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.

The Easiest and Best Sourdough Sandwich Bread Recipe (5)
The Easiest and Best Sourdough Sandwich Bread Recipe (6)
The Easiest and Best Sourdough Sandwich Bread Recipe (7)
The Easiest and Best Sourdough Sandwich Bread Recipe (8)

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 good sourdough bread? ›

Top 10 Tips & Tricks for Making Sourdough
  • Use your sourdough starter at its peak. ...
  • Moisten the surface of the dough before baking for more rise. ...
  • Handle with care: be gentle with your dough. ...
  • Use sifted flour to make your sourdough less dense. ...
  • Soak your flour beforehand for a lighter loaf. ...
  • Just add water for softer sourdough.

What makes the best sourdough bread? ›

The inside of the bread should be bubbly and chewy and the bread should have a slightly tangy taste. Real sourdough bread does not contain additives like oil, milk, corn, and dough conditioners. It is made with whole grains and is generally more expensive than regular bread.

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

There are two main acids produced in a sourdough culture: lactic acid and acetic acid. Acetic acid, or vinegar, is the acid that gives sourdough much of its tang. Giving acetic acid-producing organisms optimal conditions to thrive and multiply will produce a more tangy finished product.

How do you make sourdough bread 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 is the secret ingredient in sourdough bread? ›

The signature sourdough flavor comes from a combination of lactic and acetic acids, created as the dough rises and ferments. Refrigerating the dough encourages the production of more acetic acid, which is the tangier of the two. Thus, this bread with its refrigerated starter has the ideal balance of sour flavor.

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. Why do you need to use these two types of flour?

Which supermarket has the best sourdough bread? ›

Top 10 Sourdough Bread Products
  • Jason's. ...
  • Waitrose Ltd. ...
  • Jasons Sourdough. ...
  • Bertinet. Bakery White Sourdough Loaf. ...
  • Celtic Bakers. Organic Spelt Sourdough. ...
  • Jason's. The Great White Straight Up Sourdough Loaf. ...
  • Bertinet. Bakery Malted Wheat Sourdough Loaf. ...
  • Waitrose Ltd. No.1 Malt Sourdough Bread with Seeds.

Which is the healthiest sourdough bread? ›

When choosing a sourdough loaf, look for ones that have whole wheat, spelt or rye, Rizzo adds. Some studies suggest that Einkhorn wheat, a type of "ancient grain," may offer more nutritional benefits. When comparing nutrition labels, try to opt for the one with fewer ingredients and less sodium and sugar.

What ingredients should sourdough bread have? ›

Sourdough is hands down the healthiest type of bread. Made with only three ingredients; flour, water, and salt, sourdough is simple and natural, the way bread should be.

What flour makes sourdough more sour? ›

For more tang: Incorporate some rye flour and/or whole wheat flour early in the bread-making process, such as when feeding the mother culture and the preferment. Rye flour in particular will help your culture produce some acetic acid.

Why doesn't my sourdough bread taste like sourdough? ›

In general, more minerals yield more sour taste. Using flours with more ash, or mineral, content, will yield more sour taste. If you can't get enough ash, adding a bit of whole wheat flour to your recipe, which is what is done with the 20% Bran Flour, will boost the sour of a bread.

Is sourdough good for your gut? ›

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 makes the perfect sourdough? ›

The outer crust of your sourdough bread should be crispy, crackly, and have a glossy, caramelized brown finish. The key to achieving a healthy crust is getting sufficient steam while baking, as it keeps the outer crust moist while the inside cooks.

What makes sourdough taste better? ›

The key taste compounds include salt, which is directly added to the dough, as well as acetic and lactic acid, produced during fermentation. After these experiments, they applied a technique called “unified flavor quantitation,” which was previously developed by Hofmann's team, to the sourdough bread.

Should I add sugar to my sourdough? ›

The yeast will work just fine without the tablespoon or so of sugar. The other big reason to add sugar is simpler. It is to make the baked goods sweet.

What gives sourdough bread its unique flavor? ›

Sourdough bread's signature taste comes from friendly bacteria and yeast, which produce flavorful lactic and acetic acids in rising bread dough.

How can I make my sourdough rise better? ›

You can get the sourdough starter to rise more by putting it next to the stove while you're cooking. The warmth from the stove can help to activate the yeast in the starter and make it rise more. For dough you should cover it with a damp cloth or plastic wrap so that it doesn't dry out.

How to make sourdough bread fluffier? ›

Here are some tips to help you make your sourdough bread less dense:
  1. Use a ripe sourdough starter. ...
  2. Knead the dough for the right amount of time. ...
  3. Proof the dough for the correct amount of time. ...
  4. Use the right type of flour. ...
  5. Add the right amount of water. ...
  6. Score the bread properly. ...
  7. Bake the bread at the correct temperature.
Sep 9, 2023

Why do you put honey in sourdough bread? ›

You'll find I use honey in many of my recipes. I love to use it in my no-knead 100% whole wheat sourdough bread because it makes it much softer and less dense than it would be without it. Subbing it in recipes that call for sugar is not usually as simple as a one-to-one sub, though.

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