Quick Sourdough Recipe Without the Wait

STUpendous
May 29, 2025
3 min read

If you’ve fallen in love with sourdough but don’t always have 48+ hours to spare, you’re not alone. One of the most common questions I hear is: “Is there a quick sourdough recipe that still tastes amazing?”

Yes—there is.

While traditional sourdough thrives on long fermentation and slow development, there are ways to speed up the process without sacrificing flavor or structure. Whether you’re short on time, baking on a weeknight, or just need a loaf by tomorrow, this quick sourdough recipe has your back.

Can Sourdough Be “Quick”?

Let’s be real: no true sourdough is instant. If it’s real sourdough, it’s leavened with wild yeast from a sourdough starter—not commercial yeast. That said, you can accelerate fermentation by adjusting a few things:

More starter = faster rise
Warmer environment = faster fermentation
Less bulk fermentation time = quicker turnaround
Skip cold proofing = bake same day

This recipe gets you from mixing to slicing in about 10–12 hours total, compared to the typical 24–72 hour window of traditional sourdough.

Quick Sourdough Recipe (Same-Day Loaf)

🍞 Ingredients:

500g bread flour
350g water (warm)
100g active sourdough starter (fed 4–6 hours before)
10g salt

Optional: Add 15g olive oil for a softer crumb.

🧂 Instructions:

1. Mix & Autolyse (30 mins)Combine flour and water until just mixed. Let sit for 30 minutes to hydrate the dough.

2. Add Starter & Salt (10 mins)Mix in your sourdough starter and salt. Knead or stretch and fold until combined and slightly smooth.

3. Bulk Fermentation (4–5 hours)Let the dough rise in a warm place (75–80°F) for 4–5 hours. Do stretch and folds every 30–60 minutes for better structure.

4. Shape (10 mins)Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Shape into a round or batard, depending on your baking setup.

5. Final Proof (2–3 hours)Let rise at room temp in a proofing basket or bowl lined with a floured cloth until puffy and expanded.No fridge needed!

6. Bake (45–50 mins)Preheat your oven to 475°F with a Dutch oven inside. Score the dough, place it into the hot pot, and cover.

Bake 25 minutes covered
Remove lid and bake 20–25 more minutes until deep golden

7. Rest & SliceCool for at least 1 hour before slicing (I know, it’s hard).

Tips for Quick Sourdough Success

Use a very active starter — feed it 4–6 hours before mixing for best rise.
Warm environment = faster fermentation. Use a proofing box or your oven with the light on.
Skip the cold retard. This loaf is designed to go from mix to bake in the same day.

Who Is This Recipe Perfect For?

Busy bakers with limited time
Beginners who want sourdough without the wait
Anyone who googled “quick sourdough recipe” and landed here 😄

It’s not a shortcut—it’s just a smarter schedule. You’re still baking real, wild-yeast sourdough with all the flavor and texture that comes from fermentation. It’s just faster.

Final Thoughts

Sourdough doesn’t have to be complicated—or slow. With this quick sourdough recipe, you’ll have a beautiful, crusty loaf by dinner without compromising on flavor or crumb.

And the best part? Once you master this one, you can add inclusions, shape variations, or scale it up for your own microbakery needs.

Because sometimes, the best bread is the one you can eat today..