Sourdough Heart Bread (Printer View)

Create a heart-shaped loaf with airy crumb and crisp crust featuring artistic flour patterns.

# Components:

→ Sourdough Starter

01 - 3.5 oz active sourdough starter, fed and bubbly

→ Dough

02 - 12.3 oz bread flour
03 - 1.8 oz whole wheat flour
04 - 9.9 fl oz water, room temperature
05 - 0.3 oz fine sea salt

→ Decoration

06 - Rice flour for dusting
07 - Edible dried flowers or seeds for garnish, optional

# Method:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the sourdough starter, bread flour, whole wheat flour, and room temperature water until fully incorporated. Cover and let rest for 30 to 45 minutes.
02 - Add fine sea salt to the dough and mix thoroughly until well incorporated throughout.
03 - Execute 3 to 4 sets of stretch-and-fold motions, spacing each set 30 minutes apart. Cover the dough with a damp towel between each set.
04 - After the final fold, shape the dough into a tight ball and place in a lightly oiled bowl. Allow to rise until doubled in volume, approximately 4 to 6 hours at room temperature.
05 - Transfer dough to a lightly floured work surface and divide into two equal pieces. Shape each piece into a heart: flatten slightly, pinch the base to create a point, and indent the center top.
06 - Place each heart-shaped dough into a floured proofing basket or bowl lined with a floured towel. Cover and refrigerate for 8 to 12 hours.
07 - Preheat oven to 465°F (240°C) with a Dutch oven or baking stone positioned inside.
08 - Remove dough from refrigeration and invert onto parchment paper. Dust generously with rice flour and score artistic heart patterns using a sharp lame or blade.
09 - Transfer to the preheated Dutch oven or baking stone. Bake covered for 20 minutes.
10 - Uncover and bake for an additional 15 minutes until the crust is golden and crisp.
11 - Cool completely on a wire rack before adding optional edible flowers or seeds for garnish.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The cold overnight proofing creates a flavor depth that tastes like you've been sourdough-ing for years, even if you haven't.
  • Heart-shaped bread turns ordinary moments into celebrations without requiring any special equipment beyond what you already have.
02 -
  • Do not add extra flour while shaping your hearts—it's tempting when the dough sticks to your hands, but flour ruins the open crumb structure you've worked to develop.
  • If your starter isn't actively bubbling and doubling when fed, it won't give you reliable rise; spend a few days strengthening it before you begin.
03 -
  • If you don't have a Dutch oven, a baking stone with a metal bowl inverted over it traps steam almost as effectively and costs far less.
  • Room temperature water speeds fermentation slightly—use it when your kitchen is cool and you need the loaf ready sooner, or use cooler water if your kitchen runs warm and you want to slow things down.
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