No-Knead Sandwich Bread
Published Apr 10, 2020•Updated Mar 05, 2024
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No-Knead Sandwich Bread is a soft white homemade sandwich bread with a golden crust. All you need is 90 minutes of rise time and 40 minutes to bake. No special techniques or equipment needed, just a loaf pan for baking.
We’re reaching the end of bread week here on the site, and my freezer is absolutely packed with homemade bread. If you’re just jumping in, don’t miss all of the variations we made earlier this week that all come from the same, very simple no-knead bread dough – Everyday Bread, French Bread Loaves, Sheet Pan Pizza, Focaccia, and today….white sandwich bread! Like all of the homemade bread made with this recipe, no-knead sandwich bread is simple and rustic. It’s not fussy and not fancy. Just a great go-to bread that’s perfect for slicing and serving with sandwiches (like these Falafel Sandwiches) or toasting and topping with butter.
While we use keep store-bought whole wheat bread in the pantry or freezer, there’s nothing like a slice of classic white sandwich bread, and it’s so satisfying to bake it yourself. Not only do you get a great slice of bread, but there are few things quite as cozy as a house that smells like yeast and warm bread.
Here’s everything you need to know about making this simple, homemade, no-knead sandwich bread.
Ingredients for No-Knead Sandwich Bread
- All-Purpose Flour – No special flour needed here – just regular all-purpose. Any brand is fine.
- Kosher Salt – This recipe was tested with Kosher salt (Morton’s or Diamond Brand), so use that for the right balance of saltiness. (If using table salt, reduce the amount you use by about half.)
- Sugar – Use regular granulated / white sugar. Don’t skip this – the dough needs sugar in order to rise.
- Fast-Acting or “Instant” Yeast – No-Knead Sandwich Bread uses a dough that rises quickly (making it a go-to for new bread bakers or those of us who want this ready fast) and requires Fast-Acting (not “Active Dry”) yeast. See the original post for No-Knead Everyday Bread for more details on this yeast.
- Warm Water – The water should feel warm, but not too hot to touch. Check the package on the yeast for the recommended temperature range. I usually heat tap water in the microwave for about 90 seconds until it reaches about 120°F / 49°C.
- Olive oil or nonstick cooking spray – You’ll need to rub or spray the inside of the loaf pan to prevent the bread from sticking.
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- Combine Dry Ingredients – In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, salt, sugar, and yeast.
- Add Warm Water – Pour water over dry ingredients (check the packaging on your yeast and use water at the temperature it recommends) and stir until no dry spots remain. The dough will be very sticky, but just scrape down the sides as you stir.
- First Rise (60 minutes) – Cover the dough with a clean dish towel and leave it on the kitchen counter to rise until doubled in size, 60 minutes. (If your kitchen is on the colder side, let the dough rise for 75 minutes.) Don’t worry too much about getting the timing just right here – anywhere between 60 and 75 minutes will give you a great loaf of bread.
- Transfer Dough – When dough has nearly finished the initial rise, rub olive oil over the inside of a loaf pan (or spray it with nonstick cooking spray). Gently pour the dough into the prepared loaf pan, using a spatula to help ease the dough out.
- Heat Oven – Once dough has finished the first rise, preheat oven to 375°F / 190°C.
- Second Rise (20 minutes) – While the oven heats up let the dough rise again, 20 minutes more.
- Bake bread (40 minutes) – Bake bread until the top is golden brown and crisp, 40 to 45 minutes. If you have an instant read thermometer, that is the best way to check and see if the bread is done cooking. The bread should be 190°F / 88°C in the center.
- Cool Bread – Allow bread to cool for 5 minutes in the loaf pan. Then, turn it out onto a rack to cool completely. (Note: Don’t let the bread cool completely in the loaf pan or it may have a tendency to stick.)
How to Freeze Homemade Sandwich Bread
The easiest way to freeze homemade sandwich bread is to let it cool completely and slice it before freezing. Then you can take a few slices out of the freezer at a time and bake them as you need them.
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Equipment
- Large Mixing Bowl
- Loaf Pan
Ingredients
- 4 cups All-Purpose Flour 500 grams
- 2 teaspoons Kosher Salt (I use Morton’s or Diamond Brand)
- 1 Tablespoon Sugar
- 2 1/4 teaspoon Fast Acting or “Instant” Yeast (see note)
- 2 cups Warm Water 473 milliliters (see note)
- Olive oil or nonstick cooking spray
Instructions
- Make Dough: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, salt, sugar, and yeast. Pour water over dry ingredients and stir until no dry spots remain. The dough will be very sticky, but just scrape down the sides as you stir.
- First Rise (60 minutes): Cover the dough with a clean dish towel and leave it on the kitchen counter to rise until doubled in size, 60 minutes. (If your kitchen is on the colder side, let the dough rise for 75 minutes.)
- When dough has nearly finished the initial rise, rub olive oil over the inside of a loaf pan (or spray it with nonstick cooking spray).
- Gently pour the dough into the prepared loaf pan, using a spatula to help ease the dough out.
- Heat Oven: Preheat oven to 375°F / 190°C.
- Second Rise (20 minutes): Place loaf pan with dough near the oven and let it continue to rise, uncovered, for 20 minutes.
- Bake bread (40 minutes): Bake bread until the top is golden brown and crisp, 40 to 45 minutes. (Use an instant read thermometer if you have one. The bread is done when it reaches 190°F / 88°C in the center.)
- Allow bread to cool for 5 minutes in the loaf pan. Then, turn it out onto a rack to cool completely. (Note: Make sure to allow the bread cool completely before slicing – if it's still warm it may compress and can give it a gummy texture in the center.)
- Slice and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Pretty easy recipe used dry active yeast instead of instant and dissolved it in 105 degree water with the recipes required amount of water for 10 minutes and continued with the recipe
Tagged you in Instagram by the way!
Thank you! 😊
I have white lilly self rising flour, will that work for this recipe?
I’m not sure if it will, Maddie, but if you try it, I’d love to hear how it goes!
Can you swap table sugar for honey in this recipe?
Absolutely!