13 starter recipes

Brandy-fermented friendship cake made with a homemade fruit starter of pineapple, peaches, and maraschino cherries. A beloved sharing tradition where each batch creates starters for friends.

Herman wheat and honey starter: a 5-day yeast-based friendship starter made with whole wheat flour, milk, and honey. Classic American bread-sharing tradition.

Rye sourdough starter made the old Jewish bakery way: rye flour, water, a packet of yeast, and a halved onion that pulls in the wild flavor for classic deli-style rye bread.

Friendship fruit starter ferments pineapple, peaches, apricots, and cherries in brandy and sugar for three weeks. A boozy heirloom base for cakes, ice cream, or gifting.

Simple sourdough starter made with unbleached all-purpose flour and warm milk instead of water. A two-ingredient base for homemade sourdough bread.

This was the sourest sourdough I'd ever eaten but it was to die for.

This simple sourdough starter recipe is easy to understand and is stress free!

Potato sourdough starter made with active dry yeast, flour, sugar, and raw potato in a crock. Feeds daily and improves with age for tangy, robust sourdough bread.

Milk-based sourdough starter using just flour and warm milk. A two-ingredient pioneer-style starter that ferments into a tangy base for biscuits, pancakes, and rustic loaves.

Sturdy gingerbread house dough made with shortening, dark corn syrup, and warming spices. Holds its shape for construction. The classic holiday project base.

No-starter friendship Bundt cake with brandied fruit, coconut, dates, and a hit of orange and walnut extracts. The classic friendship cake without the 30-day countdown.

Mix flour, salt, sugar, and starchy potato water in a crock, then let wild yeasts work their magic over several days for a rustic sourdough starter with earthy depth.

Rye bread sourdough starter with an onion twist, ready in 48 hours. Rye flour, yeast, water, and a halved onion develop a pleasingly sour, beery aroma for bread baking.