Sourdough Spice Bread

🕒 Prep: 15 min
🔥 Cook: 35 min
🍽 Serves: 8
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Welcome to a delightful twist on traditional sourdough with this Sourdough Spice Bread. Infused with warm spices, this bread brings a cozy, aromatic touch to your kitchen, perfect for any time of the year.

Ingredients for Sourdough Spice Bread

The backbone of this bread includes all-purpose flour and whole wheat flour, giving it a balanced texture and flavor. Our star, the sourdough starter, not only provides a natural leavening agent but also imparts a subtle tang. The water and olive oil work together to keep the dough moist, while salt enhances the overall flavor. A touch of honey adds sweetness to complement the spices, which include cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and cardamom, each contributing its own unique aromatic quality. Sprinkling sesame seeds on top adds a nutty crunch.

Tips & Tricks

  • Make sure your starter is active and bubbly before using it for the best rise.
  • If the dough feels too sticky, add a little more flour, a tablespoon at a time.
  • For a deeper flavor, let the dough rise overnight in the fridge during the first rise.

Serving Suggestions

This Sourdough Spice Bread is fantastic toasted with a pat of salted butter or a drizzle of honey. It's also a lovely base for a turkey and cranberry sandwich, or serve it with a hearty bowl of soup for a comforting meal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use different spices?
Absolutely! Feel free to experiment with your favorite spices or adjust the quantities to suit your taste.
How should I store the bread?
Store it in a bread box or wrapped in a cloth at room temperature for up to three days. For longer storage, freeze slices and toast them as needed.

Sourdough Spice Bread Recipe Walkthrough

Start by grabbing a large bowl and mixing your all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, and salt together. This will be your dry mix. In another bowl, blend the sourdough starter, water, olive oil, and honey until they're well combined.

Now, gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ones, stirring until you get a rough dough. This part might feel a bit sticky, but that's okay. Once it's combined, transfer it onto a lightly floured surface and knead it for about 10 minutes. You're looking for a smooth and elastic dough.

Place the kneaded dough into a lightly oiled bowl, cover it with a cloth, and let it rise at room temperature for about 4-5 hours. You'll know it's ready when it has doubled in size. After the first rise, punch down the dough to deflate it, and knead in the cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and cardamom until they're evenly distributed.

Shape your dough into a loaf and place it into a greased loaf pan. Cover it again and let it rise for another 2 hours. While you're waiting, preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Just before baking, sprinkle the sesame seeds on top for that extra crunch.

Bake your bread for 30-35 minutes. You'll know it's done when it's golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped. Let it cool on a wire rack before slicing in to enjoy.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • Infuses your home with the warm, inviting scent of spices.
  • Perfect for using up that extra sourdough starter you have on hand.
  • Combines the hearty texture of whole wheat with the fluffiness of all-purpose flour.
  • Makes a fantastic base for both sweet and savory toppings.

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cups sourdough starter
1 1/4 cups water
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1 tablespoon sesame seeds for topping

Step-by-step Instructions

1. In a large bowl, mix the all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, and salt.
2. In a separate bowl, combine the sourdough starter, water, olive oil, and honey.
3. Gradually combine the wet and dry ingredients, stirring until a rough dough forms.
4. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for about 10 minutes, until smooth and elastic.
5. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let rise for 4-5 hours at room temperature, or until doubled in size.
6. Punch down the dough and knead in the cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and cardamom until well incorporated.
7. Shape the dough into a loaf and place it in a greased loaf pan.
8. Cover and let it rise again for another 2 hours.
9. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
10. Just before baking, sprinkle the top of the loaf with sesame seeds.
11. Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped.
12. Let cool on a wire rack before slicing.

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