Homemade Sandwich Bread

My husband and I were hoping to get some pool time in this past Sunday, but the weather did not cooperate with us. He suggested that we bake a few things. I loved this suggestion! We decided on sandwich bread and two different cookies (to follow). 

Some people are afraid of making bread. It is extremely easy. The worst thing you can do is kill the yeast and you will know within 30 minutes if that has happened because the dough will not rise at all. You will absolutely kill your yeast if your wet ingredients are too hot. You also want to add your salt and sugar away from the yeast as they can also kill it. I would suggest adding the salt and sugar to the bottom of your bowl, then bread flour, then yeast at the top.

You must use bread flour for this recipe. 

Combine all dry ingredients in your stand mixer's mixing bowl with the paddle attachment.

All dry ingredients in the pot

Melt milk and butter in a saucepan or in the oven. Do not let the milk and butter go over 110 degrees, this would kill the yeast and your bread will not rise. Slowly incorporate wet ingredients into dry ingredients using the paddle attachment.

After mixing in wet ingredients

Remove paddle attachment and attach dough hook. Knead mixture for 10 minutes on medium speed. If dough sticks to the sides of the bowl, add more flour in tablespoon increments.

After kneading with the dough hook for 10 minutes

Take dough out of mixing bowl and butter or oil the bowl, you can let the dough rise right in your mixers bowl for 1 hour or until dough has doubled in size. (You could also put the dough in the refrigerator overnight, then let it stand at room temp for 30 minutes prior to baking.) You do not have to leave your dough in your mixers bowl, I just try to cut down on as many dishes as possible. You can let dough rise in a large freezer bag or another large bowl. I generally stick my dough in the cold oven or on the counter away from the A/C unit with a towel draped over the bowl. (I forgot to take a photo of the dough after the first hour.)   

After an hour, remove your dough from the bowl and shape it to form your rectangle pan. Butter or oil your bread pan. Place dough in the pan and let it rise until doubled for 1.5 hours.

Ready to rise for another 1.5 hours

After an hour and a half of rising, bake bread in a preheated oven on 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown.

After 1.5 hours of the second rising, ready for the oven! 

Remove from pan and let bread cool before slicing.

Fresh out of the oven!

Perfect!

Beautiful bread

The loaf made about 10 slices.

Ingredients

After 3 1/2 hours of preparation and waiting, we are finally ready to eat!!! For my sandwich, I used mayo, turkey slices, sliced avocado, sliced fresh strawberries, and broccoli sprouts. The bread was still slightly warm when we ate our sandwiches and they were delicious!! 

Finally time to eat!

Sandwich Bread - makes one 8.5 x 4.5" loaf

3 3/4 cups bread flour
2 tbsp sugar
1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 1/2 tsp dry yeast
1 3/4 cups whole milk
2 tbsp softened unsalted butter

Combine bread flour, sugar, salt, and yeast in the bowl of a stand mixer. Add the salt and sugar to the bottom of your bowl, then bread flour, then yeast at the top.
Melt the butter into the whole milk in the microwave or in a saucepan. Do not let the milk and butter go over 110 degrees, this will kill the yeast and the bread will not rise.
With the paddle attachment on low, stir the milk and butter into dry ingredients. Mix to combine.
Remove paddle attachment and attach dough hook. Knead mixture on medium speed for 10 minutes. If the dough sticks to the sides of the bowl add more flour in tablespoon increments.
Take dough out of mixing bowl and butter or oil the bowl, you can let the dough rise right in your mixer bowl for 1 hour or until dough has doubled in size. (You could also put the dough in the refrigerator overnight, then let it stand at room temp for 30 minutes prior to baking.)
Butter or oil your 8.5 x 4.5" loaf pan. Take dough out of mixer bowl and shape it to form your rectangle pan. Place it in the pan and let it rise until doubled for 1.5 hours.
Bake in a pre-heated oven at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes or golden brown. Cool bread before slicing.

Bread can also be frozen for several weeks.

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