Sourdough Art Valentine Hearts (Printable Version)

Create a visually stunning heart-shaped loaf with a crisp crust and airy crumb, perfect for special occasions.

# What You'll Need:

→ Sourdough Starter

01 - 3.5 oz active sourdough starter, fed and bubbly

→ Dough

02 - 12.3 oz bread flour
03 - 1.8 oz whole wheat flour
04 - 9.9 fl oz water, room temperature
05 - 0.3 oz fine sea salt

→ Decoration

06 - Rice flour for dusting
07 - Edible dried flowers or seeds for garnish, optional

# Directions:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, combine sourdough starter, bread flour, whole wheat flour, and room temperature water until fully incorporated. Allow the mixture to rest, covered with a damp towel, for 30 to 45 minutes for autolyse.
02 - Add fine sea salt to the rested dough and thoroughly mix and knead until salt is completely incorporated throughout the dough.
03 - Perform 3 to 4 sets of stretch-and-fold motions, spacing each set 30 minutes apart. Cover dough with a damp towel between each set to maintain moisture.
04 - After the final fold, shape the dough into a tight ball and place in a lightly oiled bowl. Cover and allow to rise at room temperature until doubled in volume, approximately 4 to 6 hours.
05 - Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and divide in half. Shape each piece into a heart form by gently flattening, pinching the base to create a point, and indenting the top center to define the characteristic cleft.
06 - Place each heart-shaped dough into a floured proofing basket or bowl lined with a floured towel. Cover tightly and refrigerate overnight for 8 to 12 hours to complete cold proofing.
07 - Preheat oven to 465°F with a Dutch oven or baking stone positioned inside to achieve optimal heat retention and crust development.
08 - Remove dough from refrigeration and carefully invert onto parchment paper. Dust generously with rice flour. Using a sharp lame or razor blade, score artistic heart-shaped patterns across the surface.
09 - Transfer scored dough to the preheated Dutch oven or place on hot baking stone. Bake covered for 20 minutes, then remove cover and continue baking for 15 minutes until golden brown and crispy.
10 - Transfer baked loaves to a wire rack and allow to cool completely. Once cooled, decorate with optional edible flowers or seeds if desired.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • The overnight cold fermentation develops complex flavors and makes the bread easier to score
  • Heart shapes create an Instagram-worthy presentation perfect for special occasions
  • The crisp crust and airy crumb offer the perfect texture contrast
  • Making sourdough bread is a meditative process that connects you to centuries of baking tradition
02 -
  • Use a rice flour and all-purpose flour mixture (50/50) for dusting to prevent sticking without burning
  • Score the dough confidently with a single fluid motion for clean lines
  • For the crispiest crust, create steam by placing ice cubes in a preheated pan at the bottom of the oven
  • Let the bread cool completely (at least 2 hours) before slicing to prevent a gummy texture
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