How to Make Perfect Homemade Sandwich Bread
There’s nothing quite like a loaf of homemade bread fresh out of the oven. And once you realize how simple it can be to make your own, it’s hard to go back.
This homemade sandwich bread is soft, fluffy, and made with simple ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen. It’s perfect for sandwiches, toast, grilled cheese, or just eating warm with a little butter.
If you’ve never made bread from scratch before, this is a great recipe to start with. You don’t need any fancy bread-making skills, and most of the time is simply letting the dough rise.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This is the kind of everyday bread I love having in our kitchen. It’s simple enough to make regularly, but there’s still something really special about pulling a fresh loaf out of the oven.
It’s:
- Soft and fluffy
- Made with simple ingredients
- Naturally sweetened with honey
- Beginner-friendly
- Perfect for sandwiches and toast
- Easy to make with or without a stand mixer
- Freezer-friendly
Ingredients You’ll Need
Warm water: Aim for about 100–110°F. Warm water helps activate the yeast, but you don’t want it so hot that it damages it.
Honey: Gives the yeast something to feed on while adding just a touch of sweetness.
Active dry yeast: You’ll need 2¼ teaspoons, which is the same amount as one standard packet.
All-purpose flour: Regular all-purpose flour makes a soft everyday sandwich loaf.
Milk: Helps create a softer, richer loaf.
Avocado oil or olive oil: Either works. You’ll need 2 tablespoons.
Salt: Don’t skip it! Salt is important for both the flavor and the dough.
Butter, optional: You can brush a little melted butter over the loaf after baking if you want an extra-soft crust.
How to Make Homemade Sandwich Bread
Activate the Yeast
Add the warm water and honey to a small bowl and stir together. Sprinkle in the active dry yeast, gently stir, and let it sit for about 5–10 minutes, or until it becomes foamy.
Make the Dough
Add the flour, milk, oil, and salt to the bowl of a stand mixer or a large mixing bowl.
Pour in the yeast mixture and mix until everything comes together into a dough.
Knead
Knead the dough by hand or with a dough hook until it becomes smooth and is no longer overly sticky.
Try not to add too much extra flour while kneading. A softer dough helps give you a softer loaf.
Let It Rise
Lightly oil a large bowl and shape the dough into a ball. Place it in the bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm spot for about 1 to 1½ hours, or until doubled in size.
Shape the Loaf
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and gently deflate it.
Shape it into a loaf and place it into a greased 9 × 5-inch loaf pan.
Let It Rise Again
Cover and allow the dough to rise again until it domes about 1 inch above the top of the pan.
Toward the end of the second rise, preheat your oven to 375°F.
Bake
Bake for about 30 minutes, or until the loaf is golden brown and baked through.
If you’d like a softer crust, brush the top with a little melted butter while the loaf is still warm. This is completely optional.
Allow the bread to cool before slicing.
Tips for the Best Homemade Sandwich Bread
Watch the dough instead of the clock. Rise times can change depending on how warm your kitchen is. You’re looking for the dough to double during the first rise rather than hitting an exact number of minutes.
Don’t add too much flour. Your dough should be soft. Adding too much flour can leave you with a dense or dry loaf.
Make sure your yeast activates. You should see some foaming after it sits in the warm water and honey. If nothing happens, I would start again with fresh yeast.
Let the loaf cool before slicing. I know it’s tempting, but slicing while it’s piping hot can affect the texture inside.
How to Store Homemade Bread
Allow the loaf to cool completely before storing it.
Store your homemade sandwich bread in an airtight container or bread bag at room temperature. Because homemade bread doesn’t contain the preservatives found in many store-bought breads, it’s best enjoyed within a few days.
Can You Freeze Homemade Sandwich Bread?
Yes! Homemade bread freezes really well.
Allow the loaf to cool completely first. You can freeze the loaf whole, but I prefer slicing it before freezing. Then you can pull out individual slices whenever you need them instead of thawing the entire loaf.
Homemade Sandwich Bread
Soft and fluffy homemade sandwich bread made with simple ingredients and naturally sweetened with honey. An easy beginner-friendly bread recipe for sandwiches, toast, and more.
Ingredients
- ¾ cup warm water (100–110°F)
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup milk
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil or olive oil
- 2 teaspoons salt
- Olive oil or cooking spray, for greasing
- Melted butter for brushing, optional
Instructions
- Stir together the warm water and honey. Add the yeast, gently stir, and let sit for 5–10 minutes, until foamy.
- Add the flour, milk, oil, and salt to a stand mixer or large mixing bowl. Pour in the yeast mixture and mix until a dough forms.
- Knead by hand or with a dough hook until smooth and no longer overly sticky.
- Lightly oil a large bowl. Shape the dough into a ball, place it inside, cover, and let it rise in a warm spot for 1 to 1½ hours, or until doubled in size.
- Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and gently deflate it. Shape into a loaf.
- Grease a 9 × 5-inch loaf pan and place the dough inside. Cover and let rise again until it domes about 1 inch above the top of the pan.
- Toward the end of the second rise, preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Bake for about 30 minutes, until golden brown and baked through.
- If desired, brush the warm loaf with melted butter for a softer crust.
- Allow to cool before slicing.
Homemade Sandwich Bread FAQs
Do I have to use a stand mixer?
No. You can mix and knead this bread completely by hand.
Do I have to brush the bread with butter after baking?
No. It’s completely optional. Butter will give you a softer crust, while leaving it off gives the loaf a slightly firmer crust.
Why didn’t my bread rise?
The most common culprit is the yeast. Make sure your yeast is fresh and your water is warm, but not hot. A cold kitchen can also make dough take longer to rise.
Can I freeze it?
Yes. Let the loaf cool completely, then freeze it whole or sliced.
What size loaf pan should I use?
A standard 9 × 5-inch loaf pan works well for this recipe.
