About

Hi! I'm Hannah.

I'm the baker, recipe developer, photographer and voice behind Make It Dough, a baking blog for sourdough bread and sourdough discard recipes.

I fell in love with baking at 10 years old when my older sister let me help her put together a batch of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. It was my first taste of the magic of creating something with my own hands and enjoying it while it was still warm from the oven. I've been hooked ever since.

Here's What You'll Find on Make It Dough:

Bread Baking Guides: Drawing on extensive research and my personal bread baking journey, I provide comprehensive guides to help you make better bread at home.
Creative Sourdough Recipes: I'm passionate about helping you unlock the full potential of your sourdough starter, from bread recipes to unique uses for sourdough discard.
Bakes for All Skill Levels: Whether you're eager to tackle a two-day sourdough bread project or prefer a quick sourdough cookie recipe ready in under an hour, I've got a diverse selection of recipes tailored to both beginners and seasoned bakers alike!

A little bit about me

Growing up in a Filipino household instilled in me a profound love for food. Filipinos express their affection through acts of service, and nothing embodies love more than preparing a meal for your friends and family. Some of my fondest childhood memories revolve around our family gathered at the dinner table, savoring a meal together.

Although I never envisioned a career in the culinary world, my kitchen became my sanctuary on stressful days. The process of making dough or batter would whisk away my worries, and I knew that by the time I took my creation out of the oven, everything would be alright.

My journey into the world of sourdough started after leaving a decade-long career as a publicist. Refreshing my starter brought structure and solace into my life, revealing a newfound passion for bread-making. It made me realize that my true joy lay in making food for the people I loved.

Today, I'm privileged to share my sourdough recipes with people worldwide here on Make It Dough.

Currently, I happily reside in Tucson, AZ, alongside my boyfriend Joel and our furry family: Geordie, Tasha, Zoey, Penny Lane, and Sergeant Pepper.

Education

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), History, University of Pennsylvania (UPenn)

Sourdough has truly changed my life

In 2019, Make It Dough proudly received the Reader’s Choice Award for Best Special Interest Blog from Saveur Magazine. The following year, I published my debut cookbook, Sourdough Every Day, which celebrates my devotion to sourdough discard. In 2022, I launched my inaugural virtual sourdough course in collaboration with Central Milling, titled "How to Make Sourdough Bread."

My journey with sourdough serves as a testament to the fulfillment of pursuing one's passion. It underscores the importance of embracing a life filled only with the things you love.

Cover of Sourdough Every Day by Hannah Dela Cruz

Sourdough Every Day Cookbook

In 2020, developed and wrote a sourdough cookbook called "Sourdough Every Day."

In the book, I guide you easily through all the steps of sourdough baking, from how to create and maintain your starter, to how to bake your first loaf, to making an incredible range of breads and more. I even show you how to transform your extra discard into delicious sourdough-inspired treats.

ORDER A COPY

My Work

I've been fortunate enough to make a career out of my passion for sourdough baking and food photography.

My recipes have been featured on Natural Delights, King Arthur Baking Company, Simply Recipes and Challenger Breadware.

I've had the privilege of collaborating with some of my favorite brands to create captivating photography and videos that showcase the products I adore, including Microsoft, Robert Mondavi Wines, Fontana Forni, Imperial Sugar, Target, among many others.

If you are interested in hiring me for a photography commission or recipe development project, visit my work with me page.

Features

Hannah Dela Cruz, Author of Sourdough Every Day | The Sourdough Podcast
Meet the Winners of the 2019 SAVEUR Blog Awards | Saveur
The Discard Pile | The PENN Gazette
How I recreated the Filipino bread of my childhood | The King Arthur Baking Company
11 Amazing Ways to Use Your Sourdough Discard | Greatist
Become an Expert at Creating Sourdough Recipes with Hannah Dela Cruz from Make It Dough | Leavenly
Challenger Breadware names baker Hannah Dela Cruz as newest brand ambassador | Bake
The Best 9 Gas Ranges of 2023 for Every Homeowner | The Spruce
From Oven to Enterprise: Expert Tips for Home Baking Safety | Porch
30-plus things you can make with sourdough discard | Deseret News
How to Make Thanksgiving Dinner at Home: The Perfect Spread | ApartmentGuide

My favorite recipes!

These are my all-time favorites. While I continually experiment with and create new recipes for sharing on Make It Dough, these treats hold a special place in my heart, and I often find myself returning to them.