This sourdough sandwich bread recipe makes an amazingly super-soft bread that kids absolutely love. Once you make this easy no-knead sourdough bread recipe, buying it from the store will be a thing of the past!
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Why This Recipe for Sourdough Sandwich Bread Works
- It’s super soft inside and out – so everyone loves it!
Sourdough loaves typically have a crunchy, chewy exterior that some people (and kids) dislike. However, this recipe is baked in a loaf pan for a wonderfully light crust and soft interior. - There is no kneading required!
Since this is a no-knead bread recipe, there’s no worry about “Have I kneaded the dough enough?” The recipe is literally fail-proof. - It tastes like “regular” sandwich bread – without the “sour” taste.
Even if your kids aren’t sourdough fans, they’ll love it! They probably won’t even notice the difference between it and store-bought.
Learn more about how sourdough is fermented in my overnight sourdough bread post.
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
Make this yummy soft loaf with just a handful of simple ingredients. As I mentioned, here’s no yeast, eggs, or milk required!
- Sourdough starter – active and bubbly and fed 12-24 hours before starting the recipe.
- Bread flour – I prefer using King Arthur flour that’s unbleached. You can also use organic flour, too!
- Sugar – either granulated sugar. You can substitute the sugar with 2 rounded tablespoons of honey.
Do you lack a sourdough starter? My quick and easy sourdough starter recipe can make a fast starter in just five days. You can also make a loaf of our classic sandwich bread or whole wheat sandwich bread recipe, which uses yeast instead.
Here are my favorite sourdough tools for this recipe
How to Make Sourdough Loaf Bread
This sourdough bread recipe requires just a few basic steps. Spoiler alert: the overnight rise makes a soft sandwich loaf that’s far better than anything you’ll find at the grocery store.
Start the recipe on a relaxing Saturday or Sunday evening, and then bake the next day. It will be ready to slice and stack with your favorite sandwich ingredients during the week.
🎯 TFN Pro Tip
I recommend using a clear glass mixing bowl. This allows you to see the activity on the dough’s top and bottom. Often, the bottom of the dough will show a lot of activity, reassuring you that it’s properly fermented.
Follow these easy steps:
- Feed your starter 12-24 hours before starting the recipe.
- In a medium bowl, combine the starter with warm water, and then add flour, sugar, oil, and salt. I like using a dough whisk for mixing. Mix well to form a shaggy, sticky dough.
- Flour or wet your clean hands and use them to mix the dough. Then, cover the bowl with a damp towel and allow it to rise for 30-45 minutes.
- Coax the dough from the bowl, place it on a clean and lightly floured surface, then stretch and fold it a few times.
Recover with a damp towel, and now allow the sourdough to rise at room temperature overnight, approximately 8-10 hours.
- In the morning, lightly flour your countertop. Remove the dough from the bowl and roll up the dough into a log shape (as shown below). Cover with a damp towel and let the dough rest for about 10 minutes.
Baking Instructions
- Lightly spray a 9” x 5” loaf pan with nonstick spray. Then tighten the loaf by gently rolling and pulling the dough, and transfer it to the prepared loaf pan seam side down.
Cover with a towel and let the loaf rise for another hour or two.
- When you’re ready to bake your loaf, preheat the oven to 375ºF. Then bake the for 40 minutes, until the crust is a lovely golden brown color.
Remove the pan from the oven and allow it to rest for 10 minutes before carefully tipping it out of the pan onto a cooling rack.
Let the sourdough cool for at least one hour before storing it whole or sliced and enjoyed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can use all-purpose flour instead of bread flour, using the same amount of flour.
The dough needs a warm area for the bulk (overnight) fermented rise. Find a warm place (75º – 85º F) like an oven with the light on, a warm window, or above the dryer to set the bread for 2 more hours.
When the baking time is up, I check to see if the top of the loaf is golden and it sounds hollow when tapped on. If you are unsure, check the internal temperature which should be around 195º – 200ºF.
If stored in a plastic bag at room temperature, it will stay fresh for up to 5 days. For the softest crust, we recommend leaving it out of the fridge. However, you can seal it in an airtight plastic bag and keep it in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Allow the to defrost at room temperature before slicing and using.
For more storing tips, see how to store sourdough bread.
More Easy Sourdough Recipes…
- Chocolate Sourdough Bread
- Jalapeno Cheddar Sourdough Bread
- Sourdough Bread Bowl
- Sourdough Garlic Toast
If you tried this sourdough recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Sourdough No Knead Sandwich Bread
Equipment
- Loaf pan, 9" x 5" - See notes for a 12' x 4.5" pan
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup (65 grams) sourdough starter, bubbly and active fed within 12-24 hours
- 1⅓ cups (300 grams) warm water, filtered 95º to 100º F
- ¼ cup (56 grams) granulated sugar can substitute with 2 rounded tablespoons of honey
- 3½ -4 cups (500 grams) bread flour or all-purpose flour. I recommend weighing your flour, see notes for using measuring cups
- 1½ tablespoons (20 grams) extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons (9 grams) salt
Instructions
- Add the starter to a large bowl. Mix in warm water and sugar, stirring until dissolved. Add flour, oil, and salt. Stir with a dough whisk or wooden spoon until a thick, shaggy dough forms.
- Flour your hands or wet your hands, and finish mixing dough by hand until most of the flour has been absorbed. Don't worry if there is flour on the sides or bottom of the bowl. Cover with a clean, damp kitchen towel and let the dough rest for 30 to 45 minutes.
- Coax the dough from the bowl and stretch and fold the dough by stretching 4 inches then pushing it down the middle and turning 1/4 until you make a circle (see video below for how to do this).Return the dough to the bowl, cover with a damp towel, and let rise at room temperature overnight (at least 8-10 hours) until double in size. Do not refrigerate dough.
- In the morning, lightly flour your counter top. Remove the dough from the bowl, gently stretching it into a rectangle, then your fingers to dimple the rough to release the air from the dough (as shown in photo). Roll up dough into a log shape. Cover and let the dough rest 10 minutes.
- Spray loaf pan with cooking spray. Tighten the dough log by gently pulling it towards you along the countertop for 5-8". Place it in your loaf pan, seam side down. Cover and let rise for 1-2 hours, until the dough is about double in size.Press the corner edge of the dough in 1/2" and if the indentation remains, it's ready to bake.
- Preheat your oven to 375ºF.
- Bake in the center of the oven for 40 minutes. The top of the loaf should be golden in color. Remove from oven.After 10 minutes, tilt the pan to remove the bread to cool on a cooling rack.
- Wait at least 1 hour before cutting (to prevent the loaf from deflating).
Video
Notes
The recipe ingredients call for 3 1/2 to 4 cups of flour because cup measuring is less reliable than using a food scale to weigh the flour. Be sure to stir the flour, then use a spoon to add it into the measuring cup, and level it with a knife. Start with the lower amount of flour and add up to 4 cups, but only if needed. Troubleshooting (Updated 6/26/2023) If your bread “blows out on one side,” we recommend using a larger loaf pan, 12″ x 4.5″ in size, or a 1.5-pound bread pan. Then bake at 375ºF for 30 minutes.
Allow the bread to defrost at room temperature before slicing and using.
Rosa says
Does this sourdough bread recipe have the sour tang to it? I have been looking for the San Francisco sour dough.
Thanks
Renae says
No, this recipe has a mild sandwich bread flavor. I find that the sour tang comes more from the sourdough starter than the recipe. Amazon sells a tangy San Francisco-style sourdough starter here. . I’d suggest a sourdough starter designed for that tangy sourdough taste.
Rick says
Start with 25g starter, feed it and put in fridge, after 5-7 days feed again and put back into fridge. After 5-7 days take out and feed and let double at room temperature, 8-10 hours. The long cold ferment brings out that SF tang you are looking for. If you keep 15-25g in fridge at all times it becomes complex and mildly tangy and you only need to feed once a week. Pull out what you need for the next days starter. I have gone 3-4 weeks without feeding, just mix it all up and feed it for next day baking. Keeps discard almost non existent.
Henny says
Hi, thanks so much for this recipe!
After twice fail with other recipe , this is my first time baking sourdough successfully. The taste is just amazing! I live in a humid tropical country and your step by step recipe still works well. Definitely a keeper!! I will post the pic on your Pinterest. Thanks again!!
Renae says
I’m so glad to hear my recipe has worked out well for you! This is one of our favorite breads.
Don says
Brilliant! I’ve been making comparatively rustic and hardy loaves and boules for the last 15 months, but my first attempt at this wonderful sandwich loaf turned out beautifully, and is a welcome addition to my sourdough repretoire.
Renae says
I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe. As much as I enjoy rustic loaves, it’s great to have some soft sandwich bread on hand, too, right?
M. Whidden says
Great tasting recipe 🙂 I’ve baked this bread 3 times now, and each time it is delicious. Could you help me understand why it splits on the side though? Id love to make a picture perfect loaf!
Renae says
We love this bread, too. I haven’t had it split on the side. Could it be the edge of the roll from when you rolled the bread dough up? If so, then either start pinching the edge of the roll to seal it or ensure that it is on the bottom of the loaf when you add it to the bread pan. That should solve it.
Carly McQuay says
Splitting typically happens when you have under proven your dough. I’m not sure if that’s the case for you, but maybe try that!
Renae says
That’s a good recommendation, too!
Ellen B says
Wonderful recipe. I have been making it for my husband and for my son and his wife. They love my sourdough bread but want a softer bread for sandwiches. This is so easy. I have a question. I made the dough early in the day today but its now late and I don’t have time to put it in the loaf pans for another 2 hours. Can I put the bowl in the fridge overnight and then in loaf pans in the am? (by the way I have also made this into cinnamon raisin bread!)
Beata says
I had the same question. What did you end up doing?
Krista says
I have successfully held this dough in the fridge for up to two days, bring it out when I have more time. I form the loaves cold and let them rise- but it can take a few hours sometimes depending on the temperature of my kitchen.
I’ve found this recipe to be very adaptable and forgiving when I experiment with it. (But I have many years of baking experience)
Great recipe- delicious soft sandwich/toast bread. ❤️
We love this bread!!
Renae says
Thank you so much for sharing this info! As you can see in the comments below, I get asked these types of questions about the recipe. So this is great for other bakers to know. I am sooo happy to hear how much you enjoy this recipe ❤️
Bee says
This bread recipe has become a favorite! I love how easy the process is. It makes beautiful fluffy bread both times I’ve tried it. The instructions are clear and easy to follow. Thank you so much for an amazing recipe!
Renae says
I love hearing this! Thank you.