Sourdough Bread Bowls

🥖✨ Sourdough Bread Bowls — The Coziest Way to Serve Soup

Crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and perfect for holding your favorite soup — these homemade sourdough bread bowls are basically edible hugs!

There’s something magical about food that doubles as both the dish and the meal. Enter the sourdough bread bowl: rustic, hearty, and oh‑so‑charming. It’s the kind of recipe that makes even a simple soup night feel like a restaurant experience. The crusty exterior holds up beautifully to creamy chowders, cheesy broccoli soups, or even a classic chili, while the soft interior soaks up every last drop. And let’s be honest — tearing into that soup‑soaked bread at the end? Pure joy.

This recipe is:

Rustic and cozy — sourdough flavor + chewy crust.
Practical and fun — no dishes to wash when you eat the bowl.
Versatile — works with soups, dips, or even breakfast scrambles.
Make‑ahead friendly — bake bowls in advance and reheat.
Crowd‑pleasing — kids and adults alike love the novelty.

💬 Reader prompt: Are you team “eat the bread bowl first” or team “save it for the grand finale”?

📜 Recipe — Sourdough Bread Bowls

Ingredients

1 cup active sourdough starter (fed and bubbly)
1 ½ cups warm water
4 cups bread flour (plus more for dusting)
2 tsp salt
1 Tbsp olive oil

Directions

In a large bowl, mix starter, warm water, and olive oil. Stir in flour and salt until a shaggy dough forms.
Knead on a floured surface 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise 3–4 hours, until doubled.
Punch down dough and divide into 4–6 equal pieces. Shape into tight rounds. Place on parchment‑lined baking sheet. Cover and let rise 1–2 hours.
Preheat oven to 450°F. Score tops with a sharp knife. Bake 25–30 minutes, until golden brown and hollow‑sounding when tapped.
Cool slightly. Cut off tops and hollow out centers to create bowls. Fill with soup, stew, or dip.

🔢 Calorie Count (Per Bread Bowl, Makes 6)

Calories: ~280
Protein: 8g
Carbs: 55g
Fat: 3g
Fiber: 2g
Sugar: 1g

💡 Note: Basically bread math that says, “Yes, carbs are happiness.”

🥕 Nutritional Facts & Fun

Sourdough Starter: Natural fermentation = gut‑friendly probiotics.
Bread Flour: Higher protein = chewy texture.
Olive Oil: Healthy fats + flavor.
Salt: Flavor enhancer + structure.
Water: Hydration for the dough (and you).

💬 Reader prompt: Do you prefer your sourdough tangy and bold, or mild and subtle?

👩‍🍳 Cooking Tips

Starter Strength: Make sure your starter is bubbly and active for the best rise.
Steam Trick: Place a pan of water in the oven for a crustier loaf.
Shaping Hack: Use a bench scraper to get tight, round loaves.
Hollowing Out: Leave a ½‑inch wall so your soup doesn’t leak.
Reheating: Warm bowls in the oven before filling for extra crispness.

🔄 Recipe Variations

Whole Wheat Bowls: Swap half the flour for whole wheat.
Cheesy Bowls: Sprinkle shredded cheddar on top before baking.
Herb Bowls: Add rosemary, thyme, or garlic powder to the dough.
Mini Bowls: Make smaller versions for dips or appetizers.
Sweet Bowls: Add cinnamon and sugar for a dessert version (hello, bread bowl ice cream!).

💬 Reader prompt: Which version would you try first — cheesy, herby, or sweet?

🧒 Kid Tips

Let kids help shape the dough (they’ll feel like bakers).
Serve with mac and cheese inside for a fun twist.
Make mini bowls for kid‑sized portions.
Call them “bread cauldrons” to make them sound magical.

🛒 Grocery Hacks

Flour: Buy bread flour in bulk — it’s cheaper and lasts.
Starter: If you don’t have one, ask a friend or local bakery.
Olive Oil: Store in a cool, dark place to keep fresh.
Salt: Fine sea salt dissolves best in dough.
Soup Pairing: Keep canned tomato soup on hand for quick filling.

💬 Reader prompt: Do you usually make your own sourdough starter, or borrow from a friend?

🎯 Reader Challenge

This week, I challenge you to bake Sourdough Bread Bowls and fill them with something unexpected. Maybe it’s chili, maybe it’s spinach dip, maybe it’s scrambled eggs with bacon. Post your creation with #LouLouGirlsBreadBowls so we can all drool together.

🥪 Leftover Remix

Bread Bowl Croutons: Cube leftover bread and toast for salads.
Bread Bowl Pizza: Spread with sauce and cheese, bake until bubbly.
Bread Bowl French Toast: Dip in custard and pan‑fry.
Bread Bowl Stuffing: Cube and use in holiday stuffing.
Bread Bowl Bread Pudding: Sweeten leftovers into dessert.

💬 Reader prompt: Would you rather turn leftovers into croutons or bread pudding?

💭 Final Thoughts

These Sourdough Bread Bowls are proof that bread can be both fun and functional. They’re crusty, chewy, and versatile enough to be a weeknight dinner upgrade or a holiday showstopper. Plus, they’re the kind of recipe that makes everyone smile — and isn’t that the best kind of baking?

Here’s the thing about bread bowls — they’re never just bread. They’re the sound of crust crackling as you slice the top, the joy of ladling soup into something you baked yourself, the comfort of knowing dinner is going to be memorable.

And these sourdough bread bowls? They’re a keeper. They’re rustic, they’re cozy, they’re the perfect balance of chewy and crisp. They’re the kind of recipe that makes you feel like you’ve unlocked the secret to turning everyday soup into a restaurant‑worthy experience.

But what I love most is how recipes like this bring us together. Food has that magic — it’s not just about eating, it’s about sharing. It’s about swapping tips, laughing over flour‑covered counters, and building little traditions that make life tastier.

So here’s my challenge to you: bake these bread bowls, share them with your people, and then tell me your twist. Did you add herbs? Did you sneak in cheese? Did you double the batch just because you could? (No judgment — I’d be first in line for that version.)

💬 Reader prompt: Should we do a “Soup & Bread Series” next? I’m dreaming up broccoli cheddar in bread bowls, clam chowder in bread bowls, and maybe even chili in bread bowls.

Until then, may your crusts be golden, your centers fluffy, your soups hearty, and your kitchen filled with laughter, love, and second helpings. Because at the end of the day, recipes like this aren’t just about baking — they’re about celebrating the little joys that make life delicious.