Sourdough sandwich loaf — soft pan bake for everyday slicing
An enriched 75% hydration sourdough sandwich loaf baked in a Pullman or 9x5 loaf pan. Soft crumb, square shape, freezes beautifully.
Crusty boules are for dinner. Sandwich loaves are for school lunches, weekday breakfast, and the kids who think real bread should look like a square. This is a soft-crumbed enriched sourdough that slices clean, holds up to peanut butter, and toasts without falling apart.
Why this works
Adding milk and a small amount of butter to a sourdough does three things: softens the crumb, extends the shelf life by a day or two, and gives the crust a tender bite instead of a crisp shatter. Baked in a pan, the loaf rises straight up — perfect for stacking sandwich after sandwich.
At a glance
- Yield
- One 1000 g loaf
- Prep
- 45 minutes
- Cook
- 40 minutes
- Total
- 22h
Ingredients
- Bread flour
- 500 g
- Whole milk (warm)
- 300 g
- Active starter
- 100 g
- Honey or sugar
- 25 g
- Unsalted butter (softened)
- 30 g
- Salt
- 10 g
Equipment
- Digital scale
- Mixing bowl
- Stand mixer with dough hook (optional but helpful)
- 9x5 inch loaf pan OR Pullman pan (1 lb)
- Bench scraper
- Plastic wrap
Directions
Common questions
Baker notes
- A Pullman pan with the lid on yields the perfect square sandwich shape.
- If the dough sticks during shaping, oil your hands instead of dusting with flour.
- Slice cold and freeze in two-slice packets — toast straight from frozen.
FAQ
Can I use dairy-free milk?
Yes — oat milk works best. Almond milk is too thin and yields a drier crumb.
Do I need a Pullman pan?
No, a standard 9x5 works. The Pullman gives a perfect square shape if you bake with the lid on.
Where to go next
Once you have a sandwich loaf in steady rotation, the whole household eats better. Bake two on Sunday — one for the week, one for the freezer.
Crosodo Blog entries are recipe and craft notes from working cottage bakers. Recipes assume working with an active starter and basic equipment. Cottage food sales are governed by your state's law — see our state directory for legal details.