38 Items to Stop Buying and Start Making at Home with Sourdough
I’m sharing 38 items to stop buying at the grocery store and instead make at home with your sourdough starter! They’ll save you money, help you cut out nasty additives, and even teach you a few new skills!
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Why Make Food at Home with Sourdough
To Eat Healthier
When you make food at home from scratch, it’s already so much more healthy than the processed options at the grocery store. But you take it to a new level when you make food with sourdough. It adds tons of benefits from the fermentation process!
To Save Money
Even though you still have to buy the ingredients, you save tons when you make food at home from scratch. Even if you’re using wholesome and organic ingredients like we do. You’re cutting out the middleman, or machinery, that assembles the food you buy.
To Know Exactly What You’re Eating
When you make food at home with wholesome ingredients, you know exactly what’s going in your food and into your body. By doing this, you can cut out unnecessary additives, chemicals, processed sugars, seed oils, and excessive sodium.
Less Grocery Store Trips
You’ll go to the store less than ever when you make food at home with ingredients! We only go once a month and it saves us so much money on gas and grocery items we didn’t need.
Skill Building
Every item you make at home instead teaches you a skill. From bread to muffins, you’re learning something new that you can use for the rest of your life!
How to Start Without Getting Overwhelmed
When I first started my sourdough journey, I didn’t know what I was doing. I didn’t even consider myself a great baker. But I started by making one item per month instead of buying it. After my first year, I had 12 items that I didn’t have to buy because I was making them at home.
After that I was hooked and haven’t looked back! So my advice is to keep it simple. Don’t overwhelm yourself. Choose one new item each month.
How to Make a Sourdough Starter
If you don’t have a sourdough starter, no worries! Grab my free guide to make your own starter at home! It’s super simple and easy.
Need Help Caring For Your Starter?
If you’re new to sourdough baking and feel hesitant, or you have questions, I’ve got something for you! I broke down the basics of what you need to know about sourdough baking in my free sourdough baking guide for beginners. I highly recommend grabbing a copy!
38 Food Items to Stop Buying and Start Making at Home with Sourdough
Tortillas
These easy sourdough tortillas from scratch can be made with discard or fed starter. With only 5 simple ingredients, you’ll be able to save money and reduce the additives in your food. Do you hate choosing between healthier tortillas and a low price? Now you don’t have to! You’ll love every bite.
Bread Crumbs
Sourdough bread crumbs add texture and crunch, making dishes even more delicious. Rather than buying pre-packaged bread crumbs, make your own at home with old sourdough bread. When you have an older loaf sitting in the breadbox or no one is eating the end slices, use them for bread crumbs!
Artisan Bakery Style Bread
This artisan sourdough boule is a bread recipe that gives you bakery-style bread at home. With a developed sourdough taste, a soft crumb, and the perfect crust, you’ll be surprised it was made at home! Unlike most hydrated sourdough bread recipes, this one is broken down into simple steps, making it perfect for beginners. It contains only 15 minutes of hands-on time!
White Sandwich Bread
My easy sourdough sandwich bread recipe is light and fluffy because of my secret ingredient, avocado oil. It’s perfect for toast in the mornings, sandwiches at lunch, and garlic bread at supper. It’s a staple in our home, and I know it will quickly become the same in yours.
Wheat Sandwich Bread
You know the bread they serve at Longhorn Steakhouse; that’s what this easy whole wheat sourdough sandwich bread tastes like, but better! It’s soft, hearty, and full of gut-health benefits. Even the pickiest of eaters will enjoy a slice!
Cinnamon Raisin Bread
This homemade sourdough cinnamon raisin bread is made in our home almost every week. We can’t get enough of the fluffy bread swirled with cinnamon and plump raisins. Sometimes it’s breakfast topped with a smidge of grass-fed butter.
Hamburger Buns
My easy sourdough hamburger buns are made from scratch with only five wholesome ingredients. This small batch recipe makes three buns that are soft and pillowy. They’re perfect for burgers, sloppy joes, Philly cheesesteaks, and any other sandwich you love!
Hot Dog Buns
If you’re looking for an easy, small-batch sourdough hot dog bun recipe, you’ve come to the right place! Mine are super soft and simple to whip up. You’ll come back to make them time and time again. I’ve already made this recipe twice in one week. We can’t get enough!
Hoagie Buns
Instead of buying rolls and buns at the grocery store, why not save some money and make a more wholesome option with this sourdough sandwich rolls recipe? They’re also known as sourdough hoagie rolls or sourdough sub rolls. They’re super soft and made with my sourdough bread secret, pure avocado oil, for the fluffiest texture!
English Muffins
When you first make these sourdough English muffins, you’ll wonder why you didn’t make them sooner. I love slicing them in half and smothering the inside with butter and honey or homemade strawberry jam. They’re a perfect summertime breakfast, snack, or lunchtime sandwich.
Bagels
My sourdough bagels recipe makes soft and fluffy bagels with easy steps that anyone can follow. You don’t have to be a pro baker to make bagels at home from scratch. One bite of a sourdough bagel will have you swearing off the premade selections at the grocery store. They really are that good!
Pie Crust
Learn how to make a homemade sourdough pie crust. It’s flaky and savory just like grandma used to make. With only 5 ingredients, it’s easy to whip up for those special occasions. Say goodbye to store-bought crusts full of additives and unnecessary ingredients.
Gnocchi Pasta
This sourdough potato gnocchi recipe is great for beginners. It makes a small batch, the perfect amount for soups and pasta sauce. Contrary to popular belief, homemade gnocchi can be simple and even frozen for quick future meals!
Slider Buns
This recipe makes a small batch of 6 fluffy sourdough slider buns. They’re perfect for any filling, especially ham, pulled pork, and sloppy joes. They’re simple and easy to make, even for a beginner sourdough baker. This recipe will help you eliminate the need to buy slider buns at the store. Once you take a bite, you’ll say goodbye to store-bought options!
Garlic Bread
I love pairing homemade sourdough garlic bread with bowls of creamy soup, pasta dishes, and even roasted chicken. If you love garlic, you’ll love this easy recipe. It takes a total of 10 minutes to toast the bread and whip up the garlic butter. It’s the perfect side if you’re in a rush!
Texas Toast
Every bite of this sourdough Texas toast is light, airy, and crispy. Whether you’re serving a few slices as a side to go with soup or pasta, it hits the spot. Not to mention homemade Texas toast is 100 times better than the frozen, store-bought versions!
Garlic Knots
My husband absolutely loves anything that contains garlic, so of course these sourdough garlic knots are one of his favorites! They’re super soft and fluffy, perfect as a side for homemade pizza, pasta, and soups. It’s not uncommon to see these knots on our supper table once a week!
Ciabatta Bread
Sourdough ciabatta bread has a soft, airy crumb with a crisp crust, making it perfect for sandwiches! In our house, we love using these little breads as buns. Our favorite filler is my slow cooker sloppy joe Philly cheesesteak. It’s so delicious!
Dinner Rolls
These sourdough dinner rolls are the perfect side for any holiday meal including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. Their soft texture paired with the slight tang of sourdough creates a roll to die for. These dinner rolls are better than any premade version you’ll find in the store!
French Bread
You’ll be surprised how simple it is to make sourdough French bread at home. This recipe will give you a crisp, golden-brown crust and a fluffy, pillowy interior! It’s the perfect bread for sandwiches or serving with butter alongside a meal.
Crescent Rolls
These beginner-friendly sourdough crescent rolls are flaky and can be made with sourdough discard! They’re super easy to whip up and don’t take a lot of time. Instead of getting Pillsbury canned crescent rolls make them at home with your starter. You’ll save money and protect your body from harmful ingredients!
Focaccia Bread
You’ve got to try this simple sourdough focaccia bread. From a side to go with soup to focaccia pizza, this recipe can be used for many things. It’s light, full of flavor, and oh-so easy to whip up.
Pizza Dough
Sourdough pizza crust makes some of the best-tasting pizza. The dough has a balanced sourdough tang that pairs well with any topping. You can roll it thin or keep it thick, whatever you like. This is the only recipe we use for at-home pizza night. It’s that dang good!
Naan
My easy sourdough naan recipe is made without yogurt and was inspired by the hot summer weather here in Tennessee. They’ll quickly become your go-to for hot summer days when you don’t feel like turning on the oven. But here’s the best part: my recipe is super easy to whip up and only uses a few ingredients.
Muffins
These sourdough peanut butter chocolate chip muffins are absolutely delicious! Each bite is light and fluffy. They’re made with wholesome ingredients and sweetened with pure maple syrup. My husband and I love enjoying a batch on the weekends for an extra special treat!
Cinnamon Rolls
This sourdough cinnamon rolls recipe has no business being this delicious! Not only do they taste amazing but they’re made with wholesome ingredients and simplified steps. Plus they’re topped with a delicious cream cheese frosting.
Coffee Cake
If you’re looking for wholesome sourdough coffee cake, you’ve found it! My recipe gives you the moist, fluffy cake you’re craving without all that sugar. I use a pure maple syrup to sweeten the cake itself and a small amount of light brown sugar in the cinnamon layer as well as the streusel topping. You get the same delicious flavor without needing to gulp water after you eat it!
Pancakes
These homemade sourdough pancakes can be whipped up in minutes but taste just like your childhood. You will fall in love with this recipe. Whether you’re looking for the perfect brunch recipe or late-night treat, these pancakes are the perfect choice anytime.
Waffles
These sourdough waffles are quick and easy to make, even on the busiest of days. You’ll fall in love with the light and fluffy interior while the outsides stay crisp. Not to mention they’ll save you money and are better for your health! If you or your family loves Kellogg’s Eggo Waffles, this recipe will be a hit!
Danish Pastries
There is nothing quite like a sourdough cream cheese apple Danish on a Saturday morning. The apple filling mixed with cream cheese sits perfectly atop sourdough pastry dough. It’s a common misconception that these pastries are hard to make. Well I’m here to tell you, they don’t have to be.
Scones
My sourdough chocolate chip scones are so simple to make—no, really they are! I’ve had so many readers comment or message me that they always thought scones were hard until they tried this recipe. Each bite is full of chocolate chips and the perfect sweetness. You’re going to love them just as much as we do!
Soft Pretzels
These sourdough pretzel bites are soft and pillowy on the inside with a buttery crust. They’re from scratch, and according to my husband, better than Auntie Anne’s! You’ve got to try them for yourself!
Cheddar Bay Biscuits
My sourdough cheddar bay biscuits are even better than Red Lobster’s. These biscuits have a soft, fluffy interior with specks of sea salt and mild garlic, all topped with a light coating of herb butter. The sourdough adds a perfect tang, creating a unique flavor profile you won’t be able to get enough of.
Honey Buns
I’ve got a secret: These sourdough honey buns are better than Little Debbie’s. When you take a bite of these buns, you get a mouth full of pillowy soft sourdough, sweet honey, and a hint of cinnamon. You won’t regret whipping up this simple recipe. It really is easy!
Snack Cakes
Sourdough Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes are much better than the pre-made boxed version on the grocery store shelves! Mine are made from scratch with wholesome ingredients. They start with a moist sourdough vanilla cake. Then, they are layered with homemade stabilized whipped cream and topped with melted chocolate and natural decorating sugar.
Sheet Pan Cake
If you’re looking for a recipe to replace boxed cake mix, look no further! This sourdough vanilla cake is so moist and you can use it to make a sheet cake, round cake, or cupcakes. It’s not overly sweet, so it’s also perfect for any occasion!
Cookies
These cut out sourdough sugar cookies from scratch are perfect for any occasion, especially Christmas. My husband and I love spending a cozy Saturday baking and frosting these cookies together. It’s something I’ve done with my family growing up and now I’ve brought into our marriage! If you’re looking for a new tradition, this cookie recipe will be the perfect place to start!
Brownies
These easy sourdough brownies from scratch are the perfect chocolatey treat for any occasion. You can whip them up for a delicious afternoon treat or long ferment overnight. Whether you’re using fed sourdough starter or discard, this recipe tastes fantastic!
Sourdough Baking FAQs
What to do if your dough isn’t doubling in size during the bulk ferment and/or 2nd rise
If your dough doesn’t look like it’s doing anything halfway through the rises, you need to place it in a slightly warmer area.
This can be in a turned-off oven with the light on and oven door open, or you can slightly warm the oven to about 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit, then turn it off and place your dough inside with the door shut.
Never leave the oven on, even on the keep warm setting, with fermenting dough inside. Your dough, for both rises, needs to double.
What to do if your dough won’t double in size even in the warmer place (and your baked good is dense)
If your dough doesn’t double even in the warmer area, there is a problem with your starter. It is too weak to ferment the dough even in a warm environment.
To fix this, you will want to leave your starter out on the counter for 2 days and feed it every 12 hours at a 2:1 ratio of unbleached flour to filtered water.
For example, 1 cup unbleached flour + 1/2 cup filtered (or bottled) water.
Make sure you’re using unbleached flour and filtered or bottled water to do this. If you don’t, it will affect your starter strength. Reverse osmosis water (or any water that uses salt in the filter) can make the starter weak.
This will strengthen the cultures in your starter to give you fluffy baked bread and treats. After the 2 days, you can go back to feeding it like usual (once a week if stored in the fridge or once a day if stored on the counter). Be sure to use the 2:1 ratio feeding from here on out.