Yeast Starter

A yeast starter is a simple mixture of commercial yeast, sugar and warm liquid (milk or water) that is left to activate for a few minutes before being added to dough. It is used to quickly leaven sweet and enriched breads such as brioche, stollen or Easter bread. Unlike a sourdough starter, it does not contain a live culture of lactic acid bacteria and does not provide fermentation, it simply accelerates the rising process using commercial yeast. Preparation takes just a few minutes and the resulting dough is light and airy, but without the distinctive sour flavour of sourdough bread.