The Best Homemade Sandwich Bread

I don’t know about you, but I think that baking homemade sandwich bread is the sweetest way to spend part of the day. The smell, the texture, the feeling of knowing that I’m doing something that women have done since civilization began… it’s so rewarding!

I’ve made many bread recipes over the years. Some were great, some were okay, and some… my family wouldn’t touch. Some homemade bread recipes are great for rolls, some are great for cinnamon rolls, others are great for artisan bread, however, I’ve not found many that make amazing sandwich bread. Homemade sandwich bread is tricky, because it has to be dense enough to slice thinly, but still airy enough to not turn into paste while you’re chewing. (Maybe the thick, pasty texture doesn’t bother some people, but I don’t care for it!) But now I have found a recipe that fits the bill. I have been making this homemade sandwich bread recipe for a couple of years and it always turns out consistently delicious! I’m sure you’ll love making it, and I’m sure that your family will gobble it up as quickly as my family does!

A Couple of Notes…

-All of the ingredients are ones that you would typically have on hand. However, I do use this bread flour. It can be made with any all-purpose flour and it will still be wonderfully light.
-You can make this recipe entirely by hand, or you can make it with a stand mixer. The kneading time is slightly less with the mixer.

The Best Homemade Sandwich Bread

2 cups hot water

1/2 cup butter (1 stick)

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg

1 package of yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)

1 tablespoon salt

6 cups King Arthur flour

-Combine hot water, butter and sugar. Stir until butter is mostly melted. Add 3 cups of flour and mix well. Add egg, yeast and salt. Mix well. Add remaining flour until dough is not sticky. Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes, adding flour as needed, if dough gets sticky. Put kneaded dough into a lightly oiled bowl and cover with a damp towel to raise for about 1 hour, or until dough doubles in size.

Once dough has doubled, preheat oven to 350*. Turn dough out onto an oiled surface and split in half. Roll each half into loaves and put into 2 loaf pans. Cover again with a damp towel and let raise for 30 minutes, or until it raises to the top of your loaf pans. Bake on middle rack for 1 hour.

Turn bread out of pans onto cooling rack and let cool for about an hour, or as long as you can keep your family out of it. But… the longer you let it cool, the better it will slice!

Enjoy as a nice cold cut sandwich or a cozy grilled cheese. Or as toast. Or just warm with butter. Or… you get the idea!