Nutrient-dense and simple to make, this einkorn sourdough bread offers a fluffy, chewy interior, a golden, rustic crust, and plenty of robust flavors from einkorn grain and fermentation.
Key Takeaways: Einkorn Sourdough Bread
- Prep Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Bake Time: 45 minutes
- Additional Time: 15 hours
- Total Time: 17 hours, 5 minutes
- Servings: 12 Servings
- Cook Method: Baked in a preheated Dutch oven.
- Flavor & Texture: Golden, rustic boule with whole grain flavor and a soft, airy crumb.
- Difficulty: Moderate. Simple ingredients and hands-off rise time, but some stretching and folding and shaping involved.
- Why this Recipe? Sourdough einkorn bread offers the benefits of ancient grains and fermentation in a delicious, hearty, and nutritious loaf.
This sourdough einkorn loaf combines the higher protein content and lower gluten content of the world’s oldest non-hybridized heirloom wheat with the delicious flavor and fluffy texture of a homemade loaf. Paired with a long fermentation that further breaks down gluten and phytic acid, this recipe is often suitable for those with gluten sensitivities.
I developed this recipe using the same simple techniques that made my no-knead sourdough bread such a success, and the results have been fantastic.
It’s easy to make, requires minimal hands-on work, and produces the kind of crusty, flavorful loaf you’ll want to make again and again. Enjoy it alongside a cozy bowl of creamy carrot ginger soup, toasted with butter and strawberry jam for breakfast, or topped with homemade ricotta and fresh tomatoes for lunch.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Delicious flavor and texture – Einkorn wheat gives this loaf an earthy, nutty flavor. Coupled with the sourdough tanginess, it’s a deeply flavorful loaf with a moist, airy, tender crumb.
Easier digestion – Einkorn has a lower gluten content and a simpler gluten structure than modern wheat, making this ancient wheat easier on the digestive system and more accommodating for those with gluten sensitivities.
Nutritious – Einkorn offers higher values of minerals, protein, and fiber, and is often free from modern fertilizers and sprays. Check out this list of 15+ favorite einkorn flour recipes!
Ingredients
Einkorn all-purpose flour – Adding all-purpose flour produces a lighter texture than a fully whole wheat einkorn loaf. You can buy pre-ground einkorn flour, or you can mill your own flour at home to convert any recipe to freshly milled.
Einkorn whole wheat flour – Adding whole grain einkorn flour gives deeper flavor and a heartier texture. You can substitute for 100% all-purpose einkorn flour in this recipe, if preferred.
A full ingredient list with exact amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
How to Make Einkorn Sourdough Bread
Step 1: Feed your sourdough starter 4-12 hours before starting your dough. Your sourdough starter is ready once it is bubbly and active. Add all-purpose einkorn flour, whole grain einkorn flour, salt, water, and active sourdough starter to a large mixing bowl.
Step 2: Combine with your hands or stir with a dough whisk until it comes together. Cover with a tea towel and let the dough rest at room temperature for 15 minutes.
Step 3: Begin a series of stretch and folds to work the dough. Grab one edge of the dough in the bowl and stretch it upwards about six inches.
Step 4: Fold the dough back into the center and press. Turn the bowl a quarter turn and repeat the process two to three more times to complete one round of stretch and folds. Cover the bowl with a tea towel and let it rest for 20 minutes. After the 20 minute rest, continue with a second round of stretch and folds, cover and set aside for 20 minutes.
Step 5: Perform the final round of stretch and folds, finishing by covering the bowl with plastic wrap or a tea towel. Allow to rise at room temperature until doubled in size, about 3-12 hours, depending on the temperature of your home.
Step 6: After doubling in size, place the dough on flour-dusted work surface. Shape the dough into a ball by gently rolling it toward you.
Step 7: Then, place your dough upside down (smooth side down). Fold the two sides over to meet in the middle, pinch together and then repeat on the other two sides. This creates surface tension which helps give it more oven spring (a good rise). Place the shaped dough in a floured banneton basket or a bowl lined with parchment paper and cover with plastic wrap. Place in the refrigerator overnight. I usually place the proofing basket into a plastic grocery bag and tie it shut to help keep it more air-tight.
Step 8: The next day, preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, allowing the Dutch oven to preheat for 30 minutes to an hour. Once the Dutch oven has preheated, take the dough out of the fridge and place it onto a sheet of parchment paper. Score the top of the dough and gently place the parchment paper and dough into the Dutch oven, cover with the lid, and place in the hot oven. Don’t worry – you can still bake sourdough bread without a Dutch oven if you don’t have one.
Step 9: Bake for 30 minutes with the lid on, then remove the lid and bake for another 15 minutes until golden brown. Place the boule on a wire rack and cool completely before slicing. Serve toasted or room temperature with homemade butter.
Lisa’s Expert Tips
- If milling your own flour, grind it fresh when needed for the most nutritious and flavorful flour.
- If you want to ensure your bread is 100% einkorn, start your sourdough starter with einkorn flour, or convert your current starter to einkorn flour.
- Einkorn dough tends to be much stickier than regular bread dough. I like to use dampened hands and a bench scraper to combat this without having to add extra flour.
- When using a sourdough starter, it is recommended to use filtered water. Some water may contain too much chlorine, which can kill the beneficial bacteria and yeast in your starter. I use a Boroux water filter for the best quality of water.
- For the best rise and the perfect texture, I incorporated a stretch and fold process like my no-knead sourdough bread to work the dough.
- If you do not have a banneton basket, you could use a piece of parchment paper. Place the dough on the parchment paper, place in a bowl, and cover to rise.
- Set the dough in a warm place to facilitate a speedier rise.
- I like to use both whole-grain einkorn flour and all-purpose einkorn flour. I found this combination to be best for a soft and structured crumb. You can substitute the whole grain einkorn for more all-purpose flour if that is what you have on hand.
Einkorn Sourdough Bread FAQs
Sourdough bread stores best at room temperature. Storing in the fridge can actually dry out your sourdough bread.
Einkorn adds a delicious flavor to sourdough bread. Because of its weaker gluten structure, handling the dough can be a bit trickier. Dip your hands in water or use a bench scraper to help handle sticky dough, but try not to add more flour. You can also make an einkorn flour sourdough starter.
Einkorn is an ancient grain, and one of the only grains that has not been genetically modified in some way. It is high in nutrients and boasts a mild, sweet, nutty flavor.
While not gluten-free, einkorn is a better option for individuals with gluten intolerance. Some people with gluten sensitivities can tolerate einkorn wheat without issue, especially when long-fermented.
Baker’s Timeline
This can be started or made at any time. This is just a sample timeline to help you plan.
Feed sourdough starter with flour and water.
If the sourdough starter is mature, then proceed to creating the dough. Combine the ingredients. Cover the bowl and let the dough rest for 15 minutes.
Perform three rounds of stretch and folds, resting 20 minutes between rounds.
Shape dough. Cover and place in the refrigerator for 12-15 hours.
Bake in a preheated Dutch oven for 45 minutes. Lid on for first 30 minutes; lid off for 15-20 minutes until golden. Cool completely.
More Einkorn Recipes from the Farmhouse
- Einkorn Cinnamon Rolls
- The Best Einkorn Pie Crust
- Einkorn Flatbread
- Berry Crisp with Einkorn Flour
- Einkorn Pizza Dough
If you try this recipe and love it, I would love it if you could come back and give it 5 stars! Tag me on Instagram @farmhouseonboone.
Einkorn Sourdough Bread
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose einkorn flour, 390 grams
- 1 cup whole grain einkorn flour, 130 grams
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt, 8 grams
- 1 ¼ cups water, 295 grams
- 1 cup sourdough starter, 200 grams
Instructions
- Feed your sourdough starter 4-12 hours before starting your dough. You will know when your sourdough starter is ready once it is bubbly and active. Combine all-purpose einkorn flour, whole grain einkorn flour, salt, water, and sourdough starter in a large mixing bowl. Cover with a tea towel and let the dough rest at room temperature for 15 minutes.
- Begin a series of stretch and folds to work the dough. Grab one edge of the dough in the bowl and stretch it upwards about six inches. Fold the dough back into the center and press. Turn the bowl a quarter turn and repeat the process two to three more times to complete one round of stretch and folds. Cover the bowl with a tea towel and let it rest for 20 minutes.
- After the 20 minute rest, continue with a second round of stretch and folds, cover and set aside for 20 minutes.
- Perform the final round of stretch and folds, finishing by covering the bowl with plastic wrap or a tea towel. Allow to rise at room temperature until doubled in size, about 3-12 hours, depending on the temperature of your home.
- After doubling in size, place the dough on a flour-dusted work surface. Shape the dough by gently rolling it toward you. Then, place your dough smooth side down. Fold the two sides over to meet in the middle, and pinch together. Repeat on the other two sides.
- Place the shaped dough in a floured banneton basket or bowl lined with parchment paper and cover with plastic wrap. Place in the refrigerator overnight. I usually put the proofing basket into a plastic grocery bag and tie it shut to help keep it more air-tight.
THE NEXT DAY
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, allowing the Dutch oven to preheat for 30 minutes to an hour. Once the Dutch oven has preheated, take the dough out of the fridge and place it onto a sheet of parchment paper.
- Score the top of the dough and gently place the parchment paper and dough into the Dutch oven, cover with the lid, and place in the hot oven.
- Bake for 30 minutes with the lid on, then remove the lid and bake for another 15 minutes until golden brown.
- Place the boule on a wire rack and cool completely before slicing. Serve toasted or room temperature with homemade butter.
Notes
- If milling your own flour, grind it fresh when needed for the most nutritious and flavorful flour.
- If you want to ensure your bread is 100% einkorn, start your sourdough starter with einkorn flour, or convert your current starter to einkorn flour.
- Einkorn dough tends to be much stickier than regular bread dough. I like to use dampened hands and a bench scraper to combat this without having to add extra flour.
- When using a sourdough starter, it is recommended to use filtered water. Some water may contain too much chlorine, which can kill the beneficial bacteria and yeast in your starter. I use a Boroux water filter for the best quality of water.
- For the best rise and the perfect texture, I incorporated a stretch and fold process like my no-knead sourdough bread to work the dough.
- If you do not have a banneton basket, you could use a piece of parchment paper. Place the dough on the parchment paper, place in a bowl, and cover to rise.
- Set the dough in a warm place to facilitate a speedier rise.
- I like to use both whole-grain einkorn flour and all-purpose einkorn flour. I found this combination to be best for a soft and structured crumb. You can substitute the whole grain einkorn for more all-purpose flour if that is what you have on hand.
- If you are using freshly milled grains for this recipe, I recommend weighing the flour instead of using volume measurements. Grain mills vary greatly – some create very fine and fluffy flour, while others are a little more coarse. This makes volume measurements unpredictable. Using a kitchen scale and calculating the grams is much more reliable, ensuring you end up with a delicious end product.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Hi Lisa!
Did you recently change this recipe to reduce the freshly milled grain and the flour by 1/2 cup each? I’m coming back to this recipe after a few months of trying out some others, and the ratios seem different from what I remember. I see a few comments about the dough being too dry, so I’m curious if you made a change. I know sourdough varies greatly from person to person depending on the flour they use, the humidity of their home, etc. I’m able to modify the recipe to get my desired results, but just wondering if I’m remembering it wrong or if a change was made.
In any case, I’ve greatly enjoyed this recipe along with so many other ones you have shared.
I’m looking for an einkorn loaf that I can use my Kitchenaid to do most of the work. Can this recipe be converted to use the stand mixer?
I haven’t tried that, but I bet you could.
Can I use freshly milled hard white wheat in place of the all purpose eikorn?
Yes, that should work.
I am new to sourdough bread making and this was the easiest and best recipe I have tried. Thank you!
That is fantastic to hear!
After I shape and place in the banneton basket do I need to place in the oven or can I just let it proof for a bit in the basket then cook it? I followed the recipe and after I took it out of the fridge the next morning my dough had fallen and when cooked it was a bit dense.
You can cook it straight away or just not leave it in the fridge for that long!
Do I need to put the dough in the fridge overnight for the loaf pan? If so does it go in the fridge in the loaf pan? I’m not sure but my dough has already doubled in size and now I’m not sure if I rise it again in the loaf pan or put it overnight in the fridge. Please help…
Yes, that is fine to put it in the fridge overnight.
So, if I’m reading this correctly… for sandwich loaf you don’t proof overnight in the fridge? Just 3-12 hours in the loaf pan? Thanks for writing all this up! Thinking about dipping my toes in this. We avoid gluten, but I’m wondering if this would work for our digestive systems.
Yes, but you can always proof it in the fridge still. It just helps to slowly break down the gluten even more!
This isn’t my first rodeo with einkorn sourdough bread. I appreciate the recipe. However, as someone else previously stated, this dough is quite dry. Noting this recipe required 3/4 C more flour than others and the same amount of water and starter. That said, I had to wing it adding more water. Not sure of the outcome.
Einkorn is actually a super thirsty flour and requires more water. I use my regular SD recipe and up the hydration to 80-85% and it works perfect every time. Super smooth and beautiful to touch.
This looks awesome! I love the extra flavor einkorn flour provides.
I have yet to get started with sourdough… If I made a starter with this flour, do you think it could still be utilized in your regular sourdough recipes? (I.e sourdough cinnamon rolls, pancakes etc). I know you mentioned that working with einkorn requires a few tweaks, just wondering what those may be and if you think it would still yield similar results.
You can! It would definitely need adjustments to account for the hydration requirements that einkorn needs.
Hi there,
This is the second time making this loaf and the dough is much less sticky than normal regular sourdough dough and it’s coming out dense when baked- any ideas what i’m doing wrong? thanks!!
There is a learning curve to einkorn. It’s usually a little stickier and more dense than typical sourdough made from all purpose or wheat.
Hi! I am excited to try this recipe. Have you tried adding chocolate chips or dried fruit to this recipe? If so when do you add in the process? Baking this for my kids and want to make sure this loaf gets eaten 🙂
You can add them in just before baking!
I’m new to sourdough and am wondering what the starter should smell like. This probably reveals my ignorance! I’m on day 5 of feeding it and the smell is absolutely overpowering. It’s bubbly everyday, so I think it’s active…Thankful for your recipe, it’s helped me get over the hump of getting started!