Easy Same Day Sourdough Sandwich Bread Recipe

A tasty sourdough sandwich bread to have on hand for a quick sandwich or avocado toast. It is made with bread flour, starter, honey, olive oil, salt, and warm water.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Ready the same day. I love that I can start this bread in the morning (like 9am) and have it ready by 5pm for dinner. Who doesn't love a fresh loaf of bread?

Freezable. Double the batch and freeze the second loaf for a quick meal on hand.

Great quick meal. Make a sandwich on the go or a yummy avocado toast for breakfast. A perfect, soft sourdough bread to make any meal taste delicious and healthy.

Ingredients Needed

Warm water. The water temperature should be around 100-120°F. This will help with the dough's rise.

Starter. A fresh bubbly starter or discard will work for this recipe. I always use a fresh starter as I use my starter often and have it ready to use all the time. If you would like to learn how to make a starter at home, here is a great recipe.

Bread Flour. I use bread flour for this recipe. My favorite brand is King Arthur Bread Flour.

Honey. Adding honey to sourdough gives a bit of quality sweetness to the bread without overpowering it.

Olive oil. Give the bread a touch of oil to make it soft and chewy, adding moisture to the dough.

How to Make Sourdough Sandwich Bread

Here are step-by-step instructions for making the sourdough sandwich bread recipe.

Step 1: Add the warm water, oil, honey, and starter to a bowl. Mix using a dough whisk.

Step 2: Add the flour and salt and incorporate them into the wet ingredients until combined. This will take a few minutes, so be patient.

Tip on mixing the dough: Using the dough whisk, scrape the dough from the sides of the bowl into the center. Turn the bowl and repeat until all the ingredients are mixed well.

Step 3: Cover the bowl loosely with plastic wrap. Grab another smaller bowl. Pour the hottest tap water from your sink ¾ full. Place the dough bowl on top of the smaller bowl to create a natural warmer from underneath so the dough can rise. Allow to rise for one hour.

Step 4: Remove the dough bowl from the water warmer bowl. Wet your hand with water, then fold the dough four times into a square. Pull all the way across to the other side.

Step 5: Refill the water in the warmer bowl to the hottest tap water from your sink, and set the dough to rest for 30 minutes. Repeat step 4 and 5 two more times. So, you will fold the dough a total of three times.

Step 6: After the third fold, set the covered dough bowl on the refilled hot tap water bowl and allow to rise for 3 to 4 hours. The dough should double in size of close to it.

Step 7: Prepare the loaf pan by lining with parchment paper (easiest way) or oiling the pan. You can also get these loaf pan liners to ensure your bread doesn't stick to the pan.

Step 8: Oil or flour the surface you will be using to shape the dough. Remove the dough from the bowl and flatten it into a rectangular shape, with the long side horizontal on the table in front of you. Fold each side into the middle of the dough, then roll it into a log. Scoop the dough toward you to seal the seam at the bottom.

Step 9: Once the dough is shaped, place the seam side down in the pan, cover loosely with plastic wrap, and set it on a refilled hot water bowl for 1 hour, or until the dough has risen to slowly peak over the rim of the pan.

Step 10: Preheat the oven to 375°F, then bake the bread uncovered for 35-40 minutes, or until the top is a beautiful golden brown.

Step 11: Remove from the pan and allow to cool on a cooling rack. While the bread is on the cooling rack, take a stick of butter and gently rub the top of the bread with it. This will help soften the crust and give the bread a warm, buttery flavor. Cool the bread for at least 20 minutes before slicing.

Step 12: This is the very best step of the process, but here is where you slice the bread and enjoy! I love using this electric serrated knife. You can slice the pieces very thinly and evenly for sandwiches, without losing too much of the bread to crumbs.

What to Make with Sourdough Sandwich Bread

This sourdough sandwich bread is so versatile and can be used in so many ways.

• Peanut Butter Jelly Sandwich - a quick lunch for the kids to have at school.
• Broccoli Tuna Salad - grab a slice of bread to balance out the meal.
• Mediterranean Chicken Salad - a slice of bread to make this chicken salad pop.
• Broccoli Cheddar Soup - just like you would have at Panera Bread, but 100 times tastier and healthier.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long to bake sourdough sandwich bread?

Bake the bread for about 35-40 minutes. Your bread will be golden brown on the top. If you like your bread a little darker, bake an extra 5-7 minutes.

How to make bread with a soft crunch?

Bake the sourdough sandwich bread for 5-7 minutes longer. Skip buttering the top of the loaf for a crunchier crust.

Can I freeze sourdough bread?

Yes! This is a great way to meal prep and have a quality loaf of bread on hand, and it won't cost $5 to make either. Wrap the bread in plastic wrap several times and freeze it up to 3 months.

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