Sourdough bread is a naturally leavened bread known for its tangy flavor, chewy texture, and deep, golden crust. It’s made without commercial yeast, using a wild yeast sourdough starter cultivated from flour and water.

This fermentation process, driven by lactic acid bacteria and wild yeast, gives sourdough its signature aroma and health benefits. It’s prized for better digestibility, a lower glycemic index, and its connection to ancient bread-making techniques.

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Best Sourdough Bread Baking Books

If you’re interested in learning how to make sourdough at home—from building and maintaining a starter to mastering fermentation timing and baking techniques—the best sourdough bread baking books are a valuable resource.

They offer structured guidance, visual techniques, and expert insights into hydration ratios, scoring methods, baking temperatures, and oven steam management—key concepts for creating artisan-quality sourdough bread.

The Perfect Loaf: The Craft and Science of Sourdough Breads, Sweets, and More: A Baking Book

Hardcover Book
Leo, Maurizio (Author)
English (Publication Language)
432 Pages - 11/08/2022 (Publication Date) - Clarkson Potter (Publisher)

The Sourdough Whisperer: The Secrets to No-Fail Baking with Epic Results

The Sourdough Whisperer: The Secrets to No Fail Baking with Epic Results
ABIS BOOK
Page Street Publishing
Boddy, Elaine (Author)
English (Publication Language)
192 Pages - 02/15/2022 (Publication Date) - Page Street Publishing (Publisher)

The King Arthur Baking Company Big Book of Bread: 125+ Recipes for Every Baker (A Cookbook)

Hardcover Book
King Arthur Baking Company (Author)
English (Publication Language)
464 Pages - 10/22/2024 (Publication Date) - S&S/Simon Element (Publisher)

Sourdough Cookbook for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Introduction to Make Your Own Fermented Breads

Rusch, Eric (Author)
English (Publication Language)
180 Pages - 08/11/2020 (Publication Date) - Callisto (Publisher)

Artisan Sourdough Made Simple: A Beginner’s Guide to Delicious Handcrafted Bread with Minimal Kneading

Raffa, Emilie (Author)
English (Publication Language)
208 Pages - 10/24/2017 (Publication Date) - Page Street Publishing (Publisher)

The Sourdough Bible: [3 in 1] The Most Complete Step-by-Step Guide to Prepare Homemade Sourdough, Delicious Yeast Bread, and Perfect Pastry

Gandolfini, Mike (Author)
English (Publication Language)
122 Pages - 10/28/2024 (Publication Date) - Mike Gandolfini (Publisher)

Starter Sourdough: The Step-by-Step Guide to Sourdough Starters, Baking Loaves, Baguettes, Pancakes, and More

Pellegrinelli, Carroll (Author)
English (Publication Language)
158 Pages - 10/15/2019 (Publication Date) - Callisto (Publisher)

Mastering Bread: The Art and Practice of Handmade Sourdough, Yeast Bread, and Pastry [A Baking Book]

Hardcover Book
Vetri, Marc (Author)
English (Publication Language)
304 Pages - 10/27/2020 (Publication Date) - Ten Speed Press (Publisher)

The Beginner’s Guide to Sourdough: Best-Kept Secrets for Successful Bread Every Time

Hardcover Book
Coyne, Amy (Author)
English (Publication Language)
256 Pages - 09/16/2025 (Publication Date) - Page Street Publishing (Publisher)

The Ultimate Zero-Waste Sourdough Discard Cookbook: Easy & Creative Recipes to Transform Discard into Delicious, Family-Friendly Meals – Including Gluten-Free Options & Time-Saving Hacks for Busy Moms

Dowson, Clara (Author)
English (Publication Language)
155 Pages - 07/22/2025 (Publication Date) - Independently published (Publisher)

Tartine Bread

Premier Bread Book: A Visual Masterpiece
Meet Chad Robertson: Renowned U.S. Bread Baker
Crafted Unique Bread: Two Decades of Artisan Training
Learn to Bake: Hands-On Bread Making Techniques
Hardcover Book
Robertson, Chad (Author)
English (Publication Language)
304 Pages - 09/15/2010 (Publication Date) - Chronicle Books (Publisher)

Flour Water Salt Yeast: The Fundamentals of Artisan Bread and Pizza [A Cookbook]

Hardcover Book
Forkish, Ken (Author)
English (Publication Language)
272 Pages - 09/18/2012 (Publication Date) - Ten Speed Press (Publisher)

The Complete Sourdough Cookbook for Beginners: Master the Art of Bread Making for Artisan Breads, Pan Loaves, Whole-Grain, Pizzas, Rolls, Bagels, Sweets and More Using Sourdough Starter and Discard

Simon, Pearl (Author)
English (Publication Language)
77 Pages - 11/25/2025 (Publication Date) - Independently published (Publisher)

Sourdough Every Day: Your Guide to Using Active and Discard Starter for Artisan Bread, Rolls, Pasta, Sweets and More

Dela Cruz, Hannah (Author)
English (Publication Language)
176 Pages - 12/15/2020 (Publication Date) - Page Street Publishing (Publisher)

Bake with Ease Sourdough Cookbook for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Healthy, Homemade Artisan Breads & Pastries with All-Natural Ingredients and 100 Budget Friendly Recipes

Brooks, Lauren (Author)
English (Publication Language)
95 Pages - 10/30/2025 (Publication Date) - Independently published (Publisher)

Sourdough Starter Cookbook for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide for Artisan Breads, Pizza, Baguettes, Rolls, Buns, Sweet Treats and More with Active Sourdough Starter and Discard (Color Edition)

Jimenez, John (Author)
English (Publication Language)
72 Pages - 08/04/2025 (Publication Date) - Independently published (Publisher)

The Bread Baker’s Apprentice, 15th Anniversary Edition: Mastering the Art of Extraordinary Bread [A Baking Book]

Hardcover Book
Reinhart, Peter (Author)
English (Publication Language)
336 Pages - 09/06/2016 (Publication Date) - Ten Speed Press (Publisher)

The Art of Sourdough Scoring: Your All-In-One Guide to Perfect Loaves with Gorgeous Designs

Wood, Brittany (Author)
English (Publication Language)
192 Pages - 04/12/2022 (Publication Date) - Page Street Publishing (Publisher)

Sourdough Bread Baking Quick Reference Guide – Beginner-Friendly Sourdough Tools, Timelines & Baking Cheat Sheet for Perfect Loaves at Home

Bake Better Sourdough Faster Skip endless videos and guesswork. This quick-reference guide shows you exactly what to do at every stage of sourdough baking — starter, mixing, proofing, and baking.
Designed for Beginners Perfect for first-time sourdough bakers who want clear steps, simple explanations, and reliable results without overwhelm.
Tool & Timing Focused Learn how to use common sourdough tools, understand fermentation timing, and avoid the most common beginner mistakes!
Easy-to-Use, Easy-to-Clean Printed on durable, coated card stock so you can use it right next to your mixing bowl or oven.
A Smarter Alternative to a Cookbook This is not a bulky recipe book. It’s a fast, practical reference you’ll actually use every time you bake.

My Sourdough Baking Journal: A Personal Baking Logbook for Artisan Sourdough Success

Publishing, Dreamy (Author)
English (Publication Language)
125 Pages - 06/29/2025 (Publication Date) - Independently published (Publisher)

Learning to bake sourdough is a rewarding journey that connects you with traditional baking practices and modern food science. But it requires understanding concepts like gluten development, bulk fermentation, and dough hydration.

The best sourdough bread baking books help you gain confidence through step-by-step instruction, covering everything from starter maintenance to troubleshooting common issues like over-proofing or dense crumb.

These books do more than teach—they inspire. They help you build consistency, develop intuition, and explore advanced techniques like retarded fermentation, autolyse, and stretch-and-fold methods.

Whether you’re baking for flavor, health, or the joy of creating artisan loaves at home, turning to trusted educational resources ensures your sourdough bread rises to its full potential.

Best Sourdough Bread Baking Books

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