The #1 Best Homemade Sourdough Bread Recipe

Have you been wanting to make sourdough bread, but don’t know where to start? This sourdough bread recipe is the perfect one to get you started making sourdough from scratch- even if you’ve never made bread before. 

There is nothing like a slice of fresh homemade bread- except maybe a slice of tangy sourdough with a crunchy crust and soft delicious interior. Sourdough is a favorite here at Rosevine Cottage, for everything from sandwich bread to a piece of toast- ok let’s be real we’ll eat it any and every way possible because it’s delicious.

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The History Of Sourdough Bread

This history of sourdough bread dates back all the way to ancient Egypt- it’s come a long way since then. Until commercial yeast was developed all leavened bread was “sourdough” which uses wild yeast to rise. During the Biblical Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, the Bible notes that they were to eat bread made without yeast because there would be time to let it rise… 

^“That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast.” Exodus 12:8 NIV

Moving through different cultures from Greek to Roman, and then on to French and America. The prospectors and settlers coming west in the 19 century were often called sourdoughs because of the fact that they would carry the sourdough starter on them to keep it from freezing in the harsh winters. You can learn more about the history of sourdough from the sourdough school.

How To Make Sourdough Bread

Sourdough bread is one of my favorite kinds of bread to make, and this sourdough bread recipe is so easy! With a handful of ingredients and equipment, you can have homemade bread fresh from the oven. 

What You Need To Make This Sourdough Bread Recipe:

• Electric Mixer
• Measuring Cups & Spoons
• Cookie Sheet 
• Sifter
• Bread Lame Slashing Tool
• Hot Pan Holders
• Sourdough Starter [try our sourdough starter recipe]

Sourdough Bread Recipe

Ingredients: 

1 cup ripe fed sourdough starter
1 1/2 cups lukewarm water
1 to 2 teaspoons instant yeast
2 1/2 teaspoons salt
5 cups Unbleached All-Purpose Flour

Directions:

Combine all of the sourdough bread ingredients, in the bowl of a standup mixer. Mix until it forms a smooth dough.

Allow the sourdough bread to rise, in a lightly greased, covered bowl. Place the bowl in a warm place until it’s doubled in size, about 90 minutes.

Remove the dough from the bowl and divide the dough in half.

Shape the sourdough bread into two oval loaves (or two 10″ to 11″ logs).

Place the loaves on a lightly greased or parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover your sourdough bread and let rise for about 1 hour. Towards the end of your rising time, preheat the oven to 425°F.

Spray the loaves with lukewarm water and using a sifter, dust your sourdough bread generously with flour.

Using a knife or a lame slashing tool cut a shape into the top of your sourdough. Don’t press too hard, the slices will spread as it rises. 

Bake the sourdough bread for 25 to 30 minutes, until it’s a very deep golden brown.

Remove it from the oven, and cool on a rack.

Serve your sourdough bread hot, or store in an airtight container.

Print This Sourdough Bread Recipe

Yield: 2 loaves

The Best Homemade Sourdough Bread Recipe

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Cook Time 25 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup ripe fed sourdough starter
• 1 1/2 cups lukewarm water
• 1 to 2 teaspoons instant yeast
• 2 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 5 cups Unbleached All-Purpose Flour

Instructions

1. Combine all of the sourdough bread ingredients, in the bowl of a standup mixer. Mix until it forms a smooth dough.
   
   Allow the sourdough bread to rise, in a lightly greased, covered bowl. Place the bowl in a warm place until it's doubled in size, about 90 minutes.
   
   Remove the dough from the bowl and divide the dough in half.
   
   Shape the sourdough bread into two oval loaves (or two 10" to 11" logs).
   
   Place the loaves on a lightly greased or parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover your sourdough bread and let rise for about 1 hour. Towards the end of your rising time, preheat the oven to 425°F.
   
   Spray the loaves with lukewarm water and using a sifter, dust your sourdough bread generously with flour.
   
   Using a knife or a lame slashing tool cut a shape into the top of your sourdough bread. Don't press too hard, the slices will spread as it rises. 
   
   Bake the sourdough bread for 25 to 30 minutes, until it's a very deep golden brown.
   
   Remove it from the oven, and cool on a rack.
   
   Serve your sourdough bread hot, or store in an airtight container.

Tips For Making This Sourdough Bread Recipe

Here are some of our best tips for making our sourdough bread recipe:

• Try to stick with one variety of flour as you make your sourdough bread recipe.
• Learn from other sourdough bakers, Instagram, Facebook, and even Twitter are great places to find other bakers.
• Sourdough bread is an art, don’t give up if the first one doesn’t turn out perfect.
• If you are new to making sourdough, you may want to purchase a robust starter instead of trying to make it yourself.
• Practice, practice practice. Give loaves to friends and neighbors, with each loaf you will get better and better. Keep a record of what you do to each loaf so you can copy it when you find what works. 
• Not every sourdough will taste the same, your starter is unique to your area and your home. 
• Refresh your starter at least weekly (feed your starter) even if you aren’t going to bake this week. 

Before you go, check these out!

• Homemade French Bread Recipe
• Homemade Sandwich Loaf Recipe
• Homemade Kings Hawaiian Rolls Recipe
• Homemade Pretzel Bread