Perfect Homemade White Bread (Sandwich Bread Recipe) (2024)

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Hi Bold Bakers!

I bet your bread baking game is next level since the whole world went into lockdown! It’s nice to make great, crusty, artisan loaves — but a staple bread that you have to have a recipe for is white sandwich bread. The beauty of making your own sandwich bread, rather than buying store-bought, is that my recipe only calls for 7 ingredients. They’re all pantry staples, too, where a lot of store-bought bread has 20 unpronounceable ingredients.

[Looking for more bread? I have plenty of bread recipes for you!]

What You Need To Make White Bread (Sandwich Bread)

Very little actually. You don’t even need an electric mixer to make this delicious everyday bread.

• Measuring cups and spoons
• Large mixing bowl
• Measuring jug
• 2 loaf pans
• Elbow grease

How to Make White Bread

Wondering what you’re about to get yourself into? Don’t worry, it’s very easy — so here are the basic steps on how to make your own White Sandwich Bread (and don’t forget to get the full recipe with measurements, on the page down below):

1. Place the flour, sugar, yeast, and salt in a large mixing bowl and mix to combine.
2. Separately, add water, melted butter, and egg into a measuring jug and whisk well together.
3. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and using your hand, mix to form your dough. It’s really easy to bring the dough together to make a ball.
4. Knead on your surface for roughly 5-6 minutes to develop the gluten in the flour. Finish by rolling dough into a smooth ball.
5. Grease your mixing bowl with a little oil and add the dough back in. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap (or a plastic shower cap) and clean towel and allow to rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size, roughly 60 minutes.
6. After this time knock back the dough and cut into 2 even pieces.
7. To shape, roll the balls into an oblong shape then tucking and pinching the ends under the loaf. Place loaves into 2 greased 9 x 5-inch bread pans.
8. Cover again with cling wrap and a towel and allow to proof at room temperature for the second time or until it is risen to the lip of the loaf pans, this will take roughly 45-60 minutes. Don’t cut this time short as your bread needs it to grow.
9. Carefully egg wash the loaves and pre-heat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
10. Bake the loaves side by side in the oven for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown.
11. Allow the bread to cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing as it needs to be cool to cut! Enjoy a sandwich made with your homemade sandwich bread. Store bread covered at room temperature for up to 4 days. It also freezes really well for up to 6 weeks.

Gemma’s Pro Tips for Making White Bread

• Usedigital weighing scales for complete accuracy when weighing your ingredients.
• Use a plasticshower cap to cover the dough. It is reusable and has no air holes.
• This recipe makes two loaves. Keep one for eating and freeze the other one.
• Add in a little whole wheat flour if you would like more fiber and whole grain.
• Make the dough up to 2 days in advance and keep it in the fridge.
• Use leftover bread for homemade breadcrumbs or bread pudding.

How do I Store Bread?

Store bread in a bread box or bag at room temperature. You can buy plastic bread bags online that you can get multiple uses out of. I found with this bread it keeps well covered for up to 3-4 days. It can also be frozen for up to 6 weeks and used for toast, bread and butter pudding, breadcrumbs, etc.

Can I Use Bread Flour?

Yes, you can and you will get just as good results. Yeasted doughs love that extra bit of protein in the flour to strengthen it and add an extra chew. Just note that bread flour tends to absorb more liquid than all-purpose flour so you might need to add a little extra to bring your dough together.

Make More Bread!

• • Best-Ever Irish Soda Bread
  • Artisinal Whole-Wheat Bread
  • Cinnamon Raisin Bread
  • Sourdough Bread for Beginners

And don’t forget to buy my Bigger Bolder Baking Cookbook!

Full (and printable) recipe below!

Ingredients

Instructions