The Easiest and Best Sourdough Sandwich Bread Recipe (2024)

This bread is the easiest and best sourdough sandwich bread recipe! Homemade, buttery and soft, you will never buy sandwich bread from the store again! Serve this bread for sandwiches or enjoy by itself with some butter and honey drizzled on top.

The Easiest and Best Sourdough Sandwich Bread Recipe (1)

Are you tired of buying store bought bread that has way too many extra ingredients and just ends up being dry when you open up the bag? Search no longer, because this recipe is hands down the BEST sourdough sandwich bread recipe you will ever make! This sourdough sandwich bread is golden on the outside and soft and fluffy in the middle. The method is SO simple and it turns out delicious every single time.

My kids are big PB&J lovers, and with two of them being in the thick of toddler world, I need lunches that I can count on them to eat. It seems like every day there is something they used to LOVE that they just will not touch anymore! Anyone else?! Just my kids??

The one thing I can ALWAYS count on them eating though, is a PB&J. Which is why I needed a really good sandwich bread recipe. They like the artisan loaf sourdough bread for lots of things, but this sandwich bread is just SO perfect for lunchtime sandwiches. I love that I can start it the night before I need to bake it and can have it ready and baked for lunchtime the next day.

Made with light and fluffy bread flour, sweetened slightly with some raw honey, and the perfect moisture with the creamy butter added in the dough, this sandwich bread just could not be better. Okay, maybe when it is warm and served with a bit of butter and drizzle of honey. It is just so good. You have to make it.

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Before we begin… a note on the kitchen scale

You will need a few kitchen tools. One of the most important tools you should become familiar with is a kitchen scale. I know, that sounds horrible. It took me FOREVER to finally start using my kitchen scale in bread baking. It sounded WAY too complicated and I just wanted to use my measuring cups and spoons and be left alone, thank you.

Well after MANY bread baking inconsistencies and failures, I finally decided I would try the old kitchen scale. And guess what I found?

MORE CONSISTENT RESULTS. Like, every time.. It was annoying. Because I didn’t want to use the kitchen scale!

But let my failed bread baking attempts save you the trouble. Get you a kitchen scale, or dust the one off you already have but never use, because in my experience, it is key to getting the perfect loaf every time.

OKAY, that’s enough talk about the kitchen scale.

Tools you may need for this sourdough sandwich bread recipe:

Ingredients for Sourdough Sandwich Bread:

  • Unbleached Flour, bread or all-purpose – I have been purchasing organic flour in bulk from Azure Standard and LOVE it! So affordable and amazing quality.
  • Unsalted Butter (also purchasing organic, grass-fed butter in bulk from Azure!)
  • Filtered Water
  • Sea Salt
  • Honey
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Let’s begin making this sourdough sandwich bread recipe!

Before you begin making this sourdough sandwich bread, you will need to make sure your sourdough starter has been fed in the past 4-6 hours and is nice and bubbly. If you don’t have a starter yet, check out my post on how to make your own sourdough starter in just 7 days! And then you, too, can bake your own homemade sourdough bread!

Once the starter is bubbly, you are ready to begin!

The evening before you want to bake your sourdough sandwich bread…

Zero out your mixing bowl for your stand mixer on the kitchen scale. *Zero out just means you place the bowl on the scale, push the zero button, and now the scale has subtracted the weight of the bowl. Set the measurement to grams.

Once you have zeroed out the scale, pour 500 grams of organic bread flour, 10 grams of salt, 90 grams of unsalted butter cubed (it’s about 6 Tablespoons). With the paddle attachment, mix together on low speed until the flour and butter is combined. It will be pretty dry.

Next, place the mixing bowl with the flour and butter combo back on your kitchen scale. Zero out the scale. Add 30 grams raw honey, 150 grams fed starter, and 230 grams filtered water (room temperature is best).

With the dough hook attachment, mix the dough until well combined and sticky. I usually let it run on low for about 6 minutes to make sure it is really well combined and the dough comes off the sides of the bowl.

Cover the bowl and let sit for about 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, pop the dough mixer back down and set your mixer on low and knead for about 2 minutes. This is all the kneading you will do, and if you had a stand mixer, all you had to do was turn the switch on! I am not lying when I say this is the easiest and best sourdough sandwich bread!

Shape the dough if needed so it is a little ball, then cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it sit and rise overnight! I let it rise in my Kitchenaid mixing bowl because it is less dishes and it works great.

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The next morning…

your dough should have risen and doubled in size. If your house is cold, this might take a little longer. The usual rising time in our home is around 12-14 hours since we keep our home cool at night.

Scoop the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and shape the dough into a rectangle – about 6″ wide x 18″ long.

Begin to roll the dough starting with the short end, tucking and pinching the outside edges as you go to make a log. Place the dough in an oiled loaf pan- I used coconut oil to coat the pan.

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The Easiest and Best Sourdough Sandwich Bread Recipe (6)
The Easiest and Best Sourdough Sandwich Bread Recipe (7)
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Cover the loaf pan and let sit/rise for another 2-4 hours until it has doubled. Again, this time will depend on your house temperature. Cooler means slower rise, warm and it will rise quicker.

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Once it has doubled, set your oven to 375℉. Bake the bread for 45 minutes until golden on the outside.

Slip the bread out of the pan as soon as you can (I usually wait about 10 or 15 minutes so I don’t burn myself) and let the bread cool on a baking rack so the sides stay nice and crispy. Let cool for 30 minutes and then it is ready to be sliced!

Tips for storing:

I only slice what I need right before I eat it. To keep the bread from drying out, wrap in plastic wrap, store in a ziploc gallon bag, or my favorite method- wrap in a tea towel or linen bread bag and store in a bread box. This truly is the best method and reduces waste!

Pin it for later!

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Want to try some more sourdough recipes?

  • Pumpkin Spice Sourdough Bagels with Pumpkin Cream Cheese
  • Pumpkin Spice Sourdough Pancakes
  • How to make a Sourdough Starter
  • Sourdough Croissants
  • Sourdough Cinnamon Brioche
  • Sourdough Orange Cinnamon Rolls
  • Artisan Rustic Sourdough Bread

If you try this recipe and love it, I would love to know! Come back and leave a review! Tag me on Instagram@oursimplegraces

The Easiest and Best Sourdough Sandwich Bread Recipe (11)

The Easiest & Best Sourdough Sandwich Bread

Yield: 1 Loaf

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Bake Time: 45 minutes

Resting Time: 16 hours

Total Time: 17 hours 5 minutes

This is the easiest and best sourdough sandwich bread recipe! Homemade, buttery and soft, you will never buy sandwich bread again!

Ingredients

  • 500 g Organic Bread Flour
  • 10 g salt
  • 90 g unsalted butter, cubed
  • 30 g raw honey
  • 150 g starter
  • 230 g filtered water

Instructions

The evening before you want to bake your bread...

  1. Zero out your mixing bowl for your stand mixer on the kitchen scale. *Zero out just means you place the bowl on the scale, push the zero button, and now the scale has subtracted the weight of the bowl. Set the measurement to grams.
  2. Pour in the organic bread flour, salt, and unsalted butter cubed to mixing bowl. With the paddle attachment, mix together on low speed until the flour and butter is combined. It will be pretty dry.
  3. Next, place the mixing bowl with the flour and butter combo back on your kitchen scale. Zero out the scale. Add raw honey, fed starter, and filtered water (room temperature is best).
  4. With the dough hook attachment, mix the dough until well combined and sticky. I usually let it run on low for about 6 minutes to make sure it is really well combined and the dough comes off the sides of the bowl.
  5. Cover the bowl and let sit for about 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, pop the dough mixer back down and set your mixer on low and knead for about 2 minutes.
  6. Shape the dough if needed so it is a little ball, then cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it sit and rise overnight! I let it rise in my Kitchenaid mixing bowl because it is less dishes and it works great.

*if you don't have a stand mixer, simply knead by hand for about 6-8 minutes until dough is sticky and ingredients are well combined.

The next morning...

  1. After about 12-14 hours,your dough should have risen and doubled in size.
  2. Scoop the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and shape the dough into a rectangle – about 6″ wide x 18″ long.
  3. Begin to roll the dough starting with the short end, tucking and pinching the outside edges as you go to make a log. Place the dough in an oiled loaf pan- I used coconut oil to coat the pan.
  4. Cover the loaf pan and let sit/rise for another 2-4 hours until it has doubled.
  5. Once it has doubled, set your oven to 375℉. Bake the bread for 45 minutes until golden on the outside.
  6. Slip the bread out of the pan as soon as you can (I usually wait about 10 or 15 minutes so I don’t burn myself) and let the bread cool on a baking rack so the sides stay nice and crispy. Let cool for 30 minutes and then it is ready to be sliced!

Notes

I only slice what I need right before I eat it. To keep the bread from drying out, wrap in plastic wrap or store in a gallon ziploc bag.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6Serving Size: 2 slices
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 424Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 32mgSodium: 651mgCarbohydrates: 65gFiber: 2gSugar: 4gProtein: 10g

The Easiest and Best Sourdough Sandwich Bread Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to sourdough bread? ›

The secret to sourdough is simple: water. The more water you add to your dough will affect how open the crumb (bigger holes and softer texture) will be once it's baked.

Is sourdough good for sandwiches? ›

With its tangy flavor and chewy texture, sourdough bread elevates many sandwiches. The Classic Reuben, combining corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing, is a standout. The Turkey Avocado BLT offers a refreshing twist with crisp bacon and ripe avocado.

What makes sourdough bread taste better? ›

The sourdough starter is the real secret to getting a good fermentation going. Essentially your sourdough starter is old dough, which has already pre-fermented and contains Lactobacillus culture. Lactobacillus culture has a sour taste and is an active culture that lives off natural yeast spores from the air.

What not to do with sourdough? ›

Here are the big errors to avoid when working with sourdough.
  1. You Bake Too Soon. ...
  2. You Use Unfiltered Tap Water. ...
  3. You Use Water That Is Too Hot or Too Cold. ...
  4. You're Impatient. ...
  5. You Don't Autolyse Your Dough. ...
  6. You Don't Let Gluten Develop Properly. ...
  7. You Don't Let the Bread Proof Long Enough. ...
  8. You Don't Form the Bread Correctly.
Apr 1, 2022

What is the best flour for sourdough bread? ›

The best flour blend for creating a new sourdough starter is 50% whole-meal flour (whole wheat or whole rye) and 50% bread flour or all-purpose flour. I recommend a 50/50 mix of whole wheat flour and bread flour.

Is there a difference between sourdough bread and sourdough sandwich bread? ›

The great thing about sandwich bread in comparison to a regular boule sourdough bread, is that the crust stays nice and soft. The crumb is tighter which means less holes for all of your fillings to slide through.

What cheese goes well with sourdough bread? ›

Using sourdough bread to make a grilled cheese sandwich is the way to go because it adds such wonderful flavor and is nice and sturdy! Filled with two delicious cheeses; sharp cheddar and gouda, these cheeses melt well, taste great, and can be found in any grocery store.

How to get a good rise on sourdough bread? ›

There are ten essential steps to get great ovenspring:
  1. High Protein Flour.
  2. High Hydration.
  3. Strong Starter.
  4. Strong Gluten Development.
  5. Perfect Bulk Fermentation.
  6. Strong Shaping.
  7. Perfect Final Proofing.
  8. Scoring.

How to get more holes in sourdough bread? ›

If I want holes in my bread, I stretch and fold the dough every 60 minutes or so during the bulk fermentation of a sourdough bread and every 30 minutes or so during the bulk fermentation of a bread with added yeast.

What is the perfect sourdough crumb? ›

Sourdough crumb should be even, meaning there won't be any areas that are super tight or with giant tunnels. The crumb should be light and fluffy - not wet and gummy. The holes inside the sourdough may seem shiny. This is a sign that the gluten is very well developed.

How to make sourdough more flavorful? ›

Generally a more mature and well established starter will produce a more flavorful, sour loaf. Hydration of the Dough - this affects how long your dough will take to ferment. A slightly lower hydration will take longer to ferment than a higher hydration loaf, leading to a bigger depth of flavor and sourness.

What are the pros and cons of sourdough bread? ›

Sourdough bread is a great alternative to conventional bread. It's richer in nutrients, less likely to spike your blood sugar, and generally easier to digest. Just remember that sourdough fermentation doesn't degrade gluten completely.

Is sourdough bread better for your stomach than regular bread? ›

Sourdough bread may be easier to digest than white bread for some people. According to some studies, sourdough bread acts as a prebiotic, which means that the fiber in the bread helps feed the “good” bacteria in your intestines. These bacteria are important for maintaining a stable, healthy digestive system.

What is the secret behind the sour of sourdough bread? ›

A sourdough starter is made up of wild yeast and bacteria working together. The bacteria is where the sour flavor is coming from! Lactic Acid Bacteria are most active in the mid 80-90 degrees F, but that speeds up the wild yeast which prefer a more mild temperature of mid 70s F.

What makes sourdough bread different than regular bread? ›

Sourdough is a leavened bread, which means the dough naturally rises as a result of the gas that is produced as the grain ferments. While most commercial breads use baker's yeast as the raising agent, sourdough is made using a sourdough starter.

What makes sourdough bread special? ›

Sourdough is naturally leavened bread, which means it doesn't use commercial yeast to rise. Instead, it uses a 'starter' – a fermented flour and water mixture that contains wild yeast and good bacteria – to rise. This also produces the tangy flavour and slightly chewy texture you'll find in sourdough.

What makes sourdough bread rise more? ›

For dough, a factor that affects how much your sourdough will rise is the hydration level. If the dough is too dry, it won't rise as much. Make sure to check the hydration level of your dough and adjust accordingly. You may need to add a bit more liquid or flour to get the right consistency.

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