Valentine’s Day Heart-Shaped Sourdough Loaf

There’s something truly special about baking sourdough—it’s a slow, mindful process that transforms simple ingredients into a beautiful, nourishing loaf. This heart-shaped sourdough bread is a perfect way to share love through food, whether for Valentine’s Day, an anniversary, or just because. With its golden, crispy crust and soft, airy crumb, this loaf is not only a treat for the taste buds but also a feast for the eyes.

Sourdough bread has been cherished for centuries, known for its deep flavor, natural fermentation, and gut-friendly benefits. The long fermentation process enhances digestibility while creating a rich, slightly tangy taste that pairs wonderfully with both sweet and savory toppings. This heart-shaped version is a playful twist on a classic, bringing warmth and charm to any table. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just starting your sourdough journey, shaping your loaf into a heart is a fun and creative way to spread a little extra love. ??

Valentine’s Day Heart-Shaped Sourdough Loaf

Ingredients

  • 500g (4 cups) bread flour
  • 350g (1 ½ cups) water
  • 100g (½ cup) active sourdough starter (fed and bubbly)
  • 10g (2 tsp) salt

Instructions

1. Mix the Dough (Autolyse)

  • In a large bowl, mix the flour and water until combined. Let it rest for 30-45 minutes.
  • Add the sourdough starter and mix well. Let it rest for 20 minutes.
  • Sprinkle salt over the dough and mix until incorporated.

2. Bulk Fermentation (4-6 hours at room temp)

  • Perform stretch and folds every 30 minutes for the first 2 hours.
  • Let the dough rest and ferment until it has risen about 50%.

3. Shaping the Heart

  • Lightly flour your work surface and gently turn out the dough.
  • Pre-shape into a round and let it rest for 20 minutes.
  • To form a heart:
    1. Shape the dough into an oval.
    2. Use your fingers to pinch a small indent at the top center.
    3. Gently elongate and taper the bottom to create a point.
    4. Tuck the sides slightly to enhance the heart shape.

4. Cold Fermentation (Overnight in the Fridge)

  • Place the shaped dough into a well-floured heart-shaped banneton or a bowl lined with a floured towel.
  • Cover and refrigerate overnight (8-12 hours).

5. Baking the Loaf

  • Preheat the oven to 475°F (245°C) with a Dutch oven inside.
  • Place the dough on parchment paper and gently score the heart shape for definition.
  • Transfer to the hot Dutch oven, cover, and bake for 20 minutes.
  • Remove the lid and bake for 15-20 more minutes until golden brown.

6. Cool and Enjoy!

  • Let the loaf cool completely before slicing.

Heart Shaped Bath Bombs

Over the years I have mastered a few things—making bath bombs and body butter, and mastering the art of serious self-care.

Like truly mastering it. My self care practices include walking, investing in good coffee, reading uplifting books, and walking a little more, surrounding myself with quality people, eating well, using top notch essential oils, learning to make my own blends and skin care, taking time to crochet, and long luxurious bubble baths.

You gotta have bath bombs when you take a soak in a bubble bath. And there is no way I would spend what they cost in a store when it is so easy and affordable to make them. I always have a batch on hand. A batch of bath bombs cost me literally less than a dollar a batch for ingredients. Since I enjoy making them and they are quick I don’t even factor in my time!

Today I grabbed my heart shaped molds just for the heck of it and they turned out so cute!

Seriously, using a mold like these or a round disc mold is so easy for everyday bombs. If I am making a gift set of bombs I usually make the traditional round ones but they take a bit more time. And I prefer to use my time doing other things so the mold is what works for me.

What You’ll Need

  • 1.5 cups baking soda
  • 1/2 cup citric acid
  • 1/2 cup Epsom salt
  • Food safe coloring (optional)
  • Essential oils (my faves are lavender, mints, and eucalyptus for a bath bomb)
  • Tiny bit of water

Here Is How You Do It

  • Combine the soda, salts and citric acid in a bowl with a whisk.
  • Add in a few drops of coloring and about 20-25 total drops of essential oils.
  • Slowly and gently pour in about 2-3 tablespoons of water and stir.
  • The mixture should feel like slightly wet sand. Not super wet, but enough to where you can make a ball if you squish it in your fist.
  • Pour the mixture in the mold and pat down.
  • Let sit for 24 hours and then store in a cute jar or give them away in cute bags.

You can find my favorite molds in my Amazon shop here. I prefer to use the most pure oils on the market since our skin absorbs everything we put on it. Check out my my favorites here. Of course these essential oils have way more use than just bath bombs—sleep, energy, aches and pains, tension, belly aches, and more. Learn how versatile they are in this free downloadable ebook.

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