Homemade Sandwich Bread Recipe (Soft, Easy & Perfect for Beginners)

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There is something incredibly satisfying about baking your own sandwich bread! The smell that fills the house, the simple ingredients, and knowing exactly what goes into each loaf makes it so worth the little bit of extra time.

If you've never made bread before, don't worry, this recipe is beginner friendly and has become one of my favorite staples for our home. It is soft enough for sandwiches, sturdy enough for toast, and freezes beautifully if you want to make extra to plan ahead! This specific recipe yields 1 loaf of bread, but it can easily be adjusted according to your needs!

Why I Love Homemade Bread

Store bought bread often contains preservatives, dough conditioners, and a long list of ingredients that make it a highly processed item. While not every ingredient is necessarily harmful, It gives me peace of mind that I can significantly reduce the amount of ingredients when making it from scratch at home!

Making bread at home lets me:

• Control the ingredients

• Avoid unnecessary preservatives

• Save money over time

• Enjoy fresh bread whenever I want

• Fill my home with the best smell imaginable

Ingredients You will Need (For 1 Loaf)

• 1 cup warm water (about 110 degrees F)

• 1/4 cup warm whole milk (about 110 degrees F)

• 2 tablespoons sugar or honey

• 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (or one standard packet)

• 4 tablespoons softened butter

• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt

• 3 1/3 cup bread flour (or all-purpose flour)

Instructions

Step 1: In a large bowl or stand mixer, combine the warm water, milk, sugar or honey, and yeast. Let sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy.

Step 2: Into the yeast mixture add softened butter, salt, and 1 cup of flour. Stir to combine (about 30 seconds if using a stand mixer). There will still be chunks of butter that have not yet fully incorporated.

Step 3: Add in another cup of flour and stir until just combined. Then add the remaining flour and mix until a soft dough forms. (The dough should come away from the sides of the bowl or stand mixer but be slightly tacky to the touch. Refrain from adding in too much extra flour so that the loaf does not become too dry.)

Step 4: Knead for 8-10 minutes by hand or about 5-7 minutes if using a stand mixer, until the dough becomes smooth and elastic. You can also see if your dough passes the windowpane test to ensure proper gluten structure.

Step 5: Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for about 1 to 2 hours or until doubled in size.

Step 6: Punch down the dough and roll out on a lightly floured or greased surface into a rectangle roughly the width of your loaf pan.

Step 7: Shape the loaf by tightly rolling into a log and pinching the seams closed. Place into your greased loaf pan, cover and let rise again for 30-45 minutes or until the dough rises about an inch above the pan.

Step 8: Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until it reaches an internal temperature of 190 to 200 degrees. The loaf should be nice and golden brown!

Step 9: Remove the loaf from the pan immediately and place on a wire rack to cool completely.

Tips for the Best Bread

• Using bread flour creates a slightly chewier loaf and better mouthfeel, but all-purpose flour works just as well!

• Avoid adding too much flour, a slightly tacky dough produces a softer loaf.

• Let the bread cool completely before slicing to keep the texture light and fluffy, no matter how hard this is to resist!

• Store in an airtight container or bread bag to keep fresh.

Can You Freeze Homemade Bread?

Absolutely! Once the loaf has cooled completely, wrap it tightly in a double layer of plastic wrap or reusable freezer-safe bag. It will stay fresh for up to 3 months.

For easy lunches, slice the loaf before freezing so you can quickly grab only what you need!

My favorite Ways to Use my Homemade Bread

• Sandwiches

• Avocado Toast

• French Toast

• Grilled Cheese

• Simply toasted and buttered!

Tools I Use

If you are planning to bake bread regularly, these are the tools I love and reach for most often:

• Stand Mixer

• 9x5-inch loaf pans

• Cooling racks

• Beeswax-Lined Cotton Bread Bags

Take Away

Homemade sandwich bread is one of those simple skills that feels intimidating at first but quickly becomes like second nature! And it is truly so worth it to work it into your weekly routine!

Whether you're trying to simplify your home, spend less at the grocery store, or simply enjoy baking from scratch, this recipe is a wonderful place to start. Happy baking!