Gifts for Sourdough Bakers: Christmas Gift Ideas (UK)

Whether they bake every weekend or keep saying they would love to try, sourdough bakers are easy to buy for. These are the gifts we would be happy to unwrap ourselves, from a stocking filler under £10 to the kit that makes a real difference to the bread.

1. A live sourdough starter (£9.99)

The gift that gets them baking. Our San Francisco sourdough starter is a live culture in a 15 g pack small enough for a stocking or a card. Mixed with 75 g flour and 75 g warm water, it is usually bubbly and ready to bake with in about two hours, instead of the week or so it takes to grow a starter from scratch. There are more ideas and multi-pack prices on our sourdough starter gifts page.

2. A starter in a different flour

For the baker who already has a starter, a second culture in a different flour is a fun way to change things up. We make rye, wholemeal, white spelt, Italian '00' (lovely for pizza) and einkorn starters.

3. Put together your own starter kit

Ready-made sourdough starter kits are often padded with things nobody needs. A home-made kit is cheaper and better. Pack a box with:

• a live starter
• a 1 kg bag of strong white bread flour and a small bag of wholemeal
• a clear glass jar with a lid and a rubber band to mark the rise
• digital kitchen scales that weigh in single grams
• a printed copy of a first recipe, such as our first sourdough loaf, start to finish

4. A banneton and a linen liner

A cane proofing basket gives the loaf its shape and those flour rings on the crust. A 25 cm oval or a 22 cm round suits a 500 g loaf. It is usually one of the cheaper tools and one of the most appreciated.

5. A scoring lame

A razor blade on a handle for cutting the top of the loaf before baking. Small, inexpensive and the reason their loaves will start to look like bakery bread.

6. A probe thermometer

For checking that a loaf is baked through (about 96°C in the middle) and the temperature of the dough and water. Useful for every bake, and a good stocking filler.

7. A lidded Dutch oven or cast iron pot

The bigger present. Baking in a heavy lidded pot traps steam for a crisp, blistered crust and a good rise. A 24–26 cm round or an oval pot fits most home loaves.

8. A beginner's sourdough book

Our own book, Your First Sourdough, walks a complete beginner from activating a starter to their first proper loaf, with the problems that trip most people up in the first fortnight.

9. A day of baking together

Possibly the nicest of all: pick a recipe from our Christmas sourdough recipes, such as the Camembert wreath, and bake it together. Or try something new, like a matcha swirl loaf.

Gifts by budget

• Under £10: a live starter, a scoring lame.
• £10 to £30: a banneton and liner, a probe thermometer, digital scales, a starter in a different flour, a book.
• A bigger present: a lidded Dutch oven, or a home-made starter kit with all of the above.

FAQ

Is a sourdough starter a good gift for a beginner?

Yes. Starting a starter from scratch usually takes a week or more of daily feeds, which is where many beginners give up. A live starter that is usually ready in about two hours means they can bake their first loaf the same weekend.

How long does the starter keep before it is used?

Unopened, it keeps for months on a cool shelf, so it can sit under the tree until they are ready. The use-by date is printed on every pack.

Can I send the starter straight to the person I am buying for?

Yes. Put their address in as the delivery address at checkout, and tick the gift box in your basket to add a message and get a printable gift card by email.

What else does a new sourdough baker need?

Flour, a glass jar, digital scales and a bowl will get them started. A banneton, a lidded Dutch oven and a scoring lame are lovely extras once they are hooked.