New to sourdough baking? Here’s my easy Sourdough Bread recipe with thousands of success stories! Includes easy step-by-step videos and instructions, my best pro tips, troubleshooting, and everything you need to master sourdough bread baking. With over 1400+ 5-star reviews, this sourdough bread method ensures success on your very first try.

A loaf of no kneed sourdough bread, perfectly baked.

Are we free enough to open to the flow, no matter what it may contain?– Dorothy Hunt

We’ve tested and perfected our sourdough baking method to make it as simple as possible. This no-knead overnight sourdough bread takes 24 hours from start to finish with 45 minutes of hands-on time. Most readers have success with their very first loaf. Just read all the reviews!

Last week, I shared my method for an easy sourdough starter. By now, your starter should be ready to use, so I want to share my easy, beginner's recipe for no-knead sourdough bread that my friend Bee (H is for Love) taught me over 15 years ago! I’ve been refining and perfecting this method ever since, and it has proven to be foolproof.

This Sourdough recipe is flexible and easy, but most importantly, it works with my schedule. It doesn't require much hands-on time- although there is a tiny bit, just enough to make it feel wonderfully gratifying. The sourdough is made the night before and rises overnight on the counter (10-12 hours), before it is baked in the morning. Inversely, you can mix the dough early in the morning and bake it that night. It's very flexible and forgiving- even when you think you messed it up, it manages to surprise you with a beautiful loaf.

TIP: When searching for a Sourdough Bread Recipe (there are many!), the key is to choose one that fits your schedule. This allows you to easily incorporate bread-baking into your week without adjusting your plans. Always consider the hands-on and proofing times (usually two) to ensure it suits your schedule and lifestyle.

What Our Readers are Saying

One reader, Nidhi Vaidya says: “This recipe has never failed me! It always produces a beautiful loaf. Whenever a friend says they want to start sourdough, I point them this way.” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

️Stephanie says: “This recipe is perfection! Easy to follow and fool-proof! I love to cook and have never been much of a baker and never made bread! I dislike store bought bread and am excited to make this wholesome bread weekly! “⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ann says: “My previous attempts at sourdough were big fails, but I tried out this recipe and my sourdough loaf is picture perfect and delicious.” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Table of Contents

What is Sourdough Bread?

Sourdough bread is made using a natural, fermented leavening agent (called a starter) that doesn’t require commercial yeast. The “starter” , a mix of flour and water that is fermented, contains wild yeast from the air and good bacteria. This is what makes sourdough bread rise and gives it its tangy flavor and light, chewy texture. Because sourdough is fermented and has no preservatives or additives, sourdough bread is easier to digest than store-bought yeasted bread, making it a much healthier option!

Why this sourdough bread Recipe Works

  • Easy Schedule: Feed the starter in the morning, then mix the dough at night, proof it overnight on the counter (10-12 hours), and shape, proof (one hour) and bake it in the morning. (Alternatively, the dough can be made in the morning and baked at night). It’s very flexible and can be placed in the fridge if something comes up, and you can’t bake in the morning, slowing the process down.
  • Simplified, Easy Process: We’ve removed all the complex and intimidating processes that deter beginners from even starting. It is pared down as much as possible, while explaining the “whys,” resulting in a beautiful loaf the very first try.
  • This sourdough bread requires no kneading and no fussing – it couldn’t be any easier to make, thanks to several basic techniques that anyone can follow, which I walk you through in the videos.
Baked sourdough bread in a Dutch oven.

Getting Started: What you need to know before you bake

  • The schedule. This no-knead overnight sourdough bread takes 24 hours from start to finish with about 45 minutes of hands-on time. You’ll feed your starter in the morning → mix the dough at night →let it proof overnight →shape it, and bake it in the morning. See our detailed baking schedule below.
  • The starter. An active, happy starter is crucial to success here. Read through, preparing your sourdough starter below to ensure success your very first time.
  • What you’ll need. Read through the ingredients list and the baking equipment list. Some items, such as a Dutch oven and thermometer, are essential here.
  • Watch the video for a clear understanding of the process before you start.

Sourdough Bread video (start-to-finish)

This 16-minute, step-by-step sourdough video guide will walk you through the process of making sourdough bread from start to finish, with me personally. Don’t see the video? Ensure your ad blocker is disabled, try a different browser, or view the content on my YouTube channel.

***Scroll down to the recipe card for clear, detailed instructions

No-Knead Sourdough Bread Ingredients

  • Sourdough starter – You can make sourdough starter at home (it takes 5-8 days) or purchase it here.  To maintain it, store it in a jar in the fridge and feed it, like a pet. 🙂 Yes, you can even name it. If properly fed and cared for it can live for hundreds of years! My starter is called Vita.
  • Flour – use organic bread flour and rye flour. All-purpose flour works in a pinch, but for your first loaf, bread flour produces a better loaf. You can substitute whole wheat flour for the rye.
  • Water– use tap water, filtered water, or mineral water. Distilled water lacks minerals so don’t use that.
  • Salt– fine sea salt or Himalayan pink salt
  • Optional extras: rye flour, fennel seeds, caraway seeds, chia seeds,  rice flour

What equipment do I need?

Here is what you absolutely need:

Here are some optional extras: rice flour, dough whisk, banneton, dough scraper and a lame (scoring blade). An oven thermometer is also nice (to double-check that your oven is calibrated).

We offer this Sourdough-Making Kit at our Bowl and Pitcher Shop if you are interested. 

Preparing your Sourdough Starter

  • Be sure your sourdough starter is active and happy! It should double in size within 6-8 hours of feeding. If it is not doubling in size, it will not rise your bread. For troubleshooting sourdough starter, please visit our dedicated sourdough starter page and scroll to the troubleshooting section.
  • When making sourdough bread, use a starter either right at its peak, or after it has peaked.
  • For a more “sour” taste, use a starter that is “hungry”, and hasn’t been recently been fed.

Sourdough Baking Schedule

Keep in mind that rising time is affected by weather and seasons. In winter, cold kitchens will lengthen the rising time. In summer or warm weather, hot kitchens will shorten the rising time. So this is a rough estimate based on 70°F weather.

  1. Morning (6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.): Feed the sourdough starter.  8-12 hours before you plan to mix up the dough, feed your starter, allowing time to peak before using. (Or feel free to use an unfed starter for a more “sour taste”, straight from the fridge at 8 pm)
  2.  Night (8 pm – 10 pm): Mix the dough. Do two sets of stretch and folds, 15 mins apart (see 1st video)
  3. Proof it Overnight.  Cover the dough, let it proof (rise) overnight 8-14 hours at 65-70F on the kitchen counter.
  4.  Next Morning (6 am-10 am) Shape and Bake. Check your dough when you awake, and when it has almost doubled in size, stretch, fold, and shape. ( see 2nd video). Place in a parchment-lined bowl, seam-side down. Place this in the fridge for 1 hour while you preheat the oven. 
  5. Bake 20-25 minutes (or until internal temp reaches 200°F). Remove lid, and bake 10-15 more minutes, until very deeply golden and internal temp reaches 208F. Let it cool on a rack before cutting.

How to make Sourdough Bread (Step-by-Step Guide)

***Scroll down to the recipe card for concise measurements & instructions. 

Step 1: Feed the starter in the morning.

sourdough starter after being fed in the morning.

Feed your sourdough starter in the morning, 8-12 hours before making your bread dough -leaving it out on the counter and using it slightly after it peaks. Always use a slightly “hungry” starter.  TIP: You know your starter is active and healthy if it doubles within 6 hours of feeding. In the evening, make the dough after the starter has peaked.

Step 2: Weigh the flour.

In a large bowl, weigh the bread flour (520 grams) using a kitchen scale, being careful not to include the weight of the bowl. Here I’m using roughly 4 cups of flour, spooned and leveled. (3 1/2 cups of organic white bread flour plus a 1/2 cup rye flour.)

Weigh and mix the dry ingredients together using a kitchen scale.

Add two teaspoons of salt and, if you like, seeds; here I’ve added one teaspoon of fennel seeds, half a teaspoon of caraway seeds, and one tablespoon of chia seeds– I love this combination. Yes, you can add other spices and seeds. Get creative, but for the first loaf, I suggest going easy.

flour, salt and seeds in a bowl.

Step 3: Mix the starter with water.

Stir down the starter, then mix 1/3 cup of sourdough starter (90 grams) with 1 3/4 cups of water (385 grams) using a fork.

measured sourdough starter in a measuring cup with water in a mixing container.

It will look like cloudy water.

sourdough starter mixed with water in a glass measuring cup

Step 4: Mix the dough (wet and dry ingredients).

Pour the starter-water mixture into the flour mixture and stir, using a fork, into a thick, sticky ball. Switch to a wooden spoon. Mix the dough for one minute to incorporate all the bread flour, using the wooden spoon.  Just try your best to incorporate all the flour.

It will be thick, shaggy, and hard to mix. If the flour absolutely won’t mix in, then add a tablespoon of water at a time to incorporate it.  Sometimes whole grain flour is “thirstier” than white flour, so you may need a little more water, a tablespoon at a time.

A ball of shaggy dough in a large mixing bowl.

The dough will be heavy, thick and sticky (see photo above) to begin with, but will loosen up as it rests. Cover with a damp kitchen towel for 15 minutes, letting the dough rest.

Step 5: Stretch & fold technique #1 (Video)

Do two sets of “stretch and folds”, 15 minutes apart. This helps to build the gluten. Watch the first video below.  With wet hands, stretch and fold.  Let the dough rest 15 minutes covered, then repeat.

Stretch & fold video (Technique #1)

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Step 6: Proof the dough overnight.

Cover the bowl with a damp kitchen towel (wet it thoroughly, then wring it out) or plastic wrap, and let the dough rise on the kitchen counter overnight 8-12 hours, at room temperature. This is called the bulk fermentation. Every environment is different, and seasons will affect the rising time. Warmer homes will proof dough much faster, colder homes, much slower. In midwinter in the Northwest, I’ve even proofed for as long as 18 hours on the counter. Here in Santa Barbara, in summer, the dough was ready in 8 hours.

How to tell if your dough is proofed correctly.

Tip: You can’t always look at the clock; you MUST look at the dough.

  • Dough should be slightly domed, springy, somewhat jiggly like a happy, full belly, almost doubled. Shake the bowl and look for a happy jiggle. 
  • Do the poke test. Carefully poke the dough with a floured finger, 1/2 inch deep. If it is easy to indent, and the dough springs back, this is a good sign that it has risen enough. If the dough feels very firm and hard to indent, it probably needs to proof longer. If the dough doesn’t spring back, holding the indentation, or feels overly soft, bubbly, liquidy, or loose, it is likely over-proofed ( but still bake it).
perfectly proofed dough in a white bowl after rising overnight.

Prepare the shaping bowl.  Place a piece of parchment paper in a bowl.  I prefer using a high-sided, medium-sized bowl over a flat or shallow one to help shore up the sides. You can also use a banneton (scroll down).

lining a bowl with parchment paper.

Tip on parchment paper: I use the “If You Care” brand of parchment baking paper. It is designed for high heat and does not stick or burn. If unsure about yours, spray it with a bit of olive oil to prevent sticking.

What is a banneton? And some tips.

As you progress in your baking journey, you may want to use a Banneton (bread-proofing basket below). A banneton is a ridged basket that makes pretty rings on the bread. If using a Banneton, use rice flour to prevent dough from sticking, and place any seeds on the bottom, placing the dough seam-side up (because you will flip it).

an example of a floured Banneton.

It can be a bit tricky to flip the Banneton into a hot Dutch oven and have it land centered. I prefer to flip it onto parchment paper, score, then place the parchment and dough into the hot Dutch oven. When using a piece of parchment paper in a regular bowl, there is no need to flip; simply lift the parchment and place it in the Dutch oven. Much easier than a banneton.

Step 7: Stretch & shape technique #2 (Video)

Watch the 2nd video below for our “stretch and shape” technique to use after the dough has been proofed.  Loosen the dough from the edges of a bowl with a wet spatula or wet plastic dough scraper, sliding it down the sides of the bowl.

Stretch & Shape Video (Technique #2)

Doing the stretch and shape technique: two hands lifting the dough a foot high.

With wet hands, carefully pull the dough up on each side, lift it up about 1 foot high, and place it back down, folding it on top of itself gently.

Give the bowl a quarter turn and do this again with wet hands (repeat this 15 minutes later.) Then, the third time you lift and stretch, you will either lift it all the way up into your parchment-lined bowl, seam side down (easiest) or into the floured proofing basket, seam side up (pinching it closed). 

As you see above, after proofing the dough overnight, it will become much looser. The starter has metabolized the flour overnight. This can be tricky to handle. However, using wet hands and learning the second stretch and shape technique in the second video above will make the wet dough much easier to handle. Trust me here. 🙂

After the second set, lift the dough into the parchment-lined bowl, seam side down. Many sourdough recipes call for placing the dough on a work surface to shape it, creating surface tension. You can do this, but this time we are skipping this step and using a stretch-and-shape technique instead, to keep it simple.

the second short proof session: sourdough in a bowl with seeds on top.

Sprinkle the top of the dough with seeds and dust with flour or rice flour (which makes it easier to score)especially if using the banneton, get those sides sprinkled well- so it flips out without catching!

Dusing the sour dough with flour before scoring the dough.

Step 8: Second “rise” and preheat the oven.

Place the dough in the fridge for one hour (or up to 3 hours) while you heat up the oven to 500°F with your Dutch oven inside (please see notes) for 60 minutes. Chilling the dough will make it easier to score and give it a little more “oven spring”.  It is not really intended to rise here.

Step 9: Score the sourdough.

Score:  Grease your blade or lame,  and score the dough swiftly and deeply, at a 45-degree angle, 3/4 inch deep. Score where you want the dough to puff up. You can do one simple slash, a crescent, or a crisscross, or feel free to add other designs. (Just google sourdough scoring designs and be mesmerized for hours!)  Oiling the knife helps. The lame really does make this 100 times easier!

Step 10: Bake it.

Carefully take out the Dutch oven from the oven and close the oven door. Remove the lid and gently lift your dough, holding onto the parchment corners, and lift it into the Dutch oven, and quickly cover. Place in the middle of the oven for 18-22 mins.

The baked sourdough bread uncovered in the oven.

Remove the lid; it should be nicely puffed, lightly golden, and around 200F. This is your goal; if the temperature is not 200°F, replace the lid. Once the internal temp reaches 200°F, uncover and bake 10-15 minutes until deeply golden and internal temp reaches 208°F. Allow your loaves to get crusty and deeply golden. Let them go a bit longer than you might think.

Step 11: Cool and rest.

A loaf of sourdough bread out of the oven.

Remove it, place it on a wire rack, and let it cool completely before cutting. This is the HARDEST part!  😂 It will smell heavenly, and you will feel proud. Bask in it! It truly is an accomplishment!

A sourdough loaf sliced in half.

Storing your sourdough bread

  • If you plan to eat your sourdough bread within one to two days, store it cut side down on a cutting board, covered with a kitchen towel.
  • If you plan to eat within 3-4 days, store the bread in a paper bag, which will help keep the crust crisp.
  • You can also store it in a plastic bag in the fridge for up to a week, but you will lose the crispy crust.
  • Freeze (either whole or sliced) in a freezer bag for up to 3 months.

Chef’s Tips for the Best Sourdough Bread

  • STARTER: Using your starter slightly after its peak will ensure your bread rises sufficiently. Make sure your starter is healthy, strong, and “hungry”, and doubles in size 6 hours after feeding. If you like a more “sour” taste, use an un-fed starter that has been stored in the fridge 5-6 days- and use without feeding it first.
  • FLOUR: For your very first loaf, I highly suggest just using Organic White Bread Flour and be sure to weigh it. ***Please “zero out” the weight of the bowl.  Weigh the flour without salt, seeds, or other additions. Try substituting a 1/2 cup of flour for another kind. For example, 3 1/2 cups white bread flour, plus 1/2 cup rye or whole wheat. If you add more whole-grain flour than that, your loaf will be quite heavy and dense. I really don’t want this for your first loaf, and neither do you. You want it to be amazing, so you feel inspired to make it again and again. So be patient. After several practice loaves -yes, feel free to experiment with other flours as much as you like!
  • WATER: (Hydration) A wet dough will produce a lot of beautiful air pockets, but it is much harder to work with, in the beginning.  A drier dough will yield a slightly denser, less airy loaf, but it will be easier to work with in the beginning. This one falls towards the latter – at 75% hydration- but you can easily adjust this down the road, as you practice, by adding a little more water or less flour in the initial mixing stage. To calculate the hydration level, you divide the water grams by the flour grams. In this case 385 divided by 520 = .75 or 75% hydration. As you get more comfortable, try for 80%-85% hydration, adding in a few extra folds at both stages.
  • ADDITIONS:  If you want to start adding things to your bread- nuts, olives, cheese, dried fruit, roasted garlic, etc., I recommend folding these in after it rises overnight. Use this recipe for Rosemary Olive Sourdough Bread as a guide.
  • LONG COLD PROOF: After the first set of stretch and folds, cover and place in the fridge until almost doubled. This can take anywhere from 36-72 hours, depending on your fridge temp. It is easiest to see this in a clear glass bowl or clear-sided measuring container. Once almost doubled, pull from the fridge, let it come to room temp, do the second set of stretch and folds, let rise one hour, and bake.
  • BAKING: Always preheat the oven. If you have convection, use it! Use a 4-6 quart Dutch oven: Make sure your Dutch oven can handle a 500°F oven. Plastic handles will melt. If not, 475F or 450F will suffice, but you’ll need to bake it longer (25-30-ish minutes) before removing the lid (remember the goal is for bread to be 200F when the lid comes off), then bake for 10-15 more minutes uncovered.  Always check bread with a thermometer.
  • TAKE NOTES: Note your rising times and baking times and adjust accordingly the next time. All kitchen environments and oven temps are different.

Sourdough Bread Variations

Once you master this sourdough bread recipe, you can get creative by adding more ingredients to the dough. This Rosemary Olive Sourdough Bread shows one approach, while our Jalapeño Cheddar Sourdough Bread shows a different method. When you feel confident, try our sourdough baguette recipe– a little more challenging, but totally doable!

Troubleshooting Sourdough Bread (when things go wrong)

  1. If your loaf is flat, hard, or has overly big holes. Likely the dough was over-proofed. It’s very easy to overproof dough in warm climates. You can tell if it is over-proofed if the dough is flat and runny, with lots of air bubbles at the top, or if it doesn’t spring back when you do the poke test, or if it breaks when stretched.  Even still, you could try baking it (might as well at this point, right?). Do the 2nd video stretch and folds-it will be runny, so manage as best you can and put it in the fridge to firm it up a bit before baking.) Turn “imperfect loaves” into sourdough croutons.
  2. If your bread is gummy or dense, this can indicate your bread is underproofed during the initial overnight rise, or your sourdough starter wasn’t “strong/active” enough. Double-check that your starter is doubling in size within 6-8 hours of feeding (see our troubleshooting section in this Sourdough Starter post). This can happen if you are accustomed to baking in the summer and are now transitioning into winter; the kitchen is colder, so the dough will require longer proofing. Gummy bread can be turned into croutons.
  3. If your dough is not rising. This is most likely an issue with your sourdough starter- please read through this troubleshooting section. Double-check that your starter is doubling in size within 6-8 hours of being fed. Also, sourdough may not puff up as much as yeasted dough. It may only rise by  1 1/2 or 1 3/4 (not actually doubling in size). Just look for that slight dome and jiggly belly feel,  and do the “poke test”.   It should feel like a full belly with a slight dome and a bouncy spring to the touch. Check the temp with a thermometer. If it is under 70°F, it might just take a little longer to proof.  If it is warmer, it may have peaked without you noticing, and now it is going down. If you want to be very precise about the rise height and time, you can measure the overnight rise in a 2-quart measuring container with clear sides the first few times to get an idea of the rise level and timing.  It should rise by 1.5 or 1.75, so not quite double. I found this practice to be very helpful.
  4. The loaf is not crispy. This is likely due to not baking long enough, uncovered, in the oven.
  5. The loaf has no flavor. You probably forgot the salt. This is the most common issue if the bread is bland. Salt is imperative.
  6. The loaf is too sour. The “hungrier” the starter, the more sour the bread. Feed the starter 8-10 hours before mixing the dough for less sour loaves.
  7. The loaf is not sour enough. Try using an unfed starter. The longer it’s unfed (but within the 7 days) the more sour it will be.
  8. The dough is overly wet or overly dry. Many people accidentally mismeasure the flour because they forget to “zero out” the weight of the bowl or measuring cup on the scale! Check your weight (without seeds, salt or any additions) only flour.
  9. The bread is burnt on the bottom: Most typically in electric ovens. Try lowering the heat to 475°F with a slightly longer bake time (the goal is still to achieve an internal temperature of 200°F when you remove the lid). Alternatively, try placing a sheet pan under the Dutch oven (without preheating the sheet pan). Or add a layer of cornmeal below the parchment.
A loaf ouf sourdough cut in half to show the inside of the bread.

Sourdough FAQS

What are the health benefits of Sourdough bread?

Sourdough bread is more easily digestible than bread made with commercial yeast, due to the natural fermentation process. This can be beneficial for people with gluten sensitivities. Sourdough bread, made with organic, non-GMO flour, is higher in nutrients and lower in glyphosates.

Is sourdough healthier than regular bread?

Bread made with sourdough starter has so much more flavor and complexity than yeasted bread. It is also much easier to digest because it is fermented. Many people who are gluten-sensitive do much better with bread made from sourdough starter.

Why is my sourdough bread gummy?

If your bread is gummy or overly moist after baking, most likely, the dough was underproofed, or your starter is too young or insufficiently active. Try proofing longer, and double-check your starter is healthy and active and doubles after 6 hours of feeding.

Why is my sourdough bread so dense?

Underproofing the dough can cause bread to be dense- by not allowing enough time for the carbon dioxide to develop and create the bubbles in the dough that create the airy texture. An inactive starter can also be the culprit.

Why is my sourdough bread flat?

Most likely, the sourdough has over-proofed and has collapsed, creating a flat hard loaf. It is still edible, but not as light and airy as it should be.

Why is my sourdough dense?

Besides the reasons above (underproofing the dough and an inactive starter), sourdough can be overly dense if you use too much whole-grain flour or not enough water.

Why does my sourdough taste bland?

Most likely, the salt was left out or mismeasured.

What is the secret to the best sourdough?

Active and healthy sourdough starter is the secret to perfect sourdough bread! Care and proper feeding of your starter will ensure your sourdough loaves are beautiful, flavorful, light, and airy. A Sourdough Starter that doubles in size within 6 hours of feeding is the best sign that the starter is healthy and active.

Practice Makes Perfect!

Baking sourdough is such a satisfying process.  Making your first “good” loaf is the BEST feeling ever! Know that every time you bake, your bread will improve as long as your starter is healthy and active.

I suggest that you make the exact same loaf repeatedly, to get it down before changing any variables. Take notes each time. Consider this first month of baking as “practicing”.  The most challenging aspect is getting to know your environment, including kitchen temperature, oven temperature, and timing, as well as ensuring your starter is healthy.

So just be patient, keep trying, and don’t give up. I promise you will get it -read the reviews for inspiration and enjoy the sourdough process!

After you try our sourdough bread, let us know how it turns out in the comments below. Your notes will also help other readers. Sign up here to join our community and receive our latest recipes and weekly newsletter! xoxo Sylvia

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A beginner's guide to the best Sourdough Bread that turns out perfect every time!

Easy Sourdough Bread Recipe with Starter

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.9 from 1470 reviews
  • Author: Sylvia Fountaine | Feasting at Home
  • Prep Time: 13 hours
  • Cook Time: 35 mins
  • Total Time: 13 hours 35 minutes
  • Yield: 1 loaf 1x
  • Category: baked, sourdough recipes, baking
  • Method: bread
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan
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Description

An easy Sourdough Bread recipe that rises overnight and bakes in the morning. A simple flexible recipe made with sourdough starter, that can be adapted to your needs. View the  3 instructional videos above for more details. If you don’t see the videos, make sure your ad blocker is off.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 cups organic white bread flour, spooned and leveled (520 grams total flour) -please don’t include the bowl’s weight. I highly recommend weighing the flour for the first few loaves. (See notes for adding other types of flour.)
  • 2 teaspoons fine sea salt (12 grams)
  • 1 7/8 cups water (385 grams)
  • 90 grams homemade sourdough starter or store-bought starter (1/3 cup) fed 8-12 hours earlier, using it slightly after peaking (For a more “sour” taste, use an unfed starter, 4–6 days after feeding if refrigerated- see notes.)

Optional additions: 

Instructions

  1. 8 am.  Twelve hours before mixing your dough, feed your sourdough starter, leaving it out on the counter making sure it doubles in size within 6 hours. (See notes for extra sour). OR, if you keep your starter in the fridge and fed it in the last 7 days- it is OK to use it straight from the jar, cold, without feeding. Best to use starter after it peaks, when it is “hungry”.
  2. 8:00 pm  PLEASE use a kitchen scale if this is your first loaf. Weigh the flour in a medium bowl (***zero-ing out the weight of the bowl).  Then add salt, spices, and seeds.  Mix starter and water in a small bowl until cloudy and well mixed. Pour the starter-water into flour, incorporating all the flour using a fork. It should be a thick, shaggy, heavy, sticky dough. See video. Mix for about 1-2 minutes using a wood spoon- it will be hard to mix. Don’t worry about tidy dough here, just get the flour all mixed in, cover with a wet kitchen towel, and let rest 15 minutes. It will loosen up as it rests.  (Alternatively, mix starter and water in the bowl first, then add the salt and flour-like in my 3rd video- either way works.)
  3. 8:20 pm: Do the first set of stretches and folds.  (See the 1st video in post) With one wet hand (put a bowl of water next to you) pull the dough from one side and stretch it upward, then fold it up and over to the center of the dough.  Quarter turn the bowl and repeat, stretching up and folding it over the middle, repeat for about 30 seconds or until the dough gets firm and resists. This helps strengthen the gluten. Cover, rest, and repeat the process 15 minutes later. With wet fingers, stretch up and fold over, turning, repeating, for 30 seconds until the dough gets firm and resists. Then turn the dough over in the bowl. Yes, you could do this a couple more times if you would like to build the gluten, but not imperative.  🙂
  4. 8:35 pm Proof overnight, at room temp. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, wax wrap, or a damp kitchen towel (to keep the moisture in) and place it on your kitchen counter for 8-12 hours.  (see notes on temperature) 68-70F is the ideal temp.  (If it is warmer, check at 6-8 hours. If it is very cold, it may take up to 18 hours in winter.)
  5. 6-8 AM Check the dough in the morning. The dough should have expanded, with a slight springy dome to the top. It won’t necessarily double in size ( maybe 1.5 -1.75 times bigger) but will have expanded. Do the POKE TEST: With a floured finger, poke into the dough. If it indents easily and mostly springs back to its original shape,  it has probably risen enough. If it feels firm or very hard to indent, let it rise longer. If it feels loose, runny, or indents too easily or doesn’t spring back, it is most likely over-proofed (bake it anyway).
  6. Line a high-sided bowl with parchment.  This brand of parchment does not stick to the bread- but if you are unsure about yours, spray oil your parchment lightly before putting the dough in it. (If you are a seasoned bread baker, you do not actually need parchment -this is only for easier transport, bread will not stick to the inside of a Dutch oven.) I like using a high-sided medium-sized bowl versus a flat or shallow bowl to help shore up the sides. You can also use a rice-floured Banneton (bread proofing basket) if you have one.
  7. 6-8 AM- 2nd Set of STRETCH and SHAPE : (Watch 2nd video -Stretch and Shape video). Loosen the dough from all edges of a bowl using your wet fingers, a wet spatula, or a wet plastic dough scraper,  sliding down the sides of the bowl. With both wet hands, carefully pull the dough straight up, in the middle and lift it, stretching straight up in the air- about 1-2 feet (see photo) and place it back down, gently folding it on top of itself. In this first stretch, the dough may feel quite loose and runny.  This is OK. It should firm up as it stretches and folds. (Note: If your dough breaks here, it is probably over-proofed, bake it anyway. If your dough won’t stretch like the photo and feels too tight or firm, it needs to proof longer).  After the first stretch, give the bowl a quarter turn, wait 30-60 seconds, wet your hands again and stretch it up high again, folding over itself in the bowl.  Wait 30-60 seconds. (You could repeat this one more time, 15 minutes later). Then, the third time you lift and stretch, you will lift it all the way into your parchment-lined bowl, folding over itself like you’ve been doing. (Alternatively, lift it into your floured proofing basket seam side up. ( If seam up, pinch the seam closed).  Sprinkle top with seeds and flour (get the sides too), gently rubbing it to even coat –and add seeds if you like. If using a banneton, sprinkle the seeds in the banneton before adding the dough. 
  8. FINAL RISE and PREHEAT OVEN: Place the bowl in the refrigerator for one hour uncovered which will firm up the bread, and make scoring easier and help boost  “oven spring”.  It won’t rise in the fridge.  (You could also keep it in the fridge for 3-4 hours if you want to bake later.) Preheat the oven (for 1 FULL hour)  to 500F with your dutch oven inside and lid on (see notes). If you have convection- use it.  You can also bake the bread at 45oF or 475F.  You want your oven as hot so don’t skimp on the preheat. I usually preheat for 1 full hour.
  9. SCORE & BAKE When ready to bake, place the dough by the stove. Pull out the Dutch oven, close the oven, and remove the lid.  Score the bread in the bowl, using a very sharp knife, lame, razor blade, (or try scissors dipped in cold water), score the dough swiftly and deeply, at a 45-degree angle, 3/4- 1-inch deep. One deep slash is just fine. Or criss-cross, or crescent shape. (Or feel free to add other designs, for ideas -google “scoring bread”). You want to score where you want the dough to puff out from. You can also cut with wet kitchen scissors. Carefully lift the parchment by the corners and place both bread and parchment directly into the Dutch oven. Cover quickly. It is OK if parchment peaks out. You want to score and transfer as quickly as possible. (Alternately, if using a proofing basket, cover the basket with parchment, carefully flip the dough into the parchment in the palm of your hand and then center the parchment and dough into your dutch oven, then score).
  10.  BAKE. Place the Dutch oven in the middle of the 500°F oven for 20 minutes with convection on, or 25 minutes without convection (or 28 minutes at 450°F). Remove lid.  It should be puffed and just lightly golden, and the internal temperature should be close to 200°F (if not, put the lid back on for a few more minutes). Once it’s 200°F, lower the heat to 450°F, and bake uncovered for 10-15 minutes until deeply golden and the internal temperature reaches 204-208°F. No pale loaves please, let them get golden! (For a less “crusty” loaf, increase covered baking time, lower uncovered baking time. You can play with this for the desired results.)
  11. COOL: It will smell heavenly. Remove from the dutch oven, let it cool 1 hour on a rack or tilted up on its side, before slicing so you don’t let the steam out and don’t smash it- be patient. This is the hardest part. 😉. Take a picture! Feel proud. You did it!
  12. SERVE: This type of bread is always BEST, served toasted! Then lather it with butter, ghee or olive oil. Add mashed avocado and salted tomatoes, almond butter, honey or jam. A piece of toast can turn into a great meal. See this Mushroom Toast!
  13. STORE: Store the bread wrapped in a kitchen towel for the first day or two to keep the crust nice and crispy, then move it to a zip-lock bag or waxed bread bag to keep it moist for longer. Bread can also be sliced and frozen. Make sourdough croutons with leftover bread- great in salads and soups!

Equipment

Notes

Sourdough starter : Using your starter after its peak will ensure your bread rises sufficiently. Make sure your starter is healthy, hungry, and strong, able to double in size 4-8 hours after feeding.  If you store your starter in the fridge and last fed it over a week ago, make sure to feed the morning before making bread. If it has only been 3-7 days since last feeding (and you keep it in the fridge), it is OK to make bread without feeding. Use a 1/3 cup starter for your bread dough and place the remaining back in the fridge and feed a week after the last feeding. BUT if it has been a week after your last feeding, pull it out of the fridge, discard (or save for pancakes, waffles, or give away) all but 1/2 cup. Feed it. Let it metabolize the flour 4-8 hours before mixing up the bread dough. Use a 1/3 cup of starter (90 grams) for the bread, place the remaining back in the fridge, and feed in a week. For a more “sour” flavor, use starter that has been in the fridge 4-6 days. Do not feed before using it. The sourdough starter is the sourest the longer it goes without feeding.

Dutch Oven or Bread Baker: Make sure your dutch oven or bread baker can handle a 500F oven. If not, 450F will suffice, and bake 25 minutes before removing the lid. Aim for an internal bread temp of 200F when removing lid- before baking it uncovered.  Take notes and adjust the next time!

NO DUTCH OVEN? If you don’t have a dutch oven, you can try baking your bread on a sheet pan, covered with a large metal bowl or pyrex bowl to keep the steam in. It will yield a flatter loaf but it does work. Bake 25-30 minutes covered, remove the bowl,  bake until golden 10-15 more minutes until golden, and be sure to check internal temp with a thermometer. It may take a few practices tries to perfect this.

Smaller Loaves: If you would like to create two smaller loaves, divide after the overnight rise, shape, place in the fridge while the oven preheats and bake each at 450F for 18 minutes (or until internal temp is 200F) uncover, lower heat to 425F and bake until golden and internal temp is 204-208F. You may have to fiddle with this timing.

LOAF PAN: Yes you can bake this in a loaf pan. Shape and place it in an oiled loaf pan ( or line with parchment) for the last hour in the fridge, while oven preheats. Bake uncovered at 450 for 15 minutes, lower heat to 425 and bake another 25-ish minutes or until internal temp reaches 204-208F. You may need to play with this according to your oven. Place on middle or lower rack.

PRACTICE: As you practice making your loaves (yes, it is a fun practice) you’ll get a feel for the dough and you’ll begin to notices how changes in seasons (changes in temperature) affect the loaves and their proofing time. I suggest making the exact same loaf repeatedly several times. Warmer temps will call for shorter proofing, cooler temps, longer proofing. You can also change the proofing time by adjusting the sourdough starter amount. For a faster rise, you can add a little more starter, for example, a 1/2 or 2/3 cup. For a longer cooler rise, say in the fridge for 36-48 hours, you can reduce the starter amount to 1/4 cup or even 3 tablespoons. You can play with ratios to get the proofing time just how you want it. Take notes! You can also adjust the hydration for an airier loaf, either reducing flour or increasing water. So many variables!!! *Remember your starter and your dough are actual living “creatures” that are affected by your particular environment. The most important advice I can give you is to pay close attention to your particular “creature”, observe it carefully,  and look for signs- it is communicating with you. Pay attention. 🙂 Work with it, not against it. Be patient, respond thoughtfully.

Perfecting bread is a lifelong process, and I’m still learning too. 😉

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 slice ( 1/12 of a loaf)
  • Calories: 154
  • Sugar: 0.2 g
  • Sodium: 582.3 mg
  • Fat: 1.1 g
  • Saturated Fat: 0.2 g
  • Carbohydrates: 32.7 g
  • Fiber: 4.9 g
  • Protein: 6 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg

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Comments

  1. My dough did not rise much at all overnight, despite having a very active, 4 hour fed starter that doubled and floated. I weighted 50g of starter + water, 70 degrees room temp, flour is room temp at 70, dough did not stretch like the first video but I managed to do the best I could. Then covered on counter at 65 from 9pm to 9am. At 9pm the dough was at 70 degrees and fairly tight, by 9am the dough was at 65 degrees, more relaxed but felt like there was no action, almost like the starter never did anything. Did I miss something? Thanks.

    Reply

  2. This is my second try and the loaf is in the fridge for the final proofing! Yay! Can you clarify though….Are the proportions in the recipe for 1 loaf or three?
    Thanks so much for all your answers!

    Reply

  3. Starters worked great! We did three…whole wheat, white and a half and half mix.
    Looking for some advice prior to baking. Two stretch and folds have been completed with success and the dough is proofing overnight. Challenges are this…no dutch oven or cast iron to bake in (only non-stick loaf pan or ‘brownie’ pan or cookie sheet, gas oven and also high altitude. Any tips will be appreciated!!

    Reply

    1. Hey Garth- what if you baked on a sheet pan, covered with a big metal bowl? To help create that steam?

      Reply

      1. I have huge success placing a baking dish of water on the rack closest to the heat the rack just above use two cookie sheets stacked on top of each other to create the heavy bottom. Plug the vent of your oven and preheat to 450 then bake with the water in the oven for 20 minutes then remove the water and open the vent. Continue baking according to recipe.

        Reply

  4. I’ve made this twice now and I think it’s better than our local bakery. Will be making it at home from now on. I did two sets of stretch and folds before shaping ( 15 minutes apart) and it made it even more light and springy the second time.

    Reply

  6. I followed the recipe precisely, but dough was far too wet. Initial stretching and folding barely worked and following proofing overnight, still like pancake batter. Perhaps 2 cups of water with the starter is too much. Others seem to have this issue as well. Kind of disappointing.

    Reply

    1. Hi Todd, sorry about this. Did you happen to weigh your flour? I think this is the real issue.

      Reply

      1. I did weigh it to exactly 520 grams. I did not weigh the water and instead used 2 cups as the recipe previously stated (my printed copy from a couple of days ago calls for 2 cups; recipe must have been recently updated to 1 3/4 cup). I’ll be sure to weigh the water next time around as well. thanks

        Reply

        1. Strange. But even still, I just tested this bread last night- 520 grams of flour and 2 full cups of water. The dough was thick, hard to mix and not at all like pancake batter. When you first mixed the dough, was it thick and hard to mix? Or runny from the beginning? Or did it get runny after it proofed overnight? Just trying to figure this out.

          Reply

          1. it was pretty watery/thin at the initial mixing and first stretching was a challenge, but it firmed up a bit after a few more rounds of stretching. I may have proofed for too long as well. I’ll try again with a bit less water tonight. Probably an error on my part – thank for you help and your recipe. I’m excited to get it right!

  7. Made this for the first time and it had great flavor. But it did not seem to rise much, despite the fact that my starter was very active, more than doubling in 4 hours. I thought the dough was very wet after the overnight rise. It did not have the stretchy texture like in the video. My Dutch oven is large, so the dough just spread out on the bottom making for a thin loaf, about 1.75 inches high. I’ll try again with different tools and see if I can get a better rise. The flavor was great. It came out very crusty with a nice chewy texture to the bread and lots of holes in the bread.

    Reply

  8. On my second bread. The first was great and tasted delicious, but under-baked slightly (I think it’s because I don’t have a convection oven). Anyways, working on my second now!
    For the final chill in the fridge, should that be covered or un-covered?
    Also, my dough is very sticky and tacky after the final proof… does this sound right?

    Reply

    1. Sorry, it’s sticky and tacky after the bulk proof!
      BTW, great recipe and easy to follow! x

      Reply

  9. This is the best sourdough loaf I have ever made. Your short videos demonstrating techniques at critical points are extremely helpful. My starter has no commercial yeast, following a recipe from a well-used bread book first published in 1966. I baked my loaf in my Roemertopf clay baker, setting the initial oven temperature at 490 F, as you said your clay pot cracked at 500. After 25 minutes, the lid came off and I lowered the temperature to 450. I forgot to set the timer again right away, but I know it baked another 15 minutes, at least. I checked the internal temperature to be sure it was done. Everything about this loaf was perfect — taste, texture, structure, crust, appearance — and I am looking forward to having a piece toasted today.

    Reply

  10. Hello! Thank you for all of this wonderful information.
    My starter peaks around 10h after feeding and I’ve been feeding it at 10pm so was planning to get the dough together in the morning, but not bake until the next morning (24h later). At what point can I put in the fridge and then how long to leave it out before baking? Thank you!!

    Reply

    1. If you mixed up the dough with the peeked unfed starter at 10 pm, it would be perfect, letting it rise overnight on the counter. Bake in the morning.

      Reply

  11. Looks amazing! I cannot wait to make bread at home to satisfy my own vanity. I must bow down before your talent and professional skills in sharing all finest details, Sylvia! Your dedication to the Art of cooking is fabulous! Please advise on the best suitable diameter and the hight of the bowl since I am not certain about a high-sided medium – sized bowl with regards to youe recipe.

    Reply

  12. Thank you so much for this recipe and your sourdough starter which I used and worked amazing. However, I agree with some of the other commenters about the water. The first attempt to make the bread I used 2 cups water and my bread was a watery mess. The second attempt I weighed out 385 grams and it came out perfect. I think 385 grams is about 1.6 cups of water not 2. In any event, now that I figured it out I will use it again and again! And actually didn’t mind the first failed attempt as it was really interesting to see the difference. Thanks for making my first sourdough attempt so easy!

    Reply

  13. I used your other post to make your sour dough starter. It seems to have worked great. After 8 days of two feedings a day my starter floated like a champ, doubled in size and had plenty of bubbles. I used 1/3 cup of starter in this recipe but my dough doesn’t appear to be rising at all. Any suggestions?

    P.S. This is actually my second attempt. On my first one I panicked when it didn’t rise and added 2 tsp of fast rising yeast. The bread turned out great and had wonderful flavor but I want to make the bread without help from another form of yeast.

    Reply

      1. I let it rise over night from 8-8. Our kitchen is around 70 degrees. It just never seemed to rise but did bubble some on the top. I cooked it today and there were bubbles but the bread was a little spongy. Should I try adding more starter than 1/3 cup? Maybe a 1/2 or 2/3’s cup? Thanks for replying. I really appreciate your help.

        Reply

        1. Hummmmm, you could try a 1/2 cup, but this sounds exactly how I do it and mine rises well and usually in about 10-11 hours. Not really sure what is going on. Is it possible it over-proofed? If you do increase the starter, the proofing time will decrease so just be sure to really watch it. 🙂

          Reply

  14. First attempt at this recipe was a disaster. Followed precisely, weighed flour at 520 grams. Water at 2 cups and starter at 1/3 cup. Turned out the consistency of pancake batter.
    Next try again weighed all ingredients and had to add at least 50-70 grams of flour to get a manageable dough.

    Reply

    1. Humm, something doesn’t make sense. When you mixed it up it was like pancake dough? or after it proofed?

      Reply

      1. It was the recipe misprint of 2 cups water., which is 450 grams. I made up for it on the second attempt by adding a lot more flour till I got a manageable dough. Made a lovely loaf this morning. Incidentally it is a fairly forgiving dough to work with. Not nearly as intimidating as all the blog posts lead one to believe.
        Thanks

        Reply

      2. I was proofing mine… had it in the oven with light on to insure warm temp… when I put it in it was pretty doughy… about six hours later it had doubled in size but become more like pancake dough not able to shape… so I stretched it again and gonna let it set longer on the counter top to see if it thickens up or not… any ideas??

        Reply

        1. It sounds like the oven was a little too warm, possibly over-proofed? Dont let it go any longer it will just get looser. Stretch, shape it and put in the fridge for the last hour of rising.

          Reply

  15. I love this clear, straightforward recipe. I found the timeframe to be most useful ~ all guesswork was taken out with this one and it’s super simple to proof overnight and no kneading involved. I added fresh rosemary and roasted garlic. The outside is nice and crusty and the inside is moist and airy. Looks pro! After a couple failed attempts previously, I now have renewed excitement to keep on experimenting. Thank you!

    Reply

    1. Oh yes! I’m so excited for you. It’s a fun world to dive into. Did you weigh your flour and water or measure? Just curious. 😉

      Reply

      1. The previous attempts were long ago and with other recipes. I believe I had a scale then, but maybe my timing was off. This was my first time using your recipe and I did weigh the flour and water. I’m now making it a third time after two absolute successes. Your recipe is spot on. Thanks again, Sylvia! I’m very excited to have this foundation now.

        Reply

  16. Hi, I’m a sourdough newbie so made your starter (approx 10 days old) and then used it for this recipe. The bread while cooking appeared to rise well (in a Dutch oven) however once sliced open the bottom 2/3 was very dense sponge, and the top had very large air pockets. Is there something you can suggest that I may have done incorrectly? Will def be trying this again though – thanks in advance

    5 stars because of the comprehensive instructions!

    Reply

      1. Many thanks that would be great, with the final stretch maybe I over worked it. I’m going to try again and I’ll make sure I just stretch and fold the 3 times, my dough looked slightly tougher than in you video and don’t appear quite so elastic. Many thanks again

        Reply

        1. Mark, you could repeat that stretch and fold (the second series) one more time, 15-20 minutes later before final proofing. It might get those bubbles more evenly distributed?

          Reply

  17. I tried this last night for the first attempt at sourdough baking. I weighed the flour and put in the two cups of water and the dough was very wet. I did extra stretches/folds to give it some body, four times, then let it proof last night. This morning, about 8 hours after final set of stretches, 10 hours after I first put the dough together, it looks almost exactly the same. And still fairly loose. There is a nice distribution of big bubbles on top, though. Should I keep waiting for the rise? Or is it a lost cause?

    Reply

    1. I would stretch and shape, ( second video) put it in the fridge and bake. No not a lost cause.

      Reply

  18. I did everything on the recipe but it’s still not cooked inside. Looks good though. What went wrong?

    Reply

    1. Oven temp? Was it preheated? How long did you bake and did you bake it in a Dutch oven?

      Reply

  19. Love your instructions! From setting up the starter to baking the bread. We have tried to make a starter before but never succeeded. This morning we baked our first bread and it came out just wonderful. Thank you Sylvia:-)

    Reply

    1. I’m not sure it would bake through correctly and I’m pretty sure timing and temp would be different.

      Reply

  22. I made my first loaf last week and it was a success! So delicious. Last night I made the dough, but I accidentally put it in the refrigerator overnight instead of leaving it on the counter… The texture is similar to when I put it in the fridge last night and it did not rise. What should I do?

    Reply

    1. How about let it rise on the counter for a few hours? Watch that it doesn’t over proof.

      Reply

    1. You could lift it out of the dutch oven (holding by the parchment) and place it on the oven rack. Do you have convection?

      Reply

  24. I love the simplicity of this recipe but i think there is a mistake in the measurement you provide for water. 2 cups of water turns this dough into a cake batter. 1 1/2 Cup to 1 2/3 cup Is e absolutely maximum amount of water my dough will take if it has any chance of being shaped. Also 2 cups = around 470 grams not 385 as your recipe indicates.
    Once i adjusted my water levels my end product turned out much better.

    Reply

      1. 16 ounces (2 cups) is 473 grams though. Am I missing something? It’s still only 85% though, and should rise over time.

        Reply

        2. Yep, use slightly heaping cups. It doesnt have to be exact- but I like to have you weigh the first time to get a feel for the dough.

          Reply

      2. The first time I used a scale for the flour and a used a glad measuring cup for the water similar to the one you have in your pic, added the starter and when I combined the dry and wet ingredients the dough was super wet. In my second attempt I weighed the flower and the water and when I transferred the water into the glass measuring cup 385g equaled just under 1 2/3 cups

        Reply

        1. Yes, best just to weigh for the first time. It’s a scant two cups water and slightly heaping 4 cups flour.

          Reply

    2. I tried to follow this recipe, but ended up with a sourdough flop 🙁 I weighed the flour and the ratio to water is totally off and way too wet. I didn’t know any better because this is the first sourdough I’ve ever tried, so it was too wet to bake through. Now trying to figure out what to do with undercooked sourdough.

      Reply

      1. So other people have mentioned accidentally including the weight of the bowl while weighing. Could this be possible? Either this or it overproofed.

        Reply

  25. Thank you so much for this post! I made the sourdough starter with your instructions and it super active now. Today is day 6 for me.
    I am getting ready to start my first loaf, If I am not able to find bread flour would all purpose flour with whole wheat flour work? I also did my start with whole wheat flour and have been feeding it whole wheat as well.

    And one last question, I’m in south Florida and it’s pretty warm here right now, for proofing would it ever take less than 8 hours? just so I know if I do it over night I need to keep an eye on it under 8 hours.

    Reply

    1. Yes, it is possible it may take less than 8 hours. Put it somewhere lower in your kitchen (heat rises) and I think all purpose with a little wheat should work!

      Reply

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