20 Sourdough Discard Recipes (2024)

From the digestion benefits to the flavor and texture, you’re going to adore this amazing list of 20 deeply flavorful and creative Sourdough Discard Recipes. Plus, if you already have a sourdough starter, it’s a great way to cut down on food waste.

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Here are a few examples of what you can expect.

There’s a Sourdough Cheesecake Brownie recipe, a Sourdough Discard Naan recipe, and even a Sourdough Onion Rings recipe. That last one caught us by surprise! So are you ready to discover the tasty?

Let’s dive in!

Sourdough Pancakes

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These Sourdough Pancakes are so Organically Addison. Who knew you could use sourdough discard to make the most deliciously fluffy, thick, and buttery flapjacks? The flavor is deeper and richer than the buttermilk variety. What’s more, they are incredibly versatile, as Addison provides optional instructions for making them sugar-free, gluten-free, and dairy free.

Sourdough Discard Tortillas

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After going on a sourdough bread-making spree, Sarita of An Off Grid Life tried her hand at Sourdough Discard Tortillas. The results? Amazing! As in five-star-rated-across-dozens-of-reviews amazing. And you’ll love it too. Here’s why. With just 30 minutes and five ingredients, including salt and water, you can produce a large batch of the deeply flavorful flatbread.

Sourdough Soft Pretzels

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So these Sourdough Soft Pretzels by Kim are so good they remind her of the ones you get from the ballpark. They aren’t sour at all, but rather, the taste is elevated thanks to the fermented discard. The Kickass Baker gives you tips on shaping, salting, and even a substitution for the discard.

Sourdough Pumpkin Roll with Freshly Milled Flour

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Kara of Grains In Small Places is another baker, kicking butt and taking names with her in-depth tutorials and ingenious recipes. Enter this Sourdough Pumpkin Roll with Freshly Milled Flour. She’s made this dessert with spelt and soft white wheat but has recommendations for other grains as well.

But some advanced planning is required. The flour, brown sugar, starter, and pumpkin get mixed the night before. Then you add the other ingredients the following morning. Finally, bake, add the filling, and roll it up.

Cheesecake Brownies

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As one day melts into the next, and winter refuses to give way to spring, Samantha of East Pine Home makes these Sourdough Cheesecake Brownies. They are decadent with swirls of sourdough brownie base, chocolate chips, and cheesecake. All you need is a glass of milk, some good t.v., and suddenly the cold season isn’t so bad.

Sourdough Pizza Dough

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Okay, so Chef Lindsay Farr is breaking all the “rules” today with her Sourdough Pizza Dough recipe. First, real sourdough pizza crust can only be had at those pizzerias will a large oven, right? Also, and this is a biggie, you’re supposed to be kneading the dough all day.

Well, not with this recipe. The Chef shows us how to make the most chewy yet crispy pizza dough the easy way. Which is right in your food processor.

Sourdough Apple Muffins

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At the request of a reader, Joanne of Ugly Duckling Bakery developed these Sourdough Apple Muffins. Now, I know you’re thinking, “I can close my eyes and find an apple muffin recipe.” Yeah, but not this one. First, it’s packed with a ton of chopped apples. There is over one cup of fruit in this eight-serving recipe. Also, it’s filled with Joanne’s tips, like choosing the right kind of apple and browning the butter.

Sourdough Banana Bread

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Savor The Best‘s Dahn crowns this Sourdough Banana Bread, the tastiest banana bread she’s ever had. That’s a bold statement, as she has several such recipes on her blog. But despite the exceptionally deep flavor and noteworthy texture, it’s still easy to make with common ingredients. And with Dahn’s tips, you can’t go wrong.

Sourdough Chocolate Cake

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If you want the most flavorful, moist, and tender cake you’ve ever had, you must try this Sourdough Chocolate Cake by Tati of Milk & Pop. As shown, she bakes it in a bundt pan, but you can also use this recipe to make layer cakes. But it’s not just an approachable dessert recipe with 10 minutes of preparation. The breakfast and brunch enthusiast shares her other tips, such as fresh hot coffee to enhance that chocolatey flavor.

Everything Sourdough Crackers

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Once you make these Everything Sourdough Crackers from The Suburban Soapbox, you’ll never reach for the prepared stuff at the store again. In fact, Kellie goes a step further, “you’ll be craving them 24/7.”

Surprisingly, they’re not difficult to make with simple ingredients: flour, salt, and butter. You simply mix the ingredients, knead, roll, cut, bake, and sprinkle with everything seasoning.

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Rye Sourdough Discard Chocolate Chip Cookies

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Marta of Sense and Edibility knows better than to throw away that unfed sourdough starter. Instead, the professional chef and former catering business owner makes these Rye Sourdough Discard Chocolate Chip Cookies. They are chewy and slightly tart, with chopped chunks of cacao throughout rather than uniform chips. What a great way to jazz up basic chocolate chip cookies.

Sourdough Scones with Blueberries and Lemon

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Traditional Scones are delicious all their own, but these Sourdough Scones with Blueberries and Lemon by Home Grown Happiness are special. The sourdough discard adds tenderness to the crumb as the acidic quality breaks down the gluten in the flour. So they are light, airy, and bursting with juicy blueberries and the brightness of lemon.

Sourdough Discard Naan

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The diplomatic Meenakshi of The Flavor Bells says there’s no way to mess up this Sourdough Discard Naan recipe. Others might call it “dummy proof.” Here’s why. Not including the garnish, it’s an easy six-ingredient flatbread made with AP flour, whole milk, sourdough discard, oil, water, and salt. Plus, there’s no hand-kneading involved. Your stand mixer does all the work for you.

Sourdough Discard Donuts

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While donuts come in different sizes, flavors, and shapes, there’s just something to appreciate about a classic yeasted glazed donut. It’s subtle in flavor with a perfect texture that seems to just melt away with every bite.

Well, perhaps Mary, The Goodie Godmother, improved on that simplicity with this Sourdough Discard Donuts Recipe. Multiple taste testers declared it the best donut they’d ever had. At first, it may seem a pretty standard write-up with the usual ingredients. Only this time, there’s the unfed starter for a bolder flavor.

Sourdough Onion Rings

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I gotta tell ya! We certainly weren’t expecting to discover a Sourdough Onion Rings recipe during our search for exciting sourdough discard recipes. But inventive, gorgeous, and delicious is just what you can expect from Eat The Love.

For this recipe, Lin shows you how to make the crispiest, crunchiest onion rings you’ve ever had in your life. You know, the kind of food that has you daydreaming about it. It works so well because sourdough discard gets crusty quickly, and its viscous quality makes for an onion ring that stays crispy long after you fry it.

Soft Sourdough Dinner Rolls

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Soft Sourdough Dinner Rolls by Rebecca of Sugar And Soul are pillowy soft, satisfyingly tender, and subtly sweet with that characteristic mild tang. And while homemade bread making is usually a labor of love, with some types requiring multiple kneading and resting cycles, this one is different. There are just 30 minutes of hands-on time. So, you’ll want them around for din-din, but if they’re in sight, you’ll snack on them any time.

Sourdough Discard Cornbread

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Sourdough Discard Cornbread is a Lynns Way Of Life favorite you’ll want to serve with chili, stews, and soups. Or you’ll just keep it around for snacking and serve it with apple butter or strawberry jam. And in addition to a well-tested recipe, Lynn also teaches you how to safely store your cornbread so it doesn’t go bad prematurely.

Jumbo Blueberry Sourdough Muffins

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Tangy sourdough and sour cream contrast perfectly with sweet and juicy berries in this Jumbo Blueberry Sourdough Discard Muffins recipe by Kayla of Broken Oven Baking. And we’re not just talking about fresh berries here. You can use frozen fruit, too, for year-round enjoyment. However, what gives the muffins that sweet crunch on top and bakehouse quality is the demerara sugar.

Sourdough Discard Waffles

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These Sourdough Discard Waffles by Kristin of Dirt & Dough are light and fluffy on the inside (thanks to the whipped egg whites) and crispy on the outside. Flavorwise? They have a hint of tanginess. So could these be the best waffles you’ve ever made at home? We’d say that’s a strong possibility. The best part is that you can mix the batter and have four scrumptious servings on the table in less than 30 minutes.

Cheesy Sourdough Discard Crackers

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For a tasty and fun-to-make snack, check out these Cheesy Sourdough Discard Crackers from Barley & Sage. It’s Kyleigh’s favorite way to use unfed sourdough starter. The seven-ingredient, 30-minute snack is herby and cheesy with a slightly sharp flavor. But that’s her delicious version. The pup-loving blogger also gives you plenty of examples to switch it up, including using cheddar instead of parmesan cheese.

Which Sourdough Discard Recipe Will You Try First?

By now, you’ve discovered many tasty sourdough recipes. From sourdough waffles to sourdough cornbread, there were so many tasty options to choose from. So, which ones are you most excited to try? We’d love to know!

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20 Sourdough Discard Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What can I do with all the sourdough discard? ›

Sourdough discard works well in many baked goods that don't require lively yeast—flat foods like crackers, tortillas and pancakes. Or you can use it to flavor recipes that rely on leavening from other sources, such as active dry yeast, baking soda and baking powder.

How long is sourdough discard usable? ›

You can store mature sourdough discard in the refrigerator indefinitely. As long as there is no mold, it is good to use. It may develop a grayish liquid on top called “hooch” which can be poured off before use or stirred in. If you stir it in, the flavor will become more sour.

Can you use 2 week old sourdough discard? ›

You can use 1-2 week old discard in “discard recipes”… think cookies, brownies, muffins, non-yeast breads, tortillas (pretty much anything that doesn't require active starter (aka wild yeast).

Is eating sourdough discard healthy? ›

Technically, sourdough discard has the same benefits as sourdough starter, since they are both wild yeast ferments. In terms of beneficial lactic acid bacteria, natural yeasts acetic acid and colonies of microbes, they are both full of them.

How to tell if sourdough discard is bad? ›

While it will smell different to a fed, active starter, it won't smell unpleasant. The discard should be fine in the fridge, however if it is displaying signs of mold or any pink or orange tinges then it has gone bad and needs to be tossed.

Can I put all my sourdough discard together? ›

Can you add sourdough discards together in the same jar? Yes you can add sourdough discards from different days together in the same jar. You just need to make sure you stir it well and you don't leave it sitting in the fridge for too long. Sourdough discard should be used within two weeks.

Can I use sourdough discard straight from the fridge? ›

Store it for future baking: You can store sourdough discard in an airtight container in the refrigerator for future baking with sourdough discard recipes. When you're ready to use it, let the discard come to room temperature before using it to bake. I will keep sourdough discard in the fridge for about one week.

Can I leave sourdough discard out overnight? ›

Room temperature sourdough discard should be used, refrigerated, or thrown away after 36-48 hours. Sourdough discard can be kept in the fridge for weeks, BUT it continues to get sourer as time passes.

Do you have to discard every time you feed sourdough? ›

It would be best if you discarded some portion of your starter each time you feed it unless you want to continue to let it grow. Eventually, you need to discard the used “food” (flour and water) that's been used to sustain your starter during the last fermentation period.

What is the difference between sourdough discard and sourdough starter? ›

Active sourdough starter is starter that has been fed water + flour and allowed to sit until it is bubbly and about doubled in size. Sourdough discard is after the starter has peaked, and it has started to come down. It is the portion that you would typically throw away before feeding again.

Why does my sourdough discard smell like alcohol? ›

This is very common. If you smell it, you will smell that it is alcohol, a common byproduct of the yeast when it has consumed all of the available food.

What happens if you don't discard sourdough starter? ›

If you don't get rid of the excess, eventually you'll have more starter than your feedings can sustain. After a few days, your daily 1/4 cup flour and water won't be enough to sustain your entire jar of starter, and your starter will be slow and sluggish, not much better than discard itself.

Can you make a new sourdough starter from Discard? ›

Can I use sourdough discard to make a new sourdough starter? Absolutely! You can take a portion of sourdough discard and add a few grams of flour and a few grams of water to create a healthy active sourdough starter. You may need to feed your revived starter a few more times before its ready to make bread.

Can you eat raw sourdough discard? ›

No, it's not advisable to eat raw sourdough starter. While some people claim to have healed their gut problems by eating probiotic rich sourdough starter, it's not really advisable. Raw sourdough starter contains uncooked flour which can harbor harmful bacteria among other things.

Can I use sourdough discard in place of buttermilk? ›

The benefits of using sourdough discard

Instead of the buttermilk offering that tang and tenderness, it is replaced with discard which uses the starters natural acidity. This is a great option if you don't have buttermilk on hand, but you have sourdough discard sitting around.

Do you have to throw away sourdough discard? ›

When you are ready to bake, remove the discard from the fridge and let it come to room temperature. I recommend keeping sourdough discard for up to one week. If needed, mark the date on the container in your refrigerator. After one week, there is a higher chance of the discard growing bad bacteria or mold.

How do you not waste sourdough discard? ›

Then, every day you feed your starter, instead of putting the discard in the compost, add it to the jar, place the lid on top, and put it back into the fridge. Weigh out some discard from this jar whenever you need to use some in a sourdough starter discard recipe and put the covered jar back into the fridge.

Do I have to keep discarding sourdough starter? ›

Do I have to discard my sourdough starter? It would be best if you discarded some portion of your starter each time you feed it unless you want to continue to let it grow. Eventually, you need to discard the used “food” (flour and water) that's been used to sustain your starter during the last fermentation period.

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