Home Cooking Is Better

Sourdough sandwich bread consists of wild yeast fermentation and simple ingredients that transform bread into a tangy, chewy loaf that’s both wholesome and flavorful!

You’ll thank yourself for creating a homemade loaf of sourdough bread, instead of settling for plain white bread.

If you’ve ever taken the time to look at the ingredients in store-bought bread, whether white bread, wheat bread, or even some whole grain breads, there are still many ingredients that I’m sure you’d much rather pass on.

Eating sandwich bread with basic ingredients you can pronounce and know what they are such as butter or your choice of fat alternative, honey, sugar, or agave for a hint of sweetness, quality salt, water, milk or buttermilk, and flour.

You can try baking with a combination of all-purpose flour, wheat flour, or bread flour – there are almost endless variations!

Something as simple as baking sourdough sandwich bread in your kitchen will make you feel like a legit baker.

So, have fun with it!

Sourdough sandwich bread isn’t just about sustenance; it’s about connection to traditional bread making, to round out the taste of any classic sandwich.

Today, I’ll be sharing the step-by-step process for a very easy sourdough sandwich bread recipe.

Whether I’m making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, a turkey sandwich, or toast, sourdough sandwich bread goes well with it.

This is one of my favorite recipes because the process is so easy!

Using my KitchenAid mixer does make this process easier and reduces the kneading time.

A dough scrapper and bench scrapper can make the process smoother.

But those kitchen items are not mandatory for this sandwich bread loaf recipe.

Although, you do have to use either a meatloaf dish or a bread pan to give you your loaf-shaped bread.

Anyone new to sourdough bread baking can have successful results in no time with this recipe.

Sourdough Sandwich Bread

Eating a sandwich with sourdough bread may be a new concept for you and give you a bit of a different taste in sandwich bread than what you’re used to.

Therefore, I’m sharing some helpful things you should know about what makes sourdough sandwich bread different from traditional yeast bread.

1. Natural Fermentation: Sourdough sandwich bread is leavened through the natural fermentation of wild yeast (from your home’s atmosphere) and good bacteria present in a sourdough starter.
2. Distinct Flavor Profile: Sourdough has a slightly tangy flavor that sets it apart from regular sandwich bread, due to the lactic acid produced during fermentation.
3. Digestibility: The fermentation process breaks down gluten and phytic acid, potentially making sourdough easier to digest for some individuals who may usually struggle with gluten digestive issues.
4. Long History: Sourdough bread has a rich history dating back thousands of years! It’s fun to be able to pass these historical bread-baking skills along to your children.
5. Versatility: Sourdough sandwich bread can be made with various flours, such as whole wheat, einkorn, or spelt. Experimenting with different wheat berries can offer diverse flavors and added nutritional profiles.
6. No Commercial Yeast: Unlike non-sourdough bread, sourdough sandwich bread doesn’t require commercial yeast; instead, it relies on the naturally occurring microorganisms in the sourdough starter.
7. Prebiotic and Probiotics: Sourdough has health benefits due to its prebiotic and probiotic properties, which can support gut health.
8. Artisanal Craft: Making sourdough bread involves a slow fermentation process and often requires hands-on attention. Sourdough Bread baking embodies artistry and craftsmanship.

Soft Sourdough Sandwich Bread Tips

If you’ve been accustomed to the softness of store-bought bread you may desire the same results with your homemade sourdough bread.

Considering the work that goes into baking a homemade loaf of bread, it’s only natural to want your loaf of bread’s crumb to be not only delicious but fluffy and soft.

Once your loaf of bread is baked, you can eat a slice with butter, jelly, cheese, or soup and enjoy it just the same as anything you would typically buy from the store.

Except you know you are eating a much higher quality product.

Here are some tips to consider when baking your sandwich loaf.

Choosing the right flour can impact the texture of the bread dough.

for the fluffiest results, all-purpose flour is the best.

Using whole grains in a bread recipe will increase the nutrition, but it may slightly reduce the end result of a fluffier bread crumb.

Longer, slower fermentation at slightly lower temperatures can also promote a softer loft.

And one of the biggest mistakes to avoid is over-kneading the dough.

Over-kneading can develop too much gluten and result in a tougher texture.

After you’re done baking your bread allow the bread to cool completely on a wire rack.

This prevents trapped moisture from making the crust soggy and ensures an even distribution of moisture throughout the loaf.

Giving you a soft, chewy sandwich loaf to slice into.

Sandwich Sourdough Bread Recipe

Here’s everything you need to get started baking your sourdough sandwich loaf!

TOOLS:

• Stand mixer
• Bread loaf pan
• Food scale (optional)
• Parchment paper (optional)

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 3 tablespoons honey or agave
• 1 tablespoon salt
• *220 grams active bubbly sourdough starter or 1 cup sourdough starter
• 2 1/2 cups buttermilk
• 8 cups all-purpose flour

INSTRUCTIONS:

Add the butter, honey, salt, sourdough starter, buttermilk, and flour to the stand mixer.

Knead the dough until it is smooth, stretchy and glossy. You will know the dough is ready when it passes the windowpane test. (This means when you pull or thin out a section of the dough it does not easily rip, but thins out for you to be able to see through it.)

Remove the dough from the stand mixer, form it into a large ball, and place it into a large lightly greased bowl.

Allow the dough to rise for 10 hours.

Gently punch down the center of the risen dough and remove it from the greased bowl. Divide into two equal parts.

Shape each section into a rectangle, fold in each of the long sides first, then roll into a loaf from the top of the smaller end. Pinch along the seams.

Lightly grease the bread loaf pan or add parchment paper to the bread pan.

Add the shaped dough to each bread pan.

Allow the dough to rise for 4 hours. (Or, until doubled in size. It’s okay if the bread rises above the rim of the bread loaf pan.)

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.

Use egg whites to make an eggwash, and brush the top of the risen bread loaf.

Bake the loaves of bread for 45 minutes.

Allow to cool completely before cutting.

Sourdough Sandwich Loaf Questions

Is Sourdough bread good for sandwiches?

Yes! Sourdough bread will elevate any typical sandwich with its familiar tang and additional health benefits it will add. Sourdough can be shaped into a loaf or boule which can easily be sliced for sandwich making.

How do you roll sourdough?

Rolling or shaping sourdough is very simple. First, flatten out the dough into a flat rectangle. Fold in the longer sides first into the center and pinch along the seams. Then fold over the top and roll into a mini bread loaf.

How long does homemade sourdough sandwich bread last?

3-5 days is the typical time frame for homemade bread to last. Storing bread in a proper breadbox may also help preserve its freshness.

For longer-term storage, you can freeze sourdough sandwich bread.

Slice the loaf, wrap each slice or portion tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, and place them in a freezer bag.

Frozen sourdough bread can last for several months in the freezer.

To thaw, leave the desired number of slices at room temperature for a few hours or reheat them in a toaster or oven.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:

Sourdough Blueberry Waffles

Our Daily Bread: The Weston A. Price Foundation’s article about the history of sourdough along with its benefits.