While sourdough starter might conjure images of crusty artisan loaves , that only scratches the surface of naturally leavened breads. Don’t stop at boules and baguettes; you can use your starter to make fluffy milk bread, chewy naan, airy doughnuts, and much more — check out our full lineup of recipes that take sourdough to unexpected places.

Photography by Patrick Marinello; food styling by Yekaterina Boytsova

Sourdough makes this focaccia just as big and bubbly as the original version.

1) Big and Bubbly Focaccia, Sourdough Edition

This spin on our 2025 Recipe of the Year swaps in sourdough for the yeast, resulting in a plush, dimply bread that is entirely naturally leavened.…