Easiest Sourdough Bread Recipe

Learn how to make the easiest sourdough bread using only ingredients you have. You’ll love this recipe and the bread you make using it.

I began my sourdough journey in 2021. I tried to make my own sourdough starter which was a complete fail. Over and over again, I failed. I could not get my starter to be as active and bubbly as it was supposed to be. To be fair to the starter, I was not 100% committed to making it work. I did very little research before beginning the process and didn’t truly invest my time in learning about sourdough. Needless to say, my family did not eat anything “sourdough” that year or the next.

In 2023, I took the time to learn about sourdough, its health benefits, and all of the ways you can bake with it. I joined Facebook groups, shopped for starters online, and began to enjoy the unknown that sourdough was to me.

What Is Sourdough?

Sourdough is fermented dough used to bake bread and other goodies. Sourdough is made of wild yeast. It is a way of making bread that has been used for thousands of years.

Sourdough is known for its health benefits. Sourdough bread is made up of healthy fiber, carbs, and vitamins. It is also very good for gut health and digestion.

My type 1 diabetic daughter has noticed more stable blood glucose levels when eating sourdough bread. When eating store-bought bread, her blood glucose level rises very quickly and gets very high. I believe the lack of sugar and preservatives in my sourdough bread helps her blood sugar level along with the long fermentation process that occurs in sourdough starter. The slow fermentation helps to raise her blood sugar levels more gradually instead of the rapid rise that comes when eating store-bought bread, which is very harsh on her body.

This is the daily feeding schedule I use with my sourdough starter. It keeps my starter bubbly and ready to bake within 4-12 hours after feeding!

Tips

Be patient

It will take time to learn how to bake sourdough bread. Learn by doing. Don’t get discouraged!

Keep trying

Try different recipes. Experiment with ingredients, measurements, and bake times. You may find a recipe you love or you may find one that you like with tweaks and changes of your own.

Seek advice from others

Join Facebook groups, search blog posts, and ask around at your local Farmer’s Market for tips and tricks on the best way to bake sourdough bread. There’s lots of good (and different) advice out there!

What You’ll Need

Mixer

I use a KitchenAid mixer and absolutely love it! With three kids and very little time, my mixer has been a lifesaver! I would highly recommend investing in a KitchenAid, or other high-quality mixer, if you are planning on baking a lot.

Cutting Board + Dough Scraper

The dough scraper is used to help shape the bread loaf before the second rise.

Banneton Basket

I recommend using a banneton basket when baking sourdough bread because I have heard such great things. However, I have yet to use one myself. I use a regular bowl lined with a cheesecloth when I proof my bread and it has worked great every time!

Scoring Tool

Having a scoring tool is optional. You could use something you have around the house instead such as a pair of scissors or a sharp knife. I have tried both of those before but ended up pulling the dough instead of slicing it. I would buy a scoring tool 100 times again with how easy my scoring is now that I use one!

Dutch Oven

I have both a large and small Dutch oven. If buying new, I would suggest a large one as it is more versatile.

Easiest Sourdough Bread Recipe

Feed Your Starter

About 4-12 hours before you begin making your bread you will feed your sourdough starter. You want an active, bubbly, and risen starter when baking bread.

Mix Your Ingredients

Mix your flour, starter, water, and salt until the dough has come together in a loose and gooey ball. Once mixed, cover your mixing bowl with a very damp towel and let sit on the counter for 30 minutes.

Stretch + Fold

Take an edge of the dough and stretch it up and in. Continue doing this until all of the dough has been stretched inward to make the dough look more ball-like. Cover the bowl and let sit for 30 minutes. Repeat the stretch and fold process.

Cover + Let Sit

Cover your mixing bowl with a very damp towel and let sit on the counter for about 12 hours. You want to make sure your dough has almost doubled in size.

Shape The Dough

Once the dough has almost doubled in size, scrape all of the dough out on a floured cutting board. Fold each side of the dough up and in to create a loose circle. Flip the dough over using the dough scraper. Use the dough scraper to then shape the dough into a circle. Make short circles with the dough scraper around the edges of the dough. Video below.

Second Rise

Once shaped, Use the dough scraper to put the loaf in the banneton or bowl lined with cheesecloth. Cover the bowl with saran wrap and let rest in the fridge for about 12 hours.

Score

Preheat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Place your Dutch oven, lid on, in the oven to heat up. I then pop my dough in the freezer for 10 minutes before I score it to harden the dough and make the scoring easier. Once the oven is preheated, take your dough out of the freezer. Flip the bowl over and place your dough on parchment paper. Score the dough using any design you would like. Once scored, take the Dutch oven out of the oven. Place the parchment paper and dough in the Dutch oven carefully.

Bake

Bake your sourdough with the lid on for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes take the lid off and bake for another 20 minutes. Once done, place your sourdough bread on a cooling rack to cool for at least 1 hour or until the loaf is completely cooled.

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Check Out More Sourdough Recipes HERE