Oh, yeah baby.
Country sourdough with walnuts and raisins!
You’re lucky this bread even made it to post, because I kept picking at it as I was trying to shoot. It was nearly impossible to stay away!
The inside is so chewy, studded with plump organic raisins and bits of crunchy, toasty walnuts.
And the crust…
Crispy, crackly and delicious!
Raisin bread reminds me of when I was kid. My mom used to slather it with cream cheese and pack it for my lunch (bless you, Pepperidge Farm).
I still love raisin bread to this day, and I’m proud to share my homemade grown-up version.
For my baking friends, here’s the breakdown of my method:
- I used a 50/50 whole wheat + bread flour starter (100% hydration)
- 1 hour autolyse (during that time I soaked the nuts and raisins)
- Salt and fillings added after autolyse
- Stretch and fold every 30 minutes for 2 hours
- Bulk ferment at room temperature (currently 65 F) overnight, about 12-18 hours
- 2nd proof = approximately 45 minutes- 1 hour
- Baked in Dutch oven @450 F for 20 minutes (covered) + 40 minutes uncovered.
- Cracked open the oven door during the last 10 minutes of baking to harden the crust.
Confused?
I don’t blame you (I have a headache after reading that myself…)! Refer to my in-depth Beginner’s Guide for everything you need to know about sourdough.
As always, bread baking is as much of an art as it is a science.
What works for me, may or may not work for you. Ingredients, starters, and overall environment play a key role in how your bread will turn out.
So, get to know your dough. Tweak as you go. Weigh your ingredients. Trust your instincts. Own your style. Eat your mistakes (breadcrumbs, French toast, bread pudding- it’s all good).
Most of all, have fun. Enjoy this recipe!
Tips:
- This bread is best if consumed within the first 1-2 days of baking. If you prefer, you can cut the dough in half to make 2 small loaves. Eat one + freeze one.
- You will need a proofing basket, cloth lined basket, or bowl for the 2nd rise. I line my bowls with a cotton kitchen towel or sometimes I’ll even use a paper towel (shh! don’t tell…)
- To freeze, wrap your bread in plastic wrap and then in foil. It should last up to 3 months.
- All ingredients are weighed using a digital kitchen scale for best results. This is the one I use.
Country Sourdough with Walnuts + Raisins
- Yield: 1 Loaf
- Category: Sourdough Recipes
Ingredients
150g bubbly. active starter
350g water, preferably filtered
500g bread flour (not all purpose)
9g fine sea salt
65 g chopped walnuts
65 g raisins
fine ground cornmeal, for dusting
*You will need a 6 quart Dutch oven for baking
** The starter I used for this recipe starter is 50/50 bread flour + whole wheat (100% hydration)
**** This recipe was tested with King Arthur, Gold Medal + Pillsbury bread flour
Instructions
- To make the dough: In a large bowl, combine the starter, water, and bread flour. Squish everything together with your hands until all of the flour is absorbed. Cover with plastic wrap and let it rest (autolyse) for 1 hour.
- Soak the filling: Add the chopped walnuts and raisins to a bowl and cover with ½ cup of water. Leave to soak while the dough is resting. Drain before using. Roughly chop the raisins.
- To the dough: Add the salt + ½ tsp. of water (to help it dissolve). Add the walnuts and raisins. Lift and fold the dough over itself several times, and squish with your hands to incorporate. The dough will tear slightly as you fold, and the salt will not fully dissolve. Don’t worry- this is normal. Work the dough as best you can until it comes back together into a rough ball. At this point, you shouldn’t feel any grains of salt beneath your hands.
- Bulk fermentation: Cover your bowl with plastic wrap and a clean kitchen towel. Leave it in a warm, sunny spot to rise. Your dough is ready when it no longer looks dense, and has increased in volume about 1½- 2x its original size. This can take anywhere from 3-12 hours depending on the temperature of your ingredients, the potency of your starter, and surrounding environment. In the winter, I make my dough in the afternoon and leave it to rise overnight at room temperature (65 F) for about 12-18 hours. In the warmer months, I bulk ferment in the fridge to control the rise rate and to prevent over proofing. *See note below.
- Stretch & fold: To strengthen your dough, do a series of stretch and folds every 30 minutes for 2 hours during bulk fermentation. Simply gather a portion of the dough, stretch it upwards and then fold it over itself. Rotate the bowl ¼ turn, and repeat until you have come full circle. You will have completed 4 folds. Try to keep the nuts and raisins tucked into the dough and not on the outside to prevent burning.
- Cut the dough: To cut and shape the dough, divide your work surface in half; lightly flour one side (for cutting) and leave the other half clean (for shaping). Remove the dough from the bowl, and place onto the floured section so that it does not stick. You do not need to ‘punch down’ the dough; it will gently deflate as you fold and shape it. Cut the dough in half to make 2 loaves, or leave it whole for a single loaf.
- Shape the dough: Use a bench scraper to move your dough to the non-floured section (if there is any flour present, it will be difficult to shape- brush away any excess). Gather the dough, one side at a time, and fold it into the center. Flip the dough over and place it seam side down. Using your hands, gently cup the sides of the dough and rotate it, using quarter turns in a circular motion. You can also pull it towards you to even out the shape. Repeat this process until you are happy with its appearance.
- Second rise: Place the dough into a cloth lined 8-inch basket, bowl or floured/lined proofing basket. It will need to rise again, this time for a shorter period, about 45 minutes to 1 hour. It is ready when the dough is slightly puffy.
- Prepare the baking vessel: Preheat your oven to 450F. Generously coat the bottom of a Dutch oven(s) with cornmeal to prevent sticking. Sprinkle a good amount of cornmeal on top of the dough as well (this will be the bottom once it’s flipped over). Carefully invert the dough into the pot, cornmeal side down.
- Slash the dough: Right before your bread goes into the oven, make a shallow slash about 2 inches long in the center of the dough. Use a bread lame, sharp pairing or serrated knife.
- Bake the bread: Place your bread into the oven (lid on) and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the lid, and continue to bake (uncovered) for an additional 40 minutes or until deep, golden brown. During the last 10 minutes of baking, crack open the oven door. This allows the moisture to escape, leaving your bread with a crisp crust. You can also take the internal temperature of your bread to double check that it is done. For sourdough, it should read about 205 F.
- Cool: Remove the bread from the oven, and cool on a wire rack for at least an hour before slicing. The longer you wait, the easier it will be to cut. Don’t slice into it too soon or else the texture will be gummy!
Notes
Because sourdough does not contain commercial yeast, it takes considerably longer to rise. In the summer months, it can take anywhere between 3-4 hours @ 85 F whereas in the winter, about 8-12 hours @ 65 F. It is very important to watch your dough and not the clock. It’s ready, when it’s ready.
Keywords: sourdough, sourdough bread, country raisin sourdough, country sourdough, sourdough recipes
Comments
Twanna says
Made this recipe for the first time today and it turned out beautifully. Purchased your artisan sourdough book and I cannot wait to try your other recipes.
★★★★★
Mary Lou Billingsley says
If I make this into 2 loaves rather than one, do I still cook it the same amount of time? I would only be cooking one at a time. Thank you!
Emilie Raffa says
Hello! I would reduce the bake time for (2x) smaller loaves. Check at the 40 minute mark and adjust your timing from there. Enjoy!
Mary Lou Billingsley says
Thank you! I will try that!
★★★★★
andre conradie says
Awesome bread! I made the flour 200g wholewheat and 300g white. Added grated rind of an orange, heaped teaspoon cinnamon, heaped tablespoon brown sugar and half teaspoon grated nutmeg. I bake at 245°C for 43m in dutch oven with lid and then 7m without lid. Heat dutch oven for 30m beforehand.
Emilie Raffa says
This sounds wonderful. I love orange zest & cinnamon together- thanks for the inspo!
Joan Von Feldt says
I use your beginner recipe for sourdough bread every time. It’s the best. However I wanted to make olive bread. So after fussing with some other online recipes I used this recipe with olives (1 cup) instead of walnuts and raisins, and. it came out perfect. Thanks for all your advice- the trouble shooting blog etc!
★★★★★
Donna Steslow says
I am just about to bake this for the third time! It always rises nicely. I added chopped dates, and this time experimented by adding extra raisins and nuts. It worked. My question is: Many recipes call for preheating the Dutch oven; this one seems to not require that. Should I be preheating the Dutch oven?
★★★★★
Emilie Raffa says
Hi Donna! I love dates in sourdough- so delicious and sweet. Preheating the Dutch oven is optional. I used to do it in the past, but after many burnt wrists, I skipped this step for practical reasons. Doing so did not compromise the final product. Test out both ways and see what suits you best!
rhi says
This loaf tastes amazing, and I love how easy your recipes are to follow. Thank you!
★★★★★
Emilie Raffa says
You are very welcome! So glad you enjoyed it!
Peggy says
What would happen if I didn’t soak the raisins and walnuts before putting them in the dough?
Emilie Raffa says
Hi Peggy! Dried fruit and nuts tend to soak up additional water in the dough, which changes the texture of the finished product. Soaking ahead of time prevents this, however not every recipe requires it. Up to you.
patricia mary moran says
I cut the dough in half to make 2 loaves; I only have one dutch oven and certainly not enough room in my oven for another pot, so can i bake one loaf at a time.? Will the second loaf that has to wait til the first loaf is finished baking lose its rise if it has to wait to get baked? Thanks. great recipe.
Florence says
Hi Emilie, the sourdough looks so good and I want to make one for my friend. I have two questions. First, can I use starter with bread flour only? Second, what is the baking time if I use 250g flour instead of 500g flour? Thank you.
Angela Yeung says
Hi!
Can I incorporate some whole wheat or rye flour?
Emilie Raffa says
Sure! It will change the texture considerably though. You might want to start small, say 50 g or so of whole wheat flour, and see how you go.
Lexi Cotcamp says
Any chance I could use AP flour instead of the bread flour, similar to your AP sourdough recipe?
Emilie Raffa says
Absolutely. Personally, I would just use the AP flour recipe and add the proper amount of raisins and walnuts per this recipe. :)
Toby says
This recipe looks soooo good! Was wondering if I can use my all-purpose flour starter or do I have to use a half whole wheat and half bread flour starter for a good result? Thanks in advance!
Emilie Raffa says
Absolutely!
Elizabeth says
I’m confused about the 50/50 whole wheat + bread flour starter. Do you remove some of the starter from the jar and start a new one using 50% whole wheat and 50% bread flour? This bread looks so delicious! I can’t wait to make it.
Thank you!
Emilie Raffa says
Hi there! To clarify, it’s one starter fed with 50% bread flour & 50% whole wheat flour. Whether you feed the jar directly or pour some off to feed in the bowl, it’s fed with equal parts of the two flours. Hope this makes sense :)
Elizabeth says
Thank you for your very prompt response! It came out beautiful! I used cranberries instead of raisins. Thank you to the poster who said to drain and take out excess water after soaking the cranberries and nuts. I think it would have been very wet otherwise. The house smells wonderful. I wish I could post a picture. Great recipe!
★★★★★
Emilie Raffa says
Fantastic! Cranberries would be delicious in this recipe- yum :)
Frances says
Hello Emilie, came across your recipe yesterday and eagerly gave it a try. I am still a newbie regarding sourdough and totally in love with my sourdough journey. I followed your recipe, doubling it and was able to make three beautiful loaves of your Raisin and Walnut bread. They are beautiful as did the crumb. I have already gave to of them away to our neighbors. I have also tried your sourdough chocolate chip recipe as well as your cinnamon rolls recipe. Thank you so much for sharing. I just purchased your Artisan Sourdough Made Simple and cannot wait to receive it! THANKS!!
★★★★★
Regina says
Hello there! I baked this recipe twice already, the first time it was kind of a soupy coz I think I over-proofed it😅 I didn’t quite read the intsructions clearly but it turns out really good since I made a lot of tension on the dough before I scored and put it in the oven. Second time, I adjusted the water but when proofed the volume was not doubled. But still it turned out really good in terms of taste and the rise after it baked. I added dates and raisins to these loaves. Thanks for sharing this recipe, next time I’ll add cinnamon in it😉
P.S.
Can I add oats in this recipe? Do i need to increase the water?
Thanks in advance!😊
Emilie Raffa says
Hi Regina! Practice makes perfect ;) I’m sure you could add oats to the dough with additional adjustments. But I haven’t tested it myself so I’m unable to advise on the specifics. If you experiment, please let us know.
Myrna says
What to do if the dough was too soupy and does not retain the shape?
Emilie Raffa says
Weigh your ingredients for best results (sounds like there was too much water in the dough), use a high protein bread flour (plain or all purpose flour doesn’t absorb as much liquid which can make the dough sticky), and make sure the dough doubles in size during the bulk rise for proper gluten development (if it rises for too long, it will over proof and become sticky). Good luck!
Natasha says
Hi! So I have the bread in the oven now after an overnight fridge proof but this morning when I turned it out the cinnamon sugar was leaking out of it. I have a picture but can’t attach it here.
Emilie Raffa says
Hi there! I’m not sure I’m understand your comment? There is no cinnamon sugar in this recipe. Thanks!
Jodie Sharp says
Wonderful recipe! I subbed the raisins for cranberries and it is the most beautiful loaf.
★★★★★
Emilie Raffa says
Sounds fantastic! :)
Hoa huynh says
This look so good, would like to make this, what kind of raisins do you used in this recipe.
Thanks!
Emilie Raffa says
Thank you! I use organic Thompsons seedless raisins.
Lisa Keys says
This is one of my favorite loaves, but I did make a few changes as I went along. My dough was quite wet as a result of not drying out the fruit and nuts enough, I suspect. I use King Arthur bread flour, but chose not to add any extra. Following the bulk fermentation dough was too sticky to shape so I just popped it into the fridge for an overnight rise. It grew more than I would have expected. I baked one large loaf and after 20 minutes at 450F I lifted off the pot lid and lowered my oven to 400F. 20 minutes later this loaf was fully baked reading 205 degrees on instant read thermometer. Quite dark on the top but inside was perfectly baked with a crisp crust and chew. I used dried cranberries instead of raisins and loved the marbling effect. Enjoyed by all.
Emilie Raffa says
Hi Lisa! Yes: if the dried fruit is too wet, it will definitely change the texture of the dough. But from what you’ve described, it still sounds amazing! Thanks for the feedback ;)
Samantha says
Hi Emilie!
I made 6 loaves of this bread for Christmas gifts for my co workers. Turned out absolutely beautiful and delicious! I added cinnamon and sugar to the dough after the salt. Your instructions were so easy to follow. I’ve been baking with sourdough only for about a year and I’ve learned so much. I feel like it’s endless learning and experimentation, which is my favorite part!
Emilie Raffa says
Hi Samantha! Sounds ABSOLUTELY DIVINE! Enjoy and Merry Christmas!
Dana Dougherty says
Solid recipe. I subbed in dates, and toasted the walnuts. Tastes great. Thanks again.
Emilie Raffa says
Awesome, thanks for your tips, Dana! :)
Pat says
If you want to add cinnamon how much can you safely add. Also would you add the cinnamon with the salt
Emilie Raffa says
Hi Pat! Great question. I haven’t tested this recipe with cinnamon mixed directly into the dough, so I’m unable to advise. As an alternative however, I’d recommend adding a cinnamon swirl instead. It’s added after the bulk rise (so you don’t have to worry about the cinnamon slowing down the gluten development). If you have my book Artisan Sourdough Made Simple, you can find the full the details on pg. 51. Otherwise, combine 1/4 c. of sugar with 2 tsp of cinnamon. Set aside. Stretch the dough to roughly 16 x 8 inches. Brush lightly with water and sprinkle the cinnamon sugar evenly over the top leaving a 2-inch border around the top, bottom, and sides. Roll up the dough pinching the ends to seal. Note: this method works best with an oval-shaped loaf. Hope this helps!
Chau says
Hi , can I use less water in this recipe? Because 350g gives a very different spongy texture. Not fluffy .
Thank you .
Emilie Raffa says
Hi Chau,
Absolutely. You are more than welcome to decrease the water in this recipe. I would start with 50 g and take it from there. Also: the recipe as written shouldn’t yield bread with a spongey, wet texture. If this was the case for you, it’s possible that the brand of flour you used doesn’t absorb as much liquid and/or your raisins were too wet. Hope this helps.
Kaitlyn says
You say to line your brotform, but every time I line it, it doesn’t get the lovely swirls. I have a liner that came with the basket, but that is no thicker than a towel – possibly thinner. What do you suggest?
Jessica says
I’m so keen to try this! I’m fairly new to sourdough bread-making. The 2 hours of the stretch & fold process — do I just do this anywhere within the bulk fermentation time? It’s cold here in Australia, so I’ll need a longer bulk fermentation time.
Jessica says
Also, how do I get a lovely blistered crust like yours?
Sarah says
Hi! This recipe looks great & I would love to try it this weekend- just to clarify on the bulk fermentation, it’s 100 degrees in Phoenix today (!) so I’m considering making the dough this afternoon and bulk fermenting overnight in the fridge- do you think that would be ok, and would I do the turns just for the first 2 hours?
Thanks!!
Emilie says
Hi Sarah, you can do the bulk fermentation overnight in the fridge. You might have to play around with the start time in the after noon though (100 degrees is hot!). The dough might take off and over proof! You can always slow it down by using cool water in the initial mix. For the turns, yes, you can do those of the first two hours. :)
Sadie says
This bread is excellent! I still have a lot to learn about sourdough but I was very happy with how much my loaf resembled the one pictured with the recipe. The crumb on mine isn’t quite as holey, but my crust is golden, and blistered and delicious! The dough was the wettest, most slack dough I’ve worked with so far and I was tempted to add more flour, but didn’t. It rose well both in the bulk fermentation and the second rise. I didn’t use cornmeal to prevent the dough from sticking to the proofing basket or my Dutch oven. I lined the basket with a linen cloth and dusted it well with rice flour. To transfer the wet, fragile dough to the Dutch oven I covered the top of the dough with a round of parchment paper, inverted the Dutch oven over the dough and gently flipped the Dutch oven and proofing basket over. The dough dropped out effortlessly and the parchment paper, which was now at the bottom of the Dutch oven, prevented the dough from sticking. I didn’t have raisins, so subbed coarsely chopped black mission figs, which added a chewiness to the bread. Thanks for a great recipe and the detailed instructions.
Emilie says
I love the addition of dried figs here, Sadie. Thank you for sharing your tips with us! xx
Magda says
Hello,
One more question— how do I make 50/50 whole wheat and bread flour starter, using your traditional one with AP flour?
Thank you,
Magda.
Emilie says
Hi! To covert your starter, I would feed it with whole wheat flour instead of all purpose flour. It might take a while for your starter to adjust, but eventually it will get there.
Magda says
Hi,
Today, I baked your bread. Just don’t know, if the dough was supposed to be liquidy.
The loaf turned ok, but I had a hard time to place it into a baking pot,it rolled under itself.
Tooo soft!? I also baked it the same day, bcs it has risen nicely.
Thank you for your information.
Magda.
Emilie says
Hi Magda,
It’s hard to say without seeing a picture of the dough/finished loaf. However generally speaking, this dough shouldn’t be very wet. For best results, make sure to weigh your ingredients including the liquid for accuracy. If you’re still running into trouble try reducing the water by 20g until you have reached your desired consistency. It could be that the brand of bread flour you’re using doesn’t absorb that much water (resulting in a wetter dough). Hope this helps!
J. D. George says
Emilie, I know bread baking is a science with exact measurements. If I wanted to add a whole cup of my sourdough starter what other adjustments should I make? I know by doing so I will end up with a lot of dough but I bake bread weekly so this would be ideal because I could freeze the extra! Also, would I freeze the extra before letting it rise overnight? I love your blog!
Emilie says
Hi there! Do you mean you’d like to add an additional 1 cup (about 100 g) of starter to the pre-existing recipe? If so, the total would be appx. 1 1/4 cups (about 250 g) in total? Thanks!
Chrys Hu says
I am new to sourdough. Baked your basic sourdough bread followed by the this. Both turned out fantastic. I didn’t have raisins so I used dried fig and apricot.
I am going to get your book! Thank you!!
Hanim says
Hi Emilie,
I tried this recipe to the letter and I ‘m glad I did. It came out perfectly just the way I like it. Thank you for sharing this. And by the way, I link your recipe in my blog.
Regards,
Hanim
Marilyn Head says
Kia ora – Please note that there is a difference in the order of when you do the bulk fermentation and when you do the stretch and fold in your summary and the detailed version. I thought it was very odd to do the bulk fermentation the stretch and folds but that is what the longer version says ( and that is what I’ve done!)
Regards
Marilyn
Pat says
Am reading the recipe correctly that the Dutch oven is not preheated? I have not tried using a cold Dutch oven. I usually place it in the oven to let it heat up with the oven.
Emilie says
Hi there!
You are correct; the pot is not preheated. You can do it either way, it’s up to you! I prefer a non preheated pot because it’s easier to maneuver and you’ll avoid burning yourself. A preheated pot will get you a slightly higher rise, but not in all cases.
Erika Lloyd says
Ahhh, now I know why my loaf came out quite overdone (almost burnt actually). I always put my sourdough loaf into a preheated pot and so I did the same to this loaf out of habit. Anyway I just cut off some of the burnt crusts and it was absolutely delicious. Thanks for the sharing the recipe.
Emilie says
You are quite welcome! Enjoy!
Hannah says
Do you not make a leaven with this? My second attempt at sourdough, so lots of questions!
Emilie says
Hi there! No, I do not include a leaven build in my method- it’s not necessary if you don’t want to do it. Just use your starter straight from the jar!
Miho says
I’m in the middle of baking this but it looks like it’ll end up being a flat, dense one. After 2 hours of bulk fermenting last night (with folds every 30 min), I left it in 73F for 10 hrs. It looked really wet/sticky so I added a few dollops of flour, folded gently again and let it be for another 1.5 hrs while I preheated the oven. Any thoughts on why my dough was so sticky for shaping? Do you pat dry the walnuts/raisins? Followed the recipe to the gram…but conundrum.
Emilie says
Hi there,
It’s hard to say without seeing the dough. But, if it was too sticky, that usually means there is too much water in the dough OR the brand of flour doesn’t absorb that much water. I would make sure the raisins and walnuts are dried well (you can pat them, if preferred) or don’t soak them at all. I don’t always soak my fillings and this will definitely help. What brand of flour are you using?
Miho says
Ok, I’ll try not soaking the nuts and raisins next time. I used the King Arthur white bread flour…
Emilie says
Ok great! How did it come out?
Clarinda Arsenault says
Besides the walnuts and raisins, this recipe is almost identical to your wonderful basic sourdough bread recipe. I see, though, that it calls for 350 g of water, while the basic recipe calls for 250 g. Is this correct, or an error?
Thanks again for your wonderful website – I plan to explore it more once I settle down from my sourdough infatuation!
Emilie says
Hi Clarinda,
What’s great about bread baking, many of the recipes are similar. Adding more water turns it into something entirely new. For this recipe, 350g is not an error; it produces a different inside crumb.
nora says
Hi, Could this bread be made with whole wheat flour and if yes, what are the measurements exactly to be used?
Thank you
Jim says
Curious about the folding. If I prove overnight in a cool environment (which I plan to), when should the folding be done? at the beginning of bulk? towards the end? Please advise. Thanks!
Emilie says
Hi Jim,
Stretch and folds should be performed every 30 minutes for the first 2 hours of bulk fermentation. So, for example, if you mix up your dough at 9AM your first fold will be at 9:30 and so on… does that make sense?
Rachel says
Thanks for the explanation. I too was confused bc the recipe (in the numerical form) makes it seem like you do the stretch and fold at the end of the bulk fermentation, by the way you wrote it. However since I have made sourdough recipes before and never did it at the end , I inquired further by reading your whole article and then the comments. Thanks for clarifying slash maybe it would help to change the order of it in the numerical list in case someone is new to sourdough baking. And thanks for all your great recipes. 🙏
★★★★★
Maria says
Hi Emilie,
Your loaves look magnificent. Thank you for sharing this recipe! I tried to make it last week. I followed the recipe the best I could. However, my loaves turned out kind of dense, without any holes in them. Also, I do not own a dutch oven, so I baked them in cast iron skillets. Do you have any insight into how I could improve my sourdough raisin loaves next time to resemble yours? Also, do you know if it would work adding cinnamon to the dough?
Thanks in advance for any advice you can give me!
Emilie says
Hi Maria!
Are you a beginning bread baker?
Usually, when loaves are very dense and heavy it’s because the bulk ferment was too short. How long was your initial rise?
I prefer a long, overnight rise about 12-14 hours. Other factors to consider include inaccurate measuring (weigh your ingredients using a kitchen scale) and inactive starter. Also, watch the timing of your second rise; try 30 minutes.
Does your cast iron skillet have a lid, i.e. combo cooker?
The lid is essential to trap in steam and moisture which helps the bread to rise in the oven. When moisture is absent, sometimes the outside of your loaf will harden too fast, hindering the rise process, and becoming hard and dense. This happened to me all the time when I first started baking and now I only bake in a pot with a lid. The results are consistent and reliable.
In terms of holes- this is a high hydration (wet) dough. So there should be plenty of holes in your finished loaf. Again, make sure to weigh your ingredients to make sure that you are not adding too much flour.
For next time, follow my advice above- Weigh your ingredients, increase your bulk ferment time, shorten your second rise, bake in a covered pot. As for cinnamon, perhaps 1-2 tsp? This all depends on your personal preference!
You might want to check out my sourdough beginner’s guide. It might provide some insight:
https://www.theclevercarrot.com/2014/01/sourdough-bread-a-beginners-guide/
Maria says
Thank you very much for your response, Emilie! I will try all of your ideas next time I bake this recipe. Yes, I am new to baking with sourdough. I will definitely check out your sourdough beginner’s guide. Perhaps, it is also high time to invest in a new kitchen scale and a dutch oven?! Best wishes to you!
Cait says
I’m a newbie to sourdough, but every loaf I’ve made so far has been fantastic — thanks to your detailed directions, especially in the beginners’ guide!
To tag onto Maria’s comments, I haven’t used a dutch oven — just a regular loaf pan covered with tin foil and that seems to work just fine. And I just made this recipe and added 1T cinnamon and 1T sugar along with the salt — flavor seemed just about right, and I may even add more next time.
Thanks again!
Emilie says
Hi Cait!
Thanks so much for your feedback! Sourdough definitely takes some practice (and patience) but it sounds like you’re on the right track. And it’s all about adjusting as you go. No two loaves are alike! Glad the loaf pan works for you ;)
Enjoy and happy baking! xo
Cameron says
Thanks for the lovely posts on sourdough! I have made the regular sourdough with great results. I just made the raisin walnut variety and it was a little spongy, and the bread was light purple from the raisins. Did you cook at 450 degrees the whole time or reduce to 400 degrees after the bread went in the oven? Does this bread take longer to cook? Also, I wonder why my bread is purple, maybe too much stretch and fold? There is more water in this recipe does that result in a softer outcome? Your pictures look great so that is what I would like to achieve! Thanks for any advice!
Emilie says
Hi Cameron!
When I make this bread, I usually bake at 450 F the whole time. However, I have lowered it in the past to 400 F; I could smell the raisins burning. My recommendation would be to start out at 450 F, check it after the lid comes off, and then lower the temperature if you think it’s browning too fast. Was this something you experienced?
Your bread is purple because of the raisins. When doing the stretch and folds, try to keep the fruit and nuts tucked into the dough as best you can. This is a little tricky but definitely helps. It will also prevent the fruit from burning on top of the bread. How long did you soak them? Perhaps they were very soft to begin with. For your dough to actually turn purple means they were too soft/wet. I would skip the soaking step next time.
Now, with regards to texture you mentioned spongy and soft- was your baked bread to too wet? Or undercooked? More water results in more holes in the crumb. However, in your case it sounds like your bread might’ve been undercooked and too much moisture in your oven. Next time, take the bread out of the oven during the last 10-15 minutes of baking and place it directly on the rack. Let it finish out baking. This will harden the crust.
I hope this helps! If you have any other questions please let me know! :) Good luck.
Bill says
I’ve read somewhere the purple actually comes from the tannins in the walnuts.
https://www.cooksillustrated.com/how_tos/6672-preventing-purple-walnut-bread
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Emilie Raffa says
Yes! I’ve heard about this too! Thanks for the tip Bill :)
Becky says
Do you heat the dutch oven or just put it in cold? thanks
Emilie says
Hi Becky! I do not preheat my Dutch oven, although there are many recipes out there that do. It goes in cold. I found that it was easier to get the dough into the pot without it being hot (I burnt myself way too many times!) Just be sure to coat the bottom in plenty of cornmeal so that it doesn’t stick. Hope this helps! :)
sue/the view from great island says
This bread looks like it would make the most amazing morning toast ever, thanks for the inspiration to get baking!
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Laney (Ortensia Blu) says
This bread is spectacular!!! Just when we think you can’t do any better, you go ahead and make this incredible bread with photos you can practically taste!
Adri says
What an absolutely glorious bread. I’m with you – raisin bread reminds me of being a kid, too. The crust on this is a complete knockout. I just want to tear right into it. Well done, so to speak! I may have said this before, but I think I ought to be your neighbor…
laurasmess says
Oh my… I wish I was a competent enough bread maker to understand the terminology! Very impressed, Em. Gorgeous loaf! I love the fact that it’s studded with the beautiful fruit and nuts… definitely perfect with cream cheese or just toasted and buttered on an autumn morning. Lovely post. The pictures are just stunning xx
Pam Green says
What a gorgeous loaf of bread. I wish I could taste it! You should sell that stuff!
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Emilie says
Where are you based again? I’d say come on over! We could probably eat the whole thing, easily. I told my kids that instead of a lemonade stand this year they were going to sell bread. Wouldn’t that be amusing… xx
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl says
This bread looks amazing, like something I would buy from the bakery! What a great job!
Emilie says
Welcome Pamela! Thank you so much. I really appreciate your feedback :)
celia says
Em, that looks absolutely amazing! You’ve got it all happening, the elastic crumb, the blistered crust, you are such a star, girlfriend. And I love how healthy and robust your starter is looking! :) Be careful hon, or you’ll end up baking bread for the restaurant before you know it.. :D
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Emilie says
Thanks darlin’! I give you all the credit- you’ve created a bread baking monster ;)
I made the starter myself, and it’s very wild (literally). I’m having a lot of fun playing around with it. I’d be happy to send you some! xx
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
Gorgeous bread, I love the combination of walnuts and raisins!
Emilie says
Thank you Laura! We’ve been eating day old leftovers, thinly sliced with a little goat cheese (yum!) Great with the dried fruit & nuts. xx
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says
You have now created a huge problem in me because I can’t stop staring at your bread!
Emilie says
Oh no! That’s too funny… you should make some! I bet it would come out great, dear baking queen ;)
Snowhappy2014 says
Wow! Just looking at this picture makes my mouth water:) I tried making it, and was unsuccessful.
I woke up to find that my bread was flat again. Oh, and also very gummy:( I am still going to bake it. Unfortunately, i will not use a dutch oven, but a regular bread pan with foil.
Yup, i look forward to eating my mistakes…again
Snowhappy2014 says
Em,
Guess what? My bread turned out delicious!! Not as gorgeous as yours, but still very tasty and the crust was nice and crunchy:)
Thank you for this wonderful recipe!
Emilie says
Hooray! So, what did you do differently this time? I’m so curious! I answered your previous comment too, it might help for future bakes :)
Emilie says
Hi there! if your bread is flat, it didn’t rise properly. Are you using tap water? Sometimes the chemicals can kill your starter causing it not to rise. Use bottled or filtered water next time. If it was gummy, it was under baked and/or you cut into it too soon after baking (I’m often guilty of this- waiting it too hard!) Give it a good 1 hour before you slice.
Joy says
I know what u mean!