Sourdough for Vegan Baking: No Eggs, No Dairy, Full Flavor

Short answer: basic sourdough — flour, water, salt, starter — is fully vegan. Substitute non-dairy milk and oil for enriched recipes. Most sourdough recipes can be made vegan with simple swaps.

Why most sourdough is vegan

A standard sourdough has:

• Flour (vegan)
• Water (vegan)
• Salt (vegan)
• Starter (vegan: just flour + water cultured)

No animal products. Naturally vegan.

When sourdough isn't vegan

Some recipes add:

• Butter (use vegan butter or oil)
• Milk (use plant milk)
• Eggs (use flax eggs or aquafaba)
• Honey (use maple syrup or sugar)
• Cheese (use vegan cheese)

These all have vegan substitutes that work.

A vegan baseline recipe

Standard sourdough:

• 500g bread flour
• 350g water
• 100g starter
• 10g salt

100% vegan. Nothing to substitute.

Vegan enriched dough

For brioche-style:

• 500g flour
• 280g plant milk (oat, almond, soy)
• 100g starter
• 30g sugar (cane or maple)
• 50g vegan butter (Miyoko's, Earth Balance) or coconut oil
• 1 flax egg (1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water)
• 8g salt

Method:

• Mix flax + water, rest 10 min (gels)
• Combine all ingredients
• Knead 8 min
• Bulk
• Shape
• Bake

The flax egg provides binding similar to a real egg.

Vegan butter substitutions

Work the same as butter in most recipes.

Plant milk swaps

Always use unsweetened, unflavored versions.

Vegan honey replacements

Honey is not vegan. Replace with:

• Maple syrup (1:1)
• Agave nectar (1:1)
• Brown rice syrup (slightly less sweet)
• Date syrup (richer flavor)

Use for sweetness and browning.

Vegan inclusions

These are naturally vegan:

• Olives
• Nuts (walnuts, almonds, pecans)
• Dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, dates)
• Seeds (sesame, pumpkin, sunflower)
• Herbs (rosemary, thyme)
• Garlic, onions

Avoid:

• Cheese (use vegan cheese if needed)
• Butter for swirls (use vegan butter)

A vegan cinnamon roll

Standard cinnamon roll dough is enriched with butter and milk. Vegan version:

• 500g bread flour
• 280g oat milk
• 100g starter
• 50g sugar
• 50g vegan butter
• 1 flax egg
• 8g salt

For the filling:

• 80g vegan butter (softened)
• 100g brown sugar
• 2 tbsp cinnamon

For the glaze:

• 200g powdered sugar
• 30g oat milk
• 1 tsp vanilla

Standard cinnamon roll method. The result is indistinguishable from dairy versions.

Vegan brioche

Brioche is normally egg- and butter-heavy. Vegan version:

• 500g bread flour
• 250g oat milk
• 100g starter
• 80g sugar
• 100g vegan butter
• 2 flax eggs (or 60g aquafaba whipped to foam)
• 8g salt

Knead well (12 min). Bulk. Shape. Bake.

Vegan brioche is slightly less rich but very close.

Vegan pizza

Pizza dough is naturally vegan. Toppings make the difference:

• Tomato sauce
• Vegan cheese (Daiya, Miyoko's, Violife)
• Vegetables
• Vegan pepperoni (or just skip meat)

Many pizzas are great without cheese (margherita, marinara, white bean and arugula).

Vegan focaccia

Already vegan: focaccia is mostly bread + olive oil.

Top with:

• Olives
• Tomatoes
• Herbs
• Caramelized onions
• Roasted garlic
• Vegetables

No animal products needed.

Vegan French toast

For vegan brunch:

• Slice vegan brioche
• Soak in: 1 cup oat milk + 1 tbsp ground flax + 1 tsp vanilla + 1 tsp cinnamon + 1 tbsp sugar (rest 5 min)
• Cook in vegan butter
• Top with maple syrup

A vegan French toast that doesn't sacrifice quality.

A vegan grocery list

For sourdough vegan baking:

• Bread flour
• Plant milk (oat or soy)
• Vegan butter
• Maple syrup
• Ground flaxseed
• Olive oil
• Salt

Total cost: under $30. Lasts months.

Why this matters

Vegan sourdough:

• Inclusive (everyone can eat)
• Often healthier
• Same delicious bread
• Often cheaper (no eggs/dairy)

If you have vegan friends or family, you can serve real sourdough that's 100% appropriate.

A starter consideration

Sourdough starter is vegan:

• Made from flour and water
• Cultivated wild yeast and bacteria
• No animal products

If buying dried starter, check ingredients. Most are flour-only and vegan.

A taste comparison

Vegan vs. dairy sourdough:

• Plain boules: identical
• Enriched: 95% similar
• Cheesy: noticeable difference (vegan cheese is good but not the same)
• Sweet: identical

For most bakes, vegan and dairy versions are practically interchangeable.

A final note

Sourdough is one of the most naturally vegan baked goods.

For everyday bread, no changes needed. For special bakes, simple swaps maintain vegan-ness.

If you've avoided sourdough because of dietary restrictions, the basics are fully vegan.

Make a basic loaf this weekend. Top with vegan butter or olive oil. Enjoy fully vegan, fully delicious sourdough.