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    Home » Recipes » Bread

    Published: May 6, 2023 · Modified: Sep 22, 2023 by Jen Talley · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads

    Italian Sandwich Bread Recipe and Video

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    A sandwich with chips on a plate with the text: Italian sandwich bread.

    Try this Italian Sandwich Bread Recipe for a delicious homemade bread that holds together perfectly for thick Italian sandwiches!

    Two Italian sandwiches with chips on plates.

    Italian sandwich bread is versatile and can be used for a variety of sandwich fillings, such as meats, cheeses, vegetables, and spreads. This bread holds together really well for delicious Italian sandwiches. 

    I strongly encourage you to read through my entire post. The video tutorial, step-by-step pictures, and tips and tricks sections below will help make sure this bread comes out perfectly.

    This recipe was adapted from my original recipe, The Best Sandwich Bread.  Don't forget to check out these amazing New York Style Bagels. If you are looking for a pizza dough recipe this Chewy Pizza Crust is perfect for homemade pizza. 

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    • This Italian bread is soft on the inside, but holds together perfectly for sandwiches without crumbling!
    • Italian bread has a mild, slightly sweet flavor that complements a wide range of sandwich fillings without overpowering them.
    • Making your own bread is a great way to know exactly what ingredients you putting into your body. 

    Recipe Ingredients

    You'll need the following simple ingredients to make this Italian Sandwich Bread Recipe.

    The ingredients for Italian sandwich bread in bowls on a counter.

    Water adds moisture to the bread. Warm water will help the dough to rise faster.

    Bread Flour is the best flour for white bread. It has a higher protein content than regular flour and helps the bread to hold together for sandwiches.

    Instant Yeast allows the dough to rise. I prefer using the brand SAF Instant Yeast.

    Olive Oil softens the crumb of the bread.

    White Sugar feeds the yeast.

    Salt brings out the flavor of the bread.

    These simple ingredients create the best bread for Italian sandwiches.

    Substitutions

    • All Purpose Flour or regular white flour can replace the bread flour. This will affect the chewiness of the finished loaf and how well it holds together.
    • Honey can be a substitute for white sugar. Replace the sugar with 2 tablespoons of honey.
    • Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Canola Oil, and Vegetable Oil can all be used interchangeably in this recipe.
    • Active Dry Yeast can substitute the instant yeast. Make sure you proof it in warm water before adding the ingredients. 

    How to Make Italian Sandwich Bread

    Here are some quick visual instructions. The full recipe with ingredient measurements is below!

    Add all the ingredients to the bowl of a stand mixer. Using the dough hook attachment knead on a low speed for about 6-9 minutes. The dough should be pulling away from the sides and center of the mixer, but still feel sticky (see video in recipe card).

    Pro Tip: If it is your first time making this you may want to add 3 ½ cups of flour to the mixer and wait a minute to see if you need to add the remaining ½ cup of flour.

    A mixer with the ingredients to make Italian sandwich bread.

    Remove the dough from the mixer and knead it a couple times on a lightly floured surface to form a ball. 

    Place the dough in a large bowl and cover it with plastic wrap. Let the dough rise in a warm place until doubled. How fast it rises will depend on the room temperature.

    Two hands rolling dough into a ball, holding the ball of dough, and the dough in a bowl.

    After the first rise, grease two loaf pans. Divide the bread dough into two equal pieces. Shape them into loaves and transfer the dough to the loaf pans.

    Rise Option 1: Rub a little oil or butter on the top of two pieces of plastic wrap. Place the plastic wrap over the dough allowing room for the dough to grow about 45-60 minutes.

    Rise Option 2: Place a pan in your oven and add 2 cups of boiling water to the pan. Let the loaves rise in the warm, steamy oven with the light on for 30-45 minutes.

    The shaped dough in two greased loaf pans and the pans covered in plastic wrap.

    Once the dough has risen, very carefully remove the plastic wrap (option 1) or remove them from the warm oven (option 2). Preheat the oven to 350° Fahrenheit. Gently place the loaves in the oven. You don't want the dough to deflate. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until golden brown on top.

    Two loaf pants with the sandwich dough fully risen.

    Remove them from the pans and let the loaves cool on a cooling rack before slicing into them.

    Two loaves of bread on a cooling rack.

    Recipe Tips & Tricks

    Read through these tips to help you make the best homemade bread.

    The Loaf Pan Size Matters!

    • The size of the loaf pan will affect how tall the loaf of bread will be. During the second rise, pay attention to how tall the dough rises. If using a 4.5x8.5 inch pan: The middle of the risen dough should be about 1 inch above the edge. If using a 5x9 inch pan: The middle of the risen dough should be just barely above the top of the edge. 
    • If the bread doesn't rise enough it won't be as fluffy.
    • If the bread rises too much it can over-proof and fall. 

    Bread is Too Dense

    • First, how was the consistency of your dough.  You want a sticky dough that holds together in a ball. If you added too much flour you will have a dense loaf of bread. 
    • Second, make sure you are giving the loaves enough time to rise. 

    Bread is Crumbly

    • The type of flour you use can affect how chewy or crumbly the bread will turn out. Bread flour has a higher protein content and yields chewier bread that will hold together beautifully for sandwiches. Whole wheat flour and all-purpose flour will affect the crumb of the bread. King Arthur Bread flour works great in this recipe.
    • Allowing the dough to rise for the right amount of time will ensure that the bread has enough structure to hold together. Under-risen bread may be dense and crumbly.
    • Using the right amount of water or other liquids in your dough is critical. Too much liquid can make the dough sticky and difficult to handle, while too little can make the bread dry and crumbly.
    • Kneading the dough for a sufficient amount of time will help develop gluten, which is essential for holding the bread together.
    • A good bread knife will also make nice clean cuts for sandwiches,
    A loaf of bread on a wood cutting board with three slices cut from it.

    Storage and Reheating

    • Storage: Store the cooled bread in an airtight plastic bag.
    • Freezing: The bread can be frozen. Be sure to double-bag it and try to get out as much air as possible. 

    Variations

    Whether you are making Italian bread rolls, sub rolls or sandwich bread this dough is very versatile.  

    • Hoagie Rolls: This dough can be divided up and shaped into hoagie rolls. Bake the shaped sandwich rolls on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. You can even brush it with an egg wash and add sesame seeds on top before baking. Give it a spray of water on top of the dough to help it have a bit of a crispy crust and soft interior. It is the best Italian sub bread (so much better than Subway bread). 
    • Toasted: Slice the bread and put it in the toaster for toasty bread with butter or jam. 
    • Italian Sandwich: Make an Italian sandwich recipe with your favorite Italian meats and provolone cheese. Add a little sprinkle of Italian seasoning.
    Two hands holding an Italian sandwich that has been sliced in half.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What makes Italian Sandwich bread different?

    Italian bread is typically light and airy on the inside and is made using olive oil instead of butter or other oils. Italian bread is a great all-purpose bread that can be used for a variety of sandwich fillings, from meat and cheese to veggies and spreads. It has a mild, slightly sweet flavor that complements a wide range of sandwich fillings without overpowering them.

    Can Italian sandwich bread be made in a bread machine?

    Yes, this bread can be made in a bread machine, but depending on how large your loaf pan is you may need to scale the recipe down a bit. 

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    📖 Recipe

    A sandwich with ham, lettuce, tomato and onion on homemade Italian sandwich bread.

    Italian Sandwich Bread Recipe and Video

    Try this Italian Sandwich Bread Recipe for a delicious homemade bread that holds together perfectly for thick Italian sandwiches!
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Lunch
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Homemade Bread, Italian Sandwich Bread
    Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes
    1st and 2nd Rise Total: 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 2 hours hours 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 2 loaves
    Author: Jen Talley
    Cost: $2

    Equipment

    • 2 bread pans
    • 1 Bosch Mixer (or KitchenAid)

    Ingredients

    • 1½ cups warm water (340 grams)
    • 1 tablespoon SAF Instant Yeast (9 grams)
    • ¼ cup olive oil (50 grams)
    • 3 tablespoon white sugar (37 grams)
    • 1½ teaspoons salt (9 grams)
    • 4 cups unbleached bread flour (520 grams)

    Instructions

    • Add the warm water, yeast, olive oil, sugar, salt and bread flour to a mixer with the dough hook attached.
    • Knead on low for 6 minutes in a Bosch mixer or 9 minutes in a KitchenAid or similar mixer. The dough should be pulling away from the sides of the mixer, but still feel sticky (see video).
    • Remove the dough from the mixer and knead it a couple times on the counter to form a ball. You can add a very small sprinkle of flour if needed.
    • Place the dough in a large bowl and cover it with plastic wrap. Allow it to rise in a warm place until doubled about 1 hour.
    • Grease two loaf pans. Remove the dough from the bowl and divide it into two equal-sized pieces. Gently knead it into a ball and roll it out into a loaf shape. You can use another very light sprinkle of flour if needed.
    • Rise Option 1: Rub a little oil or butter on the top of two pieces of plastic wrap. Place the plastic wrap over the dough allowing room for the dough to grow about 45-60 minutes.
      Rise Option 2: Place a pan in your oven and add 2 cups of boiling water to the pan. Let the loaves rise in the warm, steamy oven with the light on for 30-45 minutes.
      If using a 4.5x8.5 inch pan: The middle of the risen dough should be about 1 inch above the edge.
      If using a 5x9 inch pan: The middle of the risen dough should be just barely above the top of the edge.
    • Once the dough has risen, very carefully remove the plastic wrap (option 1) or remove them from the warm oven (option 2). Preheat the oven to 350° Fahrenheit. Gently place the loaves in the oven. You don't want the dough to deflate. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until browned on top.
    • Use oven mitts to remove them from the pans and let the loaves cool on a cooling rack before slicing into them.

    Video

    Notes

    I strongly suggest reading through the "Tips and Tricks" section on the blog post as well as watching the tutorial video to help your bread come out light, fluffy and chewy so that it holds together perfectly for sandwiches.
    Storage: Store the cooled bread in an airtight plastic bag.
    Freezing: Double-bag the bread and try to get out as much air as possible before freezing. 

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Janie says

      May 06, 2023 at 2:43 am

      5 stars
      I'm a sandwich girl and I just bought a loaf pan. Going to make this italian bread on the weekend to enhance my baking skills!

      Reply
      • Jen Talley says

        May 08, 2023 at 3:37 pm

        I'm sure you will love it! Let me know if you have any questions!

        Reply
    2. Ned says

      May 06, 2023 at 4:03 am

      5 stars
      The homemade bread put this sandwich over the top! Thank you for such an awesome recipe!

      Reply
      • Jen Talley says

        May 08, 2023 at 3:37 pm

        You're welcome Ned. I'm glad it was a hit!

        Reply
    3. Sangeetha S says

      May 06, 2023 at 7:09 am

      I love making homemade bread, and this one sounds perfect for stacking up all my favorite sandwich ingredients. Do you have any tips for making sure the bread holds up well to all those layers of meat and cheese?

      Reply
      • Jen Talley says

        May 08, 2023 at 3:37 pm

        There are several tips throughout the post. Using a bread flour, which has a higher protein content will help. Also, make sure you give it adequate knead time and rise time.

        Reply
    4. Dina Miller says

      May 06, 2023 at 11:46 am

      5 stars
      This bread turned out perfect! Sandwiches were a hit

      Reply
      • Jen Talley says

        May 08, 2023 at 3:36 pm

        Awesome Dina!

        Reply
    5. dana says

      May 06, 2023 at 12:22 pm

      5 stars
      This is such great sandwich bread! I've only ever made artisan bread and although delicious, it just doesn't make for amazing sandwiches haha. Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
      • Jen Talley says

        May 08, 2023 at 3:36 pm

        You're welcome Dana! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

        Reply
    6. Anthony M says

      July 26, 2023 at 10:53 pm

      5 stars
      Im not sure what im doing wrong because everytime I make it the dough is very sticky and not like the video. I knead it with the kitchenaid for 9 minuets on the lowest setting and have weighed out the ingrediaents per the specs you have given. I have tried adding 3.5 cups then adding flower after and its still sticky and runny after I add a total 4 cups or 500 grams of flower. The mixing bowl is left with dough stuck to the sides. I end of having to use a bunch of flower on my hands and the counter just to make it into a ball becasue it's so sticky. It tastes amazing but I'm not getting the rise height I want. Its about half the height from the video and so making a sandwich is not very feasbale but it is perfect for eating with olive oil and balsamic or making garlic bread. My whole goal is for sandwiches and the very peak of the center of the bread can squeak out a small sandwich and thats about it lol. I am posting this after trying 4 times to make it. Any feedback or help would be awesome!

      My ingredients:
      500g King Arthur unbleached bread flower
      50g Pompeian light taste olive oil
      37g White sugar
      9g Himalayan salt
      9g Fleischmann's instant yeast
      340g Warm reverse osmosis water

      Reply
      • Jen Talley says

        August 02, 2023 at 2:30 pm

        Hi Anthony! I appreciate your detailed review so we can work together to get this right.
        1. Stickiness: It sounds like you need more flour. The dough shouldn't be that sticky. Keep adding a tablespoon at a time (let it fully incorporate into the dough) until it starts pulling away from the sides. It should still be sticky when you take it out of the kitchenaid bowl, but manageable with a little dusting of flour.
        2. Size of Loaf: There are a couple things to consider. Are you giving it enough rise time and what size loaf pans are you using?
        I'm going to send you an email so we can communicate and get the loaves perfect!

        Reply

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