24 Easy Sourdough Discard Recipes (2024)

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What can be made from discarded sourdough starter? A lot more than you probably think!

We've compiled a list of the best and easiest sourdough discard recipes you'll want to make. See what our readers are saying!

24 Easy Sourdough Discard Recipes (1)

If you've got a sourdough starter in your kitchen, more than likely you'll have sourdough discard leftover from time to time. Sourdough discard is the portion of the sourdough starter that is removed before a feeding.

This discarded portion can be thrown away or used in a discard recipe to avoid wasting food.

Whether you're looking for a sweet or savory discard recipe, something for breakfast or a delicious dessert, you'll find what you're looking for on this list!

1. Sourdough banana bread is the perfect way to use your sourdough discard and over-ripened bananas! The addition of sour cream makes it so moist and tender. The sourdough discard gives it the tangy flavor we sourdough bakers crave. This simple recipe will quickly become your new favorite!

Sourdough Banana Bread Recipe

24 Easy Sourdough Discard Recipes (2)

Helen says

"I have made hundreds of banana breads. This is the absolute best in taste and texture."

2. A no-fuss sourdough pizza crust recipe that's crispy, chewy and perfectly charred on top and bottom. An easy overnight dough that holds all your favorite toppings and bakes to perfection every time!

Sourdough Pizza Crust Recipe

24 Easy Sourdough Discard Recipes (3)

Janet says

"Simply the best! Our go to pizza crust! I make ahead the crust and freeze. These are simple and delicious! Family preferred!"

3. Learn how to make sourdough chocolate chip cookies at home with your sourdough discard the easy way! These bakery style cookies are soft, thick and chewy. Loaded with chocolate chips in every bite!

Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies

24 Easy Sourdough Discard Recipes (4)

Linda says

"Another home run! One of my family’s favorites! Between your pie crust, banana bread, and these cookies, I always have a use for my discard!"

4. Sourdough naanis a delicious, soft and chewy flatbread that's super easy to make with your unfed sourdough starter. Mix the dough in the morning and enjoy fresh, homemade naan in the evening!

Sourdough Naan Flatbread

24 Easy Sourdough Discard Recipes (5)

Carrie says

"Delicious!! Omg so easy to make and so tasty! Thank you for another great recipe! 😍"

5. These double chocolate sourdough muffins are the best muffins you'll ever make with yoursourdough starterdiscard. Chocked full of chocolate chips so there's extra chocolate in every bite. They practically melt in your mouth!

Double Chocolate Sourdough Muffins

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Melissa says

"Hello Amy as soon as you posted this recipe well I decided to try them . The recipe is amazing and every one loved them. Ive tried many recipes in the last week and every single one of them was so delicious. I want to print out every recipe you have. I'll probably run out of ink!!! lol. Thank you for sharing your amazing recipes it makes me really happy to have found your website!!!!!"

6. Sourdough discard crackers are thin, crispy and have that amazing tang that you can only get with real sourdough! You'll never want to throw away your sourdough discard after your taste these addictive crunchy crackers!

Sourdough Discard Crackers

24 Easy Sourdough Discard Recipes (7)

Catherine says

"These are absolutely delicious, endlessly variable, and incredibly easy to make! I like to sprinkle the dough with black sesame or poppy seeds before baking for some visual interest. I might try a sweet version with a cinnamon sugar topping next. Thank you for sharing this recipe; your site is truly inspiring."

7. Make light and fluffy sourdough pancakes and sourdough waffles with one simple recipe. It's the perfect recipe for using your sourdough starter discard!

Sourdough Pancakes and Waffles

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Zoe says

"This recipe makes the best pancakes ever! Super fluffy and soft pancakes for Saturday morning. I love this recipe! I did have to adjust the recipe a little to get the right consistency but it was no big deal."

8. Sourdough pie crust made with your sourdough discard is flaky, buttery, and perfect for both sweet or savory pies.

Sourdough Pie Crust

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Carolyne says

"I love this pie crust recipe. It’s easy, consistently flaky and buttery, and the sourdough adds a good depth. Made savory pies with it tonight!"

9. This recipe for sourdough blueberry muffins makes big, bakery style muffins that are tender and moist. They are baked to perfection with a crunchy, sweet crumb topping that is completely irresistible!

Sourdough Blueberry Muffins

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Cheryl says

"I made these for Christmas morning and the family loved them so much that they asked me to make the for New Year’s Day and then again for a birthday cake today!"

10. Sourdough Pop Tarts are so easy to make withsourdough pie crust. Stuff them with your favorite fillings likestrawberry jamorhomemade nutella. A sweet glaze puts the

Sourdough Pop Tarts

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Peggy says

"Operating a B&B, I'm always on the lookout for new and unusual breakfast/brunch ideas, particularly if the recipe can incorporate some of my sourdough discard. This recipe is a keeper! Handy for the table, a solid thumbs up from kids (who don't even know or care they getting something healthier than other, processed, preservative-laden choices) and also perfect for "grab and go" breakfasts for guests in a hurry. These can double as dessert, too! So glad I found your site ... sourdough pie crust is chilling now to try this afternoon for an apple pie."

11. These lemon poppy seed sourdough muffins are tangy, lightly sweetened and full of bright lemon flavor. They are perfectly golden on the outside, tender and moist on the inside!

Lemon Poppy Seed Sourdough Muffins

24 Easy Sourdough Discard Recipes (12)

Angela Earl says

"These were delicious and easy to make. I used chilled batter and they turned out beautiful, they freeze very well also. Thank you for the recipe😊"

12. Homemade sourdough tortillas are soft, chewy and easy to make with your sourdough discard. Taco night will never be the same once you've tried homemade tortillas!

Sourdough Tortillas

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John says

"I made these many times; they are so good that we don't buy tortillas anymore! Delicious and easy.
Amy makes the instructions simple and fun."

13. Sourdough brownies are super rich and fudgy with thick, gooey centers and shiny crackly tops. A chocolate lovers dream come true!

Sourdough Brownies

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Jan says

"I have baked a lot of brownies over the years - usually using the same old family recipe. These are by far the best brownies I’ve ever made!!! This will become the ‘new’ family brownie recipe!!! Thank you."

14. A sourdough banana nut muffin recipe, chock full of nuts, ripe bananas and of course, sourdough discard! You'll love how tender and moist these muffins are with the addition of a little sour cream. Perfect to make ahead and freeze for busy mornings!

Sourdough Banana Nut Muffins

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Rumraisan says

"An amazing recipe that puts discard to its best use. My family love these muffins. I love making them as it’s so simple, no need for an electric mixer. They can be whipped up in no time. I stuff the mixture into 12 large cupcake cases and they rise up perfectly to give a generously sized, highly addictive, banana muffin. The flavour is rich, texture is fluffy and moist. I don’t put nuts in as my children don’t like them but I’d love to try them with walnuts or pecans, maybe some raisins. I might mix in some different types of flours too. They make a great offering for a bake sale."

15. Cut out sourdough sugar cookies are soft, tender and hold their shape perfectly when baked. These sugar cookies are easy to decorate for holidays or special occasions!

Cut Out Sourdough Sugar Cookies

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Emily says

"These were delicious! I don't normally like the firm sugar cookies (soft/baked are my fav!), but these were great! I baked for 13 minutes, hence the firmness 😂
Thanks for the recipe, I imagine I'll be doing this one again 😍

16. Light and fluffy sourdough biscuits are easy to make with this overnight recipe. They are simply mouthwatering topped withhomemade butterorstrawberry jam. You'll love the tangy flavor of sourdough in every bite!

Sourdough Biscuits

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Tonya says

"Sourdough Biscuits Are Phenominal! Thank You So Much for Sharing! I used My Fed Starter and Followed directions, These Will Be The Biscuits I Make From Now On! Bless You And Thank You Again!"

17. Learn how to make overnight Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls with minimal effort. No need for a stand mixer or a second rise, they bake up fluffy and delicious! This recipe is perfect for beginners and it's a great way to use sourdough starter discard. See notes for adjustments in warmer months!

Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls

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Jessie says

"These cinnamon rolls are delicious! Easy to follow recipe and perfect for someone new to working with sourdough. This will be my new staple for holiday breakfast. If I could give it 10 stars, I would!"

18. This sourdough coffee cake has a perfectly sweetened ribbon of cinnamon sugar between layers of moist vanilla cake. It's topped with a nutty, pecan crumble that get's better with every bite!

Sourdough Coffee Cake

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Jeanie says

"Delicious coffee cake! Often coffee cake is very crumbly but this is more cake\bread like so it has a satisfying “chew” to it in the middle and a nice crunch on the top. This is the ONLY website I go to when I have a sour dough craving!"

19. Chocolate chip sourdough scones are so tender and buttery on the inside. You'll fall in love with the crumbly edges that are golden brown and "grab a glass of milk" delicious!

Chocolate Chip Sourdough Scones

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Dana says

"I’ve made these probably six times. They always turn out beautifully! Last time I made them I added cinnamon and nutmeg in lieu of chocolate and topped with a pumpkin glaze. This time I added fresh cranberries and zest to the batter and topped with an orange glaze. This recipe never disappoints. My husband loves having scones on the weekends now. Thank you!!"

20. Sourdough thumbprint cookies are easy to make with your sourdough discard. These soft and tender cookies are topped with your favorite flavor jam and dusted with powdered sugar for a festive holiday cookie!

Sourdough Thumbprint Cookies

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Diane says

"These are great! Love the texture. I used my sourdough discard, as suggested. My husband and I made pigs of ourselves. These cookies are even better than regular thumbprint cookies. So easy to make, so I will make them often. Thanks so much!"

21. This recipe for sourdough crepes makes the most delicate, french-style pancake with the perfect crispy edges. Serve them stuffed with sweet or savory fillings for a delicious breakfast!

Sourdough Crepes

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Traci says

"Wow! Every sourdough recipe I try on your website is better than the previous one!! My husband and I have just recently begun making crepes at home, and your recipe makes the most delicious and flavorful! It's amazing how easy they are to make. Thank you again, for sharing these great recipes and tips! 🙂"

22. This sourdough zucchini bread is lightly sweetened and perfectly moist. A touch of cinnamon and chopped walnuts makes this quick bread recipe irresistible!

Sourdough Zucchini Bread

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Kristine says

"I made this in a buttered muffin tin, the batter filled a one dozen tray and they were perfectly cooked in 30 minutes sprinkled with multicolor sprinkled even the kids ate them!"

23. This sourdough pumpkin bread is so moist and it's packed with delicious fall flavors! Pumpkin spice lovers unite! It's made with pumpkin puree, sourdough discard and just a twist of orange juice for a brightened up version of the classic.

Sourdough Pumpkin Bread

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Kristin says

"Made part of this recipe as cupcakes and topped with vanilla buttercream for our Thanksgiving dessert. 10/10 from my husband - everyone loved them! Made two mini loaves with the rest of the batter and those are also delicious. Love all of your recipes and you are one of my go-to sites for sourdough. Thank you!"

24. Sourdough pumpkin cinnamon rolls are soft, buttery and full of warm fall flavors. It is an easy, overnight cinnamon roll recipe with the addition of pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice.

Sourdough Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

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Leslie says

"Thank you so much for this recipe!!! Just made these and they are sooooo delicious! My 4 & 7 year old devoured them.
My favorite part of your recipe was the time frame you gave with the 8pm and 6am...I'm new to sourdough and that helped me so much. Definitely eating these for Thanksgiving breakfast and possibly Christmas ♥️"

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24 Easy Sourdough Discard Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Can you use day 1 sourdough discard? ›

Remember, you can't use the discard from your homemade sourdough starter for the first 7 days. You can use sourdough discard in all kinds of sourdough discard recipes, including these no wait sourdough recipes, overnight sourdough discard recipes and sourdough discard recipes that use up a lot of discard.

What can I do with day 3 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 much sourdough starter do I discard each day? ›

Starter that's kept at room temperature is more active than refrigerated starter, and thus needs to be fed more often. Room-temperature starter should be fed every 12 hours (twice a day) using the standard maintenance feeding procedure: discard all but 113g, and feed that 113g starter with 113g each water and flour.

Can you do anything with sourdough starter discard? ›

The discard is not active enough to make sourdough bread rise but it does have many other uses and baking powder can be added if required. Savoury options include English breakfast muffins, pretzels, caramelised onion biscuits, and sourdough pizza dough.

Can I use Day 4 sourdough discard? ›

At room temperature (70 F), sourdough discard should last about 1-2 days. Beyond that, it won't go bad necessarily, it will just become more acidic as time goes on (especially in warm weather). Not ideal for sweet recipes. In the fridge, it will keep for about a week or so, and in the freezer it will last indefinitely.

What to do with a day 1 sourdough starter discard? ›

You can always use this discard by directly mixing it into a dough for baking. Your discard, as long as it's in good shape, will leaven any bread dough just as well. The discard is just like a levain you would make for a recipe. The only difference is it's the same makeup as your starter.

Can I bake with day 3 sourdough discard? ›

BUT! You can also use that discard for baking. Some people will use it right away, in which case it'll still be pretty active. Other people prefer to store their sourdough discard until they have enough to bake with.

Can I feed my sourdough starter without discarding? ›

Once the sourdough starter is established on day 8, all you have to do is just give it flour and water. You no longer need to discard half of it.

How to tell if sourdough discard is bad? ›

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.

Do you have to discard starter every time you feed it? ›

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.

Can I refrigerate sourdough starter discard? ›

If you need your starter to take a nap or be babysat, just stick it in the fridge! I have kept my inactive starter or “discard” in the fridge for six months and brought her back to life in three feedings. Make sure you store it in a locking lid jar, that is essential!

Should I stir my sourdough starter? ›

It is important that you stir the sourdough starter every day in the morning and in the evening. Feed the starter. Add 60 g flour and 60 g lukewarm water, stir well to combine, and let sit out for 24 hours.

Does sourdough discard have health benefits? ›

Sourdough discard is rich in probiotics, which can help promote a healthy gut microbiome and improve digestion. It's also a good source of fiber, which can help regulate blood sugar levels, lower cholesterol, and promote feelings of fullness.

When can you bake with sourdough discard? ›

The longer the discard sits in your refrigerator, the more fermented and “sour” it gets. I don't like to use discard that is more than one week old in discard recipes . After about a week, the discard can become very sour and impact the flavor of the discard recipe.

How soon after feeding sourdough starter can I use it? ›

Fed sourdough starter refers to a starter that has been fed flour and water (preferably by weight). You should feed the starter equal or greater than its weight after discarding a portion. You should wait at least 2-4 hours or until the starter is at its peak before you use it in your baking.

Can I use sourdough discard right away? ›

Use it immediately for baking: If you are going to bake something right away (same day), you can keep the discard at room temperature until you're ready to bake. Cover it with plastic wrap to keep it from drying out until you're ready to use it. Check out a few of my favorite sourdough discard recipes here.

Can you use 2 day old sourdough discard? ›

You can use old sourdough discard if it's been stored in the fridge, however, you really want to use it up within a week - 2 weeks max.

When can I start using my sourdough starter? ›

It's an absolute myth that sourdough starter is ready to bake with in just 5 days. If you are rehydrating a previously dried, mature sourdough starter - sure! But if you are starting from scratch, you'll need much more than just 5 days. In fact most sourdough starters aren't even viable until at least 14 days.

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