This post may include affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy.
Fall and the holidays are some of the best times to bake sourdough. The cozy aromas, the warm and cozy kitchen, and a table full of seasonal recipes. It doesn’t get much better than that. But with busy schedules and holiday gatherings, having a prep list in place makes baking so much easier and more enjoyable. This easy sourdough prep list will walk you through everything you need for fall and holiday baking, from starter care to pantry must-haves.
Whether you’re hosting Thanksgiving dinner, baking gifts for friends, or just want to fill your home with the smell of fresh bread, this guide will help you feel organized and ready to bake!
1. Check on Your Sourdough Starter
Your starter is the most important part of every recipe. Make sure it’s healthy, active, and well-fed before you dive into your fall baking. If your starter has been resting in the fridge, give it a few feedings at room temperature to wake it up. If you’re like me, and you feed your starter immediately after pulling it out of the fridge, feed it with warm water to help move things along.
Make sure you’re planning ahead. Most starters that are really inactive need at least a day or two of regular feedings to get bubbly and strong again. If you’re looking for trusty feeding ratios for your starter and don’t know where to start, our same day sourdough bread recipe has those for you! Getting started with this first step in our easy sourdough fall and holiday baking prep list will make the rest of the baking season an absolute dream.
TIP: If you’re planning a big baking day, feed your starter the night before so it’s at its peak in the morning. This is also useful if you’re home is very cold or you live in a cold climate. Cold temperatures mean slow rise times for your starter. By feeding your starter the night before, it will have more time to rise, and be ready for you when you wake up.
2. Stock Up on Pantry Staples
Fall baking often calls for more than just flour and water. Here are some pantry essentials that you’ll want to have on hand. These items made our easy sourdough fall and holiday baking prep list for a reason.
Bread flour & all-purpose flour – This is the base of most sourdough recipes. Whichever flour your sourdough starter responds to the best is the one you should prioritize keeping on hand in my opinion. In my experience, sourdough bread made with bread flour is the most consistent, however, if you struggle with an acidic starter, I would recommend keeping all-purpose flour on hand and feeding your starter with that as it will help to balance things out.
Whole wheat flour – Whole wheat flour has more health benefits than white flours and has really strong gluten development. If you don’t like the flavor of whole wheat, I would recommend feeding your starter with a little bit of whole wheat flour. Whole wheat contains the entire wheat kernel which provides more fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals. Sneak in some of those health benefits where you can! Especially during the holiday season.
Seasonal Spices – My favorites are cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin spice, ginger, and clove. If you’re looking for easy recipes that include some of these flavors check out our sourdough discard pumpkin spice cookies or our pear and ginger galette.
Canned pumpkin or apple butter – These are such fun additions to bread and cookies!
Dried fruits and nuts – Cranberries, pecans, walnuts, and raisins. Here are some recipes we have on the blog with some of these inclusions: Cranberry and Coconut Muffins (we’ve subbed the coconut out with walnuts) and Baked Maple Pecan Donuts.
Good quality salt & sugars – This salt is the ONLY salt I will use it my baking. It is the best quality and is really affordable. Having a few types of sugar on hand is also very important because a lot of them can be subbed out for each other. If you happen to run out of sugar you can always sub for honey or maple syrup. When it comes to sugar, I recommend being a girl with options.
Keeping these ingredients stocked will save you last-minute grocery runs during the busy holiday season.
3. Gather Your Baking Tools
A few simple tools can make holiday baking so much smoother. Here are some of my recommendations.
Mixing bowls & kitchen scale – Sourdough is more consistent when you use a kitchen scale. Such an amazing staple for holiday baking. And this one is only $10!
Bench scraper – This makes it much easier to shape your loaves.
Banneton baskets – This is perfect for proofing loaves in the fridge. Here’s a budget friendly option! Just add a tea towel and you’re good to go!
Parchment Paper – This one is pre-cut!
Lame or sharp knife for scoring
If you’re planning to bake multiple recipes for holiday gatherings, having extra mixing bowls and bannetons can help you keep everything moving without the stress.
4. Plan Your Baking Schedule
Timing matters when it comes to sourdough, especially during a busy holiday schedule. The long rises mean you’ll need to plan ahead, especially if you’re baking for Thanksgiving or Christmas. A good strategy is to:
- Feed your starter 1 – 2 days before you want to bake.
- Mix the dough the day before serving. This includes all of your stretch and folds as well. Depending on how busy you are, stretch and folds can take some time. It’s nice split your bread baking into 2 days so you have time to do each step without feeling rushed.
- Let it bulk ferment, shape in the evening, and let it proof in the fridge overnight. Cold proofing allows the flavor to develop and creates a firmer dough making it easier to work with.
- Bake fresh the morning of your holiday meal. Baking in the morning and allowing it to cool completely throughout the day is so important. Otherwise, your bread will be a gummy mess and will be very difficult to cut. What a disaster!
These tips will ensure your bread is fresh, flavorful, and ready when you are. If you need a baker’s schedule to keep you on track we’ve got you! This schedule was put together with the 9 – 5 worker in mind to show that baking bread is possible even when you’re away from home most of the day!
5. Add Seasonal Twists
Have fun with your seasonal baking this year! One of the joys of baking this time of year is experimenting with seasonal flavors. Here are a couple of fun ideas for you to try from the blog!:
- Sourdough Pumpkin Dinner Rolls
- Pumpkin Cinnamon Sourdough Bread
- Sourdough Stuffing for Thanksgiving
- Apple Cinnamon Sourdough Bread
Sourdough is way more fun when you add a festive twist to it!
6. Prep for Leftovers & Storage
The holidays usually means a TON of leftovers. Make sure you think ahead about how you’ll store your sourdough creations:
- Freeze extra loaves: Slice them before freezing for toast later.
- Make croutons: Cube up your sourdough bread and bake them on a tray for 20 minutes or until golden brown. These will be great to add to soups or salads.
- Stale bread creations: You can also turn your stale bread into bread pudding, bread crumbs (make croutons and blend!), or breakfast stratas (breakfast casserole with eggs, bread, and cheese. Yum!)
Prepping for storage means nothing goes to waste so you can enjoy your holiday baking even after the big meal. That concludes our easy sourdough prep list for all of your fall and holiday baking needs.
Final Thoughts
Baking sourdough during the fall and holiday season should feel joyful, not stressful. With this easy sourdough prep list for fall and holiday baking, you’ll have everything you need to keep your starter strong and active, your pantry fully stocked, and your holiday table filled with cozy delicious bakes. If you’re new to sourdough or a seasonal baker, planning ahead makes the process so much smoother and way more fun. So grab your apron, feed your starter, and let the fall baking begin.
If you tried any of the recipes mentioned and loved them please come back and give the recipes 5 stars! Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @goldenhourgrains.
Pin for Later
Leave a Reply