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Image illustrates a sourdough gnome bread.

Sourdough Gnome Bread

Turn your sourdough into a work of art with this whimsical gnome bread recipe! Perfect for beginners and seasoned bakers alike, this fun and creative recipe will guide you through shaping and baking a charming gnome-shaped loaf that’s as delicious as it is delightful. Perfect for holiday tables, gifts, or a unique baking project!
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Bulk Fermentation 8 hours
Total Time 9 hours
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

For the Sourdough

  • 1 cup sourdough starter, fed and bubbly
  • 1 cup warm water
  • 1 ½ tsp salt
  • 3 cups bread flour (plus extra for dusting)

For the Decorations

  • 1 large egg, whisked (for the egg wash)
  • 2 tbsp flour

Instructions
 

Preparing the Dough

  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the bread flour, sourdough starter, water, and salt. Mix until it forms a shaggy dough.
  • Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
  • Place the dough in a bowl, cover it with a damp cloth, and let it ferment for 6–8 hours (or overnight) at room temperature until doubled in size.
  • Place the dough that is ready for shaping onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Shaping the Gnome

  • Remove 3 small equal portions of the dough for the ball of the hat, his large nose, and the brim of his hat.
  • Carefully shape a cone hat at the top, leaving his body fat and round. To do this, squeeze a palm-sized portion into a cone with your hands at the top and try keeping his body fat and round.
  • Roll 2 of the small divided portions of the dough into a smooth ball, like making rolls, which is what they will be.
  • Using a bit of water, attach one of the balls to the top of his cone-shaped hat and the other to the middle of his face.
  • Take the last small divided portion and roll it out into a long flat rectangle that will fit over part of his nose and tuck behind his head. This will create the hat.

Decorating the Gnome

  • Brush the gnome with the egg wash and spritz the gnome with water and lightly dust it with flour.
  • Lightly dust the gnome with flour.
  • Lightly score the beard with faint squiggle lines down the body under his nose.
  • Do the same with part of the hat. Do not make the lines deep.

Baking the Sourdough Gnome

  • Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
  • Bake the gnome bread for 30 minutes or until golden brown and hollow-sounding when tapped.

Cooling the Gnome Bread

  • Allow the gnome bread to cool completely on a wire rack before serving. This charming loaf is sure to delight as a centerpiece or a tasty treat!