Learn How to Make Super Soft No Knead Sandwich Bread with this easy recipe. This is the perfect bread to make for to help you transition from a processed foods kitchen to a Traditional Foods Kitchen.
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The Traditional Foods Kitchen
If you are in the process of transitioning from a processed foods kitchen to a traditional foods kitchen, bread can present a challenge. You may still be buying sandwich bread at the store, but now, you want to learn how to make your own bread. There’s just one problem. The process of making sourdough frightens you. And you’re certainly not ready to start soaking and sprouting grains to make your own sprouted flour! So what do you do?
No Knead Bread Made with Yeast
As I have shared with you in the past, I am not a fanatic when it comes to making traditional foods. Yes, sourdough is great, and so is bread made with sprouted flour. They’re both easy to digest and allow our bodies to absorb nutrients more easily. However, those two types of bread can also seem daunting to make to those new to traditional foods.
So when it comes to making bread as a beginner, I have no problem helping you learn this skill—as you’re starting out—by making a no knead sandwich bread that uses yeast.
With this recipe, there’s no need (sorry for the pun) to worry about the finger-poke test or the window-pane test. And even better, you don’t have to worry about a sourdough starter. All you have to do is mix six simple ingredients (that are available at pretty much every grocery store) together to create your dough, let the mixture rise for about an hour and a half, then transfer your dough to a loaf pan for another short rise…and then bake it. There is very little work on your part. And then…Voila!…Fresh homemade bread in few hours! And your home-baked sandwich bread is going to be better than anything you can buy at the grocery store.
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Seasonal ingredients, traditional techniques, and nourishing recipes. Over 85 traditional, from-scratch recipes! Discover for yourself how you can use simple ingredients and traditional techniques to cook the modern pioneer way.
More Bread Recipes
Now that you’ve created your no knead sandwich bread, try out my faster no knead bread that creates a bakery worthy “boule” with very little work on your part! It’s perfect for the beginner! You may also be ready to venture into the world of sourdough and sprouted grain breads. If so, be sure to check out my Foolproof Sourdough Starter made with rye flour and my Complete Guide to Sourdough Starter that will walk you through a step-by-step process for making a starter with all-purpose flour.
Once you’re ready to bake some sourdough bread, I’ve got you covered with three great recipes, including a No Knead Sourdough Bread, a Traditional Sourdough Boule, and a No Knead Spelt Boule.
Home Baker Recipes
Bring Ancient Grains Back to the Table with Grand Teton Ancient Grains
Meet the Idaho family behind Grand Teton Ancient Grains—growing ancient grains the old-fashioned way.
How to Make French Spice Bread: Pain d’Épices
Discover the Old World charm of French Spice Bread—a honey-sweet, spiced loaf perfect for cozy baking.
How to Make the Easiest Focaccia
Bake easy, airy focaccia with pantry staples—perfect for summer gatherings!
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Grind Your Own Flour with the Mockmill
When it comes to electric grain mills, after I did A LOT of research, I decided to buy a Mockmill. And am I so happy I did! The Mockmill is a very affordable but beautifully crafted German-made mill that stone grinds grain with settings ranging from 1 to 10—fine to coarse ground grain.
Learn more about Mockmill electric grain mills for making fresh flour and their Flake Lover’s Flaker that flakes whole grain in minutes. (This is not a sponsored post, I bought the Mockmill products that I show you, and I’m a happy user of their devices in my kitchen.)
- Mockmill 100 Grain Mill unboxing
- Get the Mockmill 100 Stone Grain Mill (Same product I show you in my unboxing video.)
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No Knead Sandwich Bread
Equipment
- 2 Loaf Pans (approximately 8 1/2" X 4 1/2")
Ingredients
- 6 cups All-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon Fine ground sea salt
- 1 tablespoon White sugar Can substitute alternative sugars such as Sucanat.
- 1/4 stick Butter, melted 1/4 stick butter = 2 tablespoons. Oil such as coconut oil, avocado oil, or olive oil can be substituted. Avoid using highly processed vegetable, oils such as canola oil or corn oil.
- 3 cups Water, warm Temperature should be 110°F if using active yeast, up to 130°F if using instant yeast. Warm to touch is sufficient.
- 2 1/4 teaspoons Dry yeast, active or instant 2 1/4 teaspoons of yeast is equivalent to one 1/4 ounce packet of yeast.
Instructions
- Whisk together in a large bowl flour, salt, sugar, and yeast.
- Add water and melted butter (or oil if using) to bowl with flour mixture.
- Mix all ingredients until they come together to form a wet, "shaggy" (sticky) dough.
- Cover dough with a plastic wrap or a towel dusted with flour (so the dough will not stick to the towel), place the bowl of dough in a warm place, and allow the dough to rise for 1 1/2 hours if using instant yeast or 1 3/4 hours if using active yeast. Baker's Tip: A "warm" place in your kitchen can be in an oven that is off but has an electric light or pilot light on. An alternate warm place can be on top of a refrigerator. (Watch the video for additional tips on how to keep your dough warm as it rises.)
- After the rise time, deflate the dough by pressing down on the dough with your hands. Afterward, divide the dough into two equal portions. Handling the dough is best done with well-greased hands.
- Take two well-buttered loaf pans and transfer equal portions of dough into each loaf pan. Even out the dough into the corners of the pans using well-greased hands. (The dough will be very sticky.) This is a very important step. Make sure that the loaf pans are VERY well-buttered (or oiled if using butter alternative). This will ensure that the exterior sides and bottom of the bread will be soft.
- Pre-heat the oven to 375°F with oven rack in the middle position.
- Leave the dough in the loaf pans, uncovered, and allow to rise in a warm place for approximately 40 minutes (as the oven is pre-heating) until the dough is even with the rim of the loaf pan. In a warm kitchen, this rise can take less than 40 minutes.
- Place loaf pans on a rack in the oven, and allow to the dough to bake for approximately 40 minutes until the top crust is golden brown. When you tap the top of the loaf, it should sound hollow.
- Using pot holders, remove the loaf pans from the oven and place the pans on a cooling rack. Immediately brush each top crust with butter. Then, remove the bread from the loaf pans and transfer the bread onto the cooling rack.
- Allow the bread to cool completely before slicing.
- Bread can be stored at room temperature in a bread box or cloth bag. It will stay fresh for 2-3 days. Bread can also be stored in the refrigerator, well-wrapped (such as in a plastic storage bag), in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for up to 1 week.
Video
Notes
Shop for items used in this blog post or video
Favorite Bread Making Supplies
- Baking Apron (This is the one that I’m wearing in the video.)
- 10-Piece Glass Bowl Set
- Danish Dough Whisk
- BreadSmart Plastic Handle Danish Dough Whisk and Kit (See the BreadSmart discount promo code below.)
- Wooden Scraping Spoon
- Plastic Bench Scrape
- Metal Bench Scrape
- ️Metal Loaf Pans
- ️Glass Loaf Pans
- Cast-Iron Dutch Oven
- Mockmill Grain Grinder and Whole Grains
Favorite Yeasts for Bread Making
- SAF Instant Yeast
- SAF Premium Instant Yeast
- SAF Gold Instant Yeast
- Red Star Active Dry Yeast
- Fleischmann’s Active Dry Yeast
- Bob’s Red Mill GLUTEN FREE Active Dry Yeast
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I’m truly a beginner on baking bread. You might say… It was on my bucket list. (76 years old) I checked out videos and found them all different! Yours was the BEST in explaining every step of the way. My loaves came out beautifully and delicious!
Thank you so much for this KEEPER ❤️
Hi Deanna,
Thanks for your comment. I’m so glad my video was helpful, and you were able to make some delicious sandwich bread.
It’s never too late to start on your traditional foods journey, and I’m glad we’re on it together!
Love and God bless,
Mary
I know this is an old post but I was wondering if it’s possible to use bread flour with this recipe, perhaps with some adjustments? I usually have much more bread flour on hand and it would be nice to be able to use it. Thanks!!
Hi Jaci,
Thanks for your comment. Yes. You can use bread flour instead of all-purpose flour in this recipe. Bread flour has more protein in it, so you may have a higher rise. Just make sure your dough hasn’t extended past the top of your loaf pan before you put it in the oven.
I hope that helps. If you enjoy this recipe, you may also want to try my whole wheat sandwich bread recipe at https://marysnest.com/no-knead-whole-wheat-sandwich-bread/ for another option.
Love and God bless,
Mary
Hello,
I had some time on my hands (I’m a federal employee on furlough), so decided to try your sandwich bread recipe. I love it! It got my hubby’s nod of approval and is just easy and delicious. I will admit that I only did half the recipe just to try, but will be baking more to stock in my freezer.
Hi Emeline,
Thanks for your comment. I’m glad you had chance to try it, and you and your hubby gave it five stars!
Love and God bless,
Mary