Homemade Honey Sandwich Bread with Southern Sweet Nectar
One of our favorite things about producing local honey is seeing the many ways people use it in their kitchens. Recently, Jade baked this beautiful homemade sandwich bread using Southern Sweet Nectar wildflower honey, and she couldn’t have been happier with the results.
The loaf baked up with a beautiful golden crust, a soft texture, and just the right amount of natural sweetness. After seeing how well it turned out, Jade was excited to share her recipe so others can enjoy baking with local honey too. The photos in this post show just how wonderful her bread looked from start to finish.
Why Bake with Honey?
Honey is more than just a natural sweetener. It helps create bread that is soft, flavorful, and stays fresh longer than bread made with refined sugar.
When you bake with Southern Sweet Nectar wildflower honey, you’re adding the unique flavors of the flowers visited by honey bees throughout Central Alabama.
Honey helps:
Keep bread soft and moist.
Add a rich, natural sweetness.
Create a beautiful golden crust.
Support healthy yeast fermentation during the early stages of bread making.
Jade’s Homemade Honey Sandwich Bread Recipe
Ingredients
2 cups spring water
2 tablespoons Southern Sweet Nectar honey
1 tablespoon active dry yeast
1/4 cup Southern Sweet Nectar honey
2 tablespoons avocado oil
2 teaspoons salt
5 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
Instructions
Warm the spring water to 105°F–115°F.
Stir 2 tablespoons of honey into the warm water.
Add the active dry yeast and whisk together.
Let the mixture rest for 10 minutes until the yeast becomes foamy.
Pour the mixture into a mixing bowl.
Add the remaining 1/4 cup honey, avocado oil, and salt.
Mix together, then add the flour.
Using a dough hook, mix for 4–5 minutes.
If the dough is too sticky, add 1/4 cup flour and continue mixing for another 4–5 minutes. Repeat if needed until the dough is smooth and only slightly tacky.
Lightly oil your hands and shape the dough into a smooth ball.
Place the dough into a lightly oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and allow it to rise for 1 to 1½ hours, or until doubled in size.
Prepare a loaf pan by lightly oiling it and lining it with parchment paper.
Punch down the dough, shape it to fit the loaf pan, and place it into the pan.
Cover and let the dough rise for 30–45 minutes, or until doubled.
Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes.
Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes.
Brush the top with butter or your favorite oil.
For the best results, allow the bread to cool completely before slicing, although a warm slice is always hard to resist.
Tips for Great Homemade Bread
Keep your water between 105°F and 115°F so the yeast activates properly.
Slightly sticky dough is normal, but add flour gradually if needed.
Allow both rises to complete for the softest texture.
Store the finished loaf in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
Baking with Local Honey
We’re grateful that Jade chose Southern Sweet Nectar for her homemade bread, and we’re thrilled that she was so pleased with the finished loaf. It’s always rewarding to see our honey become part of recipes shared with family and friends.
If you enjoy baking, give this recipe a try and discover the difference that local wildflower honey can make. Whether you’re making sandwiches, toast for breakfast, or serving warm slices with butter, this bread is sure to become a favorite.
We hope you enjoy the photos of Jade’s baking experience and that they inspire you to bake a loaf of your own using Southern Sweet Nectar.
