Join us for a relaxed, hands-on day in our working bakery, where we’ll take the mystery out of sourdough and show you just how rewarding baking your own bread can be.
Whether you’ve never baked a loaf before or have dabbled with sourdough but aren’t quite sure what you’re doing, this workshop will give you the knowledge, practical skills and confidence to get started.
We’ll begin by exploring what sourdough actually is, how a wild yeast starter works and, most importantly, how to keep it happy and healthy at home. You’ll learn the essential techniques of mixing, stretching, folding and shaping dough, and discover how time, temperature and a little patience work together to create beautiful bread.
We’ll touch on the science of fermentation and gluten development, but don’t worry – this is very much a practical class, designed to make sourdough approachable, enjoyable and achievable in your own kitchen.
Throughout the day you’ll work with a variety of doughs, both made from scratch and prepared in advance, giving you the opportunity to experience the different stages of sourdough baking.
Alongside creating a classic sourdough for you to bake at home we’ll shape and bake a delicious selection of some of our best selling breads, which may include:, a flavourful malted or multiseed sourdough,an airy sourdough focaccia, a sourdough rye tin loaf.
You’ll be baking in our professional ovens, but we’ll share plenty of tips and techniques to help you achieve equally lovely results using your own oven at home.
You’ll leave with an armful of freshly baked bread, your own dough ready to bake at home, and everything you need to continue your sourdough journey.
What’s included
● A full day of hands-on baking and demonstration
● All ingredients and equipment for the day
● A generous selection of freshly baked sourdough breads to take home
● Your own sourdough loaf, prepared from scratch, to bake at home
● Some of our 30+ year-old sourdough starter to nurture and make your own
● A wood pulp or cane proving basket and dough scraper
● Detailed recipes, notes and suggestions for further reading
● A delicious lunch featuring breads baked on the day, accompanied by local cheeses and meats
Our workshops take place at our bakery in Lower Heyford, with a maximum of just six participants. This ensures a friendly, relaxed atmosphere with plenty of time to ask questions, practise your techniques and learn at your own pace.
No previous baking experience is necessary – just a little curiosity, an appetite for good bread and a willingness to get your hands floury.
We hope you’ll leave not only with plenty of delicious bread, but with the confidence and enthusiasm to make sourdough baking part of your everyday life.
Time: 10am – approximately 4pm