Best Sourdough Sandwich Bread (Same Day Recipe)

Soft and chewy this sourdough sandwich bread is made with just six ingredients!

With a tiny bit of natural honey, this bread will become a staple for your sandwiches from now on.

Have you ever realized how easy it is to make your own bread? Because you will now!

This sourdough bread is easy to throw together though it does need time to rise.

It comes out with a chewy and slightly sweet texture that’s worth waiting for.

You’ll fall in love with this recipe because:

• There’s no preservatives or additives in it.
• You don’t need any commercial yeast to make the recipe.
• It makes your house smell amazing.
• The bread makes everything on it taste better.
• It’s a healthier alternative for you and your family.

You don’t have to wait till the next day to enjoy it. This bread is made all in the same day as long as you already have an active starter.

If you like this recipe here are a few other sourdough recipes to try.

• Homemade Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls (soft fluffy buns)
• Sandwich Rosemary Sourdough Bread Recipe
• Easy Discard Sourdough Crackers Recipe With Herbs

Sourdough Sandwich Bread Recipe Simple Ingredients:

Sourdough starter: make sure that your sourdough is alive well, and slightly bubbly. This will make your bread rise that much better. If you do not use an active starter you will not get fluffy bread.

All-purpose flour: any brand here should work. Just make sure not to use gluten-free flour as it absorbs too much liquid.

Water: keep the water at room temperature so that the dough rises properly. Otherwise, it can affect your cooking time.

Avocado oil: any neutral-tasting oil should work in its place, but avocado oil is the most stable at high heat. Make sure not to use coconut oil as it’s texture changes with the temperature.

Raw honey: using local raw honey will give this sourdough bread the best flavor. Keep in mind that this is used to cut back on the slightly bitter taste of sourdough so don’t omit it.

Salt: not only does this help with the texture of the bread but also the flavor.

How To Make Soft Sourdough Sandwich Bread

1. In a large bowl mix together the water, honey, and sourdough starter until blended.
2. Let it rest in the bowl for 5-10 minutes.
3. Add in the oil and mix well.
4. Add in the flour and salt and mix until blended fully.
5. Cover the large mixing bowl with plastic wrap or lid and let the dough sit for 30 minutes for the first rise and bulk fermentation.
6. Over the next two hours, work in 4 stretch and folds letting the dough rest between each stretch.
7. Grease a 12x 4.5-inch loaf pan.
8. 30 minutes after your last stretch, shape the dough to fit the pan.
9. Cover the pan and let the dough rise in a warm place for 2-4 hours until the dough reaches the top.
10. After the bulk rise, preheat the oven to 390F and bake for 45-55 minutes.
11. Remove from the oven and let cool for 2 hours on a cooling rack.

How To Do A Stretch & Fold

A stretch and fold is what’s used to replace any kind kneading in the dough.

This is particularly done with sourdough bread because it helps activate the gluten in the recipe and makes the dough more pliable.

Without a stretch and fold you could end up with dough that doesn’t hold its shape well.

How to do it:

1. With your fingertips, grab some of the dough and lightly pull (stretch) it upward.
2. Fold the dough over itself toward the center of the bowl.
3. Turn the bowl clockwise a bit and repeat.

Know that having slightly wet hands can help with the stretch and fold so that the dough doesn’t stick. It is not recommended that you turn this out on a lightly floured surface at the time of streach and folds.

You’ll need to do this a few times during the resting time of the sourdough sandwich bread but make sure to give the dough time to sit between stretches.

Important Teaching Tips

When you mix the water, honey, and starter it should look like milky water. Otherwise, you haven’t mixed enough.

The sourdough bread recipe makes either one 12×4.5-inch loaf or two 8.5×4.5 loaves. Make sure you grease the bread pans very well so that the bread slides out easily.

Make sure to wait a full thirty minutes after the last stretch and fold before putting the dough into the pan. Otherwise, it may not be as big as it could be.

While the dough is rising before you bake it, keep it in a warm area (not in a cool cupboard). The cooler it is the longer it will take to rise. You know it’s ready when it reaches the top of the pan.

The sourdough sandwich bread should reach an internal temperature of 200F and look golden brown when you remove it from the oven.

However, take care not to slice it immediately. Instead, let it cool fully on a rack for two hours. Otherwise, your bread won’t be as firm, and you’ll tear it.

What To Use It For

Though the name states it’s for sandwiches, this sourdough bread can really be used for anything.

One of the best parts of this bread is that on its own it’s delicious but its subtle enough that it won’t detract from other ingredients either.

Some of our favorite ways to enjoy it are:

• Avocado toast
• Egg sandwiches
• Dipped into chili.
• Toasted, sliced, and topped with bruschetta.
• French Toast
• Old-fashioned peanut butter and jelly!

Frequently Asked Questions About Sourdough Sandwich Bread

Q. What makes sourdough bread different than regular bread?

A. Sourdough bread is made with an active sourdough starter. This means that it rises naturally as a result of gasses being produced during fermentation process from wild yeast. This also means that it tends to be easier to digest than traditional bread. Making homemade sourdough bread a great choice for home bakers.

Q. How do you store sourdough bread?

A. Sourdough sandwich bread is best stored wrapped in some cling wrap or a breadbox. Make sure to wait until the loaf is completely cool before wrapping it. Afterwards, it should last four to five days on the counter.

Q. Can you freeze sourdough sandwich bread?

A. Yes! You can freeze sourdough bread either sliced or whole. To freeze it, wrap it in cling wrap or pop it into a freezer safe bag and remove as much air as possible. In the freezer it should last about three months. To enjoy it, let it thaw in the fridge until ready to slice.

Q. Are sourdough bread recipes as soft as store-bought bread?

A. No. While this is the best sourdough sandwich bread I have had and it is pretty soft, it will never be as soft as pre-made grocery store white bread.

Q. Why is my loaf so hard when removed from the oven?

A. When you first remove it from the oven it is normal for it to feel really hard to the touch. As it cools it will turn into soft bread as long as you do not cut the loaf of bread when it is hot.