Same Day Sourdough Recipes

One of the biggest roadblocks I hear from new sourdough bakers is how time-consuming the process can be—it just doesn’t seem to fit into a busy schedule. But here’s the good news: you can bake naturally leavened bread in just one day without commercial yeast! 

This flexible approach to sourdough makes it easier to enjoy freshly-baked bread without the wait. Below, you’ll find my favorite same-day sourdough recipes—perfect for busy bakers who still want delicious homemade bread. If you’re looking for ways to use up sourdough discard right away, check out these same-day sourdough discard recipes.

How can sourdough bread be made in just one day?

Sourdough bread is often known for its long, multi-day process—but with the right techniques, you can enjoy freshly baked, naturally leavened bread in just one day! No commercial yeast required. These sourdough recipes rely entirely on the wild yeast and bacteria in your sourdough starter to get a beautiful rise.

The key to faster fermentation is temperature. The warmer your dough, the quicker it will proof. Aim to keep your dough between 75–80°F for optimal activity. Another trick to speed things up? Use more sourdough starter. For overnight recipes you typically use less starter like in my Overnight Sourdough Bread recipe to slow down the rise times but when you want to speed up the process you need to add more starter. This allows your dough to rise and bake the same day!

How to keep your dough warm for quicker rise times

During the summer, you may not have an issue keeping your dough at optimal temperature simply sitting on the counter. But if room temperature is not warm enough, there are some tricks to keep your dough warm. To keep the fermentation process moving along, you’ll want to keep the dough in a warm place such as near a fireplace, vent, or on top of the refrigerator. You can learn more about all of my tips to keep your dough warm here. 

To easily control the warmth, I highly recommend using a bread mat (use code country10 for 10% off) or proofing box. With these tools, you can set the exact temperature needed, so there is no need to guess. Another tool that is helpful to have is a meat or candy thermometer so you can take the exact temperature of the dough.

New to sourdough?

If you’re new to sourdough, I’ve got a few helpful resources to get you started! Learn how to make your own sourdough starter, how to feed and care for your starter, and find my favorite sourdough baking tools. Plus, get familiar with 35+ sourdough terms so you can sound like a pro in no time. 

If you’re ready to dive deeper, my Online Sourdough Course walks you through the entire process of making artisan bread at home—with flexible timelines, easy-to-follow recipes, clear explanations, and bonus resources like a private mentoring group, my eBook All Roads Lead to Sourdough, and a packet of my 100+ year old starter (USA only).