Best Sourdough Recipe Sites (That Actually Work with Schedulers)

Finding Recipes That Actually Work

The internet is full of sourdough recipes. That is both the blessing and the curse of learning to bake in 2025. You can find a recipe for anything from a simple country loaf to a complex laminated croissant, often with beautiful photography and detailed instructions.

The problem is that not all recipes are created equal. Some give you precise timings that translate directly into a baking schedule. Others wave their hands and say "ferment until doubled" without mentioning that this could mean 4 hours or 12 hours depending on your kitchen temperature.

If you are trying to fit sourdough into a busy life, or using a scheduling tool like Doughflow to plan your bakes, you need recipes that give you real numbers: actual times, temperature recommendations, and clear visual cues for each stage.

After years of testing recipes from across the internet, here are the best sourdough recipe websites for home bakers. We have evaluated each one based on recipe quality, timing precision, technique explanations, and how well their recipes work with baking schedulers.

The Perfect Loaf

Maurizio Leo's site has become the gold standard for serious home sourdough bakers. His approach is methodical without being intimidating, and his recipe formatting is some of the best in the business.

What They Are Known For

The Perfect Loaf stands out for incredibly detailed instructions and a scientific approach to baking. Maurizio does not just tell you what to do; he explains why each step matters. His beginner's sourdough recipe has launched thousands of bakers, and his more advanced techniques (open crumb, high hydration, whole grain) provide a clear progression path.

The site also features excellent photography showing exactly what each stage of fermentation should look like. When Maurizio says the dough should be "domed and jiggly," he shows you a photo of domed and jiggly dough.

Recipe Style

Recipes are formatted with specific times, temperatures, and baker's percentages. Most include a detailed timeline showing exactly when each step happens over the course of a bake. Maurizio typically provides both a same-day schedule and a cold-retard option, which is invaluable for scheduling.

Pros

• Extremely detailed timing information
• Multiple schedule options per recipe
• Explains the science behind techniques
• Active comment sections where Maurizio responds to questions
• Recipes scale well and include baker's percentages

Cons

• Recipes can feel overwhelming for true beginners
• Some techniques require specialty equipment
• The sheer volume of information can lead to analysis paralysis

Scheduler Compatibility: Excellent

The Perfect Loaf recipes translate almost directly into scheduling tools. Times are specific, temperature ranges are clear, and visual cues help you verify that each stage is progressing correctly. This is one of the easiest sites to use with Doughflow's planning tools.

King Arthur Baking

King Arthur has been a trusted name in American baking for over 200 years, and their website reflects that experience. While they cover all types of baking, their sourdough section is comprehensive and beginner-friendly.

What They Are Known For

Accessibility. King Arthur recipes are written for home bakers with standard equipment and reasonable expectations. They do not assume you have a professional proofer or can identify the exact moment your dough hits 50% rise. Instructions are clear, quantities are precise, and the results are consistently good.

Their Baker's Hotline (yes, you can actually call them with baking questions) extends to their online content. Recipes include extensive troubleshooting sections and the comment sections are actively moderated by their baking team.

Recipe Style

King Arthur uses both volume and weight measurements, which purists may find frustrating but beginners appreciate. Timing information is presented as ranges ("4 to 6 hours") with clear visual descriptions of what to look for. Many recipes include step-by-step photos.

Pros

• Extremely beginner-friendly
• Tested in home kitchens with standard equipment
• Excellent troubleshooting guidance
• Recipes are designed to work with King Arthur flour but adapt well
• Active support community

Cons

• Timing ranges can be wide
• Some recipes feel dumbed down for experienced bakers
• Product placement (they are selling flour, after all)
• Fewer advanced techniques compared to specialty sites

Scheduler Compatibility: Good

The timing ranges require some interpretation, but King Arthur recipes work well with schedulers once you know your kitchen. Their cold-retard instructions are clear, and the visual cues help you calibrate timing to your specific conditions. A solid choice for building your first scheduled bakes.

Tartine

Chad Robertson's Tartine bakery in San Francisco changed how Americans think about sourdough. Their recipes, available through their books and website, represent a specific style: high hydration, open crumb, and dramatically blistered crusts.

What They Are Known For

The Tartine style is distinctive and influential. Their country loaf recipe has been adapted and referenced by almost every sourdough site that came after. The technique emphasizes minimal handling, long autolyse periods, and careful temperature control to achieve an open, irregular crumb structure.

Beyond their signature loaf, Tartine has published recipes for croissants, porridge breads, and grain-focused loaves that showcase the bakery's evolving philosophy.

Recipe Style

Tartine recipes are written for bakers who have some experience. Times are specific but the instructions assume you understand basic technique. The focus is on feel and visual assessment rather than rigid adherence to a schedule.

Pros

• Iconic recipes that produce bakery-quality results
• Focus on technique fundamentals
• Excellent for developing baker's intuition
• Strong community of bakers adapting these methods

Cons

• Can be unforgiving for beginners
• High hydration requires practice to handle
• Some timing assumptions may not match home kitchen conditions
• Recipe formatting is less structured than modern sites

Scheduler Compatibility: Moderate

Tartine recipes require more interpretation to use with schedulers. The timings work but are presented with less precision than ideal. Experienced bakers can translate these into scheduled bakes, but beginners may find the process frustrating. Worth the effort once you have developed your skills.

Breadtopia

Eric Rusch's Breadtopia takes a different approach than most sourdough sites. The focus is on simplicity, minimal equipment, and techniques that work for bakers who want results without obsessive attention to detail.

What They Are Known For

No-knead sourdough. Breadtopia popularized techniques that eliminate the need for extensive stretch-and-fold cycles or stand mixers. Their recipes emphasize long fermentation to develop gluten rather than mechanical work, which fits naturally with overnight schedules.

The site also has excellent video content showing techniques in real-time, not just quick cuts of perfectly executed moves.

Recipe Style

Recipes are straightforward with clear timing. Most follow a similar structure: mix, long ferment (often overnight), shape, proof, bake. This consistency makes it easy to learn the pattern and adapt it to different breads.

Pros

• Minimal hands-on time required
• Long fermentation fits naturally with overnight schedules
• Video tutorials show realistic technique
• Good selection of whole grain recipes
• Equipment recommendations are practical

Cons

• Fewer advanced techniques
• Less variety than larger sites
• Some recipes assume specific equipment (like clay bakers)
• Community is smaller

Scheduler Compatibility: Excellent

Breadtopia's approach is inherently schedule-friendly. Long fermentation times and overnight retards are the default, not a variation. These recipes map directly to the kind of schedules most home bakers need. If you want bread without watching the clock, start here.

Full Proof Baking

Kristen Dennis's Full Proof Baking has become essential reading for bakers focused on high hydration and open crumb. Her Instagram and website document the pursuit of perfect fermentation with the precision of a lab notebook.

What They Are Known For

High hydration mastery. Full Proof Baking provides detailed guidance on handling wet doughs that would terrify most beginners. The approach is scientific: temperature control, precise starter management, and careful timing all play crucial roles.

Kristen's explanations of fermentation stages (particularly the concept of "aliquot jars" for measuring rise) have influenced how many bakers track their dough's progress.

Recipe Style

Extremely detailed with specific times, temperatures, and percentages. Recipes often include charts showing expected rise at different stages. The writing assumes you want to understand what is happening, not just follow steps.

Pros

• Most detailed fermentation guidance available
• Excellent for high hydration technique
• Scientific approach with measurable milestones
• Strong focus on temperature management
• Active community sharing results and adaptations

Cons

• Can be overwhelming for beginners
• Requires precise temperature control
• Technique-heavy with steep learning curve
• Assumes access to specific equipment

Scheduler Compatibility: Excellent

Full Proof Baking recipes are built for precise timing. The detailed fermentation guidance translates perfectly into scheduled bakes. If you track your kitchen temperature and use the recommended starter percentages, these recipes produce predictable results on a predictable timeline.

The Clever Carrot

Emilie Raffa's The Clever Carrot offers a welcoming entry point for new sourdough bakers. Her book "Artisan Sourdough Made Simple" has introduced many people to their first successful loaf.

What They Are Known For

Making sourdough approachable. The Clever Carrot strips away intimidating terminology and complex techniques to focus on what actually matters: mixing, fermenting, shaping, baking. The result is a less stressful introduction to sourdough that still produces good bread.

The site also covers broader topics like sourdough discard recipes and seasonal baking, making it useful beyond just bread.

Recipe Style

Clear and concise with helpful photos. Timing is presented as ranges with good visual descriptions. The focus is on building confidence rather than achieving perfection on the first try.

Pros

• Excellent for complete beginners
• Encouraging, stress-free tone
• Good variety of recipes beyond basic loaves
• Discard recipes reduce waste
• Clear photography of each step

Cons

• Experienced bakers may find it too basic
• Less technical depth than specialty sites
• Timing ranges are broad
• Fewer advanced techniques

Scheduler Compatibility: Good

The Clever Carrot recipes work with schedulers but require some calibration. The broad timing ranges mean you will need to adjust based on your kitchen conditions. A good starting point for learning to schedule, but you may outgrow these recipes as your skills develop.

Alexandra's Kitchen (Alexandra Cooks)

Alexandra Stafford's site began as a general cooking blog but has developed a devoted following for its sourdough content. Her peasant bread and focaccia recipes are particularly popular.

What They Are Known For

Practical, family-friendly recipes that fit into real life. Alexandra writes for people who want homemade bread but do not want baking to become their entire personality. Her approach emphasizes flexibility and forgiveness.

The site's strength is connecting sourdough to everyday cooking. Recipes for pizza dough, sandwich bread, and quick breads complement the artisan loaves.

Recipe Style

Conversational with detailed headnotes explaining the recipe's development. Timing is included but the emphasis is on visual cues and flexibility. Many recipes include multiple variations to suit different schedules.

Pros

• Recipes fit into family routines
• Good variety from artisan to everyday bread
• Flexible approach reduces stress
• Excellent focaccia and flatbread recipes
• Active community in comments

Cons

• Less precision than dedicated sourdough sites
• Some recipes prioritize convenience over optimal results
• Technical explanations are limited

Scheduler Compatibility: Moderate

The flexible approach means more interpretation is required. Alexandra's Kitchen recipes can work with schedulers, but you will need to establish your own baseline timings. Better for experienced bakers who want inspiration rather than precise instruction.

Bake with Jack

Jack Sturgess brings a distinctly British perspective to sourdough, with video-first content that makes techniques accessible and entertaining.

What They Are Known For

Video tutorials that actually teach. Jack's YouTube channel demonstrates techniques in a way that is easy to follow and genuinely helpful. His focus is on making sourdough achievable for normal people with normal kitchens.

The site emphasizes understanding over memorization. Jack explains why things work, which helps bakers adapt when conditions change.

Recipe Style

Recipes are designed to accompany video content. Written versions include timing but the real value is in watching the technique. Most recipes follow accessible methods without requiring specialty equipment.

Pros

• Excellent video content
• Focus on understanding not just following
• Achievable with basic equipment
• Good troubleshooting guidance
• Entertaining presentation

Cons

• Written recipes less detailed than videos
• UK-focused (flour types, oven temperatures)
• Smaller recipe library than larger sites
• Some adaptation needed for American kitchens

Scheduler Compatibility: Good

The recipes work well with schedulers once you watch the accompanying videos. Timing information is included, though you may need to adjust for differences in flour and kitchen conditions. The educational approach helps you understand why adjustments are needed.

Comparing the Sites

Building Your Recipe Library

No single site will give you everything. Most experienced bakers draw from multiple sources, adapting techniques to their own conditions and preferences.

A practical approach:

1. Start with King Arthur or The Clever Carrot to learn fundamentals without overwhelm
2. Move to The Perfect Loaf or Breadtopia for more precise techniques
3. Explore Full Proof Baking when you are ready for high hydration
4. Reference Tartine for bakery-level technique and inspiration

As you build experience, you will develop intuition about which elements of each site's approach work best for your kitchen, schedule, and taste preferences.

Making Recipes Work with Your Schedule

The best recipe in the world is useless if you cannot fit it into your life. When evaluating a new recipe for scheduled baking, look for:

• Specific bulk fermentation times at stated temperatures
• Clear final proof guidance including cold retard options
• Visual cues that help you verify timing is correct
• Starter percentage and activity level (affects all timing)
• Kitchen temperature assumptions (crucial for accuracy)

Recipes that give you these details are scheduler-ready. Those that wave their hands about "until doubled" will require trial and error to calibrate.

Get Started with Scheduled Baking

Finding the right recipe is half the battle. The other half is fitting that recipe into your actual life: your work hours, your sleep schedule, and your kitchen conditions.

That is where scheduling tools become valuable. Instead of trying to hold the entire timeline in your head, you can enter when you want bread and work backward to see exactly when each step needs to happen.

Try Doughflow free to turn any of these recipes into a personalized baking schedule. Enter the fermentation times from your chosen recipe, tell us when you want fresh bread, and we will show you precisely when to mix, fold, shape, and bake.

Start planning your next bake and stop wondering whether your timing will work. Know before you start.