Six months ago, one Cromaine staff member gifted a sourdough starter to another. Since then, this same sourdough starter has been shared with even more staff members, and the recipe exchanges and conversations about sourdough are endless amongst Library staff! As we've moved from spring into summer, we've shared countless recipes (and samples) with each other-- and now, we'd like to share some of our favorite, tried-and-true sourdough recipes with you.
From sourdough discard pancakes to cinnamon raisin bread and homemade pizza dough, the opportunities are endless when it comes to sourdough recipes. There's something for every taste and skill level! If you love sourdough recipes like we do, we cannot recommend these recipes enough. Give them a try, and check out some of the great sourdough books that are available at Cromaine!
Beginner's Sourdough Bread by Farmhouse on Boone
This sourdough bread recipe is approachable for beginners and advanced bakers alike. For beginners, this recipe covers everything you need to know about working with a starter and baking your first loaf of beautiful, artisan bread! For more advanced sourdough bakers, this recipe keeps it simple and makes a wonderful loaf that's golden and crusty on the outside and soft on the inside.
Sourdough Discard Pancakes by Farmhouse on Boone
Adding sourdough discard to a simple pancake recipe makes for fluffy, flavorful pancakes. You'll never want to go back to regular pancakes after you try this recipe!
The Best Sourdough Tortillas by Milk and Pop
Fresh tortillas add so much flavor to your recipes. Instead of the gummy, chewy tortillas from the store, you can enjoy warm, fresh tortillas with a little extra time and some sourdough discard! This recipe involves very simple ingredients and comes together easily, so it's a simple way to work with sourdough discard if you're still learning.
--Recommended by Community Engagement's Shelby
Sourdough Cinnamon Raisin Bread by King Arthur Baking Company
This recipe makes a lovely swirled bread with the perfect combination of sweet and tangy. Plus, you can use fed sourdough OR discard depending on what you have available and how you'd like the flavor of the bread to turn out.
Sourdough Discard Bagels by This Jess Cooks
This bagel recipe is unbelievably easy! With less than thirty minutes of prep work, most of the time involved in this bagel recipe is rise time. You can have fresh bagels within a few hours, and they freeze well, too.
Sourdough Discard Rolls by Farmhouse on Boone
These sweet, fluffy, tangy dinner rolls come together faster than a long-ferment recipe with active sourdough starter. Give it a try for a beautiful, buttery dinner roll to enjoy with any meal!
--Recommended by Administration's Darlene
Sourdough Discard Pizza by Amy Bakes Bread
The pizza dough recipe is FANTASTIC and it makes three pizzas! The dough keeps well in the fridge, too.
Sourdough Basic Country Artisan Bread by Amy Bakes Bread
This bread recipe is more involved than the basic beginner recipe, but it is totally worth it. It makes two loaves of bread, and the dough can be saved and baked on different days. The loaves in their bread baskets or bowls keep beautifully in the fridge for 4-5 days.
--Recommended by Circulation's Amy
These recipes are wonderful to get you started, but be sure to visit the Library for a variety of recipes from the experts! Here are some sourdough books that we can't recommend enough.
The Perfect Loaf: The Craft and Science of Sourdough Breads, Sweets, and More by Maurizio Leo
Beginner bakers will have their hands held the entire way, with troubleshooting sections and numerous sidebars answering almost every question they may have--like how to store a sourdough starter long-term, how bakers' percentages actually work, and a visual guide to common "bread fails" and how to remedy them. Seasoned bakers will relish deep dives into the science behind baking processes and other essential baking information.
New World Sourdough: Artisan Techniques for Creative Homemade Fermented Breads; with Recipes for Pan de Coco, Bagels, Beignets, and More by Bryan Ford
This fantastic baking book teaches handmade artisan bread baking for beginner to intermediate home bakers who want to learn how to bake fermented breads at home with New World twists.
The King Arthur Baking School: Lessons and Recipes for Every Baker by King Arthur Baking Company
In its first full-color cookbook, the renowned Baking School at King Arthur shares more than 100 recipes and essential techniques, including a generous section dedicated to sourdough baking!
Nadiya Bakes: Over 100 Must-Try Recipes for Breads, Cakes, Biscuits, Pies, and More by Nadiya Hussain
Find more than 100 simple and achievable recipes for cakes, cookies, breads, tarts, and puddings in this approachable baking book. From Raspberry Amaretti Biscuits and Key Lime Cupcakes to Cheat's Sourdough and Spiced Squash Strudel, Nadiya has created an ultimate baking resource for just about every baked good that will entice beginner bakers and experienced pastry makers alike.
Hungry for more sourdough resources? Check out some of these digital resources for free with your Cromaine Library card.
Wild Bread: Sourdough Reinvented on Overdrive
The owner of the historic Barron Flour Mill completely reinvents the concept of healthier-for-you, naturally fermented sourdough in this eBook, available for borrow with your Cromaine Library card!
Sourdough on Overdrive
If you're in the mood for fiction, check out this audiobook by Robin Sloan! Sourdough is a delicious and funny novel about an overworked and under-socialized software engineer discovering a calling and a community as a baker.
Artisan Sourdough Made Simple on hoopla
This audiobook offers tips and tricks to newcoming sourdough bakers, and shows that everyone can be a sourdough baker-- even those with busy schedules!
Food, Science, and the Human Body: A Brief History of Bread on Kanopy
Check out this 28-minute video if you're interested in learning about the scientific and cultural aspects of bread! Episode thirteen of 'Food, Science, and the Human Body', one of the Great Courses available for streaming on Kanopy, discusses the art of bread leavening, the religious and social roles of light and dark bread, and the artisanal bread movement.
Learning about sourdough is a never-ending journey-- there's no limit to the many variations of sourdough baking that you can try! Whether you plan to try one of our recommended recipes, check out a cookbook, or borrow digital materials to learn more about sourdough, we hope you enjoy this hobby as much as we do.