Soft Crust Sourdough Bread Recipe · Coffee Fit Kitchen (2024)

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This Soft Crust Sourdough Bread Recipe is surprisingly easy to make and much healthier and tastier than store-bought bread! The sourdough flavor creates a unique loaf that is flavorful and perfect for pairing with loads of sandwiches. Not only does sourdough offer an intense flavor, but it has also added health benefits and nutritional value to your diet!

Sourdough Health Benefits

Sourdough has become one of my favorite types of bread that I have tried. I used to get it from the store in the past and was amazed by the depth of flavor. The best part about sourdough is how good it is for you! A homemade sourdough starter is full of natural probiotics that aid in digestion and gut health. The fermentation process of the grains makes the bread much easier for our bodies to process and we get more whole nutrients from the grains. It’s also full of antioxidants that can help in avoiding cancers, aging, and chronic diseases.

There have even been certain studies that indicate those with gluten intolerances can handle eating sourdough bread because of its ease on the gut. Overall, sourdough is so much fun to bake, healthy and can be a hobby to maintain a starter.

Sources – WebMdMedicalnewstodayBonappetit

Sourdough Starter

Since I had tried sourdough and heard of the health benefits, I’d been wanting to try making my own starter. It literally only takes water and flour to get the sourdough going. Of course, you have to put some time into helping it grow natural yeast but after that it gets easy. To be honest, I’m lucky enough to have been gifted my starter from my older sister. She got her starter recipe from Farmhouse on Boone. After your starter is developed, its so easy to maintain. You just have to make sure it’s fed enough to keep the yeast going. That can be once a week or daily.

Bread Ingredients

  • Sourdough starter
  • Purified water
  • Large egg
  • Olive oil
  • Honey
  • Fine sea salt
  • Unbleached All-purpose flour

Sourdough Ingredient Notes

This bread is very simple when it comes to the ingredients. However, there are a few ways you can tweak it if necessary. For one, the olive oil can be replaced with melted coconut oil or canola oil.

I like to use a touch of raw honey in my sandwich breads because it adds moisture and helps the natural yeast to ferment. Although, another good option for loaves like this one is molasses. It helps keep the bread moist and adds an extra boost of flavor. I recommend unsulphered molasses and not blackstrap.

Sourdough Bread Making Equipment

  • Stand Mixer with dough attachment
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Spatula
  • Large mixing bowl
  • 8.5×4.5 Loaf pan
  • Cooling rack

The equipment for this recipe is fairly simple. The only special thing needed is a good quality stand mixer. I personally love my KitchenAid mixer. While a mixer isn’t completely necessary for making this bread, it does make things a lot easier. You can definitely knead this dough by hand, it’s just messier and takes a bit longer.

Recipe Notes

  • If you’re kneading the dough by hand it will take closer to 10 minutes for the gluten to be developed enough.
  • For an overnight option, proof the bread in the refrigerator and finish the final proofing at room temperature.
  • Store this bread wrapped in plastic wrap or aluminum foil at room temperature. It should last between 5-7 days before it dries out.
  • Do not store this bread in the refrigerator after it’s baked because it will dry out quickly.
  • This bread can be frozen after it’s baked by wrapping it in plastic wrap and placing it in a ziplock freezer bag. It can last up to 3 months and be defrosted at room temperature when you’re ready to use it.
Soft Crust Sourdough Bread Recipe · Coffee Fit Kitchen (1)

I hope you love this Soft Crust Sourdough Bread Recipe as much as I have come to enjoy it! If you try it out, please make sure to leave a comment on how it turned out and leave a 5-star rating if you love it!

Follow me on Pinterest to see all of my new recipes and pin them for later!

More Bread Recipes

  • Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread
  • Tangzhong Whole Wheat Bread
  • Healthy Cinnamon Swirl Bread

Soft Crust Sourdough Bread Recipe · Coffee Fit Kitchen (2)

Soft Crust Sourdough Bread

Soft Crust Sourdough Bread Recipe · Coffee Fit Kitchen (3)Alyssa

This Soft Crust Sourdough Bread is so easy to make, yet has so much flavor! It’s perfect for sandwiches, toast, garlic breads, or as a plain slice.

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Proofing Time 7 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

Total Time 8 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Course Bread, Breakfast, Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 14

Calories 126 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Stand Mixer with dough attachment

  • 1 Measuring cups and spoons

  • 1 Spatula

  • 1 Large mixing bowl

  • 1 8.5×4.5 Loaf pan

  • 1 Cooling rack

Ingredients

  • 1 Cup Sourdough starter
  • ½ Cup Purified water
  • 1 Large egg
  • 1 Tbsp Olive oil
  • 1 ½ Tbsp Honey
  • 1 tsp Fine sea salt
  • 2 ¾ Cups Unbleached All-purpose flour

Instructions

  • Add active sourdough starter, water, egg, oil, honey, and flour to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Mix lightly until the dough comes together.

  • Knead for 8-10 minutes on low speed until the dough passes the windowpane test. Form into a ball and transfer to an oiled mixing bowl.

  • Lightly cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel. Set the bowl in a warm place for 6 hours to ferment and proof.

  • Turn your dough out onto a lightly greased surface and roll it out into a rectangle. Fold in the sides and roll it over into a log. Pinch the seam and the ends of the log closed. Place the loaf seam-side down in a greased 8.5×4.5-inch loaf pan.

  • Cover loaf with a plastic wrap and place in a warm spot to proof until the loaf fills the pan and rises above the top by an inch. It should take about 1.5-2 hours.

  • Bake in a 350°F oven on the center rack for 25-30 minutes or until the bread is golden and sounds hollow when tapped.

  • Run a kitchen knife around the edges of the loaf to loosen it from the pan. Remove loaf to a cooling rack.

Notes

  • If you’re kneading the dough by hand it will take closer to 10 minutes for the gluten to be developed enough.
  • For an overnight option, proof the bread in the refrigerator and finish the final proofing at room temperature.
  • Store this bread wrapped in plastic wrap or aluminum foil at room temperature. It should last between 5-7 days before it dries out.
  • Do not store this bread in the refrigerator after it’s baked because it will dry out quickly.
  • This bread can be frozen after it’s baked by wrapping it in plastic wrap and placing it in a ziplock freezer bag. It can last up to 3 months and be defrosted at room temperature when you’re ready to use it.

Soft Crust Sourdough Bread Recipe · Coffee Fit Kitchen (4)

Keyword Sandwich Bread, Sourdough Bread

Soft Crust Sourdough Bread Recipe · Coffee Fit Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

How do you get a softer crust on sourdough bread? ›

Brush With Butter

Butter contains fats that retain gases during baking, ensuring the dough rises properly in the oven and softening the crust. If you forget to brush the dough before you bake, you can still apply it as soon as you take it out. The butter will minimize the amount of crisping a loaf will do as it cools.

How to make sourdough more soft? ›

12- Once the dough is out of the oven, remove from the pans quickly and place on a wire rack to cool, and brush with melted butter. This will help the crust to be soft. Wait at least 20 minutes before cutting. For best results, wait until loaves are completely cool.

How do I get soft bread crust? ›

Use a formula that is enriched with milk or butter for a softer crumb, as well as a softer crust. Use a loaf pan, as only the top crust will get the extra development from being exposed directly to the air of the oven, which allows it to more easily dry out. Don't use steam in the oven to encourage crust development.

How to get crispy sourdough crust? ›

Use a pizza stone or cloche

So heat and steam are a key part of getting that crust of dreams. To help even more, pre-heat a pizza stone in the oven before starting to bake. Place the baking tray or tin directly onto the baking stone. This brings a hot surface into (almost) direct contact with the bread you're baking.

What is the secret to a soft crust? ›

Glucose syrup, honey, or agave work great. Glucose syurp and these other liquid sugars are known as invert sugars. Invert sugars are less prone to crystallization. This will then keep the crust soft and flexible rather than hard and crispy because the sugars are not setting on the surface.

Why is my sourdough bread not crusty? ›

Your sourdough crust goes soft after cooling because there is still too much moisture in your bread. The baking process should have removed this moisture, but if it's too short, the moisture remains in the crust and softens it as soon as the sourdough cools.

How to get softer crust on bread machine bread? ›

the easiest active ways to buy a bread improver in a special softening property. you can try to put in more olive oil or some other type of fat you are using. when the bread finally stops kneading you can spread the top crust with olive oil with eggs or both combined. you can spray top crust with water.

How do you keep sourdough bread soft? ›

How to Best Store Sourdough
  1. Cloth Bag or Tea Towel. Cloth bags and tea towels are nice options that hold in some of the moisture but also allow your bread to breath. ...
  2. Cut Side Down. This is the method I used when I worked at a natural bakery. ...
  3. Paper Bag. ...
  4. Beeswax Wraps. ...
  5. Bread Box. ...
  6. Freezer. ...
  7. In the Fridge. ...
  8. In Plastic Bags.
May 26, 2023

Why is my homemade sourdough bread so dense? ›

Most likely when this happens, it's not you - it's your starter. If your loaf is dense, has uneven holes and a gummy texture, most likely there wasn't enough active wild yeast in your starter to make the bread develop and rise during baking. This can be the case even if your starter seems really happy and bubbly.

What is the trick to soft bread? ›

One of the easiest ways our bakers follow to make bread soft and fluffy is by using 1-2 tablespoons of lubricant/fats such as vegetable oil to wet the ingredients. This will prevent the formation of excess gluten, as excess gluten makes bread chewy.

What factors produce soft crusts in bread? ›

Most importantly, the temperature of your oven is a big factor. A cooler oven will result in a softer crust. A hotter oven, a crustier crust. Most enriched doughs are baked around 375 degrees F, while baguettes and other crusty breads are baked between 450-550 degrees F.

Why is the crust on my homemade bread so hard? ›

Baking quick breads at too high temperatures can cause a hard outside crust. Most quick breads bake in a moderate oven (350°F to 375°F). Double check your recipe to see the temperature they recommend. Oven thermostats can vary over time, requiring adjustments by the baker or calibration by a professional.

How do I make my sourdough crust softer? ›

Adding fats or oils to your bread can help to soften the crust.

What is the secret to fluffy sourdough? ›

Keeping the lid on for the first part of baking allows steam to expand between the gluten fibers to rise the bread and create a fluffy loaf. Step 4: Remove the lid and bake for an additional 12-14 minutes or until the crust is crispy and golden brown. Once you take the lid off, the bread likely won't rise anymore.

What temperature do you bake sourdough bread at? ›

Preheat your oven with a baking surface or combo cooker/Dutch oven inside to 450°F (230°C). Remove your dough from the fridge, score it, and transfer it to the preheated baking surface or combo cooker. Bake for 20 minutes with steam.

Why does my sourdough starter have a hard crust on top? ›

You'll find that your sourdough starter sometimes develops a crust or skin. It's totally ok and just means that it's getting a bit too dry on top. Try using a jar lid (not screwed on) or even a piece of cling film. Just scrape the skin off and feed as per normal.

Is there a way to soften sourdough bread? ›

Splash some water over the top of your bread, just enough to become slightly damp. Place the loaf in a 250°F oven for 5 to 10 minutes. Watch it closely and remove it when warm. Too long in the oven and you'll get dried-out toast.

Why is my sourdough so stiff? ›

I feel like, more often than not, the issue is under-hydrated—meaning you didn't put enough water into the dough. If your dough is too stiff, basically that means it's resistant to being blown up by the yeast. DOGU: If your hydration is low, increase it.

Why is my sourdough dense and hard? ›

One of the most common mistakes is having a dough temperature that's too low for the starter to feed on all the flour in the dough, resulting in a crumb that's dense, with fewer openings. "Starter is happiest and most active at around 75 degrees. If it's a lot colder, the process will be much slower.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Terence Hammes MD

Last Updated:

Views: 5933

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (49 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Terence Hammes MD

Birthday: 1992-04-11

Address: Suite 408 9446 Mercy Mews, West Roxie, CT 04904

Phone: +50312511349175

Job: Product Consulting Liaison

Hobby: Jogging, Motor sports, Nordic skating, Jigsaw puzzles, Bird watching, Nordic skating, Sculpting

Introduction: My name is Terence Hammes MD, I am a inexpensive, energetic, jolly, faithful, cheerful, proud, rich person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.