This post may contain affiliate links. Check out the full disclosure here.
Hey, dough devotees! Keen on unraveling the secrets of sourdough? You've found the perfect place. Whether you're just starting or you've got your sourdough game on lock, I've got a list of the very best sourdough cookbooks for you, each a gem in its own right. From getting your starter started to nailing the perfect score in every crusty loaf, these books cover it all.
There's something almost otherworldly about baking your own sourdough. It's not just the aroma of fresh bread softly drifting through the kitchen, or the golden crust crackling under your fingertips – it's the alchemy of it all.
Transforming flour, water, and a bit of patience into a crusty, delicious loaf is nothing short of a kitchen miracle. The first slice of your homemade sourdough, still warm and bursting with flavor, is a moment of pure, unadulterated joy (even if your first fifteen loaves look wonky af).
Without further ado, let's jump into some of the cookbooks that got me started on this lifelong love affair and will have you kneading (or not) in no time:
"Sourdough: Recipes for Rustic Fermented Breads, Sweets, Savories, and More"
Artisan Sourdough Made Simple" by Emilie Raffa is a real gem for those just embarking on their sourdough journey. As a professionally trained chef and seasoned home baker, Emilie Raffa makes sourdough accessible and fun. This book is perfect for beginners, offering clear, easy-to-follow instructions along with 65 mouthwatering recipes. From the basic science and art of sourdough to crafting delights like Roasted Garlic and Rosemary Bread and Blistered Asiago Rolls, this book has it all.
The step-by-step guides are particularly helpful, demystifying the process of creating and caring for your own starter. Emilie's approach is down-to-earth and encouraging, making the art of sourdough baking a lot less daunting and a heckin' lot more enjoyable. Whether you're a newbie or a seasoned baker looking for new recipes, this book is a fantastic resource. Plus, with her engaging blog, The Clever Carrot, Emilie continues to inspire and educate bakers of all levels.
"Mastering Bread: The Art and Practice of Handmade Sourdough, Yeast Bread, and Pastry"
"Mastering Bread" by Marc Vetri, along with Claire Kopp McWilliams and David Joachim, is an essential guide for anyone passionate about bread making. This comprehensive book dives deep into the art and science of bread, from rustic sourdough to exquisite pastries. Vetri, a master in the artisan bread movement, shares his extensive knowledge and experience, offering over 70 delicious recipes. The book beautifully breaks down the bread-making process into manageable chapters: Mix, Shape, and Bake.
What's truly special about this book is its focus on using fresh milled and whole-grain flours, local and regional wheat varieties, making it an absolute treasure for those keen on understanding the full breadth of their ingredients. It's more than just a cookbook; it's an exploration of the cultural and environmental significance of bread making. Whether you're a novice eager to bake your first loaf or an experienced baker looking to deepen your knowledge, "Mastering Bread" is a must-have on your kitchen shelf, and one of my personal all-time favorite bread baking books, period.
"Sourdough Every Day: Your Guide to Using Active and Discard Starter for Artisan Bread"
Hannah Dela Cruz's "Sourdough Every Day" is an inspirational guide for both budding and seasoned sourdough enthusiasts. With over 55 imaginative recipes, this book takes sourdough beyond the traditional loaf, exploring a world where sourdough starter infuses everything from rustic breads and rolls to pasta, sweets, and beyond. Hannah, a self-taught baker and founder of the award-winning blog Make It Dough, shares her passion and know-how in an accessible, friendly manner.
The book not only covers the basics of creating and maintaining a sourdough starter but also dives into a variety of creative uses for both active and discard starter. Recipes like Mexican Hot Chocolate Rye Loaf and Semolina Chili-Cheddar Loaf demonstrate the versatility of sourdough, while her innovative discard recipes offer fantastic waste-free solutions. Whether you're craving Honey Butter Rolls, Sweet Potato-Cardamom Buns, or even Sourdough Discard Biscotti, this book has something for everyone.
"Starter Sourdough: The Step-by-Step Guide to Sourdough Starters, Baking Loaves, Baguettes, Pancakes, and More"
Carroll, with her vast experience as a Wall Street Journal best-selling author and baking aficionado, makes the seemingly complex world of sourdough starters super approachable. The book offers tons and tons of recipes, from classic loaves and baguettes to innovative sourdough pancakes and cookies.
The standout feature of this book is its simple, yet detailed approach to creating a lively and durable sourdough starter - the soul of all sourdough baking. Carroll's instructions are crystal clear and accompanied by stunning photographs, ensuring that even the most novice baker can find success. Beyond the foundational techniques, the book dives into creative variations, allowing bakers to expand their repertoire with recipes like Sourdough Marble Rye Bread, Sourdough Cinnamon-Sugar Doughnuts, and even a Sourdough Double Piecrust.
"Pizza: The Ultimate Cookbook Featuring More Than 300 Recipes"
"Pizza: The Ultimate Cookbook" by Barbara Elisi Caracciolo is a pizza lover's dream, offering a whirlwind tour of global pizza styles - including, of course, scrumptious sourdough crust variations. This hefty, 816-page book is an absolute deep dive into the world of pizzas and flatbreads, featuring over 300 mouthwatering recipes to suit every taste bud.
Barbara, owner of Spigamadre bakery in Sweden and a seasoned blogger, guides you through making everything from classic Neapolitan pizzas to innovative creations like BBQ Chicken and Teriyaki Salmon Pizzas. The book's highlight is its exploration of sourdough pizza crusts, bringing a tangy twist to your favorite pie. Alongside these doughy delights, you'll find profiles and interviews with world-famous pizza makers, adding a slice of pizza history and culture to your culinary journey.
"New World Sourdough: Artisan Techniques for Creative Homemade Fermented Breads"
"New World Sourdough" by Bryan Ford offers a fresh and innovative take on sourdough bread making. Ford, a New Orleans-based baker, is famed for his experiments with baking techniques and infusing his Latin American heritage into his recipes. This 160-page book is a delightful blend of tradition and creativity, guiding you through a variety of sourdough-based recipes, from rustic breads like Pan Rustico to enriched delights such as Challah and Queen Cake.
Ford takes a unique approach to sourdough, embracing a wide array of cultural influences and flavors. You'll find everything from classic Ciabatta and Focaccia to Cuban Muffins and Pita Bread. Notably, Ford's sourdough pan de coco recipe, inspired by traditional Honduran bread, is a standout, showcasing his skill in blending cultural heritage with sourdough baking.
"Sourdough by Science: Understanding Bread Making"
Karyn Lynn Newman offers a scientific yet accessible approach to sourdough bread making. Newman, a molecular biologist, combines her scientific expertise with her passion for home baking, delivering a comprehensive guide that guides the reader through the complex chemistry behind sourdough. This 304-page book delves into the intricate chemical and biological processes that transform simple ingredients into delicious, warm, and crusty sourdough breads.
The book offers clear explanations of what’s happening at a molecular level during the sourdough making process and provides practical, scienctific advice for optimizing your bakes. Newman’s approachable style makes it easy for readers to develop an intuition for sourdough, answering crucial questions about starters, flour types, and the impact of different ingredients. The book includes a range of recipes, from Rustic Boule to Wild Challah to Hazelnut Buns, all designed to teach the hows and whys of bread making.
"The Art of Sourdough Scoring: Your All-In-One Guide to Perfect Loaves"
Wood transforms sourdough baking into a beautiful art form. Brittany, a graphic artist and baker, combines her expertise in both fields to create a guide that’s as visually appealing as it is informative. This book is dedicated to the art of scoring sourdough, the technique of making precise cuts on bread dough before baking, which affects not only how the bread looks but also how it bakes.
Brittany's book is an extremely comprehensive resource for the artistically inclined, filled with lush full-page photography, step-by-step tutorials, and expert tips. It covers every skill you'll need to successfully create unique and beautiful patterns on your loaves. This guide is perfect for those looking to elevate their sourdough game and impress with both flavor and design. Whether you're a novice baker or someone looking to refine your scoring techniques, Brittany’s book is chock-full of inspiration and practical advice. Get ready to bake bread that is not only super delicious but also a work of art!
"The Perfect Loaf: The Craft and Science of Sourdough Breads, Sweets, and More"
This 432-page book, a James Beard Award Winner and New York Times Bestseller, offers a deep dive into the world of sourdough breads and beyond, making it an indispensable resource for both novice and experienced bakers. Maurizio Leo, creator of the popular blog The Perfect Loaf, brings his detailed techniques and generous teaching style to this masterpiece.
The book covers a wide range of foolproof recipes, from essential freeform loaves like Simple Sourdough and Cranberry & Walnut, to pan loaves such as Naturally Leavened Brioche and Honey Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread. It also includes recipes for pizza and flatbread, buns, rolls, and sweets like Weekend Cinnamon Rolls and Italian Doughnuts. Leo's comprehensive approach includes troubleshooting sections and sidebars that answer almost every question a baker might have.
"Tartine Bread"
"Tartine Bread" by Chad Robertson is a standout book in the world of artisan bread making. A winner of the James Beard Award for Outstanding Pastry Chef alongside his wife Elisabeth Prueitt, Chad Robertson brings his mastery from San Francisco's legendary Tartine Bakery to this engaging book. Known for its rugged, magnificent loaves, Tartine Bakery's secrets are unfolded in this 304-page guide, making it a go-to resource for anyone keen on mastering sourdough bread.
The book is split into four parts, addressing various aspects of bread making, from Basic Country Bread to Semolina and Whole-Wheat Breads, Baguettes, and Enriched Breads. What makes this book exceptional is its approach to teaching. Robertson shares his experiences and baking apprenticeships, turning the book into a rich narrative that’s as compelling as it is educational. He spares no detail in describing the process of making his iconic Basic Country Bread, offering over 100 pages of step-by-step instructions and stories, beautifully accompanied by Eric Wolfinger's almost tactile photographs.
Sourdough Log Book
Last but not least, we have this little sourdough log book designed to help artisan bakers track and record their sourdough baking recipes and methods. These log books are super practical, offering sections for noting down ingredients, fermentation times, baking temps, and any adjustments or observations for each bake. This can be an invaluable little tool for bakers looking to refine their sourdough recipes and maintain consistency in their baking process.
Ready to rise to the challenge? Pick up one of these sourdough bibles and start your journey to becoming a sourdough star.
Looking for recipes for that neverending sourdough discard? Check out these 20 + delicious sourdough discard recipes!
And hey, don't forget to pin these cookbooks to refer back to and share your triumphs, flops, and everything in between with us here. We're all on this baking journey together!
Related
Looking for more? We've got plenty:
Join the discussion