12 Simple Sourdough Scoring Designs for Batards (Oblong Loaves)

This scoring design is stunning, and it’s so much easier than it looks!

I added some wheat stalks in the strips, but you could do anything you want.

If I got it right on the first try (and I’m no good at scoring), then you can, too.

The single middle slash is classically gorgeous and ultra-functional.

You get a nice even expansion of the dough in the center, making perfectly shaped sandwich slices.

Does it have intricate little wheat patterns and fancy scoring designs? No. But its beauty is in its simplicity.

Ahh, the beloved side slash with wheat stalk. This was my go-to from the beginning.

You can play around with how large your wheat stalk is, how many spikes there are, perhaps you’ll even live on the edge and throw in a second one!

It’s pretty basic, but it’s easy to do, and if you angle your blade, you can achieve a nice ear.

I saw Muscle Momma Sourdough do this design and had to give it a go for myself! It is so much easier than it looks.

I did this at my parent’s house during Thanksgiving and everyone’s jaw dropped at how gorgeous it turned out.

A squiggle can be a fun alternative to a straight score down the center.

It also gives you areas to add decorations if you’re feeling fancy.

I love this checkerboard pattern (perfect for a picnic!), though I do need a second go at it.

To get a better, more even result, I should have done a much deeper score down the center. The loaf would have bloomed up in the middle and the checkerboard pattern would look a lot cleaner on the two sides.

I love these angled slashes – the dough expands nicely and it seems to look more elongated (is that just me?).

It also gives you some strips to decorate (see #1 for decoration ideas using this concept as a template).

The chevron score is so unique! Most scoring design ideas have wheat stalks in them as the main decoration, but this one uses a fun zig-zag pattern.

It really stands out!

I saw Sarah Does Sourdough show off this cute, simple scoring design and had to try it!

The loaf pictured was scored around 4am (for teacher Christmas gifts), so I didn’t get proper footage of it.

But it was very easy, and I didn’t even use twine to map out the design (I will next time).

The zebra stripe design is simple and a nice departure from the typical wheat stalk designs.

Use your bread lame to score slightly wavy lines from the top to the bottom of the loaf. The more imperfect, the better.

I probably could’ve been even more relaxed with my own scoring on this one. So easy!

Christmas trees are such a fun design to do around the holidays. I clearly should’ve scored a bit deeper since a few of my trees exploded, but this design is easier than it looks.

Use kitchen twine to map out your zigzag. Score the zigzag lines; then use tiny scissors to snip the branches into the sides.

Photo & Idea Credit: Basil & Bloom

This is a design idea I have yet to try as I don’t own any doilies. But Basil & Bloom (one of my favorite sourdough education accounts) talks about how easy this scoring idea is. Watch his simple tutorial here.

He self-admittedly isn’t good at scoring (same here), and swears that if he can do this, so can you.