Farmhouse White Sandwich Bread

My easy to make Farmhouse White Sandwich Bread is crusty on the outside with a buttery soft interior. It's the perfect homemade bread for sandwiches, toast or simply to spread with butter.

4.97 from 144 votes

Print Pin Save Recipe

Course: bread, Breakfast, Lunch, Side Dish

Cuisine: British

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 40

Resting Time: 2 15

Total Time: 3 10

Servings:

Calories: 162kcal

Author: Sarah James

Equipment

stand mixer - I use my KitchenAid or knead by hand.
Mixing Bowl
2lb loaf tin or two 1lb loaf tins
shallow baking tin

Ingredients

600 g very strong white bread flour plus extra for dusting
2 tsp fine sea salt / kosher salt
1 tsp caster sugar
1 ½ tsp instant yeast I use Dove's Farm
50 g softened butter 4tbs
350 ml tepid water

Metric - US Customary

Instructions

Make Your Dough

By hand: Mix the flour, softened butter, salt, sugar and yeast in a large bowl and make a well in the centre.
Add a little water. Mix thoroughly, adding a little water at a time until you have formed a ball of dough.
Transfer dough to a floured surface and knead for 10 to 12 minutes.
Check your dough is ready by using the windowpane test.
KitchenAid: Add flour, softened butter, salt, sugar and yeast to the mixing bowl, make a well and add the water.
Mix on slow speed number 1 for 1 to 2 minutes.
Turn up to number 2 speed for a further 8 to 10 minutes.
Check your dough is ready by using the windowpane test.

Prove Your Dough

Place your dough in a large greased bowl and cover.
Leave to rest in a warm place for at least one and a half hours or until doubled in size.

Shape Your Dough

Transfer the dough to an oiled work surface.
Shape your loaf by gently working your dough into a rectangle.
Roll up your dough from the short side.
Pinch the seams together and turn the loaf over so you have the long seam on the bottom.
Place in a greased loaf tin or tins.
Cover and leave to rise in a warm place for about 45 minutes.
Preheat oven to 230°C / 450 °F and place a shallow baking tin in the bottom of the oven.

Baking Instructions

Using a sharp greased knife, make 3 slashes in your loaf at a 45° angle before lightly dusting your loaf top with a little flour.
Place your bread in the oven and then quickly pour a cup of hot water into the pre-heated baking tin. Gently close the oven door.
Bake for 10 minutes at 230°C / 210°C fan / 450 °F.
Turn your oven down to 200°C / 180°C fan / 350°F and continue baking.
Large loaf: 30 to 35 minutes until golden brown.
Small loaves 15 to 20 minutes until golden brown.
Tip your loaf onto a cooling rack and tap the base of the bread to check it is cooked, it should sound hollow. Alternatively, check your loaf's internal temperature - ideally it should be around 90°C / 194°F to 95°C / 203°F.
Leave to cool.

Video

Notes

Makes one large loaf (12 to 16 slices) or two small loaves.
Like most homemade bread, fresh is best but Farmhouse Bread will keep for a couple of days.
Farmhouse White Sandwich Bread freezes well. Make sure your loaf is fully cooled and place in a freezer bag before freezing for up to three months. It can also be sliced and then frozen so you can take out slices as you need them and avoid waste.
To defrost, remove your bread from the freezer a couple of hours before you need it and defrost at room temperature.
Nutrition information is approximate and meant as a guideline only.