Let your bread machine do all the hard work for you and say goodbye to overly complex sourdough recipes forever.
💡Are you unfamiliar with the world of sourdough? Visit the beginners guide to sourdough baking, or get started with a sourdough starter of your own from scratch!
Have you ever had a complete baking fail? Well of course, we all have. But have you ever had a two year long baking fail? I bet you have not. When I first tried baking with sourdough, I failed at it every single week for two years before I finally quit. When I restarted years later, I was determined to succeed and it still took me FOREVER.
Most people love the idea of baking with sourdough because they see pictures of beautiful artisan loaves with deep crust, slashes, and all the rest. And then the reality of their bread is a flat, weird, situation that is not quite what they expected. Anyone else?
I am going to share a great recipe that is going to end that sadness forever. This recipe has no yeast, so it is a true sourdough bread. But it breaks some of the sourdough rules because it is kneaded fully, like a yeast dough, in the bread machine. It’s not baked in there (that would not work at all.) But if you are looking for a truly simple sourdough recipe, you have found it.
When I was developing this recipe, I knew that it couldn’t be a high hydration, super open crumb bread. That requires folding and a million steps. That’s fine, but it’s not what I wanted. I wanted a true, yeast free sourdough that could be made easily enough that it could be our everyday bread. So I had to make this a pretty low-hydration, but I think you’ll be surprised by how nice the texture is. It turns out a great, consistent loaf of bread.
Step by step bread machine sourdough bread:
Day 1: Prepare the dough in the bread machine and shape the loaf
This bread has an autolyse step that is a fancy word for “mix everything in a bowl and let it sit there”. Pour all the ingredients into a mixing bowl, EXCEPT THE SALT, and mix it up.
It may look dryer than you are used to seeing with sourdough bread. That’s okay. Don’t add any more water. You can use your hands to make sure any dry bits get mixed in.
Cover with a towel and just let it rest on the counter for about 30 minutes. I always measure out the salt and put it in a little container on top of the towel so I don’t forget to add it later.
Come back after the 30 minute rest and the dough will probably seem less dry. Great!
Then we put the dough and the salt in the bread machine bucket. Set in on the dough cycle and press start. You don’t need to fold the dough or anything crazy like that. Just walk away.
Since this is a true sourdough without yeast, it needs a longer rise time than what the bread machine gives it. Let it complete the cycle, turn itself off, then leave it for 2 to 3 more hours. It won’t double in size, but should look noticeably puffier. The cooler the room, the longer the rise.
Now we take out the dough and shape it into a loaf. It will feel sticky, but should not be too difficult to work with. Don’t flour your hands or anything else. Prepare a baking sheet by laying parchment paper on top and sprinkling it with cornmeal,
Roughly shape it into an oval without mashing it down. Just gently shape. I don’t use any type of fancy technique. When it looks like a smooth oval loaf, great.
Place the loaf on the baking sheet and cover it with heaviliy greased plastic wrap.
Put it in the fridge overnight. I have left it in there up to 18 hours without any trouble.
Day 2: Bake the bread
When you bake up in the morning, it’s time to bake your bread machine sourdough. The earlier the better.
Preheat your oven to 450 with one rack in the center and one rack in the lower middle. Place an empty rimmed baking sheet on the lower middle rack. We want to heat it up so it can create steam. The steam is an essential part of getting a good shaped loaf.
While the oven is preheating, take the loaf out of the fridge. It may not look that much bigger than it did yesterday. Don’t worry.
Gently rub it with flour (I use rice flour, but any kind is fine for this). and then slash it. If you want an “ear” on your loaf, do you main slash parallel to the baking sheet.
Once the oven has preheated, pour 1 cup of water onto the hot, empty baking sheet.
Immediately place the baking sheet in as well, close the door quickly, and set the timer for 45 minutes.
See how much oven spring you get with the steam? Amazing.
Let it cool at least 4 hours before slicing.
It is the perfect bread for sandwiches or toast with a chewy crust, great flavor, and beautiful interior with holes that aren’t too big for sandwiches.
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Essential tools and ingredients for this recipe:
- A bread maker! A basic model is fine, you are only using it for kneading and rising. I have this brand and use it almost every day.
- Bread flour. You really need bread flour for this recipe to ensure a chewy crust and good structure in your loaf. Look for one that is at least 12% protein. My favorite is King Arthur bread flour, available at the grocery store. If you are a serious baker, you can buy it in bulk for a much better price.
- Parchment paper. A sheet that will lay flat is much easier than wrestling with a roll every day.
- Your starter MUST be well fed, healthy, and vigorous! I follow a relatively low maintenance starter regimen and keep mine out on the counter.
Here’s the recipe!
If you love this recipe, please give it five stars!
Bread Machine Sourdough
Ingredients
- 3 cups bread flour 15.85 ounces/ 450 grams
- 1 cup lukewarm water 7.75 ounces/ 220 grams
- ¾ cup fed sourdough starter 5.65 ounces/ 165 grams
- ½ tablespoon sugar
- 1 ¾ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Mix the bread flour, starter, sugar, and water in a large mixing bowl. It will seem dryer than most sourdoughs, but don't add more water. Use your hands to make sure everything is incorporated into a ball. Cover the bowl with a damp tea towel and let it rest on the counter. (It helps to measure out the salt into a separate container on place it on top of the towel so you don't forget to add it later.)
- Place the dough and salt into the bread machine bucket and select the dough cycle. The machine will beep when the cycle ends, but let it rise another 2-3 hours in the machine, for a total rise time of 3-4 hours. The dough should look noticeably puffier, but may not have quite doubled in size.
- Prepare a baking sheet by lining with parchment paper and sprinkling with cornmeal. Take the dough out of the bread machine, and gently shape it into a round or oval loaf. The dough will be slightly sticky, but dry not to use any flour when shaping it. Place on the prepared baking sheet and cover with plastic wrap sprayed with cooking spray.
- Place the covered loaf in the refrigerator to proof overnight. Anywhere from 8-16 hours will be fine.
- In the morning, preheat the oven to 450 degrees with two racks: one in the center, one in the lower middle. Place an empty rimmed baking sheet on the lower rack while the oven is preheating. Remove the loaf from the fridge and gently rub with flour. Slash the loaf with a lame or sharp serrated knife.
- When the oven has preheated, pour 1 cup of water onto the empty baking sheet to create steam. Immediately place the loaf inside, close the door, and bake for 45 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack for at least 4 hours before slicing. 7. Store at room temperature, well wrapped, for up to three days,
Video
Notes
Nutrition
More sourdough recipes for beginners:
- My sourdough roll recipe uses the same steam technique and adds a pinch of instant yeast for a fluffy roll with a crisp crust.
- Sourdough baguettes are hand kneaded but also a similar process.
- And if you want to all all the crazy folding and buy some neat tools, here is a true artisan bread recipe you might like.
Your sourdough bread didn’t turn out the way you hoped?
Check my Sourdough FAQ page to see what could have gone wrong, or leave me a comment and I will do my best to help you out!
David says
Hi Katie just wanted to say thanks a million for the recipe, I baked this just now in the bread machine and it was absolutely perfect.
David says
Hi Katie, thanks for the recipe! Gonna make this tomorrow, could you clear up one thing for me please? When you say “Cover the bowl with a damp tea towel and let it rest on the counter.” how long should I rest it for?
Katie Shaw says
about thirty minutes! I keep forgetting to add that! :).
David says
Thanks very much!
alicyn says
I love your recipe. Thank you for finding an easier way to make sourdough. However, the confusing ingredient in this is the water. It would help to say “scant cup water”, 7.75 ounces, 220 grams. Because of course a cup of water is 8 ounces, or 240 grams.
Katie Shaw says
Good point Alicyn, I’ll correct that! 🙂
Jeanne Nelson says
THANK YOU so much for this recipe! I have been searching for a sourdough recipe that will give me a rustic, thick crust, great flavor and NOT take all day to knead and pamper and watch. The recipes I tried were either too complicated to do more than once or, when using the bread machine, didn’t come through on the crust and sour flavor. This hybrid recipe combines convenience and quality. I love it and have used it twice in one week.
Katie Shaw says
hi jeanne! I’m so glad you’ve found a new favorite recipe! thanks for letting me know 🙂
C says
Hi there, can I modify your recipe to include rye flour?
Thanks!
Katie Shaw says
yes, I would at first substitute 1/3 of the flour and see how you like it, then increase from there
Ali says
This turned out amazingly! I mistakenly added salt with all the other dry ingredients, but it still worked out! It was such a great loaf of bread with a fabulous crust and softer centre! It looked so professional, I’m still in awe! Thank you, Katie, for all your instructions and this fabulous recipe!
john stammers says
Hi Katie,
I`m having a little problem, when I get the doe out of the bred machine it`s very soft and cant form a ball with it, have to place it a dutch oven tried cutting down on the water but no different could it be the starter it looks good and is full off bubbles and is always fed the night before baking
Regards John
Katie Shaw says
hi John! interesting! are you using bread flour? if you use all purpose flour it absorbs less water and you’ll have to decrease the water by quite a lot. I don’t think its your starter if it seems healthy. I would decrease the water even more, until it looks quite dry in the beginning as pictured. if you are already doing that I’m not sure what the issue could be 🙁
Judy See says
Hi Katie, thank you so much for persisting & developing the easiest no fuss recipe. Success first time – very happy!!
Can I bake the dough in a bread tin rather than having a free form loaf? I understand the crust will turn out different.
Thanks in advance. Judy See
Katie Shaw says
yes you definitely can! still do the steam 🙂
Kathleen says
Why can’t I leave the dough in tje bread machine and let it bake in there? Is there a better sourdough recipe for that (not trying to be lazy, just have a lot going on and sourdough starter coming out of my ears.
Katie Shaw says
hi Kathleen. you can, especially if your kitchen is very cool. otherwise cover the bucket and pop it in the fridge. then you’ll have to go to a bake only. cycle for the baking portion.
john stammers says
Hi Katie
Why do you put the salt in the machine and not in the bowl when mixing the ingredients
Katie Shaw says
the theory is that mixing the salt directly with the starter will do “something” bad if you mix it in too early. To be honest, I don’t think its that big a deal! 🙂
Julie Hofer says
Hi,
Do you refill the water pan as the water evaporates? Thanks
Katie Shaw says
no because once it evaporates the crust will start to brown better, you only need steam for the first half of the baking time 🙂
karen (the good ones) says
I love you madly deeply! I am on YOUR sourdough cult of fans. After many failed attempts… SUCCESS! Thank you SO MUCH! Delicious!
Katie Shaw says
thank you so much Karen! so glad you’ve had sourdough success at last 🙂
Hugo Macek says
Would you recommend this recipe to bake – sourdough-
in the bread machine ? – without steam ? Can I still do it ? – or bread is not going to come out at all? Just wondering :))
Thank you for response .
Katie Shaw says
Hugo, you can! the machine actually seals up quite nicely, which creates steam. the only think is you’ll need to remove the bucket and cover it for the overnight rise in the fridge. then put it back in the machine to bake. my machine does not have a “bake only” cycle. so I’ve never tried it. but others have, with success! 🙂
mary ann malinak says
Hi again, I’ve made this recipe many times with the steam pan method. Our family LOVES it! How do I adapt the baking process now to use a 5 qt. dutch oven instead? Thx so much.
Katie Shaw says
Mary Ann, it will work great in a Dutch oven. Don’t worry about the steam at all. Just place your loaf in the dutch oven lined with parchment. bake with the lid ON for about 25 minutes, then OFF about 25 minutes. the rest of the recipe is all the same 🙂