Did you know you can use apple in your sourdough starter?

Apple is not actually a necessary ingredient in a sourdough starter, however you can use it to impart a different flavour to your starter.

Similar to a chocolate sourdough starter, you can use your already established sourdough starter to create an apple sourdough starter.

You can then use this flavoured sourdough starter in lots of different recipes to give them a different flavour profile.

How To Make An Apple Sourdough Starter

If you already have an established sourdough starter, making an apple sourdough starter is really easy!

You will need to use your already established sourdough starter to get the apple starter going.

Using a small portion of your sourdough starter, feed it with 2 portions of apple juice and 2 portions of flour.

You'll find the exact measurements in the recipe below.

What Type of Apples To Use

You can use whatever apple or apple juice you have on hand, however I would recommend using the best quality apple juice you can afford.

Ideally, use a cold pressed apple juice that contains no additives. If you use a highly processed apple juice, this will then be a part of your starter.

You could also use grated apple if you don't have any apple juice on hand. You may need to add a little water to the starter if you're using grated apple because it won't be as liquid as juice.

What Does Apple Do To Sourdough Starter

There are many people that recommend using apple to get your sourdough starter going. While you can use it, it is not necessary.

Flour and water are all you need to establish a strong and robust sourdough starter.

Using apple - whether grated or juice - will ultimately change the composition of your sourdough starter. Because of this, I recommend you just use a portion of your established starter to experiment with this.

Always leave your "mother" as your base so you have something to fall back on. You may also like to dehydrate some starter as an extra back up.

The sugar in the apple or apple juice will give the yeast a lovely boost and the different yeasts and conditions will change the strain of bacteria in your starter.

Why Use Apple In A Sourdough Starter?

Now given that you really don't need apple to make sourdough starter, you might wonder why you would even bother to create an apple sourdough starter?

Well, I promise you that the smell alone is well worth it! The sweet, fermented aroma of an apple sourdough starter is just the best.

Much like this chocolate sourdough starter, you can use an apple sourdough starter to impart a different flavor profile to your bakes.

Whether you want to enhance the apple flavor of an apple sourdough bread or cake, or just give your classic sourdough bread a new twist, it's well worth it to experiment.

Here are some recipes that you can use your apple sourdough starter in:

Sourdough Apple Cake
Sourdough Granola (also Apple & Cinnamon Sourdough Granola variation)
Apple & Cinnamon Muffins
Honey & Oat Sourdough Bread
Sourdough Oatmeal Bread
Sourdough Apple Pie

Apple Sourdough Starter Recipe

Easy instructions for creating an apple sourdough starter to use in your sourdough baking. Use the apple sourdough starter for apple and non apple recipes for an unusual twist.

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Prep Time 10

Total Time 8 10

Servings Jar of Starter

Calories 92 kcal

Print Recipe

Equipment

Clean Jar
Digital Scales

Ingredients

▢ 50 g Apple Juice organic, no additives if possible
▢ 50 g Flour (All Purpose, Rye, Bread, Whole Wheat - whatever you want to feed your starter)
▢ 25 g Sourdough Starter Established

Instructions

Use a scale for accuracy. Combine all ingredients into a clean, wide mouth jar. Stir vigorously until it forms a smooth paste.
Cover your apple starter with a paper towel secured with an elastic band or a loose fitting lid and set aside to allow fermentation to occur.
If it seems slow, give it a stir after a few hours. It should double within 10 hours (as long as you've used an established sourdough starter).
Use your apple sourdough starter in your favorite sourdough recipe.
You can continue to feed your apple sourdough starter using the measurements above. It's up to you whether you just build this starter when you require it - or double the mixture and use half and put half in the fridge. You can then just take it out and feed it as you need it.