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No Yeast Sourdough Bread

This no yeast sourdough bread recipe is extra tangy and uses just 5 ingredients! It does take a while from start to finish but it’s 100% worth it for that tangy sourdough taste. Trust me, you’ll love making this easy bread!

Two loaves of No Yeast Sourdough Bread sitting on a marble serving tray.

Disclosure: King Arthur Flour sent me products for no charge but all opinions are 100% my own.

There is never a bad time to make bread. 

Especially if that bread is sourdough!

Even more specific – no yeast sourdough bread! Mostly because there are times when you simply cannot find yeast or you just don’t want to hit up the grocery store. 

Now, because this bread uses no added yeast it takes a bit of time from start to finish.

Please don’t let that stop you from making this bread though.

It turns out super tangy and most of the work is hands-off. And by hands-off I mean you’ll basically just be waiting for it to rise after each step.

Honestly, you couldn’t ask for an easier bread recipe. 

I should also note that this recipe makes 2 loaves and this freezes like a dream. 

Everyone needs a loaf of sourdough in the freezer – right? 

Sliced No Yeast Sourdough Bread.

How no yeast sourdough bread works

I’m not going to pretend to be a scientist so I’m going to share what King Arthur Flour says about this bread. 

“What makes the sour in sourdough bread? It’s a combination of lactic and acetic acids, created as the dough rises and ferments. Refrigerating the dough encourages the production of more acetic than lactic acid, and acetic acid is much the tangier of the two. Thus, sourdough bread that’s refrigerated before baking will have a more assertive sour flavor.”

How cool is that? Personally, I want my sourdough bread as TANGY as possible, and with this recipe that is exactly what you get. 

If you’re new to the world of bread making this is a pretty easy recipe to start with. Plus, besides the waiting, it’s really easy and you’ll be rewarded with 2 beautiful loaves. 

So, get that whipped butter ready because you’re gonna want to slather it ALL OVER this delicious no yeast sourdough bread! 

Do you need yeast for sourdough bread?

Nope! If you read the paragraph before this it lets you know exactly why!

a full loaf of No Yeast Sourdough Bread.

Freezing sourdough bread

It’s so easy to freeze this bread and because it makes 2 loaves it’s the perfect recipe for freezing.

After my loaf has cooled I wrap it in plastic wrap, place it into a large freezer-safe zip-top baggie, and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months.

You can store your bread longer BUT I think it has the flavor when eaten within 3 months.

What can I use sourdough bread for?

Besides the obvious option – eating it plain with lots of salted butter. I also like to use my sourdough bread in a few of my favorite recipes!

A slice of No Yeast Sourdough Bread.

What is sourdough discard?

Not familiar with sourdough making? That’s ok! 

When you feed your sourdough you give it fresh flour and water that gets mixed into a small portion of your starter. The remaining starter can be thrown away, given to a friend, or added to a compost pile.

It seems wasteful but that is just the life of a sourdough.

Since my sourdough sits on my counter I have to feed it 2 times a day. 

I obviously don’t want to be wasteful so I started coming up with ideas on how to use my leftover discard. 

How can I use my sourdough discard?

There are only so many sourdough discard recipes BUT I do have a few that will make you happy.

  • First up is my sourdough discard banana bread. This bread turns out perfect every. single. time. And gives an old favorite a fun new flavor and texture. Trust me! You have to try making this bread at least once. A total banana bread crowd pleaser.
  • If you’re a fan of sweets you’ll want to make my sourdough discard cinnamon crumb cake. This cake is topped with a TON of crumbly topping and doesn’t last more than 2 days in my house. I eat it for breakfast, dessert, and a midnight snack. It’s so dang good.
  • Lastly, if you’re looking for a fun sweet breakfast bread you need to try my cinnamon raisin sourdough bread. Not only is the swirl super pretty this bread is so delicious toasted and slathered with whipped butter.
A few slices and whole loaf of No Yeast Sourdough Bread.

FAQ for this no yeast sourdough bread recipe

Looking for an even tangier loaf?

Add 1/2 teaspoon sour salt/citric acid to the bread along with the kosher salt. This will give you an even tangier bread.

Can I easily freeze cooked sourdough bread?

Yes! I wrap my cooked sourdough in plastic wrap and then store it in a freezer-safe bag. I typically keep my frozen bread in the freezer for up to 3 months for optimal taste.

How do I defrost frozen sourdough bread?

I take it out of the freezer and let it defrost on the countertop.

How long do I have to have my starter to make this bread?

You want a nice strong starter to successfully pull off this recipe. At a minimum, you’ll want to have fed your starter for at least a week but I like to let mine go about a month before I start cooking with it. If you have a starter you have fed regularly for a year or more you do not likely have to wait this time. This is for unfed or brand new

Do I have to use unbleached flour?

It is recommended but I have made this with bleached flour and it turned out well.

No Yeast Sourdough Bread sliced and spread with butter.

More bread recipes

No Yeast Sourdough Bread

Author: Brandy O’Neill – Nutmeg Nanny
This no yeast sourdough bread recipe is extra tangy and uses just 5 ingredients and is perfect when slathered with salted butter.
4.39 from 170 votes
Print Pin
Prep Time 1 day 2 hours
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 day 2 hours 30 minutes
Servings 2 loaves

Ingredients

  • 1 cup 227g “fed” sourdough started
  • 1-1/2 cups 340g lukewarm water
  • 5 cups 602g all-purpose flour, divided
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 2-1/4 teaspoons kosher salt

Instructions

  • In a large bowl combine the starter, water, and 3 cups of flour. Beat vigorously for 1 minute.
  • Cover, and let rest at room temperature for 4 hours.
  • Refrigerate overnight, for about 12 hours.
  • After refrigeration, add the remaining 2 cups of flour, sugar, and kosher salt.
  • Knead to form a smooth dough. Knead either by hand or with a dough hook attached to a mixer.
  • Allow the dough to rise in a covered bowl until it’s light and airy, with visible gas bubbles. Depending on how active your starter is this may take up to 5 hours, or even longer. For best results, gently deflate the dough once an hour by turning it out onto a lightly floured or lightly greased work surface; stretching and folding the edges into the center; turning it over, then returning it to the bowl. Adding these folds will help strengthen the dough’s structure, and allow you to feel how it’s progressing over time. 
  • Note: sourdough bread (especially sourdough without added yeast) can be finicky and may not go exactly to the written plan. Please allow yourself to go with the flow, and not treat this as an exact to-the-minute process.
  • When the dough is ready, transfer the dough to a lightly floured or lightly greased work surface and gently divide the dough in half.
  • Gently shape the dough into two oval loaves, and place them on a lightly greased or parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover with lightly greased plastic wrap and let rise until very puffy, about 2 to 4 hours. This step could take longer but give them sufficient time to become noticeably puffy. Don’t worry if the loaves spread more than they rise, they’ll pick up once they hit the oven’s heat.
  • Towards the end of the rising time, preheat the oven to 425°F.
  • Spray the loaves with lukewarm water.
  • Slash the loaves. If you’ve made round loaves, try one slash across the center, and a curved slash on each side of it; or slash in the pattern of your choice. For oval loaves, two diagonal slashes are fine. Make the slashes fairly deep, a serrated bread knife works well here.
  • Bake the bread for 25 to 30 minutes, until it’s a very deep golden brown.
  • Remove it from the oven, and cool on a rack.
  • Store bread, loosely wrapped in plastic, for several days at room temperature or freeze for longer storage.

Notes

Recipe from King Arthur Flour

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 1220kcal | Carbohydrates: 256g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 4374mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 8g
Course Bread
Keyword bread, easy bread, no yeast, no yeast sourdough, sourdough
Did you try this recipe?Leave a comment and 5 star review!
No Yeast Sourdough Bread pin for pinterest.
Brandy

About Brandy!

I am a food lover and recipe developer bringing you delicious recipes that taste great and are easy to make! My food is inspired by travels around the world and my love of flavorful food. A list of things that make me happy: cats, Coke Zero, houseplants, and travel. Read more...

Recipe Rating




virginia

Thursday 26th of October 2023

i have been making sour dough for over 20 years. i have never discarded any sour dough, flour is expensive. in the old days it was just stirred and fed as needed, as it was used most daily. if i do not need it i freeze it in 1 cup platic bowls.

Emma

Wednesday 11th of May 2022

So...all that blogidy blog, blah, blah, blah and there's no recipe for the actual sourdough starter? The comments appear to be more like fan mail. It appears no one has actually made this bread, and I can see why. It's literally impossible to make sourdough bread calling for starter WITHOUT THE STARTER RECIPE. Zero stars. Not a fan. Will not return.

nutmegnanny

Saturday 14th of May 2022

Hi Emma - thank you so much for your super helpful comment! I can see I caught you on a good day. The recipe is for the bread, not the starter. Or I would have named the recipe "homemade sourdough starter". You can find sourdough starters available from King Arthur Flour or by asking your friends and family who might have some starter they can give you. You don't simply whip up a batch of sourdough starter from scratch for 1 loaf of bread. In fact, at a minimum making your own starter takes at least a week and is a whole list of steps. It would not be feasible to teach you how to BOTH make your own starter and make bread in 1 post. Maybe after you have mastered making your own starter, you can come back and try this recipe. Thanks!

Liz van Niekerk

Thursday 15th of July 2021

What is the starter? We can't get yeast

Lars

Tuesday 11th of May 2021

You know what would be really great? If people wouldn't comment that they follow on teitter, instagram, blh blah, or people who haven't tried it but feel compelled to say it sounds interesting. Really, who cares? You are filling up c9mments that are not helpful to anybody!

Justabreadmaker

Tuesday 23rd of February 2021

I have used this recipe many times and it's the best and easy. I do use a dutch oven for 20 minutes with top on and then 15 minutes or so till the internal temperature reaches between 200 and 210 degrees fahrenheit. I also have added both roasted garlic and olives with the second flour addition (2 cups). Works every time.

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