Essay
A Baker’s Quest for the Perfect Loaf
While secretly hoping never to attain it.
June 18, 2024
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The latest recipes, guides, and posts here at The Perfect Loaf, ordered by post date.
While secretly hoping never to attain it.
A deliciously perfect paradox: A soft yet sturdy bun for any occasion.
A recipe as simple as boxed mix with a far richer, fudgier result.
The right way to take a short break from your sourdough starter.
Thick, cheesy, chewy—everything you want in pan pizza.
The importance of leavening to the Passover story.
And how to sort out its ideal hydration before you even mix.
A classic bake, with sourdough starter discard-twist.
A simple way to have starter ready for any discard recipe.
An easy technique for the softest bread.
Tender cream scones come together with kitchen staples.
Discovering its unique flavors and baking potential.
Intensely aromatic with robust earthy and malty flavors.
A crunchy, crispy ring that lasts nearly indefinitely.
The platonic ideal soft sugar cookie, with a tangy twist.
Scaling up your sourdough bread baking with a large bread oven.
Strengthening bread dough during bulk fermentation.
Added flavor and nutrition with freshly milled grains and seeds.
After 10,000 Years, A New Sustainable Grain
Contrary to popular belief, sourdough and yeast can (sometimes) go hand in hand.