I’ve been building my sourdough baking skills over the last few years. I love exploring different cookbooks and techniques. With my own kitchen and baking tools, I’ve tried many sourdough recipes online. I’ve had fun creating classic loaves and trying new things.
“Artisan Sourdough Made Simple: A Beginner’s Guide to Delicious Handcrafted Bread with Minimal Kneading” by Emilie Raffa caught my attention. This cookbook came highly recommended. After reading many reviews, I wanted to share my honest thoughts with you all. The best cookbooks aren’t always the ones with the most advanced techniques. The best ones make sourdough accessible to everyone.
I decided to feature this book and my experience with it here on the blog. This review mixes book review, recipe review, and my own baking experience. I hope it starts fun conversations about sourdough baking and cookbooks.
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The best cookbooks aren’t the ones with the most advanced techniques—they’re the ones that make sourdough accessible to everyone. Simple directions and proven recipes turn beginners into confident bakers.
Experienced Home Baker
The Honest Truth About This Cookbook
Let me start with what you need to know: this is the perfect beginner-friendly book. If you’re looking for someone to hold your hand through learning to make sourdough, look no further than this cookbook. The directions are simple with no confusing lingo. Even someone brand new to sourdough can easily follow along.
One reviewer shared their experience: “One and a half months ago, I had no idea what sourdough was. And now I am baking bread on a daily basis for my family in pursuit of healthier, more digestible bread! I am new to baking so also very new to bread baking. After doing lots of research online, I plunged headfirst into creating my own starter. With the directions in this book and some troubleshooting also in this cookbook, I successfully created my starter and started baking sourdough loaves. Every single loaf I have made has been nothing short of amazing.”
I know this isn’t standard blog content. I’m not sure how this review will turn out. But with reading cookbooks and baking, half the fun is diving in to see where you go. I hope this review connects with some of you. If it doesn’t, I hope you enjoy the change in your sourdough reading.
Recipes I’ve Tested (And My Honest Thoughts)
I’ve been working my way through this cookbook. I wanted to share my experiences with the recipes I’ve tried so far. I won’t be sharing Emilie Raffa’s “secrets” on how to use ingredients. That doesn’t feel right to me. It’s also not important for this review. I will talk about the recipes throughout my discussions. I’ll share what worked for me.
Everyday Sourdough
Perfect for Beginners: This is the recipe that started it all for me. The directions are simple, clear, and easy to follow. Even if you’re brand new to sourdough, this recipe will guide you through the process step by step.
My Verdict: This recipe delivers exactly what it promises. It’s a simple, reliable everyday sourdough that’s perfect for beginners. The minimal kneading approach makes it less intimidating. The results are consistently good.
Fancy Sourdough
Leveling Up: Once you’ve mastered the everyday sourdough, this recipe takes things up a notch. It’s still beginner-friendly. But it introduces slightly more advanced techniques.
My Verdict: This recipe is perfect for when you want something a little more special. The techniques are still simple enough for beginners. But the results look impressive. It’s a great way to build confidence.
Sandwich Loaf
Family Favorite: This recipe creates a perfect sandwich loaf. It’s soft, flavorful, and holds up well to slicing. It’s become a staple in our household.
My Verdict: This is the recipe that gets the most use in our kitchen. It’s reliable and easy to make. The whole family loves it. The minimal kneading approach makes it less work than traditional sandwich loaves. But the results are just as good.
Garlic Knots
Fun and Flavorful: These garlic knots are a fun variation. They’re perfect for sharing. They’re easy to make and always a hit.
My Verdict: These are so much fun to make and eat! The recipe is simple. The results are delicious. They’re perfect for when you want something a little different from a regular loaf.
Crackers
Perfect for Snacking: These crackers are a great way to use sourdough discard. They’re crispy and flavorful. They’re perfect for snacking or serving with cheese.
My Verdict: This recipe is a great way to reduce waste and create something delicious. The crackers are easy to make and taste amazing. They’re perfect for when you want a quick snack.
What Makes This Book Special
Perfect for Beginners
The book is designed specifically for beginners. It has simple directions and no confusing lingo. Even if you’re brand new to sourdough, you can easily follow along. The troubleshooting section is particularly helpful. It addresses common issues you might encounter when creating your starter and baking your first loaves.
Beautiful Design and Practical Features
The book is well designed with beautiful photographs throughout. One feature stands out. It lays flat so you can look at it while cooking. This might seem like a small thing. But anyone who’s tried to prop open a cookbook while their hands are covered in flour knows how valuable this is.
The contents of recipes are included. So you can see all of the mouth-watering options you have to choose from before you even start baking.
Recipes That Actually Work
Every single recipe in this book has been tested and proven to work. From everyday sourdough to fancy sourdoughs, sandwich loaves, garlic knots, crackers, and more. All very simple and delicious recipes. One long-time user shared: “I purchased this cookbook two years ago and it is still the ONLY cookbook in my kitchen that has been worth the money spent on it. I have made MANY of the recipes. My family has gobbled up every single recipe I have tried.”
Why This Book Stands Out
Minimal Kneading Approach
As the subtitle suggests, this book focuses on minimal kneading techniques. This makes sourdough baking more accessible. It’s less intimidating for beginners. The recipes are designed to be achievable, even if you’re new to bread baking.
Family-Friendly Results
The results speak for themselves. One reviewer’s husband has actually said on many occasions, “Thank you so much for doing this for our family.” Almost every time a friend comes to their house, they walk out with this book in their Amazon cart. They are in heaven eating fresh bread and want to learn to make their own.
Long-Term Value
This isn’t a cookbook you’ll use once and then forget. After two years of use, one reviewer said they would buy this cookbook again a thousand times over. That’s the mark of a truly valuable cookbook. One that becomes a staple in your kitchen.
Who Should Buy This Book?
Perfect For:
- Complete beginners to sourdough baking
- Anyone looking for simple, no-nonsense directions
- Bakers who want recipes that work every time
- People seeking healthier, more digestible bread options
- Families who want to bake bread together
- Anyone who wants a cookbook that lays flat while cooking
Maybe Not For:
- Advanced bakers looking for complex techniques
- Those who enjoy extensive kneading and traditional methods
- Bakers who prefer cookbooks with more advanced recipes
Final Thoughts
“Artisan Sourdough Made Simple” is exactly what it promises to be. It’s a beginner’s guide that makes sourdough accessible. It’s the kind of cookbook that transforms complete beginners into confident bakers. The simple directions help a lot. The troubleshooting help is great. The proven recipes work well. It’s a valuable resource for anyone starting their sourdough journey.
If you’re ready to start your sourdough baking journey, this is the cookbook to get. It will hold your hand through the process. It’s the cookbook that turns “I had no idea what sourdough was” into “I’m baking bread on a daily basis for my family.”
The bottom line? This book delivers on its promise to make sourdough simple. It does it beautifully. It’s the kind of cookbook that becomes a kitchen staple. One you’ll reach for time and time again.
Ready to Try It?
If you want more information on “Artisan Sourdough Made Simple” or Emilie Raffa, visit her website and blog. It has lots of baking information and additional recipes. Or check it out on Amazon here.
Have you tried any recipes from this book? I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below! What recipes worked best for you? Any modifications you’d recommend?
This review is based on extensive research and user feedback from the cookbook. Your experience may vary based on your baking experience, equipment, and personal preferences. Always check current prices on Amazon before purchasing.