A couple of years ago I was gifted a subscription to the Reader’s Digest magazine. I read it from cover to cover while walking on the elliptical trainer at gym, to occupy my mind and stave off the boredom of walking for 15 minutes and getting nowhere! In the one issue I read about how baguette is meant to smell of apples or pears when torn open. I will be visiting France later this year and will test this out every day, as our lunch always consists of baguette with cheese and other accompaniments. When I read that Celia had used cider to feed her starter with great success, I decided that a good way to get the apple scent into my baguette would be to use cider together with the water in the preparation of the dough. I have tested this recipe for sourdough baguette using water only, and it works just as well, so if you do not drink alcohol and don’t cook with it, you can still make this baguette. I made one loaf with both apple cider and another with pear cider, as well as my perry and they each lend a lovely scent to the baguette.
Have you ever smelt a loaf of bread when breaking it open?

Sourdough Baguette
Ingredients
- 200 g fed sourdough starter
- 600 g bread flour
- 100 g water
- 200 g cider
- 10 g fine salt
Method
- Place all of the ingredients into a large bowl
- Mix by hand until all the flour is incorporated
- Knead the dough in the bowl for 2 minutes
- Cover with cling film and leave to prove for an hour
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 minutes
- Place the dough back into the bowl and cover with cling film
- Leave to prove until doubled in size
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface
- Divide in two and shape each piece into a baguette shape
- Cover with lightly oiled cling film and leave to prove for an hour
- Preheat the oven to 220° Celsius
- Slash the dough and place into the oven and bake for 30 minutes
Click on the links for conversions and notes.
Oh, yum – I love sourdough and can just imagine how good it would be with cider:) This just might inspire me to make my own:)
Please do, and then please share what you thought of it 🙂
Thats is some seriously good looking bread. I wish I had time for a lesson at celias., she always has bread on the go
I would love to go for a lesson at Celia as well 🙂
This sourdough baguette looks scrumptious. Always love that smell of fresh baking bread. How lovely, a trip to France, would love to sample their breads and cheese! Some day. Hope you have a wonderful trip down the road.
Thank you Laura, we just love our trips to France and I cannot wait for this one 🙂
Hi Tandy, how wonderful a trip to France! How clever to add a touch of cider to your base to create the aroma.
I am starting to count the weeks down to when we leave 🙂
I love smelling a freshly cracked loaf. 🙂 I’m delighted with your idea of using cider to start things. The bread must smell amazing. 🙂
And it is such a good use of cider if you ever have left overs 🙂
Looks like a great loaf!
Thank you 🙂
I get high with the smell of baked bread. Heavenly!
Julie
Gourmet Getaways
I love the smell as well Julie 🙂
That is so interesting! I have never read that before but next time I get a fresh baguette I’ll try it! 😀
Let me know what scent you get Lorraine 🙂
I can’t say I’ve ever noticed my baguettes smelling like apples, but I can’t wait to hear what you find! Your baguette looks so delicious. A beautiful loaf!
Thank you Joanne 🙂
You can read on an elliptical trainer? :O I can never keep read because my eyes keep bobbing up an down as I move so I lose track of which line I’m at haha. I’d love to smell your bread- sounds amazing already, with the addition of cider! 🙂
That sometimes happens to me, but I kind of ‘walk’ really slowly 🙂
Hmm, I love the smell of bread baking and when it is done. I’ve never noticed an apple or pear smell. Maybe I wasn’t looking for that. I will next time 😀
Let me know the next time you crack a loaf Cindy, whether it has a scent or not 🙂
I’ve always been curious to try making my own sourdough bread. It is one of my favourite bakery treats! So tangy and chewy. Love!
You will not look back once you start with sourdough 🙂
I really like your way of fighting boredom in the gym!
Thanks Sally 🙂
I yet have to bake with sour dough starter…great loaf of bread Tandy…I can only imagine how delicious it is.
Enjoy your week 😀
I am sure this would work for a normal baguette as well Juliana 🙂
I love this baguette! Would be perfect for sandwiches or with some pasta! Yum!
With pasta sounds delicious Pamela 🙂
I was just telling Ryan that I really wanted to try making sourdough bread at home!
Hope you do!
Oh thats brilliant, you read at the gym, Ive often admired the readers at the gym. 🙂 Oh that first sniff of a load as you crack it open is glorious. Now thats a great use cider, thanks for the tip.
Hope you try this concept when you next bake Anna 🙂
I have never noticed that smell – I will have to check next time! Your baguette is beautiful. I love fresh bread!
I hope you stop to smell the bread soon Cate! Thanks for the visit 🙂
You can read at the gym – you’re my hero. I’d love to do it. Your baguette look amazing.
I started reading at the gym when I used to spend an hour on the stepper! Thanks for the compliment Marta 🙂
we really gotta try this! never made bread at home! i can just smell fresh baked baguette right now! 😉
Hope you do try this!
Love the idea of the cider in with the mix – fabulous!
I want to try ginger beer next 🙂