I think we can all agree that Jimmy Johns bread is the bomb. It is by far the best bread available at any of the sandwich chain restaurants. The lightly browned crust and chewy, bagel-like interior is just sandwich bread perfection. It almost seems a shame to add lunch meat and toppings to such a delicious piece of bread. I have attempted to recreate this yummy bread at home and to make a long story short - it was kind of a disaster. It came out flat and nothing at all like the bread that you get at Jimmy Johns. After a LOT of suggestions, tips, comments and encouragement from my faithful followers, I decided to revisit my Jimmy Johns recipe with the advice from my readers. This time around, it was MUCH better. Thank you to everyone who sent a comment or word of encouragement to inspire me to not give up on my dream of creating Jimmy Johns bread at home. Jimmy Johns Bread 1 Tablespoon sugar 2 Tablespoons yeast 1/2 cup warm water 1/3 cup oil 3 cups all purpose flour 3 cups bread flour 3 Tablespoons sugar 2 teaspoons salt 1 1/2 cups warm water
Place on silpat lined baking sheet and let rise 45 minutes. Score with a sharp knife. Bake 18 minutes at 400. Check out the inside... It's entirely possible that I have more pictures of this beautiful bread than I do of my second child. Thank you Jimmy Johns for this delicious bread. And don't worry - I'll still eat at your restaurant. (Truth is - I don't always have 6 hours to bake my own bread.)
Ciao!
117 Comments
dennis charles
2/26/2016 12:41:40 pm
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Mike361
4/24/2016 11:04:34 am
I halfed the recipe so would fit in my bread machine on the bread dough cycle, made it into three loaves let it double in the oven,turned out delicious !
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Francis
7/30/2020 05:09:46 am
if you halfed the recipe, how much oil did you use; if the full recipe calls forb1/3 cup oil?
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Andrew Radil
10/21/2020 03:09:24 pm
1/6 cup
Renee
10/29/2020 11:52:49 am
1/6 is half of 1/3
Scott Hanson
12/12/2020 07:39:16 pm
2 Tablespoons and 2 Teaspoons
Bill
11/16/2022 08:21:25 pm
1/3 cup is 16 t spoons so half would be 8 t spoons
Moo12
7/15/2016 04:13:33 pm
Looks like you've got some duplicates with your recipe. Please update/correct it so that others may peruse the recipe. Thanks.
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Fancymonk
7/17/2018 10:43:34 am
My wife thought the same thing initially, but the sugar and water amounts at the top of the ingredients list is to prep the yeast. I'm making this right now and so far, so good with the amount listed.
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Sofia
3/24/2019 09:13:43 am
Yes the top 3 Ingredients are called the starter in the bread world. It feeds the yeast and gives more flavor to the bread. Truth is, if you let this sit overnight the flavor will be much more noticeable. I've played around with this before.
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Jolynn Jarvis
4/2/2019 02:09:52 pm
Do you mean let the dough rise overnight? In the fridge? I’m hoping to get a nice string yeasty flavor, would that be correct? Thanks! Jolynn - I either let my dough rise on the counter for an hour OR I cover it and put it in the refrigerator overnight. I've been told that the overnight refrigeration method produces a more "yeasty" dough but I don't really notice much of a difference. Hope that helps. Good luck.
dan o
2/20/2021 06:51:09 am
if you use instant yeast you can cut out that proof step and just throw all the ingredients together and mix but still make sure you TEMP your water between 105-115 that is the most important step if you want a properly risen bread.
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2/20/2021 07:47:06 am
That is a great question. The short answer is - I don't know. I've substituted instant yeast in this recipe but I used the same process. If you give it a try - Id love to hear how it works out though. Sorry that I couldn't be more help. Amy
Ash
10/20/2016 03:39:56 pm
What kind of oil do you use?
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Spencer
1/2/2022 04:18:07 am
Fleishmann's has a couple different products - ActiveDry Yeast, and RapidRise Instant Yeast. Which one is easiest with your recipe?
Spencer
1/6/2022 06:53:01 pm
Oh it must be the active dry yeast, because you wouldn't do the proofing (warm water and sugar) with an instant yeast.
Maria
1/23/2017 01:56:34 pm
Hi, thank you so much for sharing this recipe. I usually have all purpose flour and that seems to be good enough for the bread machine. I am wondering, what is the difference between bread flour and all purpose flour? Does it change the taste or consistency significantly by only using all purpose flour?
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I am so glad that you stopped by my blog. The biggest difference between bread flour and all purpose flour is that there is more protein in bread flour. The extra protein aids in gluten development making a chewy and elastic product. To compensate, I knead my all purpose flour dough longer in order to bring out more of the gluten in the flour.
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Leslie
4/1/2024 10:30:05 pm
All purpose makes things like cakes and biscuits. Bread flour makes baguettes/french bread that has that nice open crumb. The combo of both AP and bread flour in this recipe mimics Jimmy John's perfectly because their crust is similar to a French bread (harder), but the crumb (insides) isn't French, it's more like an American white sliced bread loaf crumb.
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M. A.
2/7/2017 04:44:49 pm
Thank you for shared this recipe, it really look good. I want to know what is the correct amount of warm water, because it said 1/2 cup, and later 1 1/2 cup.
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David
2/24/2017 09:27:13 am
Hi. This is an excellent recipe, and I plan on making it this weekend. I really like Jimmy johns, and especially their bread.
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That is an excellent question. The simple answer is - I have no idea. I have never tried to freeze bread after letting it rising and before baking it. I would LOVE to know if it's possible though. If you give it a try - let me know how it turns out. This would certainly make the bread baking process easier. Thanks for stopping by the blog.
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Nina
9/15/2018 12:51:45 am
I’d call the King Arthur flour bakers hotline 1-855-371-2253(available on their website). I’ve called them many times and they always have a seasoned baker ready to help. Love their products and the great customer service.
Honey
1/7/2019 04:23:11 am
You can definitely freeze dough before the last proof and baking. I am a culinary arts graduate and I have done it many times. Increase the yeast (double) is correct.
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Ed
6/15/2019 01:15:07 pm
The way to freeze the bread is to par bake it then freeze it. You essentially bake it until it's all baked but no color. And I agree that King Arthur Flour experts can help you figure out more details. Enjoy your baking.
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Gabriella
2/28/2017 03:42:36 pm
How do you knead the bread? In your stand mixer? If so, could you please describe how you do that and with what attachment?
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Audra Bennion
7/27/2017 06:53:30 pm
I tried this with my 4.5 qt kitchen aide and its too small.
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Cynthia
4/2/2017 04:23:57 pm
can I use instant rising yeast and put all ingredients in the work bowl of my standing mixer?
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Debra
6/22/2017 08:52:13 pm
Boy easy simple I nade these for dinner and my husband just loved them.
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Audra K Bennion
7/27/2017 06:50:11 pm
What is the temperature the water should be at for warm? I'm thinking the water may have been a little to warm as my bread did not rise. I followed the recipe exact but I had to throw it all away.
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jim
9/26/2017 07:35:41 pm
Your yeast may have been expired found that problem with a few recipes. Bought new yeast and elimated problem.
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Mary Teresa DeLucia-Todd
6/23/2022 03:38:22 pm
you have to proof yeast it needs to bubble and create a bit of a foam on top of water This way you know it is still a live bacteria which is what causes bread to rise If it does not then your yeast is no good
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savannah emery
10/18/2017 11:58:52 am
I really love your bread recipe. Jimmy Johns is my favorite place to eat my bread. Bread is my life
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Mitchell brown
10/18/2017 12:01:27 pm
Your bread is very good thank you for sharing. I will be in my kitchen working on my bread making all night until I get it right.
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Denise McKinney
2/24/2018 01:33:29 pm
Well, after reading the reviews, I now know why mine was so dry and crumbly. I didn't add the water at the end. But I did however add two eggs and water little by little to get to a workable dough. It Rose beautifully and now it's shaped in foot long rolls, proofing for another 45. I will check back with how they turned out.
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Alayna
5/10/2018 07:52:20 pm
Have you tried kneading by hand? Something went wrong with my bread. The dough was SUPER sticky and baked pretty dense... it looks good but doesn’t taste right. I am wondering if it’s because I kneaded by hand
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I've never tried to knead this dough by hand. I've used my standing Kitchen Aid mixer to do the kneading for me every time that I've made it. I don't see why you COULDN'T knead it by hand though.
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MARIANNE
5/13/2018 01:38:35 pm
Since Jimmy John's bread is so soft, how long do these breads stay soft and fresh? How do you store them?
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Margie
7/27/2018 05:29:03 pm
Best sandwiche rolls ever,thanks for sharing. Easy to follow,delicious,soft the best.
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Nick
8/19/2018 11:10:20 am
Do you use active dry yeast
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Jen
1/14/2020 02:51:45 pm
Thanks - I was going to ask this exact question! Thanks for being so responsive. So many food bloggers aren't.
Zach
10/18/2018 04:12:51 pm
Hey amy,
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Brad
10/29/2018 03:11:11 pm
Just some random info here. JJ actually spoons out alot of the bread interior as they are making a sandwich. Sounds weird but I saw what I saw. I tried it on there day old bread and it was spot on.
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Sharon
10/31/2018 06:40:02 pm
I just made these rolls and they were delicious and had the perfect texture for a sub sandwich. My first batch was so great I can hardly wait to perfect my technique with these. I am finding bread making a bit challenging in my new home of Albuquerque NM because at slightly over a mile high, breads rise differently here. Some other research I’ve done has suggested I start out at a higher temp so I still baked these for 18 minutes, but did the first 5 minutes at 425, then another 3 minutes at 415, then lowered it to 400 for remaining 10 minutes. Again great taste and texture. I’m gonna fiddle with the temps a little more and see what happens. Thanks a zillion for the recipe.
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I am so glad that you made these rolls at a higher altitude and shared your results. I often have people ask me how to adjust a recipe for high altitude baking and I don't have a lot of experience with baking at altitude. It's nice to know what worked for you so I can pass along those tips to other readers. I'm so glad that you found my blog and are using my recipes.
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Farazdak
4/16/2019 11:58:19 am
I just want to say hi from Singapore to everyone here. I like everyone here and their comments. Thank you Amy for your patience and replying everyone.
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Greetings in Singapore. Subway white bread is slightly softer than this chewier bread. I swap oil for butter in bread recipes quite often because my father doesn't eat butter. I haven't noticed a significant difference in the texture or quality of the bread when I swap out the butter. I haven't tried it in this particular recipe but I imagine that it would work just fine. Let me know if you give it a try and how it turns out. Thanks for stopping by the blog.
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Cindy
6/17/2019 08:01:15 pm
Have you ever tried making small buns to make sliders from this dough? I am trying to copy the Jimmy John's Turkey sub in slider form.
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Chad
8/18/2019 12:51:56 am
I can't seem to get my bread to brown nice and evenly like your pics within 20 min bake time.. any ideas? Thanks
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All ovens are different and cooking times can vary greatly from oven to oven. It's possible that you just need to bake your bread slightly longer. Try experimenting with where you place the bread in your oven as well. I have better luck browning bread, the closer to the top of the oven that I place them to bake. Keep at it - it is worth the effort. Thanks for stopping by the blog.
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Angie Pacha
9/21/2019 11:47:56 pm
Do I have to use a silpat mat to make this bread?
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Eric Scott
1/7/2020 12:38:51 pm
Does the bowl, used for dough to rise, need to be greased?
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Jen
1/14/2020 02:44:25 pm
Great recipe! Thanks for posting. Now - when you find a copycat recipe for Schlotzsky's sourdough bread, let me know!
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Jen
1/14/2020 02:48:53 pm
P.S. If you could find a way to delete all the political BS from this thread, that would be great. Some of us just come for the fantastic recipes! All the extraneous, non-relavent noise is just distracting.
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Eden
4/11/2020 10:35:48 am
Hello from Indonesia! Our family moved back here a couple year ago. Had amazing time in the States and Jimmy John's a big part of our life. Ate their sandwich at least once a week for years. Thank you so very much for sharing this amazing recipe! Just tried it and it is exactly as the legendary Jimmy John's bread! Unbelievable. I and my wife couldn't be more happy today for discovering your recipe. Thank you.
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Carrie Ryan
4/11/2020 11:07:21 am
This recipe is making my quarantine 1000% better
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Purva Kothari
5/4/2020 03:36:51 pm
Can I just use only all purpose flour instead of bread flour? If using just all purpose flour what should the quantity be?
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You can substitute an equal amount of all purpose flour for the bread flour in this recipe. I usually knead the dough a little longer to bring out more of the gluten in the all purpose flour but other than that - you should be able to achieve similar results with all purpose flour.
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Lina
7/27/2020 02:09:14 pm
Thank you sooo much for the recipe! We’ve been eating sandwiches every week during the quarantine. The comment sections answered all of my questions I had! I tried this recipe a few weeks ago, halving the recipe and it was a success. I gobbled the first loaf with some yogurt/butter spread in seconds! It was amazing fresh and days after. I’m back to make more! I luv how simple your recipe is. Thanks for sharing with us!
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Gabrielle
8/12/2020 05:19:44 pm
Do you have metric measurements for this recipe? I tried to convert but the dough ended up way too wet and sticky.
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I have never tried converting this recipe to metric. I usually this online tool when I have to convert recipe ingredients though.http://www.worldwidemetric.com/measurements.html
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Rose
8/16/2020 04:18:40 pm
Best & easy recipe!!! Loved it - made it today for roadt beef aujus sandwiches tomorrow. I made 8 bigger rolls. Next time I am going to use garlic olive oil, brush seasonings on top. I will be experimenting differents ways since I know this recipe works. Thank you for posting.
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Alexa
8/22/2020 01:44:33 pm
I’m so excited to try this! But another thought - I worked at Subway for several years in college, and the bread came in frozen dough loaves- long and skinny. Then we’d set them out in silicone baking trays (like this Silicone Perforated Baking Forms Sandwich Mold French Baguette Bread Pan Food Mat 5 Loaf Non-Stick Baking Liners https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WYKVVRG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_EKvqFbSAGAWTW). The loaves would thaw and raise while In this sheet.
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Sarah
9/12/2020 01:28:48 pm
Does this actually taste like Jimmy Johns? I’m big into bread baking, but i find it very difficult making things that taste 100% identical to restaurants. It often comes down to the brand or ingredients or a starter that they use. Do you have any idea what brand of Flour Jimmy Johns uses?
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I don't know the brand of flour or yeast that Jimmy Johns uses to make their famously delicious bread. I also don't have a proofing drawer or the same ovens that are used in the restaurants. I feel like this recipe is the closest to the "original" that you can get though. It's super delicious and it's great on so many different sandwiches. I hope that you do give it a try and that you love it as much as I do.
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Benicetoall
1/27/2021 09:27:52 pm
It’s January 2021 and I know this blog and recipe is from 2015 so I just want to say —- OMG I WISH I KNEW THIS EXISTED! I halved the recipe and made 3 loaves - served a French Dip out of left over Pot Roast and they were over the moon. Excellent recipe THANK YOU!
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1/30/2021 07:44:57 am
I'm so happy to hear that you found my recipe and that your family enjoyed it. Six years later, it's still one of my favorite bread recipes too. Thanks for taking the time share your experience.😊
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Mint
1/29/2021 11:56:20 pm
The first time I tried this recipe, the dough came out dry and crumbly but I went with it anyways and it was a disgusting disaster. The second time, I added more water until it resembled the photo (about 1/4 cup) and reduced the yeast to 2 teaspoons (halved recipe). It's possible the recipe came out different because I made it by hand instead of a stand mixer. This is the best bread recipe I've made yet. The dough was beautifully silky and the finished product is beautiful and fluffy. Thank you for sharing!
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Catharine
3/4/2021 04:19:24 pm
Just waiting for the baking to finish now and it smells so good! Decided to do round buns instead...stay tuned!
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I've never made this in loaf pans but what an awesome idea. I think you should be able to divide the dough between your greased loaf pans and follow the recipe as written. Not sure what the bake time will be but let me know when you find out.😉 I'm also thinking that you might have to cut the recipe in half or use more than 2 loaf pans because this makes a lot of dough. Good luck. Can't wait to hear about your results.
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Barbara
8/27/2021 04:09:30 pm
Love this recipe. Nice soft rolls
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Anna
4/4/2022 07:34:15 am
Sorry if this is a dumb question/if someone’s already asked - but what kind of oil is used? Like is it vegetable oil or...? Thank you!
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Not a dumb question at all and there are a LOT of comments on this post to scroll through so I don't mind revising the oil question again. I prefer canola oil in my bread recipes but I've also used vegetable and olive oil. My cuban bread uses lard so I really don't think it matters what kind of oil you use - other than the fact that you can taste some oils more than others. Best of luck on your bread baking and thanks for stopping by the blog.
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Anna
4/13/2022 12:19:55 pm
Thank you for taking the time to respond. I just made the bread today. I realized I added way too much flour when the bread was crumbly and breaking apart before I even set it to rise. I added some more warm water to even it out. When I set it to rise my loaf was WAY to big so the bread ended up being a large circular lump when finished baking. It still tasted very good and I even managed to make a sandwich out of it. Thanks for the recipe! I’ll try harder to measure accurately next time 😅
Mary Teresa DeLucia-Todd
6/23/2022 03:40:09 pm
what size are the loaves? 12 seems like a lot of read
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Bob
9/12/2022 02:36:06 pm
No Jimmy Johns where we moved so can't wait to try this. Just wondering since you posted the original recipe 7 years ago if there is anything you've learned or would change today?
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Laura
1/30/2023 01:12:35 pm
How long would you knead? 4-5 min?
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I typically don't time the kneading process but I think it's about 5 minutes. The kneading time also depends on the flour that you use. If you use a high protein flour like King Arthur, it will take less kneading to bring out the gluten in the dough. When in doubt - add another minute to the kneading process. Good luck and thanks for stopping by the blog.
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Hannah
6/4/2023 05:45:32 am
Ugh I’m so sad I made the bread using this recipe and it smells like Jimmy johns bread but it just isn’t the same 😭 don’t waste your time y’all I did the recipe exactly step by step I even let it rise a couple hours longer. I wish I knew all this before I spent 6 hours on this 😂.
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Barney
7/29/2023 10:15:03 pm
I once received my JJ order in a labeled cardboard box that the frozen pre shaped lives arrive at the shop in. I believe it had 24 pieces. Based on the box shape I would say they were long thin pieces the shape of breadsticks. I presume they let it thaw and rise in the proofing oven you see in each store then bake it.
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Andrew
6/14/2024 11:20:19 am
I am very much a beginner bread maker and this recipe turned out really good! Not quite the same flavor but I'm sure it's a me issue (and the fact i had to sub an ingredient). Once it completely cooled, the crust becomes the exact perfect texture! Thank you for sharing! I will definitely be making this again (when I'm better prepared).
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Julia
6/19/2024 01:23:37 am
I've been experimenting with various bread recipes, and this one sounds perfect! If you enjoy this no-knead recipe, you might also love trying a bread with unmatched flavor. Check out the Jimmy Johns bread recipe here: https://www.simplerecipebox.com/jimmy-johns-bread-recipe-the-secret-to-unmatched-flavor/. The crisp crust and fluffy interior are a game-changer!
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