Sourdough Sandwich Bread

⭐ What makes this special

• Soft sandwich texture (not too crusty)
• Light tangy sourdough flavor
• Long fermentation = better digestion + taste
• Stays fresh longer than regular bread

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🧾 Ingredients

Dough:

• 3½ cups all-purpose flour (or bread flour)
• 1 cup active sourdough starter
• 1 cup warm milk (or water)
• 2 tbsp sugar or honey
• 2 tbsp butter (soft)
• 1½ tsp salt

Optional (for softer sandwich bread):

• 1 tbsp milk powder (improves softness)
• 1 tbsp olive oil (extra tenderness)

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👩‍🍳 Step 1: Check your starter (VERY important)

Your sourdough starter should be:

• Bubbly
• Doubled in size
• Smell slightly tangy, not sour or rotten

👉 If it’s weak, your bread won’t rise properly.

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👩‍🍳 Step 2: Mix the dough

In a large bowl:

1. Add warm milk + sourdough starter
2. Mix until starter dissolves
3. Add sugar, butter, salt

Now add flour gradually.

👉 Mix until a rough dough forms

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👩‍🍳 Step 3: Kneading

• Knead for 8–12 minutes
• Dough should become:
  • Smooth
  • Elastic
  • Slightly tacky (not sticky)

👉 You can also use stand mixer (5–6 min)

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👩‍🍳 Step 4: First fermentation (bulk rise)

• Cover dough
• Let it rest 6–10 hours at room temperature
  (or overnight)

👉 Dough should double in size

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👩‍🍳 Step 5: Shape the loaf

• Lightly punch down dough
• Shape into a rectangle
• Roll tightly like a log
• Place in greased loaf pan

👉 This shape gives perfect sandwich slices

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👩‍🍳 Step 6: Second rise (proofing)

• Cover pan
• Let rise 2–4 hours

👉 Dough should rise above pan edge slightly

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🔥 Step 7: Bake

• Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F)

Bake:

• 30–40 minutes

Check doneness:

• Golden brown top
• Hollow sound when tapped

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🧈 Step 8: Butter finish (pro tip)

• Brush hot bread with butter
  👉 Makes crust soft and shiny

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❄️ Step 9: Cooling

• Let it cool at least 1 hour
• Then slice

👉 Cutting too early makes it gummy inside

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🧠 Important Tips

✔ Starter is everything

Weak starter = dense bread

✔ Don’t rush fermentation

Slow rise = better flavor + texture

✔ Milk makes it softer

Water gives stronger sourdough crust

✔ Overbaking dries bread

Remove as soon as golden

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🍽️ How to use

• Sandwiches 🥪
• Toast with butter 🍞
• Garlic bread 🧄
• Grilled cheese 🧀
• French toast 🍯

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🔥 Variations

1. Soft milk bread sourdough

• Replace half water with milk
• Add extra butter

2. Whole wheat version

• Replace 50% flour with whole wheat flour

3. Sweet sandwich loaf

• Add 2 extra tbsp sugar + vanilla

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🧁 Texture result

• Soft crumb like bakery bread
• Slight tangy sourdough flavor
• Light but structured slices