Elevated Sourdough Sandwich Loaf Recipe
There’s nothing better than the smell of fresh sourdough sandwich bread filling the kitchen 🍞✨ This soft and fluffy loaf has the perfect balance of rich sourdough flavor and classic buttery sandwich bread texture. It slices beautifully, stays soft for days, and works perfectly for toast, grilled cheese, or everyday sandwiches.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
✔ Soft and fluffy crumb
✔ Rich buttery flavor
✔ Easy to slice for sandwiches
✔ Naturally fermented sourdough goodness
✔ Better than store-bought bread
Ingredients
For the Dough
- 500g bread flour (or all-purpose flour)
- 100g active sourdough starter
- 250ml warm milk
- 30g softened butter
- 25g sugar or honey
- 10g salt
Instructions
Step 1: Mix the Dough
In a large bowl, combine the active sourdough starter, warm milk, and sugar or honey. Stir until smooth.
Add the flour and mix until a rough shaggy dough forms. Add the salt and softened butter.
Knead the dough for 8–10 minutes until smooth, soft, and elastic.
💡 Tip: The dough may feel sticky at first — avoid adding too much extra flour.
Step 2: Bulk Fermentation
Transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl and cover.
Let it ferment in a warm place for 4–6 hours.
During the first 2 hours, perform 2–3 stretch-and-folds every 30–45 minutes to strengthen the dough.
The dough should become airy, smoother, and slightly puffed.
Step 3: Shape the Loaf
Lightly grease your surface and shape the dough into a rectangle.
Roll it tightly into a log and pinch the seam closed.
Place seam-side down into a greased loaf pan or Pullman pan.
Step 4: Final Proof
Cover and let the loaf rise for another 2–4 hours until the dough rises just above the edge of the pan.
✨ Proper proofing gives the loaf a soft fluffy crumb and better oven spring.
Step 5: Bake
Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).
Bake for 30–35 minutes until golden brown.
The loaf should sound hollow when tapped.
If using a Pullman pan with a lid, bake with the lid on for a classic square loaf.
Step 6: Cool
Remove the loaf from the pan immediately and cool completely on a wire rack before slicing.
This helps prevent gummy bread and keeps the texture perfect.
Pro Tips
- Use a bubbly active starter for the best rise
- Milk creates a softer richer loaf
- Butter keeps the bread tender longer
- Cold proof overnight for deeper flavor
- Tight shaping helps create taller sandwich bread
Perfect Serving Ideas
🥪 Sandwiches
🧄 Garlic bread
🧈 Buttered toast
🧀 Grilled cheese
🍓 Jam toast
🥑 Avocado toast
🍞 French toast
FAQ
Why is my loaf dense?
Usually because the starter wasn’t active enough or the dough needed more proofing time.
Can I use water instead of milk?
Yes! Water works fine, but milk makes the loaf softer and richer.
How do I store it?
Keep it in an airtight bread bag or container at room temperature for best freshness.
Final Thoughts
This Elevated Sourdough Sandwich Loaf is soft, fluffy, flavorful, and perfect for everyday baking. Once you taste homemade sourdough sandwich bread this fresh and buttery, store-bought bread just doesn’t compare ❤️🍞
