Here’s a simple and soft sandwich bread recipe — perfect for toast, sandwiches, or just slathering with butter. It uses basic pantry ingredients and yields a fluffy, tender loaf with a golden crust.
🍞 Classic Homemade Sandwich Bread (1 Loaf)
📝 Ingredients
-
3 ½ cups all-purpose flour (or bread flour)
-
1 packet (2 ¼ tsp) active dry yeast
-
1 cup warm water (110°F / 43°C)
-
2 tbsp sugar (or honey)
-
2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
-
1 tsp salt
-
Optional: 2 tbsp milk (brushed on top before baking for a soft crust)
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Activate the Yeast
-
In a small bowl, combine:
-
1 cup warm water
-
2 tbsp sugar
-
Yeast
-
-
Let sit for 5–10 minutes until frothy and bubbly.
2. Mix the Dough
-
In a large bowl or stand mixer:
-
Add yeast mixture, butter, and salt.
-
Gradually add flour, 1 cup at a time.
-
Mix until dough pulls away from sides and is soft but not sticky (about 7–10 minutes of kneading).
-
3. First Rise
-
Place dough in a greased bowl, cover with a towel or plastic wrap.
-
Let rise in a warm place for 1–1.5 hours, or until doubled in size.
4. Shape the Loaf
-
Punch down the dough, then turn onto a lightly floured surface.
-
Shape into a log and place in a greased 9×5-inch loaf pan.
-
Cover and let rise again until doubled (about 30–45 minutes).
5. Bake
-
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
-
Optional: Brush the top with milk or melted butter.
-
Bake for 30–35 minutes, until golden brown and loaf sounds hollow when tapped.
-
Internal temp should be 190–200°F (88–93°C).
6. Cool
-
Remove from pan and cool on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes before slicing.
🧈 Tips & Variations
-
For Whole Wheat Bread: Replace 1–1½ cups of flour with whole wheat flour. Add 1 tbsp honey or molasses for moisture.
-
Make it Richer: Add ¼ cup milk powder or use warm milk instead of water.
-
Soft Crust: Wrap the warm loaf in a clean towel after baking to keep it extra soft.