Last Holiday season, Martha’s enthusiastic recommendation of Kim and Char Simmerman’s “Sourdough Baking: Holiday Edition” piqued my interest. As a sourdough enthusiast always eager to expand my baking repertoire, I couldn’t resist the allure of over 40 festive recipes from the talented Two Sour Sisters.
In their introduction to this recipe book, the two explain that the cookbook “is loaded with our tried and true sourdough recipes, but also hints at memories of our Christmases in the past and gives a peek into our traditions as we try to make the holidays a celebration of what really matters most.”
Their promise of mouthwatering sourdough creations, beautifully captured in stunning photographs, sealed the deal. I knew this cookbook would be my go-to guide for holiday baking this year, inspiring me to create delicious treats that would impress family and friends alike.
A Festive Feast for Sourdough Lovers
Sourdough Baking: Holiday Edition by Kim and Char Simmerman, the dynamic duo behind Two Sour Sisters, is a delightful addition to any baker’s library. This beautifully crafted cookbook takes the reader on a festive journey through the world of sourdough, offering a collection of holiday-inspired recipes that are both approachable and impressive.
The book is divided into sections, and each sister explains why she bakes with sourdough. Char, for example, explains how she felt lonely after several family moves. She decided to share her know-how by opening her home to classes since she had just learned to make sourdough bread before moving.
She explained, “Somehow, this tiny skill I had learned a year before became part of my identity. I was the ‘Sourdough Girl.’ I found some of my dearest friends in those classes I taught.”
Char’s Connection Principles
of Sourdough Baking
Share one—Keep one—Since her recipe makes two 2-pound boules, it was natural for her to write, “Sourdough dough is created to be shared.”
Bless your Bread—She explains that it takes time to make REAL Sourdough bread. “…say a blessing on your bread that each person [who] eats a slice will feel your love and energy.”
Kim’s Connection Principle is Time.
She explains that tending a starter and baking REAL Sourdough Bread has given her “home one of the greatest gifts [she] could imagine: time. In the end, that’s what sourdough is all about… It’s about preserving time. [And] if you lose your time baking for others, you somehow find it. It will be time you will never regret having spent.”
This Book is Packed with Holiday Recipes and More
Covering various holiday celebrations, from Thanksgiving to Christmas, their recipe book includes clear instructions, stunning photographs, and helpful tips. Whether you’re a seasoned sourdough baker or a beginner, you’ll find something to inspire you.
Holiday Cinnamon Roll Recipe
The sisters write: “Move over, Cinnabon, you have NOTHING on homemade sourdough cinnamon rolls!!! I made these this weekend for my son’s baptism; no one can believe they were made with sourdough—super chewy and soft texture.”
Ingredients
-200 g or one cup active sourdough starter
-150 g or 3/4 cup milk
– One large egg
-110 g or 1/2 cup of softened butter
– 450 g or 3 cups all-purpose flour
-150 g or half a cup of sugar
– 1 1/2 tsp salt
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Filling
-3/4 cup brown sugar packed
-1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
-1 tablespoon. Cinnamon.
-1 tablespoon melted butter
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Frosting
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup (1 cube) butter, softened
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 tsp vanilla
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Directions
1. In a bowl, combine the dry ingredients: flour, salt, and sugar. Add the wet ingredients: sourdough start, milk, and egg. Mix until the dough has formed a smooth softball.
2. Cover and let rest on the counter for 8 to 14 hours.
3. Turn the dough onto a lightly greased or floured work surface and gently deflate it, patting or rolling it into an approximately 12 x 20“ rectangle. This measurement does not need to be exact.
4. Combine the ingredients in a medium bowl. The texture will be like wet sand.
5. Spread the filling over the dough, leaving half an inch of exposed dough around the edges.
6. Roll the dough into a log, starting with the short edge.
7. Cut the log into 12, 1-1 1/2 inch slices and place them on a lightly greased 9 x 13“ pan. Cover the pan and let the buns rise until they’re puffy, 2 to 3 hours.
8. Bake at 400° for 20-25 minutes, until golden. Watch them carefully for the last five minutes because some ovens cook harder than others.
9. The rolls are baked, so stir the frosting ingredients in a medium bowl. Allow the rolls to cool to room temperature before frosting.
Recipes and More
They also offer readers information on the benefits of sourdough, a glossary of their baking terms, how to care for a starter, the science of sourdough, and why you need a kitchen scale. Following those chapters, they dive into the “12 Days of Sourdough” and recipes for breakfast, main bites, desserts, gifting ideas, time-saving tips, and tools.
The book’s second section features the sisters’ warm and inviting personal anecdotes and family traditions, making their recipes feel like cherished heirlooms.
This cookbook has classic favorites like sourdough bread and rolls and more adventurous creations like cranberry orange scones and gingerbread cookies. The recipes are well-tested and produce consistently delicious results.
If you want to elevate your holiday baking game and embrace the joy of sourdough, Sourdough Baking: Holiday Edition is the perfect companion. It’s a must-have for any sourdough enthusiast and will become a treasured part of your holiday baking traditions.
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