The Prayer Porch

Easy Guide to Gluten-Free Sourdough Starter

Written by

The Prayer Porch

in

There’s something so grounding about creating a sourdough starter from scratch – especially one that’s gluten-free and filled with the goodness of simple, wholesome grains. It’s one of those quiet kitchen rituals that reminds us how patient, slow work brings life and nourishment.

If you’ve been wanting to bake gluten-free sourdough at home, this little guide will walk you through those first seven days with ease and encouragement. The ingredients are humble, the process is simple, and by the end of the week you’ll have a lively, bubbly starter ready to bless your baking.

🌱 Ingredients

Choose one flour or mix a blend you enjoy:

  • Oat flour
  • Buckwheat flour
  • Brown or white rice flour
  • Sorghum flour

And:

  • Filtered water (this is important—chlorine can hinder wild yeast growth)

🥣 Day-by-Day Instructions

Day 1: Mix Flour & Water

  • Combine ¼ cup gluten-free flour with ¼ cup filtered water.
  • Stir vigorously, scraping down the sides.
  • Cover with a clean tea towel and let rest for 24 hours.

Day 2: Discard & Feed

  • Discard half of your starter.
  • Add ¼ cup flour + ¼ cup water.
  • Stir well and cover.
  • Rest for 24 hours.

Days 3, 4 & 5: Repeat the Daily Rhythm

  • Each day, discard half.
  • Feed with ¼ cup flour + ¼ cup water.
  • Cover and let rest another 24 hours.

Days 6 & 7: Increase Feeding to Every 12 Hours

  • Continue the same discard + feed routine, but now do it twice per day.
  • By Day 7, your gluten-free starter should be lively, bubbly, and ready to bake with.

📝 Notes & Helpful Tips

  • Gluten-free starters can take a little longer to get bubbly -especially if using buckwheat. Don’t lose heart! Consistency is key.
  • I personally like using oat flour and sorghum flour -they create a mild, pleasant starter.
  • Filtered water is best. Tap water with chlorine can slow or prevent the natural fermentation process.
  • Keep your starter somewhere warm (around 70–75°F if possible).

🍞 Helpful Tools for Gluten-Free Sourdough

Below are some tools I use and love. They make the sourdough process easier, cleaner, and more enjoyable.

✨ A Gentle Thought for the Journey

There’s such a tender reminder in sourdough: growth happens quietly, steadily, and often unseen. All we’re asked to do is show up with consistency and care, trusting something beautiful is forming beneath the surface.

May this little starter bring warmth to your kitchen and joy to your home.

Affiliate Disclosure

As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting The Prayer Porch and the work that goes into each post 🌿

More posts