Posted on March 22, 2022October 7, 2023
Follow this easy Sourdough Recipe for Beginners step by step tutorial on how to make a Sourdough Loaf. You will need a healthy, mature Sourdough Starter to make this recipe. CLICK HERE for my Sourdough Starter recipe.
*You will start this recipe the night before you bake* Don’t let the long duration of this recipe deter you from starting! There is a lot of inactive time. This easy sourdough recipe for beginners is worth the effort, promise!
This recipe makes 2 loaves.
- Gram scale
- Large bowl, glass or plastic
- Kitchen towels
- 2 round baskets
- Dutch Oven
- Razor Blade or Sharp Knife
Starting from scratch? CLICK HERE for a kit with everything you need to get started!
To Start
You will need to make your Sourdough Starter from your Master Starter. Do this 12 hours before you make your dough.
- 50 grams of Master Sourdough Starter
- 150 grams of all-purpose flour
- 150 grams water
Mix in a mason jar that is large enough for the starter to double in size. Rest lid on top and let sit for 12 hours. I make my Starter to bake with the night before and let it rise over night. In the morning when I wake up my starter is double the size and ready to use!
What you Need For the Dough:
- Active Sourdough Starter
- 1,000 grams of all-purpose flour (unbleached)
- 735 grams of water + 50 grams of water when you add the salt
- 20 grams of salt
How to Make:
- Start your dough by weighing all your ingredients separately. This will ensue you have the right amount when making your dough.
- In a large bowl, pour your entire starter into the bowl and add water. I like to warm my water up to 75 degrees. Gently mix with your hands until its “milky”.
- Add flour and mix.
- Cover and Let stand for 30 minutes. This will allow the flour to soak up the water a bit.
- Pour the additional 50 grams of water in and sprinkle the salt in.
- Knead dough in the bowl for 3-5 minutes. Pull the edge of the dough into the center and push with your fist. Give the bowl a quarter turn and repeat.
- Cover and let stand for 30 minutes.
- Over the next 2 hours perform 3-4 sets of “stretch and folds”, covering and letting it rest. To stretch and fold pull the edge of the dough up and fold to the center. Do this to all 4 edges of the dough.
- Once your dough has doubled in size, turn your dough onto a floured counter top and divide in half.
- Spread your dough into a large square, fold over the sides and them roll the dough from the top to the bottom to make a ball.
- Once rolled up, push your dough ball away from you on the counter about an inch and then pull the dough ball towards you about an inch to create tension. Do this 4-5 times until it is round and bouncy.
- Leave loafs on the counter for 20 minutes. I like to cover mine with a dish towel.
- Shape one more time.
- Gently with scraper, flip over and place the loaf into a floured proofing basket and cover with a dish towel. Your loaf should be seam side (bottom) up. This is your final rise.
- Let rise for 1-2 hours.
- Flip the dough out of proofing basket onto sheet of parchment paper, your loaf will be right side up now.
- Score bread. Using parchment paper, gently lift dough into a preheated dutch oven.
- Cover and Bake at 475 degrees for 25 minutes.
- Remove Cover and bake for an additional 15 minutes.
Let your loaves cool completely before you cut into them. Use a bread knife for the best cuts.
Love this step-by-step tutorial for easy sourdough recipe for beginners? Make sure to check out these recipes using your sourdough discard! Sourdough Discard Waffles | Sourdough Discard Chocolate Chip Cookies
Or turn your loaf into a Jalapeno Cheddar Sourdough Loaf!
Once you get really good at baking sourdough, everyone will want a loaf. Make sure you check out my post on how to gift wrap a loaf of sourdough bread. It makes THE PERFECT gift and it is so beautiful!
Are you following along on Instagram? TAG ME on Instagram @projectwhim if you try anything from the blog! I love to see and share!
