Pumpkin Shaped Sourdough Bread

A loaf of sourdough is sure to be a hit at any holiday gathering, but what about pumpkin shaped sourdough bread? I love to make these pumpkin shaped loaves because they are basically foolproof. Scoring is a skill and takes some practice, but this pumpkin doesn’t require any of that.

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Why Are You So Shocked?

I used to have a reputation for being able to burn water. My family called me Ellie May for many reasons, but one of which was my inability to cook. After getting married I learned how to make some basic things like taco meat, mac and cheese from a box, and even mashed potatoes. Yes, I am aware of how sad that is. 

I had also moved across the state and away from my family. So when I started learning to make real homemade food, they were unaware. Then I started to explore baking with a sourdough starter and although there were some flops I found that baking was my thing. When I moved back, I brought an artisan loaf of sourdough bread to a family dinner. My dad took a bite and he looked shocked. He asked when I learned to do that and couldn’t believe I’d gone from reading the directions on the box of mac and cheese to making homemade bread. I asked him why he was so shocked. His response, “Because I know you!”

Now my family never knows what to expect when I show up with bread. It may be pumpkin shaped sourdough bread, perhaps even a turkey shaped loaf.

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Why Sourdough?

Sourdough was used by people to leaven bread before they were able to go to the store and by those little yeast packets. Sourdough is the old-fashioned yeast packet. 

Grains contain phytic acid, but our bodies don’t really process it well. Phytic acid prevents our bodies from absorbing the nutrients from our food. Fermentation gets rid of most, if not all of the phytic acid, in the grains before we eat them. The fermentation process also helps break down some gluten, so although the bread isn’t gluten free it does have a lower gluten content. This allows people like me, who are sensitive to gluten, to eat sourdough. It also acts like a probiotic, which makes it great for gut health. Sourdough has prebiotic characteristics as well, which simply means that the good bacteria in your gut enjoy eating the fiber.

Pumpkin Shaped Sourdough Bread Recipe

Ingredients

1100 grams flour

650 grams water

20 grams salt

200 grams active sourdough starter

Instructions

1. First you will need to mix together the water and the flour until just combined. Allow it to sit for 30 minutes. This allows the flour to absorb the water and become hydrated.
2. Next add in the sourdough starter and salt. Mix it in the KitchenAid for 3 minutes. Then cover the bowl and let it rest for 30 minutes.
3. You will stretch and fold the dough 6 times. That simply means that you will pull the dough up and let it fold down on itself. Then rotate the bowl 90 degrees and do it again until you’ve gone all the way around the bowl. That’s one stretch and fold. Set a 15 minute timer and do it again. Then wait 15 minutes and do it again. You’re halfway there now. Now wait 30 minutes between stretch and folds for the last 3 times. 
4. Let the dough rest until it doubles in size. This can take anywhere from 2 to 8 hours depending on the warmth of your kitchen
5. Now cut the dough in half and make 2 balls. Let them sit uncovered for 20 minutes to develop a skin. While you wait, flour 2 banneton baskets or 2 bowls draped in flour sack towels. 
6. Put the loaves in the bowls or baskets and cover them. I highly recommend using a disposable shower cap for this. Place them in the fridge for at least 12 hours. I’ve left them for close to a week and it’s been ok. 
7. Cut 3 pieces of bakers twine about 18 inches long. Lay them out on some parchment to make an asterisk. Try to space them evenly. Turn the dough out on top of the strings. Dust the dough with flour. Tie the opposite ends of the strings together at the top of the loaf. This does not need to be tight, because the dough will rise around them. Just tie them tight enough that they will remain around the loaf. 
8. Preheat your oven to 450 degrees with your cast iron dutch oven inside. Let it preheat for at least half an hour. Then pick up the parchment paper, bread and all, and place it in the dutch oven. Bake it for 20 minutes with the lid on and then 20 minutes with the lid off.  Let your pumpkin shaped sourdough bread cool before removing the strings and poking a cinnamon stick in the top. 

Notes

This recipe works best when you weigh out the ingredients. I resisted doing so for a long time, but once I gave in the bread was so much better.

Weigh your ingredients in a separate bowl then add them to the mixer. 

You can make up the dough ahead of time then leave it in the fridge for up to a week

Baker’s Schedule for Pumpkin Shaped Sourdough Bread

8 am Feed your sourdough starter.

12 pm Combine the flour and water and let it rest for 30 minutes.

12:30 pm Add in the salt and starter. Then mix the dough for about 3 minutes. Let it rest for 30 minutes.

1:00 pm Start your stretch and folds. 15 minutes between the first three and 30 minutes between the last three. Then cover and let it double in size.

5:00 pm This time could be much sooner or later depending on the heat in your kitchen. Divide the dough in half and shape it into balls. Then let it sit out for 20 minutes. 

5:20 pm Put the dough into flour banneton baskets or bowls draped in flour sack towels. Cover them and put them in the fridge overnight. 

8:00 am the next day Preheat your oven to 450 degrees. Cut 3 pieces of bakers twine about 18 inches long. Place them in an asterisk on the parchment paper. Turn the dough out onto parchment paper, dust it with flour, and tie up the strings.

8:30 am Put the parchment paper with the dough on it into the dutch oven. Bake for 20 minutes with the lid on then 20 more with the lid off. 

9:10 am Let the pumpkin shaped sourdough bread cool before removing the strings and adding a cinnamon stick to the middle. 

The site may contain links to affiliate websites, and we receive an affiliate commission for any purchases made by you on the affiliate website using such links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. As a Revive EO Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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KitchenAid Mixer

Cast Iron Dutch Oven

Banneton Basket

Bakers Twine