14 Artisan Sourdough Bread Recipes for Beginners

I remember the earthy aroma of fresh-baked bread wafting through my grandmother’s cozy kitchen every Sunday morning. As a child, I’d perch on a stool, mesmerized as she tended to her wild sourdough starter—a tangy, bubbly concoction passed down from her own mother. Those golden-crusted loaves, with their chewy crumb and subtle sour tang, weren’t just food; they were a ritual of patience and love that sparked my lifelong passion for baking.

Fast-forward to the pandemic lockdowns, when I revived that family tradition in my own tiny apartment kitchen. My early experiments were a hilarious disaster—deflated doughs and starters that smelled more like nail polish remover than magic. But persistence paid off, and I honed a foolproof method for beginners. Today, with sourdough’s popularity soaring amid a back-to-basics movement, I’m sharing these artisan recipes to make that same joy accessible to you—no fancy equipment required.

Classic Country Sourdough Loaf

This timeless recipe is the perfect entry point for beginners, yielding a rustic loaf with a crisp crust and open crumb. Ingredients: 100g active sourdough starter, 350g bread flour, 250g water, 10g salt, optional rice flour for dusting. Mix the starter, water, and flour for an autolyse (rest 30 minutes), add salt, perform stretch-and-folds every 30 minutes for 2 hours, bulk ferment 8-12 hours, shape into a boule, proof 4 hours, then bake in a preheated Dutch oven at 450°F for 20 minutes covered and 20 uncovered.
Its benefits include gut-friendly fermentation from natural yeasts, better digestibility than commercial bread, and endless sandwich potential.

Olive and Rosemary Sourdough

Infuse Mediterranean flair into your bake with briny olives and aromatic rosemary. Ingredients: 100g starter, 350g bread flour, 250g water, 10g salt, 100g chopped Kalamata olives, 2 tbsp fresh rosemary. Follow the classic method, incorporating olives and rosemary during the third fold.
This loaf offers heart-healthy fats from olives, antioxidants from herbs, and an irresistible savory punch that’s beginner-simple yet gourmet.

Cinnamon Raisin Artisan Sourdough

A subtly sweet twist on tradition, perfect for breakfast. Ingredients: 100g starter, 350g bread flour, 250g water, 10g salt, 100g raisins (soaked), 1 tbsp cinnamon sugar mix. Add raisins and cinnamon after autolyse, proceed with folds and ferments.
Packed with fiber from raisins and warming spices, it’s a comforting, naturally sweetened treat that builds baking confidence.

Seeded Multigrain Sourdough

Nutty and hearty, loaded with seeds for texture. Ingredients: 100g starter, 300g bread flour, 50g whole wheat flour, 250g water, 10g salt, 50g mixed seeds (sesame, flax, sunflower). Mix seeds in during bulk ferment start.
Boosts nutrition with omega-3s, protein, and fiber, making it a wholesome daily bread that’s easy to customize.

Garlic Parmesan Sourdough

Bold flavors for garlic lovers, with cheesy umami. Ingredients: 100g starter, 350g bread flour, 250g water, 10g salt, 4 minced garlic cloves, 50g grated Parmesan. Fold in garlic and cheese midway.
Garlic’s immune benefits pair with calcium-rich cheese for a flavorful, protein-enhanced loaf that’s impressively simple.

Jalapeño Cheddar Sourdough

Spicy kick meets melty cheese in this crowd-pleaser. Ingredients: 100g starter, 350g bread flour, 250g water, 10g salt, 100g diced cheddar, 2 jalapeños (seeded). Add during folds for even distribution.
Offers protein from cheese and capsaicin heat for metabolism, ideal for bold beginners wanting fun twists.

Walnut Cranberry Sourdough

Autumnal vibes with crunchy nuts and tart berries. Ingredients: 100g starter, 350g bread flour, 250g water, 10g salt, 75g walnuts, 75g dried cranberries. Toast nuts lightly; fold in post-autolyse.
Walnuts provide omega-3s and antioxidants from cranberries, creating a nutrient-dense, festive bread effortlessly.

Sundried Tomato Basil Sourdough

Sun-kissed Italian inspiration in every bite. Ingredients: 100g starter, 350g bread flour, 250g water, 10g salt, 75g sundried tomatoes (oil-packed, drained), 2 tbsp chopped basil. Incorporate during bulk.
Tomatoes add lycopene for heart health; it’s a vibrant, oil-infused loaf that’s beginner-proof and pizza-toast ready.

Honey Oat Sourdough

Soft, subtly sweet with rolled oats for tenderness. Ingredients: 100g starter, 325g bread flour, 25g oats, 260g water, 10g salt, 2 tbsp honey. Soak oats in water; add honey with salt.
Honey’s natural antibacterial properties and oats’ beta-glucans support digestion in this moist, everyday artisan bake.

Pumpkin Spice Sourdough

Cozy fall flavors without the cake-like density. Ingredients: 100g starter, 350g bread flour, 250g water, 10g salt, 1/2 cup pumpkin puree, 1 tsp each cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger. Mix puree into dough.
Pumpkin’s vitamins and spices’ warmth make it seasonally nutritious and a gateway to flavored doughs.

Fennel Orange Sourdough

Unique citrus-anise pairing for sophistication. Ingredients: 100g starter, 350g bread flour, 250g water, 10g salt, zest of 1 orange, 1 tbsp fennel seeds. Toast seeds; zest into autolyse.
Fennel’s digestive aids and orange’s vitamin C elevate this aromatic loaf for adventurous beginners.

Fig Blue Cheese Sourdough

Sweet-savory elegance with creamy tang. Ingredients: 100g starter, 350g bread flour, 250g water, 10g salt, 100g chopped dried figs, 75g crumbled blue cheese. Layer in gently.
Figs’ fiber and cheese’s probiotics create a gourmet gut-health hero that’s surprisingly straightforward.

Everything Bagel Sourdough

Topped with iconic seasoning for bagel-bread hybrid. Ingredients: 100g starter, 350g bread flour, 250g water, 10g salt; after shaping, top with everything bagel mix (sesame, poppy, garlic, onion).
Seed-packed for crunch and flavor explosion, it’s a versatile, no-fuss recipe mimicking deli favorites.

Chocolate Hazelnut Sourdough

Indulgent yet breakfast-worthy treat. Ingredients: 100g starter, 350g bread flour, 250g water, 10g salt, 75g chopped dark chocolate, 50g hazelnuts. Fold in toasted nuts and chocolate.
Dark chocolate’s flavonoids and nuts’ healthy fats make this a decadent, antioxidant-rich bake for sweet-toothed novices.

These 14 beginner-friendly artisan sourdough recipes are your ticket to bakery-quality bread at home—start with the classic and experiment boldly. Grab your starter, preheat that oven, and fill your kitchen with that irresistible scent. Which one will you bake first? Share your bakes in the comments!