The Perfect Sourdough Bread Bowls for Thick and Hearty Soups (2024)

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There’s nothing I love more on a cold or drizzly night than a bowl of something hot and delicious that will stick to my ribs!

And I love to serve all those wonderful things in these amazing sourdough bread bowls!

The bread is deliciously soft but still dense enough to hold thick soups and stews and even chili!

Pretty much everything taste better in these bread bowls, but my favorites are Pumpkin-Thyme Soup and Loaded Potato Soup.

And let’s be honest here, they look kinda cool on the plate too…

This recipe for sourdough bread bowls makes 6 bowls for a generous serving, or 8 to 9 for a smaller serving.

And to make it easier for you, you can choose between the traditional sourdough method or use some added yeast for a faster rise.

So, grab your apron and let’s go make some bowls!

Don’t have a sourdough starter yet? No worries! Grab a copy of my eBook “Learn How to Create a Sourdough Starter” and get yours going today!

Sourdough Bread Bowls

3 c active and bubbly starter
1 ½ c warm water
1 scant Tbsp yeast (optional)
1 Tbsp sea salt
6 – 8 c unbleached flour

Start by dissolving the yeast in warm water if you’re using it.

Mix the starter, water/yeast, salt, and 2 cups of flour in a mixing bowl.You can mix this by hand or in a stand mixer.

very smooth

Beat the batter until it’s smooth.

Now add the remaining flour, a little at a time, just until the dough holds together. The amount of flour you will need will vary depending on the type of flour and the humidity level of your kitchen.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured board and knead until smooth and no longer sticky, about 8 to 15 minutes. Or you can knead for the same amount of time with the dough hook on your mixer.

ready for first rise

After kneading, put the dough into a greased bowl and turn it over to grease the top.

Now you’re gonna cover that with a damp bread cloth or plastic wrap and and let it rise until it has doubled, about 1 ½ to 2 hours.

For traditional (non-yeast added) method: the dough will need to rise between 2 and 4 hours depending on the strength of your starter and the temperature of your kitchen.

Forming the bowls

After the dough has doubled, punch it down and turn it onto a lightly floured surface to shape.

Divide the dough into 6, 8, or 9 pieces. Form into a ball by pulling down and under on the sides towards the bottom.

The more tension you put on the surface of the ball, the more it will rise up instead of spread out.

When you form the bread bowls, put them on a parchment lined cookie sheet(s) to rise.

ready for 2nd rise

Cover them again with a damp bread cloth and let them rise until doubled, 30 to 45 minutes.

Traditional method: the rise time will be between 1 and 2 hours.

About 20 minutes before time to bake, place a baking stone in your oven and preheat to 450°F. Add a smaller pan on the shelf below the baking stone for generating steam.

Baking the Sourdough Bread Bowls

After the bread bowls have doubled in size, it’s time to get those guys in the oven!

Brush the tops with melted butter or water. Using a sharp serrated knife or a bakers’ lame, slash the top with a cross.

buttered and slashed

Now slide the parchment paper with the bread bowls onto your preheated baking stone in the oven. Toss a cup of water into the pan on the shelf below and quickly close the door.

Bake the bread bowls with steam for 25 to 35 minutes, or until they are a beautiful golden brown. You may need a little more time for larger bowls.

Remove the sourdough bread bowls from the parchment and return them to the baking stone if the bottoms are a little pale.

Always check your breads for doneness by thumping the bottom. If it sounds hollow, it’s done.

Now put these on a wire rack and let them cool completely before you cut them.

If you can… 🙂

I have a terrible addiction to fresh-from-the-oven-slathered-in-butter bread…

It’s always a great idea to have a batch of these in the freezer!

I can’t tell you how long they will stay good in there though, because we usually eat them within 3 to 4 weeks. 🙂

Of course, in a pinch, you can just slice them up for sandwiches!

Enjoy!

More sourdough recipes you should make:

Easy Sourdough Vanilla Chai Latte Bread

Easy Sourdough Banana Nut Bread with Chocolate Chips

The Best Chocolate Chip Sourdough Scones You’ll Ever Eat

Award Winning Sourdough Peanut Butter Cookies

Sourdough Bread Bowls

Sourdough bread bowls are such a fun way to serve up a thick and hearty soup, stew, or chili. This recipe makes 6 to 8 bowls. Traditional and added yeast methods.

Course Bread

Cuisine American

Keyword sourdough

Prep Time 2 hours hours 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes minutes

Servings 6 bread bowls

Calories 1023kcal

Author Cery

Ingredients

3 c active and bubbly starter
1 ½ c warm water
1 Tbsp yeast optional
1 Tbsp sea salt
4 - 8 c unbleached flour

Instructions

Traditional Method:

Mix starter, water, salt, and 2 cups of flour in mixing bowl. Beat until smooth.
Add remaining flour, a little at a time, until dough holds together.
Turn onto a lightly floured board and knead until smooth and no longer sticky, 8 to 15 minutes. Or knead for the same amount of time with the dough hook on your mixer.
Put into greased bowl and turn to grease top. Cover and let rise till doubled. The time will depend on the strength of your starter and the warmth of your kitchen. Anywhere form 2 to 6 hours.
Punch down, turn onto lightly floured surface and shape. Makes 6 or 9 bread bowls.
Place bread bowls on parchment lined cookie sheet(s) to rise.
Let rise till doubled. Again, the time will vary from 1 to 3 hours.

Optional Yeast Method:

Dissolve yeast in warm water.
Mix starter, water/yeast, salt, and 2 cups of flour in mixing bowl. Beat until smooth.
Add remaining flour, a little at a time, until dough holds together.
Turn onto a lightly floured board and knead until smooth and no longer sticky, 8 to 15 minutes. Or knead for the same amount of time with the dough hook on your mixer.
Put into greased bowl and turn to grease top. Cover and let rise till doubled, 1 ½ to 2 hours.
Punch down, turn onto lightly floured surface and shape. Makes 6 or 9 bread bowls.
Place bread bowls on parchment lined cookie sheet(s) to rise.
Let rise till doubled, 30 to 45 minutes.

For both Methods:

20 minutes before baking, put baking stone in the oven and preheat to 450° F.
Brush tops with melted butter or water and slash with a cross. Slide parchment paper onto preheated baking stone in oven.
Bake at 450°F with steam 25 to 35 minutes, or until golden brown.
Remove from parchment and return to baking stone until the bottoms are golden brown.
Always check for doneness by thumping the bottom of the bowl. If it sounds hollow, it is done. Let cool completely before cutting.

Nutrition