How to Make Soft Sourdough Sandwich Bread at Home

Sourdough Sandwich Bread Recipe – A Family Favorite

Sourdough Sandwich Bread

Ingredients:

Pre-Ferment

· 1 cup sourdough starter needs to have doubled, but can be falling and needing to be fed, it does not need to be at ‘optimal bread baking state’

· 1 cup warm water

· 1 1/3 cups of all-purpose flour

Instructions: for Pre ferment

1. Mix the pre-ferment 8-24 hours before you want to bake. Cover with plastic wrap or a plastic bag and let sit on the counter overnight.

Dough

· Pre-ferment from above

· 2 tablespoons of butter, coconut or olive oil

· 2 tablespoon honey sub 1 tablespoon honey for 1 tablespoon maple syrup or 2 tablespoon sugar

· 2 teaspoons salt

· 1 1/2 cups milk (save buttermilk from making butter for this if you have it!) sub nondairy milk or yogurt/cultured buttermilk watered down to milk consistency.

· 4.5-5.5 cups of all-purpose flour

· Butter to brush crust after baking

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Dough:

1. Melt butter, honey, and salt on low in a saucepan. When it’s melted and combined, turn off the heat, add your milk, and stir to combine. With a thermometer test the temperature of the mixture. It should be no more than 105F.

2. Add the warm liquid to your Bosch mixer or Kitchen Aid and add your pre-ferment.

3. Stir to combine; it’s not going to combine super well until you start adding flour.

4. Add your flour, starting on the low end, and mix the dough, ( I use the Kitchen aid for mixing and kneading it makes life much easier) adding more flour as needed just until it’s combined, but not a cohesive, nice dough.

5. Let it sit for 15-30 minutes, then knead the dough. For 10 minutes

6. If the dough sticks to the bowl or your hands, add a little more flour, but try not to add too much. It’s not a stiff dough; it’s on the softer side.

7. Cover your dough with plastic wrap and let rise 2-3 hours until doubled in size.

8. Punch your dough down, give it a few kneads. Yes, you are letting it rise twice before shaping.

9. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit 2-3 hours until it’s doubled again

10. To Shape your Loaf. Dump your dough onto a lightly floured counter, press out with your hands to make a rectangle roughly the size of your two hands flat, side by side (roughly 6″x10″). Fold the dough like you were folding a piece of paper to go in an envelope, flip seam side down and rest for 10 minutes.

11. This is called a bench rest or par-shape. It helps your dough keep its shape in the final shape and your loaf of bread will be taller.

12. After ten minutes, flip the dough seam side up, flatten out to the same size. This part is funny to describe but fold your rectangle so it’s now a triangle and then starting at the point of the triangle roll it inwards. When it’s all rolled up, tuck any non-conforming parts in to make it a good size to fit in your loaf pan. Pinch the seam together, flip the seam side down onto a piece of parchment paper. Pop it into your loaf pan.

13. Cover with a tea towel and let rise 2-3 hours, until it’s doubled

14. When it’s doubled and ready to bake preheat oven to 375F.

15. Slash the top of the dough with a sharp knife to allow for expansion.

16. Bake for 20 minutes, flip around and bake another 20 minutes (40 min total) check the internal temp of your loaves- this is the most reliable way to know your bread is ready. Your bread should be 190-200F, if not put it in for another 5 minutes.

17. When your bread is done, take it out of the oven, leave it in the loaf pan to cool, and brush butter on the top for a softer crust.

Everything you need to start your sourdough journey in one kit! This sourdough starter kit includes all the essentials perfect for beginners and seasoned bakers alike. Create delicious, homemade sourdough with ease!

Click on the links below to check out my other Sourdough posts!

Beginners guide to making Sourdough

Make Your Own Starter

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Have questions? Drop them in the comments below! Happy baking!

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