The Dough Familiar

In the old ways, a witch was never alone. They were often trailed by a clever cat, a sly raven, or even a toad. But today, in spaces where flour dust hangs in the air, bread witches have familiars of other forms.

The Dough Familiar is a living, breathing spell of flour, water, and time. Though quiet and contained in a jar, this creature is filled with ancient energy, slumbering in its dormant state until you choose to wake it. With care and feeding, it will rouse from its nap and grow strong at your side.

Once active, this bubbling and loyal companion will reward your patience with rise and rustic loaves. Feed it like a pet, name it if you wish (they like that), and soon it will know your kitchen as home.

You’ll be able to summon breads, rolls, waffles, and more with its help. But remember that your Dough Familiar thrives on rhythm and ritual… aka fermentation.

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How to Revive Your Dough Familiar

Recommended Equipment:

• Glass glass with lid

  • We recommend weighing your glass and notating it somewhere handy

• Small spatula

• Kitchen Scale

Ingredients:

• Your Dough Familiar (5 grams) A.K.A starter

• Unbleached Bread Flour

  • We recommend King Arthur brand. Sam’s club has the best price for this.

• Filtered room temperature water

Schedule

Day One

1. Place the glass jar on a scale and tare.

2. Add your Dough Familiar to the jar.

3. Add 25 grams of water.

4. Stir until completely submerged.

5. Cover with the lid and allow to rest for 1 hour.

6. Add 20 grams of bread flour and stir with a spatula until thoroughly combined.

7. Cover with a lid (but not air-tight!) and store for 24 hours.

Day Two

1. Observe: the mixture will appear smooth and little to no bubbles.

2. Discard all but 10 grams of the starter mixture.

3. Feed your Dough Familiar with 25 grams of bread flour and 25 grams of water.

4. Mix, cover, and store for 24 hours.

Day Three

1. Observe: the mixture will look smooth and thin, with hardly any bubbles.

2. Discard all but 10 grams of the starter mixture.

3. Feed your Dough Familiar with 25 grams of bread flour and 25 grams of water.

4. Mix, cover, and store for 24 hours.

Day Four

1. Observe: the mixture will not have changed much, but may have a few more bubbles.

2. Discard all but 10 grams of the starter mixture.

3. Feed your Dough Familiar with 25 grams of bread flour and 25 grams of water.

4. Mix, cover, and store for 24 hours.

Day Five

1. Observe: the mixture should have nearly doubled in volume and should have bubbles throughout.

2. Start regular daily feedings:

   1. 10 grams starter

   2. 25 grams bread flour

   3. 25 grams water

3. Allow to reach peak activity. In our kitchen, this is usually 3-4 hours after feeding depending on the temperature. You can always do the float test to make sure it’s ready to bake by putting a glob of starter in a glass of water and if it floats it’s ready!