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Owned by Sandra

Sourdough Made Simple

200 members • Free

A supportive space for passionate home bakers to master bread-making, share wins, and build thriving cottage bakery businesses together.

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33 contributions to Sourdough Made Simple
March Challenge - Timing & Scheduling Confidence Month
Let’s be honest. Most sourdough frustration isn’t about flour. It isn’t about starter. It isn’t even about technique. It’s about timing. “When do I mix?” “When do I bake?” “What if I have work?” “What if life gets busy?” So this month, we’re simplifying everything. 🌿 The March Challenge Build a sourdough rhythm that fits your real life. Not a bakery schedule. Not an influencer schedule. Your schedule. Because sourdough should support your life — not run it. Here’s What We’re Doing This month, your goal is simple: ✔ Choose one baking day✔ Choose one timing schedule✔ Repeat it twice That’s it. No new flours. No fancy techniques. No pressure for perfection. Finding your natural rhythm. Over the next few weeks, we’ll cover: • How to choose your ideal baking day • 2–3 simple timing templates (morning mix / evening bake, weekend baker, etc.) • How to pause dough if life happens • How long bulk fermentation can flex • How to make the fridge work for you You’ll start to see that sourdough is flexible. And confidence comes from repetition — not complexity. When you have a schedule: You bake more consistently. Your dough behaves more predictably. Your confidence grows faster. And suddenly sourdough feels sustainable. That’s the goal. Step 1: Answer in the poll... Are you: 1️⃣ A morning baker2️⃣ An evening baker3️⃣ A weekend baker4️⃣ Still figuring it out Let’s build your rhythm together this month. You don’t need to bake more. You need a plan that fits your life.
Poll
10 members have voted
0 likes • 20h
I am an evening baker most of the time, but there is something peaceful about forming dough while the sun is coming up!
February Challenge - Starter Confidence Month
Focus: Understanding + caring for starter Challenge: Feed & Bake with your starter once per week - Reading starter readiness - Fridge-to-dough method (Sandra’s Simple Method) - Small starter maintenance If you feel intimidated by your Sourdough starter, this will be month that you get to know your starter a little bit better to help ease some of your concerns. Introduce Your Starter: Picture? Do you have name for your starter? How old is it? Did you start it from scratch or get it from a friend? What question do you have?
0 likes • 20d
@Derrick Jackson Thank you for introducing us to Missy. How did you first loaf turn out?
0 likes • 2d
@Andrea Bell looking good! I am very impressed with how your starter has grown. Well done. To answer your question, you will always want your starter/dough to be loosely covered. Not so much that a lot of air gets in, but you will want gas to escape. Otherwise it builds up pressure. you can take off the orange seal and then close it, that might be enough of air flow. otherwise, cover it with saran wrap then tilt the cover over it.
Live Zoom Q&A Tonight
We have a live zoom Q&A tonight, check the calendar for the link & time (in your time zone)... Bring your wins too! See you soon!
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Bread did not rise before baking
My bread looks like a French beret, long with a little puff. I found out that my oven cooks really hot at 450 degrees so I need to watch it more closely. I found my dough to be very sticky after rising, would it be better to put it in the refrigerator? My first try was not the best looking loaf but I gave it the old college try! I would love all the help and ideas you can give this beginner.
1 like • 18d
Barbara. I am so glad that you gave a shot! Yes the dough is much easier to handle when it is cold (just like from our workshop). There are other techniques, but first lets get a little practice in. 450 is hot, one thing you can do is half way through, lower the temp to 400-425. Especially if it is getting too dark. Back to the dough: after mixing your dough, let it double. I like to mix my dough after I make dinner because that is when my kitchen is the warmest, and my dough/starter typically will rise within 4 hours (which I just toss them in the fridge before I head to bed). But you can find your own natural rhythm. But for now, lets shoot for at least 12 hours in the fridge. That will be cold enough for you to get the hang of shaping the dough...keep me posted on your next attempt.
0 likes • 6d
How's it going Barbara?
Sourdough Stater Development Phases
NEW VIDEO! There's some confusion on what to do at each stage. I put together a video explaining the three main phases of a sourdough starter: 1) developing 2) established 3) needs help I have also included a printable for your reference. What phase is your Sourdough Starter?
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Sandra Brenes
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@sandra-brenes-6804
I help home bakers gain confidence & skill by teaching them how to bake sourdough bread through digital courses & mentorship.

Active 9h ago
Joined Aug 13, 2025
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