There’s something magical about Christmas morning, the tree lights are twinkling, the house is buzzing with excitement, and if you plan ahead, your kitchen can also be filled with the irresistible smell of freshly baked sourdough. Yes, you can bake your own loaf for the big day, and no, it doesn’t need to be stressful.
Follow this simple 48-hour plan and wake up on Christmas morning to warm, crunchy, homemade sourdough perfection.
December 23: The Starter Wake-Up Call
On the night of December 23rd, take your sourdough starter out of the fridge and give it a generous feed. This wakes it up and gets it bubbly and active, ready for dough-making the next morning.
Tip: Your starter should be lively and full of bubbles before you use it. If it’s sluggish, give it an extra feed earlier in the week.
December 24: Dough Day
Christmas Eve is where the magic starts.
Morning:
Mix your dough, knead it, and let it rise. Once it's beautifully airy, shape your dough and transfer it into a banneton. Cover it well and pop it into the fridge overnight for a cold proof.
This slow, chilled proofing does two things:
- It develops incredible flavour
- It gives you back your evening… no need to babysit dough!
December 25: Bake & Enjoy
When you wake up on Christmas morning, all that’s left to do is bake.
Preheat your Dutch oven, remove your dough from the fridge, score the top with your favourite design, and bake until golden and crackling.
The result? A stunning loaf that’s:
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Perfect alongside a festive breakfast
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Ideal for Christmas lunch grazing boards
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Impressive enough to earn you "bread genius" status with the in-laws
And the best part? Because you planned ahead, it’s completely stress-free.
Merry Christmas & Happy Baking
With a little preparation, fresh sourdough can be the hero of your Christmas morning. So follow this plan, trust the process, and enjoy that first warm slice. It’s the taste of holiday magic.
Want to make your Christmas loaf extra special?
Check out our 12 days of Crustmas videos for inspo
Make This Christmas Extra Sourdough-y!
Spread holiday cheer with festive flavours, easy baking, and ideas that make every Christmas gathering a little more magical.