Honey-Oat Pain de Mie

Recipe by PJ Hamel
189 Reviews 4.9 out of 5 stars

This sandwich loaf, with its hint of sweetness from both honey and oats, is wonderfully moist and tender. And, since it bakes in a pain de mie pan (pullman loaf pan), each slice is beautifully shaped, with an ultra-thin crust — ideal for kids. It slices easily for sandwiches and toast; try it in French toast for a tasty twist on that breakfast favorite.

Prep
15 mins
Bake
35 to 40 mins
Total
2 hrs 50 mins
Yield
1 standard loaf
Honey-Oat Pain de Mie
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Instructions

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  1. Weigh your flour; or measure it by gently spooning it into a cup, then sweeping off any excess. Combine all of the ingredients, and mix until cohesive. Cover the bowl, and let the dough rest for 20 minutes, to give the oats a chance to absorb some of the liquid. Then knead — by hand, stand mixer, or bread machine — to make a smooth, soft, elastic dough.

    A baker kneading dough by hand on a countertop.

  2. Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, or in an 8-cup measure (so you can track its progress as it rises), and let it rise for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, until it's risen noticeably. It won't necessarily double in bulk.

  3. Gently deflate the dough, and shape it into a 9" log. Place the log in a lightly greased 9" pain de mie (pullman) pan, pressing it gently to flatten.

    A baker shaping dough into a sandwich loaf by patting the dough out into a rectangle first, then pulling the top corners down to the center, tucking and rolling the dough down into a log.

  4. Place the lid on the pan (or cover with plastic wrap, for a better view), and let the dough rise until it's about 1" below the top of the pan/lid, 60 to 90 minutes. Towards the end of the rising time, preheat the oven to 350°F.

  5. Remove the plastic (if you've used it), slide the pan's lid completely closed, and bake the bread for 30 minutes.

  6. Remove the lid, and bake for an additional 5 minutes, or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center registers at least 190°F.

  7. Remove the bread from the oven, and turn it out of the pan onto a rack. Run a stick of butter over the top, if desired; this will yield a soft, buttery crust. Cool completely before cutting; wrap airtight and store for several days at room temperature.

Tips from our Bakers

  • Substitute an equal amount, by volume, of King Arthur Rolled Oats for the oats in this recipe. They'll add slightly more chew and heartiness (and also more protein!). 

  • Use the smaller amount of water in the summer, or in a humid climate; the larger in winter, or in a drier climate.

  • How about making this recipe in a standard (13" x 4") pain de mie pan? Increase all the ingredients except the yeast by 50%; leave the yeast as is. Bake the bread for about 35 minutes with the lid on, and 8 to 10 minutes with the lid removed.
  • Can you make this without a pain de mie pan? Yes. Simply bake it in a 9" x 5" loaf pan instead of a pain de mie pan.

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