Homemade Sandwich Bread Recipe & Tutorial (2024)

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Evan and I spend the summer at the lake every year. I love being near the water and the feeling of being “away”. I don’t always love being 20 minutes from the nearest store (that I don’t love) and further from a store that I actually like. I have figured out that being far from the store isn’t always a bad thing. This summer I have learned a great homemade sandwich bread recipe and it has made all the difference. The entire family loves having homemade bread and it really isn’t that hard just a bit time consuming (but most of the time is spent without you needing to do anything).

The recipe I use was published by the Pioneer Woman on Food.com. It isn’t rocket science so I am going to republish it here with my own instructions. I have figured out a few tricks that make your bread turn out every time. Often, I find that recipes leave these out because they assume people know. Well, guess what….they don’t and then the recipe doesn’t turn out. It’s not user error…it’s user lack of knowledge. I want you to be successful in your homemade bread making! Hopefully this tutorial will gibe you the confidence and knowledge to easily make homemade bread that your family will love (and can be totally used for sandwiches!).

Homemade Sandwich Bread Recipe & Tutorial

Ingredients:

Individual Pack of Instant Yeast or 2 1/4 tsps of yeast

2 cups of warm water

1 Tbsp granulated sugar

1/4 cup of butter, melted

2 tsp salt

5 1/4 cups of all purpose flour

Tip: I prefer to use individual packets of yeast. I find that they stay fresher than an open jar of yeast. The price isn’t that much of a difference and you are much more likely to be successful.

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In a large bowl, combine yeast and warm water. Stir until mixed and all lumps are gone. Add sugar, stir and set aside for 5 minutes.

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Melt butter in the microwave. Tip: I like to melt the butter until almost (but not all) is melted. Then stir so that it all melts. This keeps it from getting too hot. If you put really hot butter into your yeast/water mixture, you could kill your yeast.Add butter and salt to water mixture and stir.

Measure your 5 1/4 cups of flour into a bowl. Spoon the flour into your measuring cup and level off with a knife. Do NOT scoop the flour out with your measuring cup.

Add 1/3 of the flour to your water mixture and mix well. Add another third (maybe a bit more) and stir again.

Pour the remaining flour on your counter and spread it out (but leave a thick layer of flour). Pour your bread dough onto the flour.

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Set timer for 15 mnutes. This is VERY important because though you think you will know when it is that long, you won’t. Kneading dough is harder than you think and I guarantee that you will think it is done before it is. Set a timer. Just do it.

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Knead dough for 15 minutes, incorporating the remaining flour. If your dough is still super sticky, you can add a little additional. Be careful, though, because you do not want your dough to be too dry. As you knead, it will come together into a stretchy dough that will make a nice ball. Picture above is after kneading for 15 minutes.

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Spray a large bowl with cooking spray and add your dough ball. Cover with plastic wrap that you have also sprayed. Let rise for 1 hour.

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Lightly flour your counter and knead dough for 5 minutes (set a timer). Put back in your rising bowl and let rise for another hour. (After an hour, it should look like the picture above again).

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Split dough in half and place in two buttered loaf pans. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 45 minutes.

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Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bake loaves for 25 minutes and check. They should be golden brown on top and sound hollow when you tap them.

Turn the loaves out onto a wire cooling rack and cool completely. We keep one out for eating (store in a ziplock bag) and I wrap the other in waxed paper and aluminum foil and freeze for later. When you are ready to use it, just take it out of the freezer and allow to thaw on the counter. It will be just like a fresh loaf once thawed.

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Enjoy!

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Yield: 24 slices

Homemade Sandwich Bread Recipe & Tutorial

Prep Time: 3 hours

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 3 hours 30 minutes

Want to try your hand at making bread but afraid it won't work? Check out this delicious homemade sandwich bread recipe.

Ingredients

  • Individual Pack of Instant Yeast or 2 1/4 tsps of yeast
  • 2 cups warm water
  • 1 Tbsp granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup butter, melted
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 5 1/4 cups all purpose flour

Instructions

  1. Mix yeast with 2 cups of warm (not hot) water. Stir until mixed and there are no lumps. Add sugar and stir. Set aside for 5 minutes.
  2. Add melted butter (not too hot!) and salt. Mix well.
  3. Measure your flour out into a separate bowl. Add 1/3 to the water mixture. Mix well. Add another third (maybe a bit more) and mix well.
  4. Spread remaining flour onto your counter/kneading surface. Leave a thick layer of flour. Dump dough onto flour.
  5. Set timer for 15 minutes. Knead dough for 15 minutes while incorporating the remaining flour.
  6. Spray large bowl with cooking spray and add your kneaded dough. Cover with sprayed plastic wrap and let rise for 1 hour.
  7. After 1 hour, turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 minutes (using timer). Return to rising bowl, cover and rise for another hour.
  8. Split risen dough in half and place in two 9.25X5.25X2.75 inch loaf pans. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 45 minutes.
  9. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
  10. Bake loaves for 25 minutes and then check adding additional time if needed. Loaves are done when they are golden brown on the top and sound hollow when tapped.
  11. Turn loaves out onto a cooling rack and cool completely.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

24
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 118Saturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 211mgCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 2g

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Homemade Sandwich Bread Recipe & Tutorial (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to making homemade bread? ›

12 tips for making perfect bread
  1. Use the right yeast. ...
  2. Store your yeast properly. ...
  3. Treat salt with care. ...
  4. Take your time. ...
  5. Try different flours. ...
  6. Consider vitamin C. ...
  7. Practice makes perfect. ...
  8. Don't prove for too long.

What is the difference between sandwich bread and regular bread? ›

The only difference between a 'sandwich' loaf and an ordinary loaf is its shape. A sandwich loaf usually has a 'square' section. This gives the sandwich an even shape where both ends of the sandwich are the same shape. A loaf with a domed top will give you a 'lop-sided' sandwich.

Is it worth making your own sandwich bread? ›

Homemade bread is also made with more nutritious ingredients and is healthier and better-tasting than store-bought loaves. But buying store-bought bread may be more cost-effective than making it yourself if you just need one loaf of super basic, plain sandwich bread for breakfast or lunch.

Why do you put vinegar in homemade bread? ›

And It's not just cakes that benefit from a touch of vinegar, but also biscuits, muffins, and even bread. So when it comes to bread, it's the same concept – vinegar inhibits gluten formation which leads to a more relaxed and extensible dough, resulting in a less dense and chewy bread.

What ingredient makes bread soft and fluffy? ›

Milk powder.

Instant milk powder makes bread dough super soft and fluffy and also helps to give it a good rise. It also contributes to the dough staying nice and soft after baking for a little longer than a recipe that does not use milk powder.

What is the best sandwich bread? ›

The Best Breads for Sandwiches
  1. Sourdough. Sourdough bread is a classic choice for sandwiches, known for its tangy flavor, chewy texture, and crispy crust. ...
  2. Whole Grain. Whole grain bread is a nutritious and hearty option for sandwiches, packed with fiber, vitamins, and minerals. ...
  3. Multigrain. ...
  4. Ciabatta. ...
  5. Rye. ...
  6. Brioche. ...
  7. Baguette.
Mar 11, 2024

Is sandwich bread rich dough or lean dough? ›

Buttery brioche, mouth-watering cinnamon buns, and pillowy-soft challah — rich yeasted breads are what Sunday brunches and lazy mornings were made for. As opposed to lean doughs (like sandwich bread), rich doughs contain much higher amounts of sugar, eggs, and dairy.

Is it cheaper to buy bread or make your own? ›

While it's not cheaper, there are other benefits to baking your own. After factoring in the time involved, it's clear that baking bread at home is unlikely to be economical, especially if you're happy with a $2 sandwich loaf from the supermarket. However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't give it a go.

Why does my homemade sandwich bread fall apart? ›

Too much flour and not enough water can cause crumbly bread – people often do this if the dough is too sticky and they add more flour rather than kneading through it. Other culprits can be overproving or not kneading enough – the things you need to do to get a good structure.

Why is homemade bread so much better than store-bought? ›

That said, most homemade breads are likely healthier than store-bought breads, which are often high in sugar and preservatives. One benefit of making your own bread is that you can control the ingredients. For example, you can use whole wheat flour instead of white flour, or add healthy toppings like nuts and seeds.

What is another name for sandwich bread? ›

Sandwich bread (also referred to as pan bread, loaf bread, or sandwich loaf) is bread that is prepared specifically to be used for the preparation of sandwiches. Sandwich breads are produced in many varieties, such as white, whole wheat, sourdough, rye, multigrain and others.

Why is store-bought bread so soft? ›

Many of these breads, especially packaged ones, are made with a ton of chemical additives such as calcium propionate, amylase, and chlorine dioxide which help keep them soft, light, and fluffy for days.

What are the 2 things every sandwich has in common? ›

According to Merriam Webster Dictionary a sandwich is:
  • a: two or more slices of bread or a split roll having a filling in between.
  • b: one slice of bread covered with food.

What makes homemade bread better? ›

That said, most homemade breads are likely healthier than store-bought breads, which are often high in sugar and preservatives. One benefit of making your own bread is that you can control the ingredients. For example, you can use whole wheat flour instead of white flour, or add healthy toppings like nuts and seeds.

What makes homemade bread light and fluffy? ›

Adding sugar weakens the gluten structure, absorbs water, and eventually makes the bread lighter and softer. As a result, sugar improves the bread's taste, structure and texture. Yeast also eats up sugar to produce carbon dioxide, which raises the dough and makes bread fluffy.

What causes homemade bread not to rise? ›

Yeast is too hot Yeast may have been dissolved in water that was too hot, or the liquid ingredients in the recipe may be too hot, causing the yeast to die. Yeast needs to be warm - not too hot, not too cold. Yeast is too cold If the other ingredients are too cold, it could cause some of the yeast to die.

What gives homemade bread its flavor? ›

Sweeteners such as malt and honey are used to add flavor to bread dough. Malt, which is available in powder and liquid form, can be added to almost any bread. It's important to use a nondiastatic version, though, as diastatic malt has active enzymes, which, in excess, will make dough extremely sticky.

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