Sourdough Wonder Bread Copycat Recipe – So Soft!
When my husband came home with a loaf of cheap white bread from the grocery store, I’m pretty sure smoke came out of my ears.
I did remind him that I’m That Sourdough Gal (hello?!), but he had a fair point. He needed cheap white bread from the store to make authentic pimento cheese sandwiches for The Masters. Regular artisan sourdough bread wouldn’t do.
Challenge accepted.
With the help of over 65 recipe testers and countless kitchen experiments, I set out to develop a sourdough sandwich bread that’s as soft and squishy as Wonder Bread but infinitely better (and gut healthy!).
Prefer a faster, less tangy version of this recipe? Check out the same-day variation here: Same-Day Sourdough Wonder Bread Copycat Recipe (No Tang)
The final result? A perfect 100% “I’ll make this again” score from testers and bread so good your kids won’t even ask you to cut off the crust.
“This bread is incredible. This is the second time I’ve made the second version of this recipe. My husband and 3-year-old literally ate this loaf in less than 36 hours.” –Recipe tester from Pike Creek, Delaware
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Recipe tested TO DEATH until we achieved perfection: Over 65 recipe testers from all over the world helped refine this recipe through two rounds of testing, achieving a 100% “would make again” rating.
- Easy to make: The tangzhong might sound intimidating, but it’s literally just 2-3 minutes of microwaving flour and milk until thick – that’s it! No complicated techniques or hard-to-find ingredients; just mix, rise, shape, rise again, and bake.
“It was easy, timeline was great, looks perfect, tastes awesome! Thank you for a wonderful recipe!” –Recipe tester from Merrimack, New Hampshire
- Not too sour: The stiff sweet starter technique reduces tanginess while keeping that subtle sourdough flavor that makes it taste way better than storebought.
- Soft and squishy, just like storebought white bread: The tangzhong method creates that pillowy, Wonder Bread texture that’s perfect for soft sandwiches and DIY uncrustables. My kids don’t even ask me to cut off the crust (shocker!).
Read more: Tangzhong: The 3-Minute Secret to Softer Sourdough
- Doesn’t stale as quickly as other sourdough sandwich breads: Thanks to the tangzhong, this bread stays soft and fresh for up to 5 days at room temperature.
- Extremely forgiving dough that doesn’t require “nailing” every step: The timeline is flexible, the dough handles temperature variations well, and it’s super beginner-friendly.
“Great, perfect thickness, soft and squishy, easy to cut through and oh so tasty!!” –Recipe tester from Quebec, Canada
Baker’s Timeline
Here’s a baker’s timeline to help you plan your bake:
| Day 1 | |
| 9am | Make stiff sweet starter & tangzhong |
| 8pm | Mix dough, begin bulk fermentation |
| Day 2 | |
| 7am | Shape dough, place in pan for second rise |
| 6:30pm | Bake bread |
Note: Timeline based on 73°F (23°C) kitchen. For warmer homes, everything happens faster. For cooler homes, allow more time. The dough is very forgiving – focus on visual/texture cues rather than exact timing.
If your home is too warm for an overnight bulk fermentation – or you’ve made this recipe and the loaf was overproofed by morning – I suggest flipping the timeline:
| Day 1 | |
| 8pm | Make stiff sweet starter & tangzhong |
| Day 2 | |
| 7am | Mix dough, begin bulk fermentation |
| Mid-day (monitor the dough) | Shape dough, place in pan for second rise |
| Evening | Bake bread |
The Recipe Testing Journey
This recipe testing journey was definitely a journey. It took many attempts before I got to a recipe draft worth sharing. Feedback from over 65 recipe testers guided me to a second draft that was out of this world.
I could not do it without all of you – you truly are the reason this recipe exists!
Watch the entire recipe testing journey here.
Initial Recipe Testing
Before I sent any recipe drafts to the testers, I needed to have a recipe worth testing. And it took a few attempts to get to that point.
I knew I wanted a tangzhong in the dough to help get that squishy, soft texture. So to start, I adapted my hot dog bun recipe, developed with Samantha from Healing Slice, to land on an initial attempt.
The first loaf was too dense and way too sour, so I went back to the drawing board and adjusted many of the measurements.
The second loaf stuck to the Pullman pan’s lid, which was a huge bummer. But the loaf was not dense and super squishy, so I felt we were moving in the right direction. Still too sour, though.
The third loaf incorporated a stiff sweet starter to hopefully solve the sour issue. I also made a few other tweaks to the ingredient amounts, like a little more honey and less oil.
This one also stuck to the Pullman pan’s lid, though not as badly. It was still light and squishy, and the sourness was cut way back. But I wasn’t happy with the lid consistently messing up the final result!
The fourth attempt looked the best when it came out of the oven; it was fluffy as can be, and the flavor was amazing. I sent this version to the recipe testers!
Recipe Tester Feedback: Version 1
When I sent out the first version of my sourdough Wonder Bread recipe to over 65 dedicated testers, the enthusiasm was immediate.
With an average satisfaction rating of 4.42 out of 5 and 95.5% saying they’d make it again, I knew the core concept was solid. One tester raved, “My husband can’t stop eating it!” while another shared, “Cannot wait to make this recipe again.”
A few photos from recipe testers:
However, the feedback revealed several key areas for improvement beyond just flavor.
The most significant issue was hydration – 38% of testers found themselves adding flour because the dough was “extremely wet and sticky.”
Also, nearly half the testers had to adjust timing because fermentation moved faster than expected, and 64% found the flavor too tangy for authentic Wonder Bread taste.
Despite these issues, the texture consistently impressed, with responses like “bouncy and airy” and “perfect” appearing throughout the feedback. I was on the right track, but needed to fine-tune.
Recipe Tester Feedback: Version 2
The second round of testing blew my socks off!!
The recipe got 4.69 out of 5 stars, and we achieved the ultimate goal: 100% of testers said they would make this recipe again! I almost cried when I saw that!
More importantly, we solved multiple technical issues simultaneously. The hydration problems decreased, sourness complaints dropped, and timing issues were largely resolved.
“I feel like this is the winning recipe.” –Recipe tester from Susanville, CA
A few small issues popped up, like those using Costco AP flour still needing to add more flour, but that’s an easy tip to add to the recipe notes. A few also noticed their loaf tops getting too dark, but tenting with foil toward the end is an easy remedy.
I also got feedback on exactly which process photos would be a huge help in the recipe card itself.
The journey through two comprehensive testing rounds, guided by incredibly detailed feedback about everything from dough hydration to fermentation timing, led us to a recipe that truly delivers on the promise of sourdough Wonder Bread.
“Flavor is good and this is probably my favorite sandwich loaf that I have made thus far.” –Recipe Tester from San Diego, CA
Ingredients In the Sourdough Wonder Bread Copycat Recipe
Here’s a quick look at the winning ingredients:
- Stiff sweet starter: essential for cutting down the sour, tangy flavor of sourdough. My initial tests used regular, liquid starter (equal parts flour and water), and the bread was way too sour.
- Honey: Acts as a natural sweetener and helps create that soft, tender crumb. The honey also feeds the yeast and helps with browning. You can substitute with granulated sugar, but you may need to add 1-2 tablespoons more liquid.
- High-protein bread flour: I’ve tested this with Ballerina Farm bread flour (14% protein) and King Arthur bread flour (12.7% protein) with excellent results. The higher protein content helps create structure while staying soft. If using Costco all-purpose flour, add about 25g more flour to the main dough.
- Milk: Creates the tangzhong (flour paste) that makes this bread incredibly soft and helps it stay fresh longer. Any dairy or non-dairy milk works – testers had success with cashew milk and almond milk, too.
- Avocado oil: Adds richness and helps keep the crumb tender. You can easily substitute with olive oil, sunflower oil, or any neutral oil you have on hand.
- Water: Regular tap water works perfectly. The hydration level creates a slightly tacky dough that bakes into that perfect Wonder Bread texture.
- Salt: Essential for flavor and dough structure. I use sea salt, but any salt without anti-caking agents will work great.
- Butter: Just for brushing the hot loaf after baking – this creates that soft, glossy crust that mimics storebought Wonder Bread perfectly.
How to Make Sourdough Wonder Bread (Step by Step)
This recipe spans three days, but don’t let that intimidate you! Most of the time is hands-off fermentation.
Once you make it the first time, you won’t even need the recipe card other than to reference the ingredient list. It’s that simple.
Here’s exactly how to make the softest sourdough sandwich bread.
Day 1 (Evening): Prep Work
Make the Stiff Sweet Starter
The stiff sweet starter is the secret to reducing sourness.
In a small jar, combine 15g sourdough starter, 15g honey, 30g water, and 60g bread flour.
Mix until it comes together, then turn it out and knead it briefly until it forms a smooth ball.
Place it back in the jar, cover loosely, and let it ferment at room temperature overnight. By morning, it should have doubled (or tripled) in size and smell sweet and yeasty.
If you use a bigger jar than mine, it’ll also have a domed shape.
Make the Tangzhong
The tangzhong is a cooked flour paste that creates incredibly soft, pillowy bread that stays fresh for days.
In a microwave-safe bowl, whisk together 35g bread flour and 175g milk until completely smooth.
Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring vigorously with a whisk between each round. For me, this usually takes 3-5 rounds.
You’re looking for it to thicken to a pudding-like consistency and reach 150°F (65°C).
If you prefer, you can make this on the stovetop over medium heat, whisking constantly. Don’t walk away or it will overcook!
Cover and refrigerate overnight. The tangzhong can be made up to 2 days ahead.
You could also make it in the morning when you’re putting your dough together, but you have to wait for it to cool fully. That’s why I prefer doing it when I’m feeding my starter the night before.
Day 2 (Morning): Mix and First Rise
Mix the Dough
In the morning, it’s time to mix our dough!
In your stand mixer bowl, combine all of the stiff sweet starter, all of the tangzhong (straight from the fridge), 225g cold water, 75g honey, 25g avocado oil, 575g high-protein bread flour, and 12g salt.
Note: one of the recipe testers suggested mixing all of the liquids in the stand mixer before adding the dry ingredients. I didn’t find this necessary for my stand mixer, but it could help if your mixer isn’t as powerful.
Related: Ooni vs Bosch vs KitchenAid vs Ankarsrum: Best Stand Mixer for Sourdough
Start mixing on speed 1 (the lowest setting) for 1-2 minutes just to bring everything together. It will look shaggy and rough at first – that’s normal!
Once the ingredients are incorporated, increase the speed to 2 and mix for 10-15 minutes.
The dough is ready when it passes the windowpane test – you should be able to stretch a small piece thin enough to see light through without it tearing immediately. In a Bosch mixer, this took me about 10 minutes; in a KitchenAid, it took me 33 minutes.
The finished dough will feel slightly sticky or tacky, but not overly so. It should hold its shape and pull away from the sides of the bowl.
If your dough is extremely wet, sloppy, or won’t come together after several minutes, add flour 1 tablespoon at a time. About 38% of the recipe testers needed to add a little extra flour due to humidity or flour brand differences.
No Stand Mixer? You can absolutely make this by hand! Mix initially for 3-4 minutes, then cover and rest for 30 minutes. Do a round of stretch and folds every 30 minutes until you achieve a smooth, elastic dough with at least a weak windowpane.
Bulk Fermentation (First Rise)
Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled 2-quart bowl. I do a super quick spritz of avocado oil spray. You don’t have to oil the bowl if you don’t want to – it just helps the dough come out more easily later on.
Cover and let rise on the counter for 8-12 hours. The timing depends on your kitchen temperature – in my 73°F (23°C) kitchen, it took exactly 11 hours.
You’ll know bulk fermentation is complete when the dough has noticeably increased in size (about 40% larger), feels puffy when gently poked, and has visible bubbles around the edges and underneath.
Once it reaches this point, pop the bowl in the refrigerator until bedtime. This slows down fermentation and makes the dough easier to handle for shaping.
Note: if the dough is perfectly ready right before bedtime, skip the refrigeration step!
Day 2 (Evening): Shape the Dough
Prepare Your Pan
If you’re not using a nonstick pan, lightly oil your 13×4 inch loaf pan.
I love the USA Pan 13×4 pan for its great results and the nonstick surface (it doesn’t use Teflon!). Even though it’s nonstick, I still do a super quick spritz of my avocado oil spray, just in case. It’s probably not needed, but it feels like a little insurance!
Shape the Loaf
Remove the dough from the fridge and turn it onto your work surface. I don’t need any flour to assist with shaping, but if you want, you can do a light dusting of bench flour.
Note: Bench flour is the flour scattered on a bench or counter during shaping to keep the dough from sticking. You can use all-purpose or bread flour for this. I don’t recommend rice flour as it’s so nonstick that it’ll prevent your dough from sticking to itself as you roll it up.
Using a rolling pin, gently roll the dough into a rectangle about 10 inches wide by 14 inches long. You want it slightly narrower than your pan width.
Don’t worry about measuring the rectangle by any means – I’m just providing this as a general guideline.
Roll the dough up tightly like a jelly roll. Pinch the seam closed and roll your log a few times to even it out. Place the dough log seam-side down in your prepared pan.
Second Rise
Cover the pan and let rise on the counter overnight (8-12 hours). This is the final rise, so you want the dough to become very puffy and reach the height of the pan rim.
In my 73°F (23°C) kitchen, this took 11.5 hours. The dough should feel light and airy.
Day 3 (Morning): Bake Your Sourdough Sandwich Loaf!
Bake the Bread
Once your dough has reached the height of the pan, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Once preheated, bake the loaf uncovered for 40-45 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 200-205°F (93-96°C).
The top should be golden brown – if it’s getting too dark before the internal temperature is reached, tent it loosely with foil for the remaining baking time.
The Finishing Touch
As soon as you remove the bread from the oven, brush the top with 1 tablespoon of butter. This creates that soft crust that’s signature to Wonder Bread-style loaves.
Let the bread cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes, then turn it out onto a wire rack.
Resist the urge to slice immediately! Let it cool completely (1-2 hours) for the best texture and easiest slicing.
Note: If you slice too early, you may get gummy areas, and the bread will then dry out and feel stale once it fully cools.
How to Store Sourdough Sandwich Bread
- Room Temperature Storage: This sandwich loaf stays remarkably fresh thanks to the tangzhong technique. I love storing mine in a glass cake stand where it’s beautifully displayed, while the dome helps keep it fresh. Many bakers swear by adding a celery stick to the container – it helps maintain moisture and extend freshness even longer.
- Freshness Timeline: The bread is absolutely perfect on days 1-2, still delicious on day 3, and starts to show signs of staling on days 4-5. The texture remains softer than most homemade breads throughout this time.
- Alternative Storage: My favorite brown paper bread bags from Sis & Co Collective work wonderfully for storage. They’re also great for gifting!
- Freezing for Longer Storage: If you don’t plan to finish the loaf within 4-5 days, slice it up and freeze the individual slices in a freezer bag. This way, you can grab exactly what you need without thawing the whole loaf.
- Reheating Frozen Slices: For soft, fresh-tasting slices, microwave frozen pieces for 10-15 seconds. For toast, pop the frozen slices directly into the toaster – no thawing needed!
DO NOT REFRIGERATE! The fridge will actually make your bread stale faster. Refrigeration accelerates retrogradation – the process where starch molecules reorganize and become firm, creating that stale texture. Room temperature storage keeps the starches in their soft, fresh state much longer.
Ingredient Substitutions
- Honey: Can be substituted with an equal weight of granulated sugar. If using granulated sugar, add 1-2 tablespoons extra liquid to compensate for moisture loss.
- Avocado oil: Easily swap with olive oil, sunflower oil, melted coconut oil, or any neutral-tasting oil. Multiple testers successfully used olive oil with great results.
- Milk (for tangzhong): Any dairy or non-dairy milk works beautifully. Testers had success with cashew milk, almond milk, and regular dairy milk. Just make sure it’s unsweetened and unflavored.
- High-protein bread flour: King Arthur and Ballerina Farm bread flour both work as written (I tested both). If using all-purpose flour (like Costco brand), add an extra 25g flour to the main dough for proper structure.
- Water: one tester used milk in the main dough instead of the water. This works fine, but the final loaf will be more sour. If you want more milk in the main dough, I’d try half milk, half water.
FAQs
Yes! I created a calculator on this recipe post (right above the recipe card)! Just select your loaf pan size, how many loaves you want to make, and copy the new ingredient list.
Yes, you can! Just note that the resulting bread will be more tangy since you’re skipping the sweet stiff starter. Instead of making the sweet stiff starter, use 100g of your regular active sourdough starter (fed at 100% hydration – equal parts flour and water).
Then adjust the main dough: reduce cold water from 225g to 212g, and increase bread flour from 575g to 593g. These adjustments account for the different hydration levels between the stiff sweet starter and regular liquid starter, keeping the overall dough hydration the same.
Yes! Several testers successfully used olive oil, sunflower oil, and extra virgin olive oil in place of avocado oil with great results. Any neutral-tasting oil will work.
While honey provides both sweetness and helps with texture/moisture, you can substitute with an equal weight of granulated sugar. However, you may need to add 1-2 tablespoons of additional liquid to compensate for the moisture loss.
Absolutely! Testers successfully used cashew milk and almond milk in the tangzhong. Any non-dairy milk should work fine – just make sure it’s unsweetened and unflavored.
One tester added an egg and had success, though it will change the texture slightly, making it richer and more tender. If adding an egg, reduce the water by at least 25g to maintain proper hydration.
The dough is meant to be slightly sticky/tacky after mixing. However, some recipe testers needed to add between 1 tbsp and 1/4 cup extra flour due to humidity, flour brand differences, or kitchen conditions. Add flour gradually (1 tablespoon at a time) until the dough comes together.
For warmer kitchens [76°F+ (24.5°C+)]: Reduce fermentation times and check dough earlier. The overnight rise on the counter will likely overproof your dough, so pop it in the fridge overnight. Bring it out in the morning and proceed with the second rise. For cooler kitchens (under 70°F or 21°C): Add 1-3 hours to each fermentation stage. Always go by visual cues – refer to the photos in the recipe card for help!
Yes! You can refrigerate the dough at any stage to slow fermentation. This is especially helpful after bulk fermentation or during the second rise if your timing gets off.
The timeline is a guide based on a 73°F (23°C) kitchen. Many testers had to adjust timing by several hours. Focus on the dough’s appearance and feel rather than strict timing. I’ve provided photos in this recipe post to help you compare your dough to mine!
Yes, but it requires more effort. Mix initially for 3-4 minutes by hand, then rest 30 minutes. Repeat with stretch and folds every 30 minutes until you achieve a smooth, elastic dough. The goal is still a weak windowpane.
Yes! Several testers successfully doubled or scaled up the recipe. Just ensure your mixer can handle the larger dough volume, and you may need to extend mixing time slightly.
The final recipe is for no lid, because it always stuck when I tested. But some testers used the lid and loved it. Many have suggested my particular lid may be faulty, but in any case, you don’t need the lid!
My first suggestion would be to baby your starter for 1-2 days before starting this recipe. Feed it from peak to peak, meaning you never let it deflate before refreshing it with a new feeding. That will cut down on any lingering acidity. My second suggestion would be to try flipping the timeline to shorten the rise times. Feed your starter in the morning, mix your dough before bed, shape the next morning, and watch it closely; bake it as soon as the dough reaches the lip of the pan. Perhaps that’ll shorten the second rise a little, leading to less tangy flavors.
Try flipping the timeline for better control: feed starter in the morning, mix dough before bed, shape the next morning, and watch closely. Bake as soon as dough reaches the pan’s lip.
Prevention tips: Use cold ingredients (ice water, cold tangzhong) to prevent overheating during mixing. Remember: warm dough ferments faster.
Calculate Ingredients for Different Pan Sizes
Sourdough Wonder Bread Copycat Recipe
Equipment
- 13×4 long loaf pan USA Pan is my favorite
- Stand mixer with dough hook
- 2-quart bowl for first rise
- Long bread bag code THATSOURDOUGHGAL for 15% off
Ingredients
Stiff Sweet Starter
- 15 g sourdough starter
- 15 g honey
- 30 g water
- 60 g bread flour
Tangzhong
- 35 g bread flour
- 175 g whole milk
Main Dough
- All of the stiff sweet starter from above
- All of the tangzhong from above
- 225 g cold water
- 75 g honey or sugar
- 25 g avocado oil
- 575 g high-protein bread flour see Notes
- 12 g salt
- 1 tbsp butter for buttering the baked loaf
Instructions
Day 1 (Evening)
- Make the stiff sweet starter: In a small jar, mix 15 g sourdough starter, 15 g honey, 30 g water, and 60 g bread flour until it forms a ball. Knead outside of the jar to fully incorporate the ingredients. Cover loosely and let ferment at room temperature until morning.
- Make the tangzhong: Mix 35 g bread flour and 175 g whole milk in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until thickened and reaches 150°F (65°C). For me, it usually takes 3-5 rounds to finish. Cover and refrigerate until morning.
Day 2 (Morning)
- Mix the dough: In stand mixer bowl, combine All of the stiff sweet starter, All of the tangzhong, 225 g cold water, 75 g honey, 25 g avocado oil, 575 g high-protein bread flour, and 12 g salt. Mix on speed 1 (lowest speed) for 1-2 minutes until ingredients come together, then increase to speed 2 (a tiny bit faster) and mix for 10-15 minutes, or until dough reaches a weak windowpane. It takes about 10 minutes in a Bosch and upwards of 30 minutes in a KitchenAid, for reference.The dough will feel slightly sticky or tacky after mixing, but it should hold its shape. If the dough doesn't fully come together after a few minutes in the stand mixer, add additional flour in 1 tbsp increments.
- Bulk fermentation: Transfer to lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let rise on counter until evening (8-12 hours). At the end of bulk fermentation, the dough should have risen by about 40%, have lots of bubbles, and should be puffy when you tap the surface. (My BF took 11 hours; my home was 73°F/23°C and my dough was 75°F/24°C.) Once it reaches this point, put the bowl in the refrigerator until bedtime to slow down fermentation.
Day 2 (Evening)
- Shape the dough: If not using a nonstick bread pan, lightly oil it. Bring dough out of the fridge and turn it onto work surface (use a light dusting of flour to prevent sticking, if needed). Using a rolling pin, roll dough into rectangle slightly narrower than pan width (about 10" wide by 14" long).
- Roll up the dough tightly, pinch the seams on each end, and place your dough log seam-side down in bread pan.
- Second rise: Cover and let rise on the counter, overnight, until very puffy and the dough is even with the height of the pan rim (approximately 8-12 hours). (My dough was ready after 11.5 hours in a 73°F/23°C environment.)Note: If your home is warmer than about 75°F (24°C), the dough will likely overproof by morning. I advise putting it in the fridge overnight and resuming with the second rise in the morning.
Day 3 (Morning)
- Bake: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake uncovered 40-45 minutes until internal temperature reaches 200-205°F (93-96°C). If the top of the loaf is getting too dark, cover with foil. Once done, immediately brush hot loaf with 1 tbsp butter. Cool in pan 5-10 minutes, then turn out onto rack. Cool completely before slicing (1-2 hours).
Video
Notes
- Bread flour: Ballerina Farm (14% protein) or King Arthur unbleached (12.7% protein) – no adjustments needed
- All-purpose: Costco AP flour – add 25g extra flour to main dough
- Canadian options: Arva Mills Daisy flour or Boreal Organic All Purpose (Costco) work perfectly (thanks to follower Amanda Steele for this tip)
Conclusion
And there you have it – a sourdough Wonder Bread copycat loaf that’s so soft and squishy, it’ll make you question everything you thought you knew about sourdough.
Whether you’re making pimento cheese sandwiches for the Masters, PB&Js for the kids, or just want to blow everyone’s minds with the softest homemade bread they’ve ever tasted (that’s also gut-healthy), this recipe is the one.
I can’t wait to see your beautiful loaves! Please share your feedback and photos in the comments below, and be sure to tag me in your Instagram stories @thatsourdoughgal – I love seeing your baking wins.
Another super soft bread (with a tangzhong!) to try next: Fluffy, Soft Sourdough Dinner Rolls Recipe
I am not getting the rise out of my bread. I think I’m missing a step. After cold proof overnight I’m popping it right in the oven. Should I let it rise on counter for awhile.
The overnight proof is not cold – it should be on the counter.
Second rise: Cover and let rise on the counter, overnight, until very puffy and the dough is even with the height of the pan rim (approximately 8-12 hours). (My dough was ready after 11.5 hours in a 73°F/23°C environment.)
I like my sourdough SSSSOOOOOUUUUUUURRRRRRR. What can I do to increase the sourness of your recipe? Thanks.
This recipe is built to reduce sour flavors so this probably isn’t the best base to riff on. You’d want a 100% hydration starter, ideally with some whole wheat or rye in there. I’d add a little whole grain to the dough also, use way less starter so fermentation is longer, and do a 1 or 2-day cold retard in the fridge prior to baking. In other words, nothing like this recipe lol!!
What can I sub for the avocado oil in this recipe?
You can easily substitute with olive oil, sunflower oil, or any neutral oil you have on hand.
Can I half the recipe so it fits in my 9×4 loaf pan or will I mess it up? Thank you!!
Yes! There’s an option on the recipe card to half the recipe and there’s also a pan size calculator you can use too!
Love it…..when I first discovered this recipe I was frustrated that it did not specify what size pan and how many loaves it made. And now I see that you have added a recipe calculator based on size pans you have and number of loaves! Finally! I was making 2 loaves in larger pans thats why it never came out looking like the picture. Thank you for the calculator!
Glad you’re enjoying the calculator!
I absolutely love this recipe! My husband doesn’t really like sourdough because the crust is sooo hard no matter what I do, but this he loves! I have the sweet starter and tangzhong done for 4 loaves. My question is this: what about using inclusions? He wants me to try a making a jalapeno cheddar loaf with this specific recipe because he loves it so much. He loves that combination so I thought I’d try it in one of the loaves. It would also give me another recipe for all the jalapeños I’m harvesting lol! Will it work in this recipe? Do you have an idea of how much of each I would need?
Ooh that sounds like a great idea!! I need to develop a recipe like that, I’m craving it now! I’d reference my artisan jalapeno cheddar recipe to start and borrow those ratios – https://thatsourdoughgal.com/the-best-jalapeno-cheddar-artisan-sourdough-bread-recipe/
OMG REBEKAH!! I tried with recipe with cinnamon sugar and LOOK!!! It tastes better than it looks too!
Gorgeous!!!
Thank you for this wonderful copycat wonderbread recipe. Even with overproofing on 2nd ferment it still tuened out amazing. We loved it! I dont generally like untoasted sourdough, but this bread i ate 4 slices untoasted and plain! Its delicious! What a forgiving recipe. Thank you for your expertise and knowlege along with your wonderful recipes. Ive enjoyed along wirh this your tortillas, cinnamon rolls and artisan sourdough. You’re a fantastic teacher as well as a master sourdough gal . Thank you so much
God bless,
Lynn
So glad you enjoyed it! And thank you so much for your kind words!
Lynn, did you bake with the lid on the pan, or off? Yours turned out great! Good job!
Well, that was a wild ride! I made the recipe as written and divided into 2 loaves for baking. The stiff sweet starter and the tangzhong performed just as described. The dough was wildly active in my 78 degree kitchen. It rose to 50% in 7 hours. I refrigerated it overnight, and it continued to rise to about triple in the cold! It was bubbling on top and threatening to escape the 4 qt bucket. I worried it was overproofed, but it rolled out nicely and looked like your photos. Always bake the dough, I recalled! Bench rise in the loaf pans for 3 hours at 75 degrees, and it was ready to bake. The loaves were just perfect–domed, golden, fragrant, and delicious. The crumb is even and nicely proofed with a pretty swirl from rolling. I really don’t know how my dough worked this time, but it did. Thank you!
Wow, sounds like a super starter!! So glad you baked it anyway!
Hi, I just found your website with what looks to be wonderful sandwich bread. I have been trying to make sandwich bread and each time it never comes out like wonder bread and that has been my goal. So I am very excited about your recipe.
I have a question. I have never made such a thick starter. And am not sure if it’s correct. I am making 1 loaf a 81/2″ x 4 1/2″ pan and the amount of starter is very little. I mixed it up last night and left in my brooder box at 75 degrees since my house is cool. When I checked it this morning, it look like this. See pictures.
Hi Diane! It looks like there’s good activity but the photos are so small in this comment that I’m having a hard time analyzing the top. It should be slightly domed and very light if you gently tap the surface. The stiff texture is intentional for this recipe as it helps reduce the sour flavor a bit.
Hi, I am back. I went ahead and used the stiff starter I sent you a picture of in post on the 22nd of June. When I mixed my dough it was not sticky at all in fact it was stiff. I used Central Milling Artisan flour. I did get a window pane after about 35 – 40 mins of mixing in my kitchen aid. So after the bulk fermentation I shaped the dough and put it in my 81/2 x 41/2 loaf pan over night last night and in my proofer box at 76 degrees. It has risen but no where near up to the sides of the loaf pan. It’s been an additional 6 hours to the 12 hours over night. I am hoping it won’t be over proofed. I am baffled as to what to do. I don’t know if my proofer box is heating to 76 degrees or if I mixed the dough wrong. I used honey in the dough and starter. The dough only comes up half way of the loaf pan. I could used some advise. Thanks
If it’s not rising, it’s typically a starter health issue though it could be something else. Can you email me photos for more troubleshooting help? [email protected]
Hi there, messaging all the ash from Oz! I am so eager to try your recipe out and I totally ignored the timing and now I have a giant stiff starter at midnight!! (sounds a bit phallic doesn’t it 😝)
Can I put it in the fridge and use it in the morning or should I start over?
Recipe sounds DEE-LISH 👌
Yes you absolutely can! It can hold in the fridge at peak for at least 2 days.
Arrgggh just realised my loaf pan is 35cm x 15cm (14” x 6”) and I’ve already mixed my dough for a 13” x 4” (bloody metric system) 😞
Any chance you can calculate the quants for the next time I make this?
I’m terrible at math so I asked AI – here’s the adjustments:
The recipe is written for a 13×4 inch pan. Here’s the scale factor:
13×4 = 52 square inches
14×6 = 84 square inches
84 ÷ 52 = 1.615 — so roughly 1.6x
Here’s everything scaled up:
Stiff Sweet Starter
24g sourdough starter
24g honey
48g water
96g bread flour
Tangzhong
56g bread flour
280g whole milk
Main Dough
360g cold water
120g honey
40g avocado oil
920g high-protein bread flour
19g salt
1.5 tbsp butter for finishing
I seem to get a large air bubble that develops right under the crust when I bake the bread. it has happened to one extent or another each time I have used this recipe (6 times or so). I am guessing this is from proofing it right side up in the pan rather than right side down in a banneton like normal, but I am not really sure. Any thoughts on the cause of this.
A thin crust with separation from the rest of the dough is a typical sign of overproofing.
Do you have to put it in the fridge? Instead of putting it in the fridge, can you go ahead and roll it out into the loaf pan and let it do the second rise?
Yes you absolutely can!
I’ve been trying to make this bread using your recipe for a while now, but every time I try, my stiff sweet starter takes over 12 hours (sometimes 24 hours) to double fully. Would that be ok to bake with? Or should I be using sugar instead of honey? I have used different brands of honey and the result is the same. I have a warm kitchen and my regular starter is generally strong – it’s only when I convert it to a stiff sweet starter where the rise is super long. Let me know how I can adjust. Thank you!
Interesting; try doubling the amount of starter in there so it moves along a bit faster.
If using the Boreal AP flour from Costco Canada, do I still need to add an extra 25g?
Also, my pan is 13×5. Should I still wait for it to rise to the top of my pan?
I’m not familiar with that flour but you can always reference the photos and videos of my dough texture after mixing – if your dough seems more loose/wet than mine, add flour until it matches! And yes.
Hi, It’s Diane again from several weeks ago. I finally got the recipe to work for an 81/2×41/2 pan after Rebekah said I needed more dough. And I have learned the starter is too little to grow from 9am to mix the dough by 8pm. After changing the recipe from the calculator to increase the recipe by 10% . I then doubled the recipe and making sure my mother starter is fed well (fed several days) and healthy for the stiff starter. And I have had success. I am so very thrilled about this recipe now that I got the kinks out and with help from Rebekah. Like others this will be my go to recipe always. Thank you Rebekah. Pimento sandwiches hooray.
Thank you, Rebekah! I can’t wait to try this. Can I bake it in a 13 inch pullman with the lid on?
Yes, you can, though I always have trouble with my lid sticking! Might be worth a spritz of nonstick spray on there just in case
Hi! I made this recipe today n it was delicious. I was searching for something like this n someone recommended your blog. Thanks a lot for sharing. Excited to try out other recipes from your blog. Thanks again.
Looks great! I am so glad you loved this one!
Can I skip putting it in the refrigerator?
Yes you can