With a crunchy exterior and chewy interior, Seeded Multigrain Sourdough Bread is texture rich with an earthy blend of grains and seeds to make a crave-worthy loaf. This sourdough is vegan friendly.
Celebrating Sourdough Bread
Thrilled to be back on gluten after an eight month hiatus, seeded multigrain sourdough bread is the first thing I made. I couldn’t believe how resilient my sourdough starter was after having been neglected for far too many months. After all, I was focusing my efforts on a gluten free sourdough starter and bread recipe.
Gluten free sourdough is still in the works, and is coming along through much trial and error. I’ll be sharing my gluten free sourdough starter and bread recipe soonish. UPDATE: my gluten free starter and gluten free sourdough bread are ready!
In the mean time, we feast on seeded multigrain sourdough bread!
Recipe Inspiration
This sourdough bread recipe is an adaptation on my yeasted multigrain bread. A bread I made often before learning how to make sourdough bread. Chock full of grains including a 10 grain cereal, oats, and quinoa, I also added sunflower and flax seeds to create more texture and flavor.
Making sourdough bread isn’t hard, but it’s a process that takes a little planning and practice. I often said I thought about sourdough longer than it took me to create a loaf. And while this was the case at one time, now that I know how to make it, manipulate the rise time through retardation if needed, shape and proof the dough, and bake sourdough, the process doesn’t seem so daunting any more. Its become closer to second nature, and I don’t think about it as much. A little more brain space is always good!
How to Make Seeded Multigrain Sourdough Bread
The process is pretty straightforward but it takes a bit of planning. I typically mix the night before and bake early on a weekend morning because I have a bit more flexibility then. While you sleep, your little dough baby is growing!
- First, in the evening, prepare the soaker by pouring hot water over the mixture of seeds and grains.
- Second, mix the dough using a previously fed, active and bubbly sourdough starter, water and a mixture of bread and whole wheat flour. Rest the dough for 30 minutes.
- Third, mix in the soaker, mixing and incorporating the grains and seeds into the sticky dough. Rest the dough for 30 more minutes.
- Fourth, fold the dough. Begin bulk fermentation after the first fold or rest again for 30 minutes and perform a series of up to two more folds resting for 30 minutes between the folds. The additional folds are optional, but are beneficial in building structure and creating a beautiful crumb (pictured in this post). Do it if you have time.
- Fifth, bulk ferment the dough at room temperature for 8-14 hours. The time will depend on ambient temperature, and your specific sourdough starter.
- Sixth, shape the dough into one, 2 lb boule or two, 1 lb boules.
- Next, proof the dough for about 30-45 minutes at room temperature.
- Last, score and bake!
The aroma wafting through the house is so warm and inviting, you’ll want to rip into the bread as soon as it comes out of the oven.
How Long Does it Take for Sourdough to Rise?
- Sourdough rise (bulk ferment) time depends on several factors: ambient temperature, and how active your starter is. Also, a firmer dough will take longer to rise than a well hydrated dough.
- When fermenting at room temperature, bulk rise time in summer will differ from winter rise times.
- An ambient temperature of 70F (21C) will require a bulk rise time of about 8-10 hours. My kitchen tends cooler most of the year, but in the winter it’s down right cold. It’s not unusual for my sourdough to take up to 14 hours to rise during the coldest months.
How To Tell When Sourdough Has Risen Enough
- The bulk fermented (first rise) dough is ready when:
- it no longer looks or feels dense
- is jiggly when the bowl is shaken
- has about doubled in size
- you may see a few large bubbles on the surface of the dough
Why Allow The Bread To Cool After Baking
- To complete the cooking process, sourdough bread needs at least an hour to an hour and a half to rest at room temperature. The crust will continue to develop as the sourdough cools as well.
How Do You Store Sourdough Bread?
- Store sourdough bread at room temperature on a cutting board or counter, cut side down. Although freshest the day made, it will store this way for 3-4 days. If you need to cover the bread, place it in a paper bag.
- Refrigerating bread dries it out and will ruin its texture.
- For longer storage, place the bread sliced or whole in a freezer bag and freeze for up to two weeks.
What is the Best Vessel to Bake Sourdough Bread In?
I use two vessels to bake sourdough bread. One is a 10″ cast iron skillet with deep dish skillet for a lid and the other, a 7 quart Staub Dutch oven. I recommend either or both, but I’ve noticed the Staub bakes the bottom of the bread darker than the cast iron, sometimes it’s burnt. This may have to do with the differing materials the vessels are made of.
UPDATE (5/20) Burnt Sourdough Bottom: After testing various methods to remedy the too dark bottom problem, as commenters have mentioned on this sourdough recipe (and on many other non V&B recipes – this is not uncommon in the sourdough world), I’ve finally found the simplest solution ever (duh!). Simply place a sheet pan on the oven rack under the rack your baking vessel is setting on. This helps protect the vessel from the most intense heat of the oven. The two images below show one of the boules I baked using this method.
Prior to doing this, I used a method I learned from The Perfect Loaf who suggests using a double layer parchment or a dusting of course cornmeal alone or under the parchment. Doing this offers a bit of distance between the bottom of the dough coming in direct contact with the base of the vessel. But I still had a bit of too dark bottom. Now, I exclusively use the sheet pan method.
1 lb Mini Boule
A Few Sourdough Bread Recipe Notes
- Because kitchen temperatures vary, be sure to use the time suggestions in the recipe as such. Let the bread guide your process rather than the clock.
- Mini Boules? Yes please! This sourdough recipe can be made into one, 2 lb boule or two, 1 lb boules. The one pound boules are fabulous for bread or dipping bowls, or if you’re baking for one or two and want to freeze or give away the second loaf. Both sizes make decent size sandwich bread.
- TIP: This recipe calls for 10 grain cereal. If unavailable, a combination of polenta, millet, quinoa, and/or amaranth can be subbed, but the flavor will be different.
- Whole wheat bread flour can be difficult to find. If unavailable this recipe will also work using whole wheat flour with similar results. Whole wheat bread flour renders the dough a bit easier to work with, however (more stretchy).
- Freezer friendly? Yes please! Store baked bread in a freezer bag either whole or sliced for up to two weeks. Thaw at room temperature or if using for toast, toast directly from freezer to oven.
- For a tutorial on how to make a sourdough starter, see my post on how to make a sourdough starter.
MAKERS NOTES
So happy to read y’all are enjoying the bread in the comments below. Keep those tips comin’! Here are a few community notes that may be helpful when making this recipe:
- Emily Commented: “…used apf (all purpose flour) instead of bread flour, but the result was still stunning, I got a gorgeous rise and soft moistness with a chewy crust.”
- Dara Said: “I didn’t have all the ingredients the recipe called for so I used a combination of sunflower seeds, oats, hemp seeds, flax seeds, and millet.”
- Samantha Commented: “I did 3T each of quinoa, rolled oats, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds. I did 3 cups all purpose unbleached white flour and 1 cup whole wheat bread flour and 1/2 cup spelt. I also subbed honey for maple syrup.”
- Robyn Said: “I made a few changes: all quinoa instead of cereal grains, hemp seeds instead of flax and added pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds.”
- Nichole Said: “I’ve taken this one, and increased the proportion of whole grains and it’s so yummy. I use 60 grams whole wheat bread flour, 240 of bread flour, 130 whole wheat flour and 70 of buckwheat. I also halved the maple syrup.”
Looking for an easy sourdough bread recipe to start with? Check out my Everyday Sourdough or my Multigrain Gluten Free Sourdough Bread post.
My Sourdough Toolkit (affiliate links):
- Glass Mixing Bowl
- 7 Quart Dutch Oven
- 10″ Cast Iron Skillet with Deep Dish Skillet for a lid
- Bench Scraper
- Parchment Paper
- Food Thermometer
- Lame – for scoring the dough
- Banneton(s)
- Digital Scale
Seeded Multigrain Sourdough Bread
Ingredients
For the Soaker:
- 1/4 C (40g) 10 Grain Cereal *(see note)
- 3 Tbs Rolled Oats not quick
- 2 Tbs Red Quinoa rinsed
- 2 Tbs Flax Seed
- 2 Tbs Hulled Sunflower Seeds
- 3/4 C (155g) Hot Water about 150F (65C), or soak the grains and seeds overnight in room temperature water
For the Dough:
- 1/4 C (50g) Sourdough Starter previously fed, bubbly and active
- 1 1/3 C (300g) Warm Water about 80f (26c)
- 2 1/2 Tbs (50g) Maple Syrup
- 3 C (400g) Bread Flour
- 1/2 C + 1 Tbs (100g) Whole Wheat Bread Flour or whole wheat flour
- 2 tsp (16g) Fine Sea Salt
Instructions
For the Soaker:
- In a medium mixing bowl add the cereal, rolled oats, quinoa, flax seeds, sunflower seeds and water. Set aside.
For the Dough:
- Mix the Dough: In the evening, whisk the starter, water and maple syrup together in a large bowl with a fork. Add the flours and salt. First, mix with a fork, the dough will be shaggy. Then mix by hand, mixing, folding and pushing the dough until the flour is fully incorporated and no dry bits are present. It will seem dry at first, but the more you work the dough, the more hydrated it will become. The dough will feel stiff and it will stick to your fingers as you go. Do this for about 3-4 minutes. Use the fork to scrape off the dough on your fingers as much as you can. Cover bowl with a damp tea towel. Set a timer for for 30 minutes and allow the dough to rest for 30 minutes. Now is a good time to feed/refresh your starter.
- Incorporate the Soaker: After the dough has rested, mix in the soaker. To do this, dump the soaker on top of the dough and begin kneading and folding the dough over and on top of itself, incorporating the ingredients of the soaker. Do this for about 1-2 minutes or until the soaker is evenly distributed in the dough. It will seem like a lot of added bits, but as you work the dough and as the dough develops through fermentation, the soaker will incorporate. The dough will be stiff, wet and sticky. Set a timer for 30 minutes and allow the dough to rest for 30 minutes.
- Fold the Dough: After the dough has rested, fold the dough. To do this, grab a portion of the dough while it remains in the bowl, stretch it up and fold it over, pressing your fingertips into the center of the dough. You'll notice the dough is less stiff and more workable at this point. Repeat, until you've worked your way around the dough. This is the first fold, and you can stop here and begin bulk fermentation, but If time permits, and optimally, you'll want to repeat this fold two more times as it improves the final dough's structure and crumb. Allow for about 30-45 minutes each between folds.
- Bulk (fermentation) Rise: After the last fold, cover the bowl with a damp towel and allow to rise overnight at room temperature. This will take about 8-10 hours at 70F (21C), but in a cooler kitchen the dough can take up to 12-14 hours to rise - this is the norm in my chilly kitchen. The dough is ready when it no longer looks dense, is jiggly when the bowl is shaken, and has about doubled in size.
- Shape the Dough: In the morning, and with damp fingertips, coax the dough into a floured work-surface. If making two boules (1 lb - 453g - loaf each), moisten the cutting end of the bench scraper and cut the dough in half (592g ea). For one or two boules, with moist fingers, take a portion of the dough, gently stretch it towards you and fold it over towards the center and pressing it down gently. Repeat this process until you work the dough all the way around. Using a bench scraper flip the dough over and let rest for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, line an 8-inch (20cm) bowl with a towel or lightly flour a banneton (or two as needed). Scrape any excess flour away on your work-surface using the bench scraper and using a spray bottle with water, lightly sprits the surface of the work-surface. This will help the dough grip the surface and help create a taught dough. With lightly floured hands and using the bench scraper again as needed to help move the dough (the dough is sticky), cup your left hand around the dough and pull the dough toward you in a circular motion with the bench scraper in the right hand, to tighten its shape and create a taught skin. Use the bench scraper as needed to work the dough as this dough is sticky. Re-flour your hands as needed.Once the surface is taut, give it a good dusting of flour and smooth it over the top. With one swift move, use the bench scraper to scoop the dough up and, place the dough into the bowl/banneton, bottom side up. Sprinkle the bottom of the dough with a dusting of flour.
- Second (proof) Rise: Cover the bowl with a damp tea towel and let rest for 30 minutes to 45 minutes. The dough is ready when it looks puffy and has risen slightly but has not yet doubled in size. Preheat the oven to 500F (260C). Arrange a rack in the center of the oven, and another just below it. Place a sheet pan on the bottom rack (see UPDATE just below). Cut a sheet of parchment paper to fit the size of your lidded baking vessel leaving enough excess around the sides to transfer the bread to the pot. UPDATE (5/20) Burnt Sourdough Bottom: After testing various methods to remedy the too dark bottom problem, as commenters have mentioned on this sourdough recipe (and on other non V&B recipes - this is not uncommon in the sourdough world), I've finally found the simplest solution ever (duh!). Simply place a sheet pan on the oven rack under the rack your baking vessel is setting on. This protects the bottom of the vessel from the most intense heat of the oven.
- Score: To turn the dough out of the bowl/banneton, place the parchment over the dough and invert the bowl to release. Using the tip of a lame or a razor blade, score the dough about 1/2" (8mm) deep and about 2-3" (5-7cm) long on the top or any way you like. Use the parchment to transfer the dough to the baking pot.
- Bake: Place your lidded vessel on the center rack and reduce heat to 450F (232C). Bake, lidded, for 20 minutes. Remove the lid and continue to bake for 30 -35 minutes, for one, 2lb boule. If baking two, 1 lb boules, continue to bake lid off for 15-20 minutes. To check if the bread is ready, check the internal temperature of the loaf. It should read between 190F-205F when done. When finished, transfer to a wire rack. Cool for 1 hour before slicing. Sourdough is best consumed on the same day it's baked, but it lasts for 3-4 days stored at room temperature. Store at room temperature cut sides down.This bread freezes beautifully. Store baked bread in a freezer bag either whole or sliced for up to two weeks. Thaw at room temperature. This bread can go from freezer to toaster to make the most delicious toast!
I’ve been making this weekly for the past few months and have my sister and mom hooked on the recipe now as well. I’ve been adding nuts and dried fruit to the soaker and that has been delicious. This week I am going to try adding olives and rosemary. It is such a versatile recipe. I was looking for years for a reliable sourdough recipe and this is the best I have found. Thank you!
This recipe is PERFECT! The loaves were beautiful, high and round. Would not change a thing.
Thank you for your note and review, Heidi! So happy to hear you’re enjoying the sourdough!
Hi! Have you ever used a loaf pan for this? I’m thinking about halving the recipe and making a one pound loaf. Thoughts? Thanks!
Hi Elliot! I have not. But I’m thinking the one pound loaf would be a bit too small for a standard loaf pan. If you give it a go, let us know how it goes!
Hi!
Thanks for getting back to me. I tried it in a regular non-stick loaf pan using all the ingredients listed and it had amazing oven spring (in a lidded cast iron pot with ice cubes tossed in for steam). I really loved everything about it. It was absolutely delicious. However, it was huge and just a tad dense (which was likely my fault because I think I put in one cup of seeds/grains)..
I’m going to try to make two loaves out of it next week using your exact recipe and a relatively small glass loaf pan I have. I’ll keep you posted.
Best,
Elliot
So happy to hear Elliot! Thank you for your update. Did you bake the entire recipe (2lbs) in the loaf pan? Please do keep us posted!
Have not tried this yet. Am new to breadbaking. Almost all other recipes for sourdough include an autolyze, which I note is not in this recipe. Why is it not needed?
Hi Halyna! Thank you for your note and stopping by! Indeed, many sourdough recipes utilize an autolyze step, and this recipe is no different (I just don’t include the term “autolyze”). It’s during step one: “Cover bowl with a damp tea towel. Set a timer for for 30 minutes and allow the dough to rest for 30 minutes. Now is a good time to feed/refresh your starter.” Some recipes don’t add the salt until after the 30 minute rest. I haven’t found it to make a difference, so I add it while I’m adding the flour. I hope this helps!
Thanks for the quick response. But I notice you mix in the starter for the autolyze, while don’t some recipes just mix the flour and water first to autolyze, and then afterwards add the starter? What is the difference in end result? I am totally new to this.
Hi Halyna! Just like any other recipe, there are different methods, techniques and ingredients. There’s many ways to sourdough! The only way you’ll see the result is to start trying recipes and see which one(s) you like best. I hope this helps!
I’m a novice baker and this was my best bake yet! Followed recipe exactly except switched up the seeds using hemp and linseeds. Absolutely delicious! I will be making this again and again. Thank you!
Hi Ann! Thank you for your note and giving the recipe a go. So happy to hear it was your best bake yet :D I’ll have to give hemp seeds a go!
My first attempt at seeded sourdough and it’s a mixed result – the bread tastes beautifully, but it has not risen in the oven AT ALL so it’s more of a tasty flatbread! I’m not sure if I left it proving too long (left in the summer kitchen overnight), or if my starter wasn’t strong enough – I also used a mixture of wholemeal and strong white bread flour, maybe that was a mistake?
Can I check that 50g of starter is the right amount? It is much less than other recipes I have made (150g as a norm) – is there anything in the recipe that makes up for that?
I’ll give it another go, fingers crossed it’ll work!
Hi Mina! Thank you for your note. I’m sorry the recipe was mixed for you. There are a lot of variables going on here, so I’m not sure which one specifically (or a combination) impacted your outcome. What was the temperature in your kitchen overnight and how many hours did you bulk ferment your dough? I have no experience using wholemeal flour or strong bread flour, so am unable to speak to that (although changing the flour was most likely a factor). The starter of 50g is the right amount. It is less than other recipes, but the same as others. As with all recipes, sourdough recipes vary too. I hope this helps, and you enjoying giving it another go!
Just took the loaf out of the oven. Have to take the dog for a walk so I won’t cut into it. It is beautifully browned and did not burn on the bottom as I used 2 sheets of parchment and cornmeal under the parchment. Next time I’ll try (there will be a next time!) putting a cookie sheet underneath. Although the directions were long and it took planning ahead in order to follow the steps it was worth it.
Hi Peggy! Thank you for your note, rating and giving the recipe a go! Yes to parchment and cornmeal… and even easier, a sheet pan! I just started doing this too (and need to update the blog :D ) Thank you for your reminder. No doubt, sourdough is a process, but the more you make it, the less you’ll think about it and the easier it’ll be to work with it. Hooray for good bread!
My sourdough bread turned out amazing with this recipe. It actually tasted slightly sour because my starter is a month old now . My daughter and hubby loved it , will definitely be making it again. Thanks so much for the detailed recipe. I am never going to buy store bought bread again…ever !!
Hi Sima! Thank you for your note and giving the recipe a go! How nice that you got a bit of sourness out of it. SO happy to hear y’all are enjoying it, and you appreciate the details. Agreed! Homemade bread is the best bread!
this is GOOD SHIT
hehe… I’ll take that as a complement, Mack!
I’ve taken up sourdough in quarantine, and have been searching for a multigrain recipe to try. This was wonderful! I decided to follow the directions exactly (timing and proportions) and it turned out beautifully. I did not have an issue with it being too wet. Used a blend of stone ground WW flour and KAF special patent. It was delicious, will absolutely make again!
Hooray for quarantine sourdough, Katie! Good for you! I appreciate your note, tips and giving the recipe a go. SO happy to hear.
Hi there, I think it’s no surprise if I tell you your Seeded Sourdough looks divine! I absolutely cannot wait to try it but I am in the UK and I cannot get hold of 10 grain cereal. Do you think I can increase the grams of the other seeds to make up for it? What can you recommend? Many thanks.
Hi Nash! I wouldn’t hesitate subbing a combination of other seeds and grains for the 10 grain cereal. You can give more quinoa, oats and seeds a try instead. I hope this helps! Please keep in touch.
Thank you so much for replying Traci. I cannot wait to try this! Will keep in touch.
Just what I was dreaming of! So delicious. Even though I realized I forgot to make the slit until 25 minutes in, it still came out beautifully. Thank you!
Hi Barb! So happy to hear (and the bread of my dreams too… not just saying that, it took me a long time to develop this loaf :D ) Thank you for your note and giving the recipe a go!
Hi! This bread sounds amazing, I’m feeding my starter so I can try this recipe out! I haven’t made a seeded bread before (with a soaker). Do you discard the water after the seeds/grains are soaked? Or is the water and the seeds added to the dough? I just want to make it correctly. Thanks in advance!
Hi Jody! I don’t discard the water… it all goes in! I hope this helps and you enjoy the sourdough!
This came out so beautifully, it is the best loaf I ever made :)
I did find that I had to add quite some flour to the dough, it was hard to work with as too wet. But the results were beautiful, I did fermentation outside and proofed overnight in the fridge.
Hi there! So happy to hear you enjoyed the bread! Thank you for sharing your tips!
Loved this bread! My first attempt making sourdough bread. Thank you for the detailed instructions and baking schedule. The bread turned out amazing. Better than our favourite sourdough multigrain bread from a local bakery. Next to tackle the gluten free version.
Hi Nicole! SO happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe and that it was your first attempt! Hooray! Please keep in touch with the GF version :D
This was a total fail for me. I read someone who had a similar experience. The dough was a gelatinous mess with no integrity. It rose, etc., but it was never stiff. Finally throwing it out. Has anyone had this experience? I couldn’t find 10 grain cereal so I subbed polenta and millet.
Hi Raine…! Thank you for your note. I’m sorry to hear this recipe didn’t work for you. Reviewing the comments here, I’ve heard of one other issue, but it doesn’t seem to be a recipe issue.
I had the same problem when I first made this bread. I found adding (almost a cup) more flour helped the bread have greater structural integrity.
happened to me too. and I followed the recipe exactly weighing everything.
Hi Emily… I’m sorry to hear this. There are several factors that can impact the hydration of bread dough, which can easily be adjusted as needed simply by adding more flour (a little at a time) if the dough feels too wet. This is the nature of bread making. I’ll add a note.
Hello!
Got to try this recipe this morning. Both loaves were gone within 2 hours! Chewy, sour (but not overbearing) fragrant and a beautiful golden crust. I swapped the whole wheat for spelt and I didn’t have a cereal mix so I used buckwheat groats instead. I only had tricolor quinoa so i got a little more color variety in my loaf which was fun!
Question though; many recipes I’ve tried has me shape, cover, then put in the fridge over night to proof. Your method calls for leaving it out overnight but covered. I tried this method for the first time and did this contribute to the chewiness that I feel my previous loaves have been slightly lacking? Your recipe was the first one that just wowed me in the chew factor. Or maybe that had to do with the fact maple syrup was added?
This is a great recipe and I’ve already got another 2 loaves ready to back for tomorrow morning (except I added a little rosemary and roasted garlic) but using your same methods. I also have your sourdough pizza crust recipe fermenting for the night too. Fingers crossed I pull it all off tomorrow! Thank you for the recipes!!
Hi Tiffany! Thank you for your note and giving the sourdough recipes a go! SO happy you’re enjoying them. With regards to overnight fermentation, I ferment at room temperature and in the refrigerator and don’t notice any difference in chewiness. Could it be that this bread has whole wheat? I don’t know… I don’t expect maple would contribute much to texture, rather, it has more to do with flavor and color. I hope this helps! Keep in touch if you make any new discoveries with the chewiness!
I notice that this recipe doesn’t say to preheat the baking vessel whereas most other sourdough recipes I’ve seen do. Any thoughts on this? Is not preheating the baking vessel intentional? Have you tried both ways?
Hi Brie! Yes, it’s intentional. I have tried both ways and haven’t noticed an appreciable difference. I learned this through The Clever Carrot and her cookbook… so I tried it (after having preheated my Dutch oven) and her method stuck. I just don’t like navigating that super hot Dutch oven. I hope this helps!
I think part of it is out of care for the baking vessel. I heat my dutch oven slowly as to not shock it and I put a L of water in it so that its not just cooking on its own. And then there is the added benefit of giving your beautiful dough this hot basket to begin in vs waiting for the dutch one to heat up before it gets access to heat in the oven!
Would it be okay to do the bulk fermentation overnight in the fridge?
Hi Tiffany! You can! It still needs to double in size .. so you can take out out of the fridge in the morning and allow it to finish doubling at room temperature. I hope this helps!
I am new to sourdough bread and have tried many recipies an dTHIS is the BEST-Thanks!!
SO happy to hear Cheryl! Thank you for your note and giving the recipe a go (!!).
Thank you so much for the clear and detailed recipe. After struggling with so many recipes that were ambiguous or had unresolvable typos, I really cannot thank you enough for this. This was the best sourdough loaf I’ve ever had. I made this as my first-ever sourdough bread (my starter finally had enough rising power and it was a little risky, but I love multigrain, so I just HAD to try this out) and it was amazing. Exactly what you said: crunchy crust and chewy inside.
I used 350g AP flour and 150g sprouted whole wheat. In place of the 40g of 10 Grain Cereal, I added a equal mix of amaranth, barnyard millet (an Indian millet), quinoa, flax seed, and buckwheat. Wonderful texture.
Also tried the double parchment + cornmeal trick. No burnt bread!
Hi Grace! Oh my, thank you so much for your note, tips and kind words! I’m SO happy to read you found the details helpful (sometimes I’m not sure if it’s too much). Isn’t multigrain so delicious? Your soaker sub sounds lovely – did you use kasha or buckwheat flour? Hooray for NO burnt bread!
I used kasha! And a cheer for no burnt bread, indeed.
I once burned the bottom of a loaf and asked my husband to help salvage it by scraping off the charred parts. Doing so was making a mess around the sink, so I asked him to go outside and scrape it. Unfortunately, it was early spring in New England and quite chilly. Thanks to your “hack”, he’ll luckily not have to endure that again! :)
Hi Grace! Kasha!? Wow! That is fantastic…! As you know, a burnt bottom is not uncommon. I’m just about to update the blog post, but I finally discovered the easiest solution – and I did it twice just to make sure the first time wasn’t a fluke …. (no kasha necessary)! Simply place a sheet pan on the oven rack under the baking vessel! NO BURNT BOTTOM! Hooray!
Hi! Thank you for this very clear recipe, the descriptions of what the texture and feel of the dough should be like are very helpful! This is only about my 3rd sourdough loaf and I already like this recipe the best so far. I was wondering about what I can bake my loaf in. I made a half batch this first time and I have a 5” lodge cast iron skillet but no fitting lid or large metal bowl that I can put over top. Could I use any oven-safe cooking pot that has a lid instead? I also have a Lodge griddle pan that I could put a pan upside down over. Has anyone else used non-conventional cookware situations for this bread?
Okay I realized I could totally google this on my own and discovered that I could use a large metal sauce pan with a lid, and on the bottom I added corn meal and then the parchment as recommended in the recipe. The bread turned out wonderfully! Cooked to 190 degrees it is perfectly moist and chewy with some parts of the crust crunchy. Thank you!!
Hii Rachel! I’m so sorry I didn’t respond in time, but it looks like you found a solution! SO happy to hear and that your bread is wonderful! Hooray!! Thank you for your note!
I’ll be making this recipe every week for the rest of my life I think. I made it yesterday for the first time and I adore it. The only change I made was to use apf instead of bread flour as that’s all I had in the house, but the result was still stunning, I got a gorgeous rise and soft moistness with a chewy crust. I’ve made a few different sourdough recipes by now but I’m still decidedly novice, so I greatly appreciated the clear step-by-step instructions. I’ve subscribed to your site, and will be trawling through your other sourdough recipes! Thanks very much for posting!
Hi Emily! Thank you for your note, rating and giving the sourdough a go! Hooray for a delicious loaf of bread! Thank you for your tip on apf… I’ll make a note!
This is one of my favorite sourdough recipes! I got a beautiful rise and the crumb was moist and light, but with not so many big holes that toppings fall through;) Held all the jam, nut butter, and avocado smash that my heart desired.
I didn’t have all the ingredients the recipe called for so I used a combination of sunflower seeds, oats, hemp seeds, flax seeds, and millet. Had a great crunch and had just a hint of sweetness from the maple syrup. Perfect. I will definitely be making this again, but I will be doubling it next time!
Hi Dara! Thank you for your note and rating. Hooray for tasty bread! This is why I love this bread so much for everyday… it’s all about that crumb :D I love the soaker combination you used! Delicious!
So my loaf is in the oven and I’ve just removed the lid. It is quite flat and hasn’t risen at all basically. My dough was so wet, it stuck to the towel (covered in flour) and I wasn’t able to score it either. I didn’t have enough whole wheat flour to reach 100gr so I finished it with more bread flour. I subbed a tbsp of sugar instead of maple syrup and did the bulk fermentation in the fridge. Otherwise i followed the recipe as stated…even doing a few more folds before overnighting in the fridge. Could the problem be that my starter wasn’t strong enough? It looked like roasted marshmallows to me…i get so discouraged with loaves that don’t rise in the oven!
Hi Jennifer! I’m sorry to hear your loaf didn’t rise after removing the lid. Did you allow the refrigerator bulk fermented dough double in size? By now the bread is baked… how does it look? Taste? This is a sticky dough, but it shouldn’t have stuck to the towel… I’m not sure what’s happening there.
Best bread I have ever made. Fantastic recipe!
Oh my goodness! Amazing, Tammy! So happy to hear.. thank you for your note. :D
Tammy made me a loaf of your wonderful bread! It was delicious! Can’t wait to try it ourselves
Hi Marlena! Thank you for your note. So happy to hear you enjoyed it, and what a wonderful gift from Tammy! Please keep us posted!
This is quite honestly one of the best sourdough bread recipes I have ever made. It was absolutely delicious and pretty simply to make. I love the addition of the quinoa. Thank you so much for sharing!!!
Hi Alana! Thank you for your note and kind words! SO happy to hear you’re enjoying the sourdough!
Hi there! I am trying out this recipe today, and the two bread flours that I have on hand are Whole Wheat and Whole Grain. I do have All Purpose as well, but I wanted your thoughts on doing a combination of the WW and WG. Should I increase the amount of water?
I also subbed Chia into the grain mix for Flax, as I only have Flax Meal in the house right now – in my experience with Chia, its quite a thirsty seed. Didn’t know if you or anyone else has had an issue incorporating Chia into the recipe.
All help is appreciated!
Hi Allie! Thank you for your note. I’m afraid I’m not sure what ‘whole grain’ flour is (it sounds like another whole wheat?), but I’m thinking that two whole wheat/grain flours subbed for all the flour in this recipe would make it quite dense. You’d need more hydration, but how much, I’m not sure. I think I’d go with all purpose before I’d go with 100% whole wheat/grain. As far as chia seed, I don’t use it in bread simply because of it’s gelling effects (I worry about its impact on texture), so I’m afraid I’m unable to help there. Please keep in touch and let us know how your bread turns out!
Are you meant to drain the water off the soaker before mixing it with the dough? I didn’t and now have a slush!
Hi Dani! The soaker does not get drained. As the dough is folded and fermented, it will become fully hydrated.
I used this recipe and instructions for my first try at sourdough and it was the best loaf!! I never comment but given the scarsity of flour right now I thought I would give my substitutions. I did 3T each of quinoa, rolled oats, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds. I did 3 cups all purpose unbleached white flour and 1 cup whole wheat bread flour and 1/2 cup spelt. I also subbed honey for maple syrup, and I did the cornmeal base under the parchment paper which I think was crucial to not burning the bottom. Can’t wait to try again with some other flour variations. Thanks!
SO happy to hear Samantha! And your first loaf? Amazing! Thank you for sharing your tips and subs! Hooray!
Thanks for this recipe. I really liked the texture and used a range of other seeds – sunflower, black sesame, rye grains, etc. I didn’t quite get the rise I was looking for so might increase my starter to 100g next time. Was my first sourdough so I’m happy with it how it was though. I also put seeds in the basket so they baked on top.
Sorry. I meant, can the dough be baked on a tray rather than in a vessel?
Thank you
Hi Melanie! You can, but the results will be different. The lidded vessel creates a steaming effect which helps in crust development.
I’m keen to try out this sourdough – it looks so good.
I’m struggling to kind wholemeal flour in our local shops at the moment- I have have white bread flour and rye flour. Do you reckon it would work to substitute half of the wholemeal flour with rye or would it be best to just stick to white flour?
Hi Julie! Thank you for your note… subbing half of the whole meal flour with rye sounds like a good idea. My concern is the hydration since whole wheat is a thirsty flour. If you give it a go, hold back some of the water when mixing the dough. By how much, I’m not sure. You may have to play with it. Just keep in mind that more water will be introduced when you add the soaker. Please keep us posted!
Hey Traci! Happy Quarantineaster!
Baking away (like everyone else) and I’m short of lotsa flours (!!). But my husband procured Ancient grains GF 1:1. Could I do half gluten free with half White flour (all I got). Any thoughts on this dilemma? Another style of bread? I bake with Half GF flour often but all never with yeast which is a different beast- thx for your insights. Wishing you health and strength in this challenging time.
Hiii Tonya! Thank you for your kind words and positive note! But, ohhh goodness…. I wish I could help here, but I’m afraid I’ve not played with a hybrid sourdough. Glutenous sourdough bread requires a proof prior to baking whereas gluten free sourdough does not. So I’m afraid I’m unable to speak to your flour dilemma.
Hi! This load is SO delicious! I’ve made it twice now and it’s our favorite. I’m hoping you can give me a little advice. Both times I’ve made it the dough has been very very wet, and I haven’t been able to get the nice rise you show in the photos. It’s pretty good, but really spreads out. I’ve played around with the length of the bulk fermentation, but I wonder if there’s something simple that I’m missing. Thanks!
Hi Rebecca… Hooray! So happy to hear you’re enjoying the sourdough! This is my favorite loaf! With regards to hydration, and since flours vary in this from brand to brand and one flour to another, I’d hold out some water while mixing. I’ve experienced this too.. in fact the last loaf I made was too hydrated, it was pretty flat (not pretty, but still tasted so good!). Hold out about 1/4 C when mixing. If you find after autolyse or even after adding the soaker that it needs more hydration, you can fold it in at that time (just a few Tbs at a time). It’s very forgiving, so don’t be afraid to tweak it!
This was my first attempt at any type of sourdough bread after a friend gave me a starter. I have wanted to try and recreate a multigrain bread that a local bakery makes and this came very close!! It was certainly the most involved bread project I’ve done so far, but it turned out so well!! Thank you for the recipe!!! I’ll certainly be making this again very soon!
Way to go YOU! So happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe and it turned out well for you. Thank you for your note!
This bread came out beautiful and delicious! The instructions regarding how to handle the dough were nearly impossible for me to follow without looking up related videos. Both the vocabulary and the language seemed very advanced. It would be great if a video or simpler, more clear instructions could be added as I’d love to try this again :)
Hi Sandra! Thank you for your note. So happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe and you were able to make the recipe work for you!
LOVE this recipe, I will be making again! I didn’t have all the grains listed, so I used a combination of what I had: old fashioned oats, pumpkin seeds, and quinoa. I also subbed the maple syrup for honey. I divided this into two mini loaves, and after bulk ferment and shaping both went into the fridge for a few days before baking. Thank you!
Hi Katelyn! Thank you for coming back, and sharing your tips/subs! I love the mini loaves. They fun for sharing too. So happy you’re enjoying the sourdough!
Such a great recipe! I’ve made this 2x now and it’s so delicious! The perfect seed and grain mix!
One thing I struggle with, with my sourdough in general (this recipe & Emilie’s Everyday Sourdough) is we find the loaves to be quite moist. Is there any tips for drying out the crumb a little more, or are these typically more dense/ moist? Always cooked to an internal temp of 205° crust and hole ratio is perfect. It’s almost just better the second day once it dries out a little.
Thank you !
Hi Courtney! Thank you for your note, rating! So happy you’re enjoying the recipe. The internal temp is correct. With regards to bread moisture… I’m not sure I’ve ever had sourdough that was dryish on the first day – unless I bought it from the store (and by that time, it’s a day old at least). Maybe it’s just the nature of sourdough and for a dryer crumb, it needs to set/cure for a day.
This is the first bread I made with my sourdough starter, covy, and I have now made it 3 times! It is so delicious. I followed this recipe and the nytimes cooking guide to sourdough. I didnt add the salt until I incorporated the soaker. I also folded every hour for about 6 hours then shaped and let rise then refrigerated overnight before baking the next day. So good!
Hi Achi! Thank you for your note, tip on NYT guide (I gotta check it) and giving the recipe a go! SO happy to hear you’re enjoying the recipe. Way to go YOU and covy on making homemade sourdough!!
I’ve been making sourdough for a few years and my husband and I both declared this my best sourdough yet! I made a few changes: all quinoa instead of cereal grains, hemp seeds instead of flax and added pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds. Tender with just the right amount of chew and crust. Thank you for the lovely recipe!
Hi Robyn! Thank you for your note, sharing your subs and rating! SO happy to hear you and your husband are enjoying the multigrain! This is my go-to bread too… we love it so much. Hooray for delicious homemade bread!
I have baked this loaf about six times. The loaf is consistently good. I just need to be patient with the bulk fermentation.
Hi Charles! Thank you for your note, rating and giving the recipe a go! I’m SO happy to hear you’re enjoying it. Ah, the bulk. I’ve got dough in bulk as I type. It’s right next to the fireplace because it is so very slow for me this time of year. But patience pays off!
I love this recipe. I grew my own starter around Thanksgiving, and started playing with different sourdough recipes over the holidays and into the new year. I’ve taken this one, and increased the proportion of whole grains and it’s so yummy. I use 60 grams whole wheat bread flour, 240 of bread flour, 130 whole wheat flour and 70 of buckwheat. I also halved the maple syrup, and it doesn’t seem to matter much. We’re so spoiled now that I have to bake 2 of these boules each week, and when we run out, we’re not happy with regular bread any more. Thank you for this! Now I’m playing with sourdough pizza crust and using excess starter in scallion pancakes.
I’m also looking for a good dark bread recipe. I’ve tried a couple, but they never come out as nice as this. Any ideas??
Hi Nichole! Thank you for your note, rating and sharing your subs! I’m working on a sourdough pizza recipe for the blog… but scallion pancakes sound amazing! For darker breads, are you talking about a higher percentage of whole grain flours such as buckwheat, dark rye and whole wheat? If so, these flours are lower in gluten (buckwheat is gluten free) and so the crumb will be affected and different than what you love about this bread recipe. Reason why many whole wheat/grain bread recipes have a percentage of white flour in them. It’s a fine balance with bakers wanting to make a wholesome/healthy bread, yet at the same time making the bread tender, delicious and chewy. I hope this helps!
Has anyone tried pumpkin seeds instead of the sunflower seeds?
Hi! I’m trying this right now. Pumpkin and sunflower seeds. Bread is in the oven as we speak! I’ll report back :)
So happy to hear Liz! Keep us posted!
I am new to making sourdough – just made my first starter. This was only my second attempt at making bread with it.
This recipe is terrific, very clear and easy to follow. I have two questions – FIRST I would like a bit more salt in the flavor. Second, the bake was perfect EXCEPT that the parchment baked into the bottom of the bread. What can I do to prevent that?
I am very happy and will definitely make this bread again. I can’t wait to share the bread with friends.
Hi Jaquelyn! Thank you for coming back and leaving a note. So happy to hear you’re enjoying this multigrain bread! Feel free to play with the salt… I’d add 1/4 tsp more to your next loaf, then go up from there, adjusting to taste. I’ve never experienced parchment baking into the bottom of the bread!! We don’t want that! I’m curious about the brand and if their were any sharp parchment edges on the bottom? The only thing I can think of to combat this happening is to sprinkle the bottom of the bread with coarse cornmeal (or polenta) before turning it out onto the parchment. I hope this helps!
Should you preheat the cast iron Dutch ovens prior to placing the dough or just pop the dough in a “cold” baking vessel and let it warm up as the bread cooks in the oven?
Hi Catherine! No need to preheat your vessel. I’ve baked both ways and haven’t found a difference and it reduces the chances of a skin burn! I hope this helps!
This has become my day-to-day bread. I love this recipe and this bread. I tweaked the ingredients a bit to add more whole grains while keeping the baker’s math the same overall. My husband also loves this bread, especially the very slight sweetness you get from the maple syrup. So good, thank you. I can make this gorgeous bread in my crummy, small and old kitchen. You can too. Suzanne
Made my first ever sourdough loaf with this recipe, and I don’t think I ever need to try another one! It was heavenly and greatly impressed the party I brought it to. For the second try I halved the maple syrup (found it a tad sweet) and the soaker (by omitting the 10 grain) as I found it difficult to incorporate the whole volume of seeds and ended up throwing some out. For folks just starting out who don’t want to get a whole lot of gear I am proud to say I did without the bench scraper/banneton/lame/dutch oven and made do with my hands, a mixing bowl, a knife, and a roasting pan purchased secondhand. The loaves come out STUNNING! I’m going to experiment with lower waste sourdough maintenance and increasing the proportion of whole wheat dough next. Thanks so much for this beautiful and detailed recipe!
I am now on my fourth loaf of this amazing bread. I have been hunting for a healthy recipe for my sourdough starter and this is perfect. It makes the most amazing avocado toast :). The directions are really helpful. Wondering if when you make two loaves if you use two smaller dutch ovens at the same time or do it some other way. Thanks.
Hiiii Cindy! SO happy to hear! This bread is my everyday go-to recipe. We love it so much too! When baking two loaves, I bake them at the same time. One in a cast iron double cooker, and the other in a Dutch oven. The DO is a large 5.5Qt and the cast iron skillet is a 10″. The vessel(s) need not be smaller for the mini loaves, because it’s the taught shaping that holds the boule together. I hope this helps! Thank you so much for coming back, leaving a note and rating the recipe! Day made! :D
Hi Traci,
This loaf came out beautifully – looks and tastes great. For the wholemeal, I used a mix of wheat and rye. ( I’ve been trying to make a grainy sourdough and previously ended up with a brick.) I would like to try a higher proportion of wholemeal – but may end up with another brick. I’ll see.
Thank you.
Sue
Hi Susan! Thank you so much for your note and rating! SO happy to hear your enjoying playing with the recipe! Indeed, 100% whole meal can be challenging. I’ve never made one I’m happy with so I’ve yielded to a smaller percentage in my loafs. I love your mix of wheat and rye…! Let me know how your experiments go!
Traci
This MultiGrain seeded sourdough bread recipe has made me one of the happiest people on earth. Heavenly. TY
Hiii MaryAnn! Thank you so much for coming back and leaving s note. So happy to hear you’re enjoying the bread. Sometimes I think there’s just no other ☺️
Hi Traci. Could we do the bulk fermentation in the fridge and give it more time, up to 24 hours?
Hi Carrie! That should work just fine… just pull it out and let it warm up to room temp a bit before shaping.. maybe an hour or so before you think it’s ready. That way it’s easier to shape. I hope y’all enjoy the sourdough!
Knowing how much and how hard you worked on this recipe, I applaud you for putting out such a great recipe with such great and helpful tips. I am not much of a bread baker, but I want to bake this. I feel like I am armored for success. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with the world. Cheers!
I’m always so impressed with your baking skills, Traci. You really take the time to figure it all out and your notes are so helpful to your readers. My baking skills are limited at best. I’ve been trying to master no knead bread but I can’t get it to come out tasting delicious – it looks great but the bread lacks any real flavor. Will have to buckle down and try to make some real bread using this recipe – cause this loaf looks amazing. Glad you’re figuring out the gluten issue you’ve been having as well!
Hi,
Question: I have an Emile Henry long covered baker (about 13 inches x 5 inches). Do you think I would be able to get one large loaf instead of 2 boules?
Hi Gayle! I’m unable to say if it will work or not. It seems it may be too small for a one loaf. Because it’s so narrow it may affect shape and oven spring (I’m not sure how deep it is). The only way to know if it’ll work is to give it a try.
I think you’re probably correct. The recipe I’m using has 5 cups of flour plus the sourdough starter and water. Your recipe is about a cup shy. I think what I’ll do is make a combination of the 2 so that I end up with the same volume. I’ll let you know what modifications I make and how it turns out.
What a gorgeous looking loaf and yes, the aroma wafting through the air is no small matter, some of the best memories are built from that. Always appreciate your step-by-step photos Traci, you are a natural teacher. Enjoy the weekend friend, x.
One of my winter goals was to try my hand at heated breads, something I’ve always felt a bit daunted by. Lots of finesse and time involved but eventually it all becomes second nature I guess. Detailed instructions like yours here yielding such gorgeous results are extra encouragement. Good luck with your next round of testing-been a long haul for you. Cheers to new feathered visitors this year!
It can be daunting, Jean. But once you get the process down it get easier and easier. A book I have on my shelf and recommend is Peter Reinheart: Bread Bakers Apprentice https://www.amazon.com/Bread-Bakers-Apprentice-15th-Anniversary-ebook/dp/B019B6XJQK . It’s predominately yeasted breads and some sourdough. It was this book, in part that I learned to make fabulous yeasted pizza among other recipes. He is very detailed in his instruction and it’s easy to read. Thank you for your encouragement, Jean! I’m cheering our feathered friends on too! :D
Is there anything better than the smell of homemade bread? OMG I can smell it from here. Absolutely beautiful, Traci. I need to get on the sourdough train. It’s really become a “thing” the past year or so!
You’ll love the process Liz! The smell is over the top! OMG!
Congrats on being able to eat sourdough! And kudos on all this terrific info and gorgeous pics. I make a bery similar bread, so delicious. Hugs, my friend!
So happy Deb…. but of course, I’m back to no gluten until my next round of tests :/ Isn’t multigrain SD just fabulous? I’ve seen your sourdough on IG and it’s always just gorgeous!
Woohoo to being back on gluten Traci! That was a long 8 months, I’m sure! And YAY to homemade bread! This loaf looks absolutely spectacular! You know, yeast recipe and I have a love/hate relationship. I’ve been working at it though, and things are progressing in the right direction! This would be one recipe I’d love to tackle. I’ll keep you posted! Thanks for sharing this beauty. Hope you and Rob have a wonderful weekend!
Hehe… on again off again :/ It was a two week trial, now I’m off again with another round of testing. I’m getting to a point where I’m about over it. If the next round of tests don’t prove anything, I’m back on gluten. Sheesh! So happy to hear your tackling yeasted dough Mare! Isn’t it so great to work with? Just wait till you get your hands on sourdough… you’re going to looove it too!