Posts by Barb Alpern

Barb Alpern
The Author

About Barb Alpern

Long time professional artisan bread baker, caramel maker and member of our Baker Specialist team, Barb grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan and has four grown sons. She has baked in Michigan, Maine, Vermont, and Texas (if you count baking cookies for her son's wedding!).

Sourdough starter

How to make your sourdough bread more (or less) sour: part 1

Your first step: building and maintaining a healthy starter.

Feb 22, 2022
sourdough bread being sliced

How to make your sourdough bread more (or less) sour: part 2

Want to ramp up the sour? Increase the acids.

Feb 22, 2022
sourdough bread sliced

How to make your sourdough bread more (or less) sour: part 3

Sour or mild — it’s up to you.

Feb 22, 2022

Maintaining a smaller sourdough starter

Less waste, same great results!

Oct 30, 2018
Determining the friction factor in baking via @kingarthurflour

Determining the friction factor in baking

Calling all bread geeks!

Aug 27, 2018
Desired Dough Temperature via @kingarthurflour

Desired dough temperature

The key to achieving consistently great results in your bread baking

May 29, 2018
Sourdough Starter Troubleshooting, part 2 via @kingarthurflour

Sourdough starter troubleshooting, part 2

Can this starter be saved?

Mar 12, 2018
Jar of sourdough starter on counter

Sourdough starter troubleshooting

What does it take to kill your starter?

Mar 9, 2018
Using the autolyse method via @kingarthurflour

Using the autolyse method

Unleashing the power of the pause

Sep 29, 2017
Kneading wet dough by hand via @kingarthurflour

Kneading wet dough by hand

Tips to handle a messy situation

Jun 19, 2017
Sliced pain au levain bread

Steam in bread baking

How steam can transform your bread from dull to dazzling

Feb 28, 2017
Sourdough Sandwich Bread

Levain for sandwich bread

Sourdough takes a new direction

Dec 9, 2016
How to make Jewish Rye Bread via @kingarthurflour

How to make Jewish Rye Bread, Part 2

Crafting a classic loaf

Mar 23, 2016
Jewish Rye Bread

How to make Jewish Rye Bread, part 1

Rye sour and old bread soaker

Mar 22, 2016
Artisan sourdough bread tips via @kingarthurflour

Artisan sourdough bread tips, part 3

Baking and finishing your loaf

Oct 15, 2015
Artisan sourdough bread tips via @kingarthurflour

Artisan sourdough bread tips, part 2

Fermentation, folding, and shaping

Oct 14, 2015
Artisan sourdough bread tips via @kingarthurflour

Artisan sourdough bread tips, part 1

Creating and using a stiff starter

Oct 13, 2015
DSC_7816

Flourless Chocolate Truffle Cake

A chocolate cake for Passover – and beyond

Mar 10, 2015
CaramelStep1_900w

Mom's Caramels

A labor of love.

Dec 10, 2014