Ready to take your sourdough bread to the next level with new sourdough inclusion ideas?
From classics like jalapeño cheddar to unique combinations like blueberry lemon zest, this is your ultimate list of fun sourdough inclusion ideas.
Related: The Best Foolproof White Sourdough Bread Recipe
Savory Sourdough Inclusion Ideas
Ready for some savory sourdough inclusion ideas? We have cheese, peppers, veggies, seeds, and even bacon! Let’s get right into it.
Tip: Visit this Pinterest folder I made with tons of inclusion ideas and recipes for later.
1. Jalepeño Cheddar
Recipe suggestion: Jalapeño-Cheddar Sourdough Bread by Grant Bakes
One of the most classic sourdough inclusion combos is jalapeño cheddar. Whether you use fresh jalapeño or pickled is up to you – I’d say opinions are split 50/50. I’m on team pickled as I found it gave a much stronger flavor and spiciness.
You can also riff on this flavor combination by trying different cheeses and textures. I’ve made a jalapeño sriracha gouda loaf before that was divine.
I’ve also seen others do a combination of cubed and shredded cheese for a more even distribution. Experiment and find what you like!
2. Roasted Garlic and Rosemary
Recipe suggestion: Roasted Garlic Rosemary Sourdough by Amy Bakes Bread
Roasted garlic is insane on its own, but add it to a loaf of sourdough and toss in some rosemary and I’m in heaven.
A bread-dipping olive oil bowl is a must for this one.
3. Sun-dried Tomatoes and Feta
Recipe suggestion: Sun-dried Tomato and Goat Cheese Sourdough Bread Recipe (swap feta for goat cheese)
The sweetness of sun-dried tomatoes with the sharpness and saltiness of feta cheese is a flavor combo to die for. I love doing this combination on top of sourdough toast, but adding it into the actual bread and baking it off?
It’s literally the best bread I’ve ever made.
You could also sub in parmesan cheese or goat cheese for an insanely delicious combination.
Related: Sun-dried Tomato and Goat Cheese Sourdough Bread Recipe
4. French Onion Soup
Recipe suggestion: French Onion Soup Sourdough by Taylor Likes
Can you imagine having French onion soup with a slice of French onion sourdough bread? I don’t think I need to say anything more than that.
Well, actually I do. If it has caramelized onions in it, I’m sold.
5. Seed Mix
Recipe suggestion: Seeded Sourdough by The Perfect Loaf
Adding seeds to your sourdough is a great way to get extra health benefits, and OMG, these sourdough loaves are gorgeous.
You can experiment with all kinds of different nuts, including walnuts, raw or toasted pecans, pistachios, pine nuts, slivered almonds, shelled pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, or hemp seeds.
6. Sharp White Cheddar and Dill
Recipe suggestion: Sourdough Cheddar Dill Bread by Boston Girl Bakes
I saw a dill pickle sourdough bread recipe on TikTok, and I’ve been thinking about it daily since then. Chop up some sharp white cheddar cheese and toss in some fresh dill for a truly delicious combination.
You can also swap out some of the water for dill pickle juice. I’ve done that before while adding some caraway seeds for an incredibly good rye bread, which is perfect for Reubens.
7. Calabrian Chili and Honey
Recipe suggestion: Calabrian Chili and Honey Sourdough Bread by Sourdough Brandon
This combination is super unique but there’s just something about sweet and spicy that has my mouth watering. It’s definitely at the top of my list for inclusions to try next.
8. Fresh Herbs
Recipe suggestion: Herbed Open Crumb Sourdough Bread by Bake with Paws
You can keep your inclusions super simple by adding a combination of fresh herbs. If you have an herb garden, this would be so quick and easy! Some popular ideas include sage, thyme, oregano, and rosemary.
9. Olives and Parmesan
Recipe suggestion: Olive Parmesan Artisan Sourdough Bread Recipe
My mother-in-law is a big fan of olive bread, so this is an add-in I do quite often. Do a mix of green and purple olives, and toss in some shaved parmesan for extra oomph.
The result is a briney, sour, savory bread that’s perfect for dipping in a spiced olive oil.
10. Pizza
Recipe suggestion: Sourdough Pizza Bread by Twelve on Main
Turn a loaf of sourdough into a pizza lookalike! Add in some Italian seasoning – go heavy on the oregano – pizza sauce, and mozzarella cheese for a pizza-inspired boule.
You can get creative and throw in some pepperoni or veggies, too.
11. Pesto Mozzarella
Recipe suggestion: Pesto Mozzarella Sourdough Loaf by Acts of Sourdough
Pesto mozzarella is a classic combo I’ve always loved on flatbread, so why not put it inside your sourdough bread?
You’ll definitely want to measure this one to ensure there’s not too much moisture from the pesto. This recipe from Acts of Sourdough is a good one.
12. Asiago and Rosemary
Recipe suggestion: Asiago and Rosemary Italian Artisan Sourdough Loaf by Cup of Sugar Pinch of Salt
Asiago bagels are my favorites, so again – why not do it to your loaf of sourdough? Add some rosemary for a flavor combo that’s off the chain.
Make sure to sprinkle some extra asiago on top of your dough before baking for that crunchy, gorgeous crust.
13. Everything But the Bagel Seasoning
Recipe suggestion: Everything Bagel Sourdough Bread by Two Pink Peonies
A lot of people add basic spices to their sourdough to kick it up a notch, but I counter that with Everything But the Bagel Seasoning. If you think it sounds weird, add it to your next loaf. It’s *chef’s kiss.*
I recently did a loaf of jalapeño, sriracha gouda, and jalapeño everything but the bagel seasoning, and OMG it is to die for.
14. White and Black Sesame Seeds
Recipe suggestion: Sesame Seed Sourdough by Baking with Butter
White and black sesame seeds are a beautiful combination. If you want an Insta-worthy pic of your sourdough era, this is definitely an inclusion to try.
Plus, sesame seeds include tons of key nutrients like calcium, potassium, copper, iron, and manganese.
15. Roasted Potato, Rosemary, Garlic, Parmesan
Recipe suggestion: Roasted Potato Sourdough with Garlic & Rosemary by Southern Highlands Home Brew
I’ve seen a lot of focaccia with a roasted potato situation on top, but it’s rare to see a loaf of sourdough bread with it. And I say to that: why not?
Try adding roasted potato, rosemary, garlic, and parmesan cheese to your next loaf and let me know how long it lasts in your house…
16. Green Chile and Gruyere
Recipe suggestion: Green Chile + Gruyere Sourdough by Alegre Bread
Ohhh my goodness, does this combination sound heavenly. Green chiles are pretty mild in their spiciness, so it won’t knock you over if you’re sensitive to spicy foods.
And gruyere cheese is the perfect addition for a nutty flavor and creamy texture.
Recipe You Might Like: Sourdough Discard Hamburger Slider Buns
17. Spinach and Artichoke
Recipe suggestion: Artichoke and Parmesan Sourdough by Siamese Sourdough
Add canned artichokes, shredded parmesan cheese, and fresh spinach leaves to your sourdough bread, and you have a heavenly spinach artichoke sourdough loaf!
18. Bacon
Recipe suggestion: Sourdough Farm Bread with Pepper and Bacon by Make It Like a Man!
Last but not least: bacon! Need I say more?
You can add more complexity to this one by throwing in some diced cheese, bleu cheese, jalapeño, or seasonings. I even saw a combo on Pinterest of bacon, smoked gouda, and hatch green chile.
Yum!
19. Cheddar Bacon Ranch
Recipe suggestion: Cheddar Bacon Ranch Sourdough Focaccia by Country Roads Sourdough
What’s not to love about a cheddar bacon ranch flavor combination?!
I haven’t actually seen a recipe for an artisan sourdough loaf, but here’s one for a focaccia bread. I’ll work on getting my own recipe up, because I’ve been dying to make this flavor bomb!
20. Caprese
Recipe suggestion: Caprese Salad Sourdough by Hercules Noble Food
Caprese salad is one of my all-time favorite appetizers, so when I saw hercules_noble_food turn it into a sourdough boule on Instagram, I got very excited.
It looks delicious. Seriously, go watch his video – I think you’ll agree!
21. Flamin’ Hot
Recipe suggestion: Flamin’ Hot Sourdough Loaf by Craving Nomz
I may not be able to get behind some of the inclusion ideas on the blog Craving Nomz (hard pass on the spam fried rice sourdough loaf), but flamin’ hot chips? Yeah, I can get behind that.
Is it a staple recipe? Nah, probably not. But an interesting way to use the crumbs at the bottom of your chip bag? Top tier.
22. Sun-dried Tomato and Capers
Recipe suggestion: Sun-Dried Tomato Sourdough Bread with Capers by Sourdough Brandon
This recipe gets a lot of respect from me, because these ingredients can be difficult to work with. Capers are salty for one, requiring you to adjust the amount of salt you add to your dough.
And sun-dried tomatoes pose the challenge of oiled or dried, each imparting its own benefits and challenges. I’m personally a fan of the oil-packed variety, but I can see why Brandon chose the dried version here.
Check out his recipe – he has lots of great tips!
Sweet Sourdough Inclusion Ideas
Ready to hit that sweet spot? Try some sweet sourdough bread recipes.
You don’t have to go all out on a chocolate noir sourdough loaf – you can dip your toes in with a classic cinnamon swirl or blueberry lemon zest loaf.
23. Brown Sugar and Cinnamon (Cinnamon Swirl)
Update: Since publishing this article, I’ve come to the conclusion that a brown sugar and cinnamon artisan loaf is a hard pass. I much prefer this inclusion combination in a sandwich-style loaf. You can roll it up, get a beautiful swirl, and deal with zero leakage. This is my favorite recipe from The Clever Carrot.
The most popular sweet sourdough inclusion is definitely the cinnamon swirl. This is a simple combination of brown sugar and cinnamon.
Here’s a TikTok video I made showing the best part!
I’d also argue it’s the hardest inclusion to add since the brown sugar will start liquefying, leaving you cursing the fact that you ever wanted to start making sourdough in the first place.
Please refer back to my how-tos and tips at the top of this post. It’s not impossible, but it requires a little practice. And even if it doesn’t look perfect when it’s baked off? I promise it’ll still be delicious.
24. Cinnamon Raisin
Recipe suggestion: Cinnamon Raisin Sourdough by Poetry & Pies
Cinnamon raisin is a slight variation from the cinnamon swirl, and it’s also delicious!
Most recipes tell you to rehydrate the raisins in hot water before adding to ensure they don’t soak up too much water from your dough.
25. Blueberry Lemon Zest
Recipe suggestion: Maple Blueberry & Sweet Lemon Zest Sourdough Bread Recipe by The Pantry Mama
I’ve made a blueberry lemon zest loaf before and wasn’t a huge fan, but it’s definitely a very popular add-in option. Give a try and let me know how it goes!
26. Chocolate Chips
Recipe suggestion: Chocolate Chip Sourdough Bread by Bless This Mess Please
My kids will eat anything if it has chocolate chips in it, I swear. It’s really that simple – just add some chocolate chips during your second set of stretch and folds, and that’s it!
Since there’s no added sugar, like brown sugar or honey, you don’t have to worry about leakage. This is definitely one of the easiest sourdough inclusion ideas on this list!
27. Double Chocolate Strawberry
Recipe suggestion: Double Chocolate Country Bread with Strawberries by The Sourdough Baker
Chocolate sourdough is something I have yet to try, but my god, the photos are stunning. Chocolate strawberry is a delicious flavor combo, so this is firmly on my to-do list.
28. Maple Pecan Cinnamon
Recipe suggestion: Sourdough Cinnamon Bread with Maple and Pecans by Cultured Guru
I love a little maple pecan cinnamon moment!
This is such a warm, cozy flavor combination.
29. Pumpkin Spice and Cranberries
Recipe suggestion: Pumpkin Sourdough Bread by Crave the Good
What better sourdough inclusion combo for autumn than pumpkin spice and cranberry? I’m stopping at Starbucks after this bake for a pumpkin spice latte.
30. Poppy Seed and Lemon Zest
Recipe suggestion: Lemon Poppy Seed Sourdough Bread by Zesty South Indian Kitchen
Lemon poppy seed muffins are my all-time favorite, so I’m honestly shocked that I never thought to try it with sourdough bread.
I will say this combo wasn’t my favorite, but it adds a little hint of nuttiness and citrus, which is pleasant.
31. Raspberry Cheesecake
Recipe suggestion: Raspberry Cheesecake Sourdough Bread by Twelve on Main
The inclusions for a raspberry cheesecake flavor combo are raspberries, cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract. This recipe from Twelve on Main will walk you through how to do it.
32. Honey and Oats
Recipe suggestion: Honey & Oat Sourdough Loaf by Nordik Kitchen Stories
A very breakfast-y flavor combination is honey and old-fashioned oats. Sprinkling more oats on top before baking also gives you a beautiful loaf, primed for photos!
33. London Fog
Recipe suggestion: The London Fog Sourdough Loaf by H3art of the Home
London Fog sourdough bread uses Earl Grey tea (the Instagram account that posted this idea recommends Republic of Tea’s Earl Greyer Vanilla). Simply replace the water in your regular sourdough bread recipe with that steeped tea.
Add in some white chocolate chunks to get a touch of sweetness.
34. White Chocolate Strawberry
Recipe suggestion: Strawberry white chocolate sourdough bread by Liza’s Farmhouse
White chocolate strawberry is a gorgeous combination. I’ve even seen some people add basil in there, which is right up my alley!
White chocolate chips and freeze-dried strawberries are your best bet here.
You could also omit the fruit altogether and enjoy some white chocolate sourdough bread.
35. Fig and Walnut
Recipe suggestion: Fig and Walnut Sourdough by Susan Ried, published at King Arthur Baking Company
Fig and walnut is a fun Christmastime sourdough bread idea. I love the combination of fruity and nutty! It also pairs beautifully with fancy cheese.
36. S’mores
Recipe suggestion: S’mores Sourdough Bread by Country Roads Sourdough
Marshmallows, chocolate, and crushed graham crackers, somehow packed into a sourdough loaf? Um, yes.
This is the perfect autumn dessert recipe for your sourdough enthusiast.
37. Gingerbread
Recipe suggestion: Sourdough Gingerbread Loaf by Amy Bakes Bread
What better way for a sourdough baker to make their home smell like Christmas than to bake a sourdough gingerbread loaf?!
This recipe from Amy Bakes Bread looks divine. She never disappoints.
38. Orange Cranberry
Recipe suggestion: Cranberry Orange Sourdough Bread Recipe by Heart’s Content Farmhouse
Orange cranberry is another perfect autumn sourdough combo. For this one, you’ll want to use orange zest and dried cranberries that you’ve soaked in hot water before you add it to your dough.
39. Chocolate Cherry
Recipe suggestion: Chocolate Cherry Sourdough Bread by Lemons + Anchovies
I’m personally not a huge fan of the chocolate cherry combo, but if you are, you can totally make it sourdough!
40. Blueberry Goat Cheese
Recipe suggestion: Blueberry Goat Cheese Sourdough Loaf by Acts of Sourdough
Blueberry and goat cheese sounds like a heavenly breakfast toast topping, so why wouldn’t it also be amazing baked into the bread? This is so on my list of sourdough inclusion ideas to try.
41. Apple Cinnamon Swirl
Recipe suggestion: Cinnamon Sourdough Apple Bread Recipe with Starter by Little House on Laurel
Apple cinnamon swirl is a kid-favorite, for sure! This inclusion combination is also often referred to as Apple Pie sourdough, and it’s slightly more involved than just tossing in your inclusions.
You’ll need to actually make the filling (diced granny smith apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon zest, and brown sugar) before you can add it to your laminated dough.
42. Chocolate Raspberry
Recipe suggestion: Chocolate Chunk Raspberry Sourdough Bread by Jesha’s
Chocolate raspberry – another fun combination that I dare say is ideal for Valentine’s Day. Just like the chocolate strawberry combo, you’ll want to use freeze-dried raspberries here. This recipe is useful.
43. Chocolate Espresso
Recipe suggestion: Double Chocolate Espresso Sourdough Bread Recipe by Simplicity and a Starter
I love chocolate cake recipes that include some form of espresso or coffee, so I’m all in on the chocolate espresso sourdough bread concept.
This is the recipe I followed, and it turned out amazing! The bread doesn’t turn out too sweet – it’s rich and complex. Yum.
44. Maple Blueberry and Sweet Lemon Zest
Recipe suggestion: Maple Blueberry & Sweet Lemon Zest Sourdough Bread Recipe by The Pantry Mama
Pantry Mama wrote a recipe for maple blueberry and sweet (brown sugar) lemon zest, and I really appreciate her attention to detail.
She has you cook the maple syrup and blueberry together, which I never would have thought to do. She also mixes the brown sugar and lemon zest before adding to the dough, which helps the sugar emulsify. Genius!
45. Blueberry and Cinnamon Sugar
Recipe suggestion: Blueberry + Cinnamon Sugar Sourdough Loaf by Acts of Sourdough
Blueberry and cinnamon sugar is a fun twist on the classic cinnamon raisin. Give it a try and see how you like it!
46. Orange Vanilla
I haven’t written a proper recipe for this, but I experimented with the orange vanilla flavor combination a while back and really enjoyed it!
For this one, you adjust the amount of water you use in your bread dough and add in some fresh orange juice. I also recommend throwing in a little maple syrup when you first mix the dough – I added it as an inclusion and it was pretty messy!
Here was my recipe:
- 1000g bread flour
- 150g fresh orange juice
- 510g water
- 150g starter
- 20g salt
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- Scrape out the inside of a vanilla bean pod
- Zest of one orange
Add some orange zest during shaping for tons of extra flavor.
If you want to see my videos about this flavor combo, here they are:
47. Cookies and Cream
Recipe suggestion: Cookies and cream sourdough by Jamie Salvage
Crush up some Oreos for a fun cookies and cream sourdough loaf!
I love when members of the sourdough community share their unique creations on Facebook. If you’re not a member of Sourdough Geeks yet (where this idea was shared), definitely join!
48. Honey Lavender
Recipe suggestion: Honey lavender sourdough by cookim_mama
Honey lavender is definitely a unique flavor combo for a sourdough bread recipe, but I image it’s very fragrant and tea-like. I want to try it so bad!
49. Strawberries and Cream Cheese
Recipe suggestion: Strawberries ‘n Cream Sourdough by Acts of Sourdough
I’m a firm believer that cream cheese makes anything better, and this sourdough inclusion idea is no exception.
Freeze-dried strawberries ensure the hydration of the loaf doesn’t get wonky!
50. Honey Pistachio
I saw a local baker selling this flavor combination and my mouth started watering.
Unfortunately, I can’t find any artisan sourdough loaf recipes featuring this combo, but there is a Babka version by Patbread.
It includes some instant yeast, which I’m not a fan of – I’d rather use a stiff, sweet starter if the goal is to minimize the sour flavor.
I’ll work on a recipe for this flavor combo, but in the meantime, I’ll keep fantasizing…
51. Cookie Butter
Recipe suggestion: Use your favorite sourdough bread recipe and slather it on during shaping – watch levandesourdough do it in this TikTok video!
I’ve never actually tried cookie butter before, but the general consensus is Trader Joe’s makes a mean one.
Just slather this stuff on during shaping, and enjoy a delicious dessert loaf!
When to Add Inclusions to Sourdough
There are different schools of thought about when to add inclusions to sourdough. Some people prefer to add them during stretch and folds, and others prefer the laminating stage.
I’ve found that the best timing depends on the type of inclusions you’re adding.
When to Add Savory Inclusions
Savory inclusions timing: for inclusions that aren’t adding extra sugar, I’ve found it’s best to add them during the second set of stretch and folds. It doesn’t mess with the texture or bulk fermentation process, and the flavors really sink into your bread.
When to Add Sweet Inclusions
Sweet inclusions timing: for inclusions that introduce added sugar – particularly honey or sugar – it’s best to wait until the bulk fermentation is finished. I add these inclusions during the lamination process, or when you stretch your dough ball out into a rectangle before shaping it into a boule or batard.
How to Add Inclusions to Sourdough
Once again, savory inclusions are so easy to work with.
How to Add Savory Inclusions
To add them to your dough, simply dump it into your bowl of dough during the second set of stretch and folds.
Stretch and fold your dough to start distributing those inclusions. You’ll do two more sets and stretch and folds and then wait until your bulk fermentation is finished to shape. Proceed like normal!
How to Add Sweet Inclusions
Sweet inclusions are a lot harder to master.
Anyone who’s done a classic cinnamon swirl loaf knows that the liquified sugar is bound to leak out, causing a mess in your banneton and potential burning on the bottom of your loaf.
Shaping a dough ball that’s leaking sugar everywhere is also quite maddening!
I personally haven’t truly mastered a leak-proof sweet loaf, but I’ve seen a lot of hacks online that I’ll share here for you to try.
1. Unique Laminating Technique
This unique laminating technique shows the baker adding honey, cheese, and jalapeños to the dough (definitely one of those sourdough inclusion ideas I want to try next!).
She then folds up the dough to the center instead of the classic roll-up method. This helps keep the contents from spilling out.
2. Cover Dough In More Dough
I cannot find the video for the life of me, but to prevent leaking, add your inclusions like normal and roll up your loaf into a boule or batard.
Then, take more laminated dough, sans inclusions, and place your dough ball in the middle of it. Wrap the laminated dough around your sugar-filled dough ball, and you shouldn’t have any seepage.
3. Leave Borders and Tuck In When Rolling Up
Last but not least, this TikTok video was super helpful to see. Haley is very particular about her cinnamon sugar placement, and she does very careful rolling.
Definitely bookmarking that one for later.
5 Quick Sourdough Inclusions Hacks
Before we get to the inclusion ideas, here are some hacks I’ve learned along the way that may help you achieve better add-in success.
Hack 1: Start with dicing your ingredients smaller until you feel confident with inclusions. Then, you can move your way up to bigger cubes, which are a little harder to work with.
Hack 2: Spray your countertop and hands with water before laminating your dough and adding your inclusions. It stops the sticking. You can see how this is done in this TikTok video.
Hack 3: Try adding a little bread flour to sugar add-ins. It helps the sugar stay in place and may prevent the liquified sugar from seeping out as it absorbs some of the liquid.
Hack 4: For sweet inclusions, the sugar will probably liquify and seep out of your dough. Make sure your banneton is prepared for this so it doesn’t get ruined. Some people swear by silicone bannetons, which can be washed in the dishwasher. At a minimum, I usually put parchment paper beneath the dough.
Hack 5: The general rule of thumb is inclusions should account for about 20% of your dough’s total weight. I never measure this stuff, personally. But if you were baking two loaves of bread, the total dough weight would be something like 1,830 grams. Your inclusions would then ideally be about 366 grams, or 183 grams per loaf.
Conclusion
I hope these sourdough inclusion ideas and add-ins inspire you to try something new with your bread.
Flavor combinations like jalapeño cheddar or olives and parmesan will definitely level up your sourdough game! Enjoy!
Read Next: My Favorite Sourdough Recipes Collection
Thank you for your tips! Can’t wait to try them all!
Woohoo!
Thanks for the shoutout on my bacon sourdough! And thanks for all these other interesting breads!
Definitely! I tried to contact you asking for permission to include your photo – now that I’ve got you here, would you mind if I added that?