Pâte Fermentée (Old Dough Starter)

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Frostings fillings toppings Easy

Pâte fermentée is a piece of fermented dough made ahead and added to a new batch to deepen flavor and improve structure. This one is made from scratch with a tiny amount of yeast and a long, cool ferment; use 250 g in a 500 g flour bread dough. Makes 420 g in about 18 hr 10 min.

Prep 10 min

Cook —

Cooling 18 hr

Total 18 hr 10 min

Servings 6

Diet Dairy free, Vegan

Ingredients

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servings

2 cups (250 g)bread flour
⅔ cup (160 ml)water, cool
¾ tsp (5 g)fine salt
¼ oz (2 g)instant yeast

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Instructions

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl until no dry flour remains, then knead 5 minutes until smooth; the dough will be moderately firm.
Cover and let stand at room temperature for 1 hour until slightly puffy.
Refrigerate for 12 to 18 hours until bubbly, with a mildly sour smell.
Use it cold in place of 250 g of dough; tear it into small pieces and mix it into the next batch with the other ingredients.
Reduce the new dough's flour by about 150 g and the water by 100 ml, or follow your bread recipe's pâte fermentée directions.

Tips

It is ready at 12 hours but best by 24 hours; after 3 days it becomes too sour.
Bring it to room temperature for 30 minutes before mixing, or break it up cold.
Freeze flat for up to 3 months.

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Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make pâte fermentée (old dough starter)?

Plan on 10 minutes of prep, plus 18 hours to chill. The recipe makes 420 g (6 servings).

How should I store pâte fermentée (old dough starter)?

Refrigerate covered up to 3 days or freeze up to 3 months.

Can I make pâte fermentée (old dough starter) ahead?

Yes. It needs time to chill and set, so it is a good one to make the day before you serve it.

Is this recipe vegan?

Yes, as written. Check that packaged ingredients such as chocolate, sprinkles and plant butter are labeled vegan.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 6 servings this recipe makes.

112 Calories / serving

1.4g Fat

20.6g Carbs

3.9g Protein

2.1g Sugar

Whole recipe (6 servings): ~672 cal · 8g fat · 124g carbs · 23g protein · 13g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.