold, then refrigerate for 15 hours at 3°C (37°F).
Shaping & Baking
  1. Let dough sit at room temp for 1 hour. Divide into 290g portions and pre-shape into ovals; rest 30 mins.
  2. Shape into baguettes (35-40cm) and place on a floured couche. Proof for 60 mins.
  3. Preheat oven to 250°C (480°F). Score one long slash and bake with steam for 10 mins, then 10 mins without.

Nutrition

Calories133kcalCarbohydrates14gProtein5gFat7gSaturated Fat1gPolyunsaturated Fat3gMonounsaturated Fat2gTrans Fat0.003gSodium9mgPotassium115mgFiber3gSugar0.2gVitamin A1IUVitamin C0.1mgCalcium86mgIron2mg

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7 Comments

  1. Natasha- I couldn’t help but notice your mixer and was wondering make and model.
    I so appreciate someone who uses a mixer and writes the recipe with mixer directions. My mixer is a large capacity Bosch so would your mixing speeds and time work for mine?

  2. Natasha- I couldn’t help but notice your mixer and was wondering make and model.
    I so appreciate someone who uses a mixer and writes the recipe with mixer directions. My mixer is a large capacity Bosch so would your mixing speeds and time work for mine?

  3. Please help, if we dont have sourdough starter, can we replace with yeast (Fresh or dry) and how much?
    Thank you ver very much!!!

    Best regards

  4. Hi Natasha. I have a convection oven. What would be the step-by-step instructions for baking baguettes? Thank you so much for your excellent work!

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