Artisan Sourdough Bread (Easy Overnight Recipe)
This artisan sourdough bread is everything homemade bread should be—crispy golden crust, soft airy crumb, and deep sourdough flavor developed through an overnight rise. It’s simple enough for beginners but still gives bakery-level results.
Perfect for toast, sandwiches, or just tearing warm pieces straight from the loaf.
⭐ Recipe Overview
- ⏱ Prep: 20 minutes
- 🕒 Rest: 10–12 hours (overnight)
- 🔥 Bake: 35–40 minutes
- 🍞 Yield: 2 loaves
- 📊 Difficulty: Easy–Intermediate
🧾 Ingredients
- 500 g bread flour (4 cups)
- 100 g whole wheat flour (¾ cup, optional for deeper flavor)
- 100 g active sourdough starter (bubbly & fed)
- 375 g water (1½ cups + 1 tbsp)
- 10 g sea salt (2 tsp)
👨🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions
1. 🧫 Feed Your Starter
Feed your sourdough starter 4–6 hours before mixing.
👉 It should:
- double in size
- look bubbly
- smell slightly tangy and sweet
This ensures strong fermentation.
2. 🥣 Mix the Dough
In a large bowl:
- Mix starter + water first
- Add bread flour + whole wheat flour
Stir until no dry flour remains.
Cover and rest for 1 hour (autolyse stage).
👉 This improves gluten structure naturally.
3. 🧂 Add Salt
Sprinkle salt over dough.
Use your hands to:
- pinch
- fold
- squeeze
until fully incorporated.
4. 🔄 Bulk Fermentation (Stretch & Fold)
Over 3–4 hours, perform stretch and folds every 30 minutes:
- stretch dough upward
- fold over itself
- rotate bowl
- repeat 3–4 times
After final fold, let dough rise until 50–75% increased in size.
5. ✋ Pre-Shape
Lightly flour surface.
Divide dough into 2 equal portions.
Shape gently into round balls and rest uncovered for 20 minutes.
6. 🍞 Final Shaping
Shape dough into tight logs.
Place into lightly greased loaf pans (seam side down).
7. ❄️ Cold Proof (Overnight)
Cover and refrigerate for 8–12 hours.
👉 This step gives:
- deeper flavor
- better texture
- artisan-style crust
8. 🔪 Score the Dough
Next morning:
- Preheat oven to 230°C (450°F)
- Score top with a sharp blade (1–2 cuts or decorative pattern)
- Light dusting of flour adds bakery look
9. 🔥 Bake
Bake for 35–40 minutes until:
- deep golden brown
- crisp crust
- hollow sound when tapped
👉 For extra crust:
Remove from pans for last 10 minutes of baking.
10. ❄️ Cool Completely
Cool on wire rack for at least 1 hour.
⚠️ Do not cut early—this causes gummy texture.
💡 Pro Tips
- Use a strong, active starter for best rise
- Add steam (tray of hot water) for crisp crust
- Brush with butter after baking for soft crust
- Whole wheat adds flavor but slightly denser crumb
- Overnight cold proof = better flavor depth
🍽️ Serving Ideas
This artisan sourdough is perfect for:
- 🥪 Sandwiches
- 🍞 Toast with butter or jam
- 🧄 Garlic bread
- 🧀 Grilled cheese
- 🍳 Breakfast toast with eggs
🧊 Storage
- Room temp: 2–3 days
- Freezer: up to 3 months (slice before freezing)
- Reheat: toast or warm in oven
❓ FAQs
Q1: Can I bake without loaf pans?
Yes—shape into boules and bake in a Dutch oven.
Q2: Why didn’t my bread rise?
Likely weak starter—ensure it doubles after feeding.
Q3: Can I skip overnight proof?
Yes, but flavor will be less complex.
Q4: How do I soften crust?
Brush with butter after baking and cover while cooling.
🏁 Final Thoughts
This artisan sourdough bread delivers everything you want in homemade bread—crispy crust, soft interior, and deep, complex flavor developed slowly overnight.
It’s simple, reliable, and produces bakery-quality loaves right from your kitchen. Once you master this method, it becomes a forever recipe. 🥖✨
