Sourdough Workshops
Sorry, all 2024 courses now sold out.
2025 dates will be released in time for Christmas
"A sensational day and really help take my baking to another level! Super happy and never thought baking a loaf of bread could make me so happy!"
Eric
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"A really great day, wonderful tuition and made 3 amazing sourdoughs. Can’t wait to get baking at home. Thank you!!"
Matilda
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"Thank you for a fantastic day yesterday! Isabelle and I had a great time, in our first foray into baking bread. We had a brilliant group, with varying experiences, which made for very interesting conversations, meaning we've learnt so much already. So thank you again! "
Nik
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Sourdough Introductory Workshop
Learn how to make sourdough bread with Matthew Rideout, the Founder of Knead & Desire Bakehouse and winner of 6 awards at the biennial Tiptree World Bread Awards 2022.
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We started our courses in February 2022, running 8 courses through the year. All courses have sold out and we have been overjoyed with the amazing feedback and delighted to see how our students baking journey has progressed.
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In this fun full-day workshop which will take place in our new shop and bakery in centre of Hitchin, we will take you step-by-step through the whole process of making and baking y,our own sourdough loaf.
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We will start with an introduction to the theory behind the sourdough process, while you enjoy tea and coffee with freshly baked sourdough pastries, then it will be time to get your hands on dough. You will learn everything from creating and maintaining your own starter through to how to knead, shape and bake your bread. All the skills you will need (with a little practice!) to become a successful sourdough home baker.
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This workshop is ideal for both those starting their sourdough baking journey or those who want to learn more about how to make amazing sourdough bread.
During the day, you will make three different types of sourdough bread: our Table sourdough, 100% Wholemeal (Silver Award winner) and a 100% Rye with seeds.​
Each participant will create, from start to finish, the wholemeal and rye sourdoughs. They will also learn to score by baking off table sourdoughs made the day before. In addition, you will make the table sourdough during the day, shaping it at the end of the day so you can take it away with you to bake it at home the next morning. ​
In addition to all the bread you bake, you will go home with a course booklet and sourdough recipes, sourdough starter, banneton, dough scraper, lame and links to supporting videos and our WhatsApp group. So please bring a bag to carry all of your goodies home.​
You will be served freshly baked sourdough pastries with coffee or tea on arrival and a homemade seasonal lunch with freshly baked sourdough. Tea, coffee and water will be available through the day.
This full day workshop will take place in the Knead & Desire Bakehouse in our new shop and bakery in the centre of Hitchin (ample parking nearby).
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Classes are limited to 6 participants. Courses start at 9.30 and finish at approximately 4.30.
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Sourdough Classes
Booking and Cancellation Policy
Full payment is required in advance in order to secure your place
Cancellation and change of date - We appreciate that there will be circumstances where you may need to cancel your booking or change the date.
Please note that ordinarily bookings cannot be changed to another date within 14 days of the start of the workshop. Prior to this, bookings can be changed to another available date without charge. Bookings cancelled 14 days prior to the start of a workshop will be refunded. You are also welcome to send another person in your place instead and this does will not incur a fee. Please advise us of your replacement’s name and contact details as soon as possible.
Bookings cancelled within 14 days of the start of a course are not refundable or transferable to another date, unless we are able to refill your place. If we are able to do so we will give you a full refund, or you will be able to transfer to another date.
In the event of us needing to cancel a workshop we will give as much notice as possible and will offer you a place on an alternative date. If this workshop is not suitable for any reason then you will be refunded in full. Please note that we cannot accept responsibility for any third party costs you may have incurred in relation to the original workshop booking.