Whole Wheat Sourdough Bread

Savor the rich, complex flavors of this whole wheat sourdough bread recipe, carefully created using 100% whole wheat flour, robust bread flour, natural raw honey, and a lively sourdough starter. This recipe employs a long fermentation process, resulting in a tender, delicious whole wheat sourdough loaf.

4.72 from 7 votes

Prep Time 18 15

Cook Time 45

Total Time 19

Ingredients

340 g warm water
45 g raw honey
250 g bread flour
250 g whole wheat flour
100 g active sourdough starter
14 g fine sea salt

Instructions

Autolyse:

In a large mixing bowl, combine 340g warm water with 45g honey, stir until completely combined.
Add 250g bread flour and 250g whole wheat flour and mix until a shaggy dough forms. Knead the dough with your hands until all the dry bits are incorporated.
Cover the bowl and set aside to autolyse for 60 minutes.

Add Sourdough Starter:

Uncover the bowl and spread the dough in the bowl, I just dimple it damp fingers, and sprinkle 14g sea salt over the dough, then spread 100g sourdough starter across the surface of the dough.
Then grab the dough and gently pull it until the flap is long enough to fold over itself, then fold the flap, rotate the bowl 90 degrees, and repeat 4 times to fold in the starter.
Recover and set aside for 1 hour.

Stretch + Fold:

Using damp hands, grab the dough and gently pull it until the flap is long enough to fold over itself, then fold the flap, rotate the bowl 90 degrees, and repeat 4 times to fold in the starter. This makes 1 set of stretch and folds.
Recover and set aside for 1 hour before performing another set of stretch and folds before recovering and resting for 1 hour.
Repeat once more, for a total of 3 sets of stretch and folds. Then cover, and set aside for 2 hours to finish the bulk ferment.

Pre-Shape + Shape:

Uncover the dough and transfer to a lightly floured work surface or countertop. Gently press and spread the dough into a large rectangle.
Fold up the bottom third of the dough as though you were folding a letter, and then fold the top down.
Rotate the dough 90 degrees and roll up into a large log. Cover with a kitchen or tea towel and rest for 30 minutes.
After the rest, flip the dough over, gently press the dough flat then roll it again. Pinch the ends if you're making a batard or tuck them in if your making a boule.
Dust the dough with rice flour then tuck seam side up into a banneton.

Prove + Cold Retard:

Prove the whole wheat sourdough loaf in the banneton for 2-3 hours before covering and placing in fridge to cold retard for up to 3 days. If you want to bake it right after proving, you're welcome to, but the flavor and rise is better after resting in the fridge.

Bake:

Place your dutch oven, cloche, or desired baking dish in the oven and preheat to 450f.
Once the oven is preheated, invert the banneton onto a sheet of parchment paper.
Use a lame, sharp knife, or clean razor blade to score the dough, I usually like to make one deep curved slash, but you can get as fancy as you like!
Carefully remove the dutch oven from the oven, and using the parchment paper as a sling, transfer the sourdough loaf from the counter into the dutch oven.
Bake the dough at 450f covered for 30 minutes and uncovered at 450f for 10-15 minutes, or until the loaf is cooked through and the crust is nicely browned. You can test the doneness of the loaf with an instant-read thermometer. Bread is cooked once it reaches 205 - 210 degrees Fahrenheit internal temperature.

Cool:

Remove baked bread from the dutch oven and transfer it to a wire mesh cooling rack to cool completely before slicing. I like to leave it for at least 2 hours before slicing, as slicing too soon can affect the crumb and texture of your loaf.

Notes

Batch:

This whole wheat sourdough recipe makes one large boule or batard. This is enough for my family of 4 to snack on for at least 2 days! It can be doubled to make 2 loaves, or tripled, if desired.

Storage:

If you've got leftover sourdough, you've got serious willpower! There are a couple of ways to store sourdough bread to help prolong its quality after cutting.

Your loaf can be kept cut side down on a cutting board for up to 12 hours before the crust becomes too crisp. This is our go-to. I recommend transferring it to a bread bag after 16-18 hours though.

Your sourdough loaf can also be frozen. To freeze sourdough, cool the loaf to room temperature, then tightly wrap it in plastic wrap, slide it into a bread bag, seal it up, and stick it in the freezer for 1-2 months. To use after freezing, remove the loaf from the freezer, unwrap, and allow it to come to room temperature (1 -2 hours) before slicing and enjoying.