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Soft Sourdough Sandwich Bread for Easy Lunches

Close-up of the interior crumb of a freshly baked soft sourdough sandwich bread loaf.
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Bake a soft sourdough loaf pan bread with a fine, pillowy crumb perfect for daily sandwiches. This beginner sourdough recipe uses honey for natural sweetness.

Ingredients

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  • 100g active sourdough starter (100% hydration)
  • 350g warm water
  • 500g bread flour
  • 10g fine sea salt
  • 30g honey
  • 20g unsalted butter, softened

Instructions

  1. Mix the active starter, warm water, and honey in a large bowl until combined.
  2. Add the bread flour and salt to the wet ingredients. Mix by hand until a shaggy dough forms and no dry flour remains.
  3. Cover the bowl and let the dough rest for 30 minutes (autolyse).
  4. Perform four sets of stretch and folds every 30 minutes. After the fourth set, incorporate the softened butter by gently folding it into the dough until it is fully absorbed.
  5. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and allow it to bulk ferment at room temperature until it has increased in volume by about 50% (this may take 3-5 hours depending on your kitchen temperature).
  6. Gently shape the dough into a tight log.
  7. Place the shaped dough seam-side down into a lightly greased 9×5 inch loaf pan.
  8. Cover the pan and let the dough proof at room temperature until the dough has risen about 1 inch above the rim of the pan (final proof, about 1-2 hours).
  9. Preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C) with a rack in the lower third position.
  10. Bake the bread for 20 minutes at 450°F (232°C). Reduce the oven temperature to 375°F (190°C) and continue baking for another 20-25 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 205°F (96°C).
  11. Remove the bread from the pan immediately and cool completely on a wire rack before slicing.

Notes

  • For a softer crust, lightly brush the top of the loaf with melted butter immediately after removing it from the oven.
  • Use a high-protein bread flour to achieve the best structure for this soft sourdough crumb.
  • If your kitchen is cold, place the dough in a slightly warm spot, like inside an oven with only the light on, to encourage fermentation.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://pureplatepath.com/soft-sourdough-sandwich-bread/