Sourdough discard, the portion of sourdough starter that is removed and discarded during the feeding process, has become a valuable ingredient in the kitchen.
Rather than wasting this excess starter, many home bakers have discovered creative ways to utilize it in a variety of delicious sourdough discard recipes, like fluffy pancakes, flavorful crackers, and more.
In this article, we will explore the versatility of sourdough discard and provide a collection of mouthwatering recipes that make the most of this ingredient that is often overlooked.
Whether you're an experienced sourdough baker or new to the world of natural leavening, these recipes are sure to inspire you to put your sourdough discard to good use.
40 Sourdough Discard Recipes You’ll Love
So are you ready to get started? Be sure not to toss that sourdough discard, and instead try some of our favorite recipes.
1. Sourdough Walnut Banana Bread Made With Sourdough Discard
This unique sourdough walnut banana bread recipe goes beyond the ordinary. Utilizing sourdough discard, this walnut-packed loaf offers a delightful tangy flavor and a wonderfully moist texture.
2. Best Sourdough Discard Chocolate Cake
If you want a sourdough discard chocolate cake recipe, this is the one you should try! This cake is easy to make, moist, and has a delectable chocolate glaze that’s hard to resist.
3. Sourdough Discard Apple Muffins
These muffins, made with sourdough discard, contain several delicious apples and are moist and delicious. As an added bonus, they are quick and easy to prepare, coming together in under 30 minutes.
4. Sourdough Discard Brownies Recipe
The natural yeast powerhouse of sourdough discard brings its unique qualities to these indulgent brownies.
With a fudgy texture and rich, melty chocolate goodness, these brownies also feature the delightful tang of sourdough for a truly special flavor experience.
5. Sourdough Discard Crepes
These delectable sourdough discard crepes offer a delightful way to repurpose excess sourdough discard. Inspired by a classic recipe, these crepes embody the timeless tradition of French culinary artistry.
Whether you enjoy your crepes with sweet or savory fillings, they make for an exceptional breakfast that encapsulates the essence of classic French cuisine.
6. Sourdough Discard Cinnamon Rolls
Everyone loves cinnamon rolls, and these cinnamon rolls made with sourdough discard are soft, sweet, and incredibly delicious.
They’re perfect for a sweet breakfast treat or a delicious gift for friends and family.
7. Sourdough Discard Crackers
Did you know you can use sourdough discard as a base for crackers? You can! And they turn out amazing!
You can add different herbs and seasonings depending on what you have available and even play around to create new flavor profiles. Plus, the sourdough starter gives your crackers a unique tangy flavor.
8. Sourdough Discard Cheddar Crackers
If you love Cheez-Its, this recipe is one you’ll definitely need to try! Use your sourdough discard as a base for crackers combined with cheddar cheese. These savory delights make a great snack or partner for co*cktails.
9. Sourdough Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls
Looking for a delicious taste of autumn? Try these cinnamon rolls with cream cheese frosting.
They are made with fed sourdough or sourdough discard and infused with pumpkin puree and the traditional spices of the season, like cinnamon, vanilla, and nutmeg.
10. Sourdough Discard Pizza Dough
This sourdough discard pizza dough recipe creates an authentic Italian pie with a soft, chewy crust! It requires no yeast and yet yields the perfect base for your next pizza creation.
11. Fluffy Sourdough Discard Pancakes
These light and airy sourdough discard pancakes are incredibly fluffy and soft, making them the ultimate fluffy pancake experience. They offer a fantastic way to utilize sourdough starter discard and can be prepared in just 20 minutes.
12. Sourdough Banana Muffins
Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with these sourdough banana muffins.
Crafted with the ideal blend of ripe bananas and tangy sourdough discard, these muffins boast a moist and fluffy texture complemented by a subtle sourdough tang.
13. Sourdough Vanilla Cake
Elevate your sourdough discard with this delightful sourdough vanilla cake recipe! This soft, flavorful cake topped with vanilla buttercream is an ideal choice for any special occasion.
14. Glazed Sourdough Lemon Cake
This cake strikes the perfect balance between a dessert and a quick bread, harmonizing the tangy lemon with the sweetness of the glaze.
It's an ideal way to repurpose discarded sourdough starter, resulting in a moist and flavorful cake that's perfect for any time of day.
15. Sourdough Apple Cake
The sourdough apple cake is richly aromatic, moist, and filled with a dense assortment of apples, pecans, and raisins.
Despite its unassuming appearance, this easy-to-make cake boasts an incredibly delicious flavor.
16. Sourdough Discard Blondies
Indulge in decadent and delicious sourdough blondies, a great way to repurpose your sourdough discard.
These treats are gooey, rich, and perfectly sweet, with the added enhancement of chocolate chips for an irresistible taste and texture.
17. Sourdough Discard Crackers With Parmesan
Sourdough discard crackers are a delightful discovery!
With their crisp, buttery texture and flavorful profile enriched with grated Parmesan and herbs, these crackers evoke the irresistible taste of a pizzeria experience.
18. Sourdough Scones
Tender and flaky sourdough scones offer a delightful tang that sets them apart.
This simple sourdough scones recipe is the perfect way to repurpose your sourdough discard, and it's easy to customize by incorporating your favorite add-ins, whether it's chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or dried fruit.
19. Sourdough Brownies
These simple sourdough brownies make use of sourdough discard to produce moist, fudgy brownies with a shiny crust.
They feature a rich chocolate flavor achieved through a combination of melted chocolate, chocolate chips, and cocoa powder, striking a perfect balance of sweetness.
20. Sourdough Snickerdoodles
Put a tangy spin on traditional snickerdoodle cookies with your sourdough discard. It helps create snickerdoodle cookies that are soft, chewy, and sweet.
Utilizing sourdough discard, these cookies offer the advantages of long-fermented grains with the goodness of sweet cinnamon sugar.
21. Chocolate Sourdough Biscotti
This chocolate sourdough biscotti recipe produces a crispy cookie that brings to mind the texture of brownie brittle.
The dough is already rich in chocolate, and the flavor is further enhanced by incorporating chocolate chips for extra chocolatey goodness.
22. Sourdough Pumpkin Muffins
Use your sourdough discard to create these moist and tender sourdough pumpkin muffins!
Crafted with real homemade pumpkin puree, warm spices, and sweet sugar, this recipe offers a delightful way to embrace the flavors of autumn in a delectable sweet treat.
23. Sourdough Apple Cobbler
This sourdough apple cobbler recipe features warm, sugary, spiced apples nestled beneath a crisp, tender cobbler topping. It’s the perfect mix of sweet and tart with an irresistible crisp.
Pair it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the ultimate comforting dessert experience.
24. Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chocolate chip cookies are always a favorite. Put a slight twist on the classic by using your sourdough discard like in this recipe.
The result is cookies that are soft, chewy, full of chocolate, and with a hint of delicious sourdough tang.
25. Sourdough Whole Wheat Blueberry Muffins
These sourdough blueberry muffins are sweet and delicious, made with sourdough discard and fresh (or frozen) blueberries.
They’re a healthier option to the classic muffin because they are made with whole wheat for added fiber and get their sweetness from the blueberries and maple syrup without added sugar.
26. Simple Sourdough Discard Biscuits
Sourdough discard is excellent for making soft and slightly crispy classic biscuits. These delicious and straightforward sourdough discard biscuits are a perfect match for a hearty stew or a warm meal.
27. New York Style Sourdough Discard Bagels
Elevate your New York-style bagels by using sourdough discard in the recipe. The sourdough discard enhances the depth of flavor and contributes to keeping the bagels fresher for longer.
28. Homemade Sourdough English Muffins
When it comes to bread, nothing beats homemade. And these homemade sourdough English Muffins are no exception. They are light, fluffy, and crispy! Just what you would expect from English Muffins.
29. Chocolate Chip Sourdough Biscotti
Biscotti is an excellent partner for coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. And this biscotti made with sourdough discard is just the right amount of flavor and crunch with the perfect sweetness from the added chocolate chips.
30. Easy Sourdough Discard Bread
If you are craving sourdough bread but are not patient enough to wait two days to make it with an active starter, this simple sourdough discard bread recipe gives you the same delicious flavor but allows you to enjoy it in just over two hours.
31. Sourdough Discard Coffee Cake
Crafting this sourdough discard coffee cake is a breeze.
It's sweet and delightful and an ideal method for utilizing your discard. Sourdough enthusiasts will savor the subtle tang that the sourdough imparts to this cake. It's both effortless and delicious.
32. Skillet Sourdough Discard Cornbread
Soup season is the perfect opportunity to prepare this Sourdough Discard Cornbread recipe to accompany your soups and stews!
This cornbread is light, fluffy, and an excellent method for utilizing your leftover sourdough starter.
33. Sourdough Biscotti
Make this biscotti with sourdough discard and toasted almonds, and finish it off with a drizzle of delicious melted chocolate for that touch of sweetness.
It’s great alone as a snack or with your morning coffee.
34. Honey Wheat Bread With Sourdough Discard
Honey wheat bread with the option to incorporate sourdough discard yields a slightly sweet, wheat-infused, delectably light loaf. It's perfect on its own or as a side, for toasting, or for making sandwiches.
35. Sourdough Discard Garlic Pull Apart Bread
You’re sure to love the delicious and interactive experience of this sourdough discard garlic pull-apart bread! Tear off a buttery, garlicky layer to savor as a standalone treat or as a delightful side dish with a meal.
It's a fun twist on classic garlic bread that's both enjoyable to make and eat.
36. Sourdough Crispy Waffle Recipe Without Milk
Ideal for those in search of a dairy-free alternative, this sourdough crisp waffle recipe without milk ensures golden-brown waffles with a delightful crunch and a fluffy interior.
Whether it's due to dietary preferences, lactose intolerance, or simply running out of milk, you won't have to sacrifice taste and texture with this recipe.
37. Easy Sourdough Naan
If you take your sourdough discard and mix it with Greek yogurt, flour, and milk. Then fry it in a pan with melted butter until you just begin to beautifully brown the outside, you can make a delicious light and fluffy Naan.
Naan goes great with your curries and even stews.
38. Sourdough Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins
These yummy muffins are made with pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spices, and sourdough discard. They are filled with cream cheese frosting and have pumpkin seeds sprinkled on the top for additional texture and flavor.
They are soft and moist and the perfect treat for fall.
39. Sourdough Discard Cheese Cracker
These crunchy and tasty crackers are made with sourdough starter and infused with cheese, making them taste like everyone's favorite childhood snack, Goldfish.
You can cut them with a small goldfish cookie cutter to give them even more Goldfish appeal.
40. Sourdough Pumpkin Muffins With Cinnamon Streusel and Maple Glaze
Anything with pumpkin is always fun for fall. And if you love muffins, these sourdough pumpkin muffins are perfectly moist, sweet, and pillow soft. Plus, the addition of streusel on top is an additional sweet treat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Keep Sourdough Discard To Use for Baking Later?
Yes, you can keep sourdough discard to use for baking later.
Sourdough discard can be stored in the refrigerator for several days or in the freezer for a longer period. When you're ready to use it, thaw it if frozen or bring it to room temperature if refrigerated before incorporating it into your baking recipes.
Does Using Sourdough Discard Make Your Baked Goods Sour or Tangy?
Using sourdough discard in baked goods can impart a mild tangy flavor, but the level of tanginess can vary. The amount of tangy flavor you detect can depend on factors such as the age of the discard, the recipe, and the other ingredients used.
In general, the sourness is often subtle and can enhance the overall flavor profile of the baked goods rather than overpowering it.
What Is the Best Pastry To Make With Sourdough Discard?
Sourdough discard can be used to make a variety of delicious pastries, including options such as sourdough discard biscuits, sourdough discard croissants, sourdough discard cinnamon rolls, and sourdough discard danishes.
The tangy flavor of the discard can add a unique dimension to these pastries, creating an exceptional taste and texture.
There is no singular pastry that stands out that’s improved with the use of sourdough discard. Ultimately, the best pastry to make with sourdough discard depends on personal preferences and the specific recipe being used.
Don’t Waste That Sourdough Discard
From tender pancakes to flaky pastries and flavorful breads, the creative use of sourdough discard not only reduces food waste but also adds depth and complexity to a wide range of recipes. And you can enjoy these as snacks, desserts, and even as companions to savory dishes.
Whether you are an experienced sourdough baker or a hobbyist who became interested in sourdough, using your sourdough discard to explore new recipes is a fun way of seeing how much more you can create.
Try out some of our recipes, mix and match your favorite ingredients, and try and try until you find the keepers you want in your baking repertoire.
