All About Sourdough Baking

There’s a reason that sourdough has become so popular. It’s more than bread–it’s a hobby that’s satisfying, exciting, and just hard enough to challenge you.

But there’s no need for measuring everything in grams, calculating hydration percentages, or making this harder than it has to be. We’re just following a recipe, not turning into scientists. And every recipe I write is made with real home bakers in mind: simple, easy to follow, and no weird words. You can learn them if you want to. But you don’t have to.

Whether you’re just curious about sourdough or ready for a bunch of new recipes to use your 25-year old starter, I’m here for you.

Sourdough Basics

So many people get overwhelmed and confused and feel like they need to go to sourdough college before they get started. If this is you, I highly recommend skipping all the reading and just getting a sourdough starter on King Arthur Flour and starting with a beginner recipe. Nothing teaches like actually doing. But, if you insist on reading first, you can start here.

Beginner-Friendly Sourdough Bread Recipes

There is no shame in starting with a basic recipe and liking it so much you bake the rest of your life. These are all forgiving, simple, and will replace your most frequently bought breads and buns. Keep in mind that once you start with these you’ll also want to master a few discard recipes too, but I’ve kept them separate.

finished loaf in gold baking pan

More Advanced Sourdough Bread Recipes

These aren’t hard, but they’re more hands-on, a bit more finicky, and I make them less often. I still love them!

white chocolate raspberry round loaf.

Other Fun Things to Make with Sourdough Starter

While these aren’t as super-practical as a nice white sandwich loaf, they’re actually some of my very favorite things to make.

3 pretzels cooling on baking sheet.

Sourdough Discard Recipes

I love discard recipes. There’s just something about them that works. If you like buttermilk in baked goods, you’ll love these, it has sort of the same effect. Don’t worry, they aren’t sour and most people won’t even guess there’s starter in them . They’re just like a super good version of all your favorites.

A loaf of sourdough lemon cake, sliced to show its dense, moist crumb.

Baking Tools You Need

You probably already have the necessary tools—a bowl, spoon, measuring cup or scales, and some bakeware. But some special tools will make your baking life easier.

 Bob’s Red Mill Organic White Rice Flour, 24 Oz Amazon Basics Enameled Cast Iron Covered Round Dutch Oven, 7.3-Quart, White Tovolo Danish Sturdy Wire Batter & Dough Blender for Cooking & Baking, Bread Baking Accessory, Easy to Clean, Stainless Steel, 12 SIMOX Premium Bread Lame, Bread Scorer Blade with Crafted Wooden Handle & 5 Blades, Bread Scoring Tool/Bread Lame with Protective Cover 9 inch Round Bread Banneton Proofing Basket & Liner SUGUS HOUSE Brotform Dough Rising Rattan Handmade rattan bowl – Perfect For Artisan SMARTAKE 200 Pcs Parchment Paper Baking Sheets, 12×16 Inches Non-Stick Precut Baking Parchment, Perfect for Baking Grilling Air Fryer Steaming Bread Cup Cake Cookie and More (Unbleached)

 

Storage Tips

Serious bread bakers sometimes bake more than they can realistically eat. That’s okay. Here are some ideas for making the most of your homemade sourdough:

You’ve reached the end of my sourdough bread recipe collection, but your baking journey is beginning. I hope these recipes have inspired you and you’ve found something you love.

picture of smiling female

By Katie Shaw

Katie lives in Virginia with her husband, three daughters, a chocolate lab, and over thirty chickens. She loves creating simple tutorials for sourdough, bread, and soap. Her recipes, articles, and YouTube videos reach millions of people per year.

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6 Comments

  1. Mentioned if you live in Virginia may be close enough to grab some sourdough starter from you. Where exactly are you? Because that would be fantastic. I’ve tried so many times to make sourdough starter to no avail.

  2. Katie,

    A question for you a lot of the recipes and articles I have read online call for items like a banneton and a lame. Can you please explain what the uses are and exactly what they are?

    Deb

    1. Hi. Deb, a banneton is a round basket that you put the dough in and it helps it hold its shape as it rises. The lame is just a very sharp knife/ razor blade for slashing the bread. You don’t technically need either one.