How to Prep Your Sourdough Starter For The Holidays

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The holidays are full of family gatherings, cozy meals, and of course, plenty of baking. If you’re planning to whip up sourdough bread, rolls, festive treats, making sure your sourdough starter is strong and active is the first step to success. Whether you’re an experienced baker or just starting your sourdough journey, this guide will walk you through how to prep your sourdough starter for the holidays so your recipes turn out light, fluffy, and ready to impress.

Active starter in a glass jar ready for baking.

Why Prepping Your Sourdough Matters During the Holidays

The holidays are so busy and unpredictable which means your sourdough starter might not be on it’s usual schedule. If your starter doesn’t have a schedule already, the holidays season is the perfect time to start!

If you prep your sourdough starter for the holidays ahead of time, this will ensure your starter is at peak strength when you need it. Using your starter at it’s peak every single time isn’t necessary, but will be extremely beneficially during the holidays when you’re baking more than usual. A bubbly, active starter will lead to a better rise, structure, and flavor in all of your holiday baking creations. This is true for everything from artisan loaves, dinner rolls, and all the sweet treats!

Step 1: Take Your Starter Out of the Fridge Early

If you keep your starter in the fridge when you’re not baking, take it out at least 3 – 4 days before you need it. This will give you time to feed it a few times to “wake up” your starter making it strong and active. By then, it will be ready to use for your holiday baking.

Bubbly sourdough starter on the kitchen counter.

Step 2: Feed Your Starter Consistently

I know this might seem like another thing added to your holiday to-do list, but I promise consistency is key when it comes to baking with active sourdough starter. If your starter is on a schedule, you are more likely to get the same results every time rather than constantly taking before and after photos and asking ChatGPT if your dough is ready for baking.

By being consistent, you’re taking out so much of the headache and guesswork. This means more time for trying new holiday recipes and actually getting to embrace the holiday season in the kitchen. Prep your sourdough starter for the holidays by feeding your starter once or twice a day at room temp until it doubles in size. This is a sign that your starter is at its peak and ready to use. TIP: Wrap a rubber band around your sourdough starter jar and line it up with where the line sits after you feed it. By having a reference point, this will help you know how much your starter has risen.

Home baker pouring water into starter jar.

Close up of sourdough starter with spoon stirring it for holiday prep.

Sourdough starter bubbling over ready for holiday baking prep.

Step 3: Plan Around Your Baking Schedule

Look at everything you’ve got going on for fall and the holidays and work backwards. If you’re making artisan loaves or sourdough stuffing you’ll want your starter to be the strongest. This is because you’ll be using your active starter as the natural leavening agent rather than yeast or baking soda and baking powder.

These leavening agents are typically used for sourdough discard recipes since the starter isn’t bubbly and active. Even though active starter is the ideal leavening agent in sourdough recipes, it does take some time for the gases in the starter to develop. These recipes usually require long fermentations as well so make sure you are preparing your dough 1 – 2 days ahead of the day you need your recipe.

Planning and all of the prep for your sourdough starter for the holidays seems like a lot of work at first, but in the long run it will save you so much time!

Home baker folding sourdough for a holiday recipe.

Step 4: Keep Extra Starter on Hand

Holiday kitchens are busy kitchens. There’s a lot going on which means spills, messes, and forgetfulness is bound to happen. It’s always good to have back-up starter in the fridge just in case something happens with your original starter.

If you’re like me and always need to be prepared for anything, you can take a little bit of starter and let it dry out in a bowl or on parchment paper for a few hours. Once your starter is dry and flaky, add it to a small jar or ziploc bag and keep it in your pantry. If your ever need it, simply feed it flour and water for 3 days and it will be ready to use.

Final Thoughts

The holidays are busy enough without starter stress. By prepping your sourdough starter ahead of time, you’ll set yourself up for smoother baking days and delicious, consistent results. With a little planning and prep for your sourdough starter for the holidays you can focus on what matters most, sharing your sourdough creations with the people you love.

Thick and bubbly sourdough starter ready for holiday baking.

Want More Holiday Sourdough Recipes?

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If you tried any of these recipes and loved them please come back and give the recipe 5 stars! Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @goldenhourgrains.

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