Starter your engines. With temps dropping and more people seeking cozy indoor hobbies, sourdough baking is back in a big way. According to Google Trends, interest in making your own has even surpassed the pandemic-fueled craze of 2020.

If you’re among those baking some new habits into your life via flour and yeast, here are a few ways to get in on the action in Knoxville:

Bake That Dough hosts frequent classes for beginners — the perfect way to get newbies introduced to the process.
Once you’re a little further along, the fine folks at The Cutting Edge Classroom offer private lessons to perfect your skills.
Or get in touch with Mother’s Daughter Bread for an intimate three-hour, hands-on, all-encompassing intro to the practice.

For those who prefer their loaves made by an expert, there’s a bunch of spots around town to get your fill of doughy goodness. We’re fans of SoKno Sourdough's bagels and baguettes, as well as the rosemary and olive sourdough loaves at Hillside Bakery.

Pro tip: If you’re picking up some tasty treats at any of Knoxville’s bakeries, from our experience, the apron-laden are typically willing to offer some friendly advice for beginner bakers eager to learn more.