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(Recipe updated 17 May 2023)
Nothing beats the smell of fresh bread!
If you are new to gluten-free breadmaking, then this gluten-free version for sandwich bread will excite you.
The recipe is straightforward, but it helps to have a food stand mixer with a whisk and dough hook attachment unless you don’t mind working out your arms using a wooden spoon.
Additionally, there is very little mess when making this bread as you only need to use the stand mixer bowl and the Pullman loaf pan/bread tin. No kneading over the kitchen counter. The other bonus is that the sandwich bread only needs a 30-minute rise.
How to serve sandwich bread
If you have school-age children who miss lunch-box sandwiches, then they will love this type of gluten-free bread. The bread is soft, supple and smells appetising. The crust is not hard, but slightly crisp like the outer coating of a sponge cake.
For dainty sandwiches, the crusts can be removed to make them more attractive and cut into bite-size portions.
This type of bread is also excellent to make open-faced sandwiches with countless toppings.
Store-bought versus homemade gluten-free bread
There are more advantages to making your own homemade gluten-free sandwich bread rather than buying it. Fresher, healthier and cheaper are my top picks. Naturally, store-bought is convenient and has a longer shelf life.
Homemade Gluten-Free Bread Flour
This recipe for gluten-free sandwich bread has been tested extensively using my homemade gluten-free bread flour blend. This recipe explains thoroughly what ingredients are needed and how they work in the blend. Using store-bought gluten-free bread flour will give a similar result, but some brands may differ in the end result, requiring either slightly more liquid or flour to get that thick “pancake consistency” dough before baking.
Extra xanthan gum is recommended
I also recommend adding that extra amount of xanthan gum (listed in the recipe card) will give it more binding strength and make the bread fluffy and soft.
What is a Pullman loaf pan?
Professional bakers like to use Pullman loaf pans to bake sandwich bread for its square loaf shape and minimised crust. This pan has straight sides and a lid that prevents the bread from over “mushrooming” into a high loaf.
I bought my tin, measuring 20.8 x 11.8 x 11 cm (external) at Amazon, but I’m sure plenty of good kitchen supply shops sell them. Otherwise, using a bread tin or silicon loaf mould will do the trick. Just don’t forget to cover your tin or mould tightly with aluminium foil to prevent the bread from “mushrooming”.
Ways to use up any leftover bread slices:
Leftover bread slices are great for making cheese toast, BLT sandwiches, breakfast toast, French toast, breadcrumbs or croutons.
Homemade Gluten-Free Breadcrumbs
Making homemade gluten-free breadcrumbs is a great way to use up any leftover crusts, slices and ends of either store-bought or homemade gluten-free bread. I usually have several bags of breadcrumbs stored in the freezer for recipes that need crumbing, toppings or fillings. One bag is for white breadcrumbs and the other is for mixed-grain breadcrumbs.
Head to this link for crumbing recipe ideas using gluten-free breadcrumbs and other types of crumbs (Tortilla chips, cornflakes etc)
Gluten-Free Croutons
With any leftover slices of bread, cut them into small cubes and fry them in butter and oil. You will have crispy croutons in minutes to use straight away or freeze for other recipes when needed.
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Gluten-Free Sandwich Bread - plus croutons & breadcrumbs
Equipment
- Pullman loaf pan measuring 20.8 x 11.8 x 11 cm (external) or a regular bread tin
- Food processor for making the breadcrumbs
Ingredients
GLUTEN-FREE WHITE SANDWICH BREAD
Yeast Mixture
- 150 ml warm water
- 3 tbsp honey or rice syrup
- 1½ tbsp dried active yeast
Dry Ingredients
- 480 g gluten-free store-bought or homemade gluten-free bread flour
- 1½ tsp xanthan gum Optional, for additional binding strength
- 3 tsp gluten-free baking powder
- 1½ tsp salt
Wet Ingredients
- 250 ml lukewarm water
- 6 tbsp olive oil
- 2 egg
- 1 egg white
- 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
GLUTEN-FREE CROUTONS
- 4 slices homemade gluten-free white sandwich bread
- 2 tsp butter
- 1 tsp olive oil
Instructions
White Sandwich Bread
Preparing the sandwich bread dough
- Mix the yeast mixture in a bowl, cover and leave to rise in a warm place for 10 minutes.
- Mix the dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Set aside.
- Place the wet ingredients in a stand mixer bowl.
- Using the whisk attachment, whisk the wet ingredients at a medium-high speed for 2 minutes.
- Add the yeast mixture and whisk for 1 minute.
- While the mixer is whisking at a low speed, add half of the dry ingredients to the mixer bowl. Change the whisk to the dough hook attachment.
- Continue at a low speed and gradually add the remaining dry ingredients.
- Increase to medium speed and knead for 5 minutes. The dough should appear similar to a thick pancake consistency with some air bubbles present.
- Spray or brush the Pullman loaf pan or regular bread tin with some olive oil. Dust the pan with flour and tap it all over until the bottom and sides are coated. This is an important step to complete to prevent the baked loaf from sticking to the pan.
- Pour and spread the bread mixture into the loaf pan. Don’t be put off if the mixture appears gluey and thick.
- Cover the bread with the Pullman loaf pan lid or a damp tea towel and set aside to rise in a warm place for 30 minutes. The mixture should not be any higher than halfway up the loaf pan, or else the dough with rise too much and seep out between the lid.
- After the 30 mins rise, remove the lid and lightly brush the inside of the lid with oil. Return to cover the loaf pan with the lid.
Baking
- Preheat the oven to 190°C/ 375°F.
- Bake the bread for 40 minutes. If using a regular bread tin, cover it with aluminium foil (spray or brush the bottom side of the foil with oil).
- Remove the bread from the oven and carefully remove the lid. Allow 5 to 10 mins before tipping the bread out onto a wire rack to cool down. You may need to use a spatula or dinner knife to loosen the sides.
- Allow the bread to cool down completely before slicing.
- Wrap the bread in plastic wrap and store it in an airtight container.
Gluten-Free Croutons
- Remove the crusts from the sliced bread and cut the crustless bread into small squares.
- Melt the butter and olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat.
- Add the bread cubes and stir often, making sure all the sides catch some colour and fry evenly.
- Drain the croutons on a paper towel to remove any excess oil.
- Serve or allow to cool down to chill or freeze.
Gluten-Free Breadcrumbs
- Preheat the oven at 180°C/350°F.
- Place several slices of bread on a baking tray and bake for 10 minutes until crisp and golden. Alternatively, toast in a regular toaster or panini maker.
- Allow to cool down completely before crumbling and processing the toasted bread into regular or fine breadcrumbs
- Refrigerate breadcrumbs in an airtight container for no more than 3 days, otherwise, store in the freezer.
Notes
- Keeps for 2 days in a sealed container.
- Best eaten on the same day of baking. After this period, the bread is good for toasting and other sandwich ideas, breadcrumbs, croutons, etc.
- Slice the entire loaf and store it in an airtight container in the freezer. Toast the bread slice/s directly from frozen.
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Hello! Another delish recipe 🙂 Thank you so much for putting together such excellent flour blends and recipes. I usually bake on weekends. But I ran out of my almond gluten-free sandwich bread, and I have been wanting to try your recipe :).
Since I do not use xanthan gum, I replaced it with flaxseed meal to work as a binder. I add 1/4 cup to any recipe that has 2.5 cups of GF flour or above that.
That was the only thing I changed. I was a bit worried about the Whey isolate protein, wasn’t sure if it was going to upset my GI system. So what I did is that I only had one slice! (big sacrifice as the bread was so good!). So far so good. I am leaving the rest to be consumed during the rest of the week.
The smell coming out of the oven was just like gluten sandwich bread, yum! The outside was crusty and the inside was soft and elastic, Not a lot, but enough that it does not break when I slice it up. The color is beautiful. I am very happy with the results. Can’t wait until tomorrow to have another slice 🙂 Thank you, Sandra!
Thanks Morayah for your fantastic feedback! I am so happy you liked the white sandwich bread recipe. I hope the isolate agreed with you. I know that it is more digestible for those sensitive to dairy as it has a minuscule amount of lactose and is absolutely gluten & soy-free. Love how you are going through my recipes! Enjoy your gluten-free cooking!
Hello. I managed to find Expandex and unflavoured whey protein isolate and am ready to bake and your recipe looks like a good one to try. However, I have a question about it first: Under dry ingredients, it first lists “320 g gluten-free store-bought or homemade gluten-free bread flour”, then “1 tsp xanthan gum”. If I use your homemade gluten-free bread flour with xanthan gum in it, do I still add the 1 tsp of xanthan gum when mixing together the bread flour? Thanks.
Hi Kim! Yes, if your store-bought blend already has xanthan gum in it, you can leave out the 1 tsp of xanthan gum that I have listed. However, if you have xanthan gum handy, it doesn’t hurt to add it as store-bought flours vary in the amount of xanthan or other gums they contain. I hope you like the recipe for this sandwich bread. This bread flour also makes amazing baguettes, focaccia bread and mock rye bread if you feel like experimenting more! Cheers!
Thanks for the quick reply, Sandy. To clarify, I would be using your homemade gluten-free bread flour recipe with xanthan gum in it, so you are saying that when making your Gluten-Free White Sandwich Bread loaf that calls for 1 teaspoon of xanthan gum in, that I do add that extra xanthan gum to your blend that already has xanthan gum in it? I want to up my odds of getting this right after many less-than-stellar results with other recipes so I want to make sure I understand. Thanks!
I add and use the extra xanthan gum when using my blend for that extra boost to bind (and fluffiness) when making particular bread like this sandwich bread. I may add less or more for other types of bread. This is why I have it as an extra (and optional for those who have bought a store-bought blend). I hope that makes sense. Please let me know how you found the bread. Thanks!
Thanks, Sandra, for the helpful clarification. I look forward to trying your recipe! I’ll let you know how it goes.
Thanks, Sandra, for the helpful clarification. I look forward to trying your recipe! I’ll let you know how it goes. (I am getting a message about this being a duplicate comment so I’m not sure if it will post or not.)
Excellent, spongey, very light bread. Held it’s structure well when cut. Easy to cut very thin slices. Bends as much as normal bread. I followed the recipe as is, I chose to add the xanthan gum (recipe states it is optional), and I used the homemade bread flour recipe linked in the ingredients. The only thing I did differently is I baked it in a preheated Dutch oven covered loosely with foil, lined with 4 layers of baking paper as I didn’t have a loaf tin big enough. Allowed to cool on a rack covered with a dry tea towel.
That’s great to hear and thanks Molly for your feedback about both the sandwich bread and the homemade bread flour!! I like the sounds of baking it in a Dutch oven. Next time I make sandwich bread, I will definitely try out your method. Since you like the texture of this bread, you would love the hot dog bun recipe as it is a very similar recipe with just a few modifications.