31 Perfect Sourdough Discard Recipes to Unlock Your Inner Baker (2024)

Table of Contents

Table of Contents Everything You Need to Know About Sourdough Discard What is sourdough discard, and why should I save it? What’s the difference between sourdough discard and sourdough starter? How do I store sourdough discard? Can I use sourdough discard straight from the refrigerator? What if my sourdough discard smells off or has an unusual color? Best Tips for Baking with Sourdough Discard Maintain a Healthy Starter Collect and Store Discard Use Discard at Its Peak 31 Perfect Sourdough Discard Recipes to Unlock Your Inner Baker 31 Perfect Sourdough Recipes to Unlock Your Inner Baker Sourdough Blueberry Crumb Cake – a Great Use for Sourdough Discard Delicious Sourdough Dinner Rolls Made with Sourdough Discard Sourdough Stuffing Recipe with Roasted Red Onion, Kale, and Sausage Sourdough Croissants Sourdough Pie Crust Recipe Sourdough Naan Lavender Sourdough Discard Scones with Lemon Glaze | discard Sourdough Banana Bread made with Discard Sourdough Hot Crossed Buns Sourdough Pizza Crust Sourdough Brownies Sourdough Carrot Cake Muffins with Cream Cheese Frosting Best sourdough starter hamburger patty Mini Sourdough Breakfast Pizza (Fully Fermented) Quick Sourdough Discard Waffles Sourdough Pancakes | Extra Fluffy and Light – Milk and Pop Gluten Free Sourdough Chocolate Cake Recipe No Knead Cinnamon Raisin Sourdough Bread Sourdough Crepes Simple Sourdough Breadsticks (No Yeast!) Easy Rustic Sourdough Flatbread Recipe Gluten-Free Sourdough Soft Pretzels - Natasha's Home Sourdough Discard Cheese Crackers Recipe Simple Sourdough Starter Discard Coffee Cake Sourdough Zucchini Bread Sourdough Discard Tortillas Sourdough Discard Oatmeal Cookies Sourdough Pumpkin Pancakes {Discard Option} Sourdough cinnamon rolls with maple vanilla glaze (vegan) Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies You May Also Like: Ultimate Guide to Baking the Best Chocolate Chip Banana Bread The Perfect Refined-Sugar Free Southern Cornbread Recipe 6 Secrets to Fluffy, Flaky Sourdough Discard Biscuits Chocolate Chip Zucchini Banana Bread Recipe FAQs References

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By Michelle Marine

on Sep 14, 2023, Updated Nov 05, 2023

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If you’re looking for delicious ways to use your sourdough starter or your sourdough discard, this list of sourdough discard recipes will help you unlock your inner baker!

Everything You Need to Know About Sourdough Discard
Best Tips for Baking with Sourdough Discard
31 Perfect Sourdough Discard Recipes to Unlock Your Inner Baker

Beyond the staple sourdough bread, both active sourdough starter and also sourdough discard can be used to make a huge variety of dishes. Not only can you make classics like sourdough biscuits, bread pancakes, waffles, crackers, pizza crust, and cakes, but as you’ll see in this post, you can get even more creative with delicious sourdough recipes.

Sourdough opens up a huge possibility of both sweet or savory options in the kitchen, making it a versatile and eco-friendly addition to your cooking repertoire.

Everything You Need to Know About Sourdough Discard

If you’re unsure about using sourdough discard, here are the most important things to know.

What is sourdough discard, and why should I save it?

Sourdough discard is the portion of sourdough starter that you remove and discard during regular feedings. Some people throw it out. Instead of wasting it, though, you can save and use it in recipes to add flavor and reduce food waste.

What’s the difference between sourdough discard and sourdough starter?

Sourdough discard is the portion removed during feedings, while the starter is what you continue to feed and maintain. The discard has a stronger flavor and is less active.

How do I store sourdough discard?

Store sourdough discard in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It can be kept for up to a week or longer, depending on its age and activity. In my experience, sourdough discard can be kept for a very long time.

Can I use sourdough discard straight from the refrigerator?

Yes, you can use sourdough discard directly from the refrigerator in most recipes. You will need to let it come to room temperature for about an hour before using it to ensure better incorporation into the dough or batter.

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What if my sourdough discard smells off or has an unusual color?

If your discard has an unpleasant odor or unusual color, it may have gone bad. In such cases, it’s best to compost it rather than use it in recipes to avoid affecting the taste of your baked goods.

Best Tips for Baking with Sourdough Discard

While baking with sourdough discard is rewarding and flavorful, it can also be a little tricky. Here are some practical tips to help you get the most of baking with sourdough discard recipes.

Maintain a Healthy Starter

To have a consistent source of discard, maintain a healthy sourdough starter. Regularly feed it with flour and water to keep it active and vibrant.

Collect and Store Discard

Whenever you feed your starter, save the portion you remove (discard) in a separate container. Store it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it in recipes.

Use Discard at Its Peak

Sourdough discard is best used when it’s at its peak activity, about 4-8 hours after feeding. It should be bubbly and slightly tangy.

Make sure to read this post all about caring for and feeding your sourdough starter!

31 Perfect Sourdough Discard Recipes to Unlock Your Inner Baker

Now that you have a good idea what sourdough discard is, here are 31 ways to make sure your excess sourdough starter never goes to waste!

31 Perfect Sourdough Recipes to Unlock Your Inner Baker

Enjoy these 31 best sourdough discard recipes for using up lots of excess starter. Each recipe is a creative way to use discard starter. As you put your starter to good use, you'll enjoy each of these different ways to use leftover sourdough discard. We think unfed sourdough starter (discard) is one of the best things about your sourdough journey!

31 Perfect Sourdough Discard Recipes to Unlock Your Inner Baker (6)

Sourdough Blueberry Crumb Cake – a Great Use for Sourdough Discard

This delicious and easy homemade crumb cake is made with frozen berries and sourdough discard.

31 Perfect Sourdough Discard Recipes to Unlock Your Inner Baker (7)

Delicious Sourdough Dinner Rolls Made with Sourdough Discard

These delicioussourdough dinner rollsare the perfect way to use up your sourdough discard. Light and fluffy with a mild sourdough tang, they’re perfect for fancy meals or even for leftovers. Best, they freeze well so you can make them ahead of time for on demand rolls!

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Sourdough Stuffing Recipe with Roasted Red Onion, Kale, and Sausage

Made with leftover homemade sourdough bread, flavorful sausage, red onion, and kale, this stuffing recipe has become a game changer on our Thanksgiving Day spread.

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Sourdough Croissants

Photo Credit:pickyeaterblog.com

Make these croissants with sourdough for a flaky, buttery treat. These take some time and effort to make, but are so worth it!

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Sourdough Pie Crust Recipe

Photo Credit:stayathomesarah.com

This Sourdough Pie Crust is easy to make and comes together in minutes using a food processor or pastry blender. The perfect sourdough discard recipe for your favorite holiday pies!

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Sourdough Naan

Photo Credit:thegingeredwhisk.com

This sourdough naan recipe is so easy its foolproof! Delicious and flavorful naan is right around the corner with this great recipe!

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Lavender Sourdough Discard Scones with Lemon Glaze | discard

Photo Credit:emilyfabulous.com

Adding lavender and sourdough to your next batch of scones is a recipe for a delightful and elegant treat. These are great for breakfast, brunch or as an afternoon snack with tea.

Sourdough Banana Bread made with Discard

Photo Credit:thisbakinglife.com

Don’t discard your extra sourdough starter! It makes a great addition to easy baking recipes, including this banana bread recipe.

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Sourdough Hot Crossed Buns

Photo Credit:cheflindseyfarr.com

This version of hot cross buns has the best flavor thanks to sourdough! You will love making and sharing these with your friends and family.

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Sourdough Pizza Crust

Photo Credit:www.kingarthurbaking.com

One of my favorite savory sourdough discard recipes! We love making King Arthur Sourdough Pizza Crust!

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Sourdough Brownies

Photo Credit:www.farmhouseonboone.com

Lisa's sourdough brownies have amazing flavor and are chocolatey and fudgy, with a signature sourdough kick. You can whip them up in an afternoon or long ferment them overnight!

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Sourdough Carrot Cake Muffins with Cream Cheese Frosting

Photo Credit:www.rockyhedgefarm.com

Carrot cake muffins with cream cheese frosting make for a perfect, simple dessert. These are so moist and flavorful, and have some nutritional benefits as well.

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Best sourdough starter hamburger patty

Photo Credit:deliciousnutritiousfood.com

This recipe for sourdough hamburger patties is so flavorful! Make this for an easy upgrade to a simple meal of lean beef.

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Mini Sourdough Breakfast Pizza (Fully Fermented)

Photo Credit:growingdawn.com

These mini pizzas make for such a wonderful breakfast. With eggs, bacon and sourdough, this recipe is sure to be a favorite, hearty savory breakfast option!

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Quick Sourdough Discard Waffles

Photo Credit:www.raspberriesandkohlrabi.com

If you're craving waffles, check out these quick sourdough discard waffles. Crunchy and golden on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside - they'll be a hit on your breakfast or even dinner table!

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Sourdough Pancakes | Extra Fluffy and Light – Milk and Pop

Photo Credit:milkandpop.com

Make these sourdough discard pancakes for a flavorful and nutritious breakfast. The family is going to love this recipe with syrup and fruit.

Gluten Free Sourdough Chocolate Cake Recipe

Photo Credit:www.whattheforkfoodblog.com

Sourdough chocolate cake is such a decadent dessert! This recipe is also gluten free, so everyone can enjoy a slice, if you want to share!

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No Knead Cinnamon Raisin Sourdough Bread

Photo Credit:britneybreaksbread.com

Make this no knead sourdough bread with cinnamon and raisins for breakfast or brunch. You are going to love this fuss free recipe and the incredible flavor.

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Sourdough Crepes

Photo Credit:www.barleyandsage.com

What a great way to use sourdough discard! Make these crepes for a breakfast or brunch that everyone will enjoy.

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Simple Sourdough Breadsticks (No Yeast!)

Photo Credit:lynnswayoflife.com

These breadsticks start with sourdough and result in the best appetizer or addition to any meal!

This recipe needs no yeast to make some of the best breadsticks you will ever have.

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Easy Rustic Sourdough Flatbread Recipe

Photo Credit:cookingorgeous.com

Make this easy, rustic flatbread with your sourdough discard. It is chewy, tangy and goes so well with a variety of meals.

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Gluten-Free Sourdough Soft Pretzels - Natasha's Home

Photo Credit:www.natashashome.com

Make these homemade sourdough pretzels for the best snack! This recipe is so easy that you will never buy another pack of frozen soft pretzels.

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Sourdough Discard Cheese Crackers Recipe

Photo Credit:stretchandfolds.com

If you have discard, make these cheesy sourdough discard crackers asap! This sourdough crackersrecipe is so tasty, and relatively easy for the ultimate homemade snack.

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Simple Sourdough Starter Discard Coffee Cake

Photo Credit:ninnescahmade.com

This coffee cake is so good! It uses sourdough discard and has the best crumb topping to make a treat that can be enjoyed for breakfast, brunch or as dessert.

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Photo Credit:simplifylivelove.com

This basic bread recipe uses simple ingredients to make a perfectcrusty loaf of sourdough bread. It is not complicated to make and has the best flavor!

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Sourdough Zucchini Bread

Photo Credit:dirtanddough.com

Make this zucchini bread for a flavorful sweet bread snack. You can serve this homemade breadat any time of day for the best use of discard and garden fresh zucchini!

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Sourdough Discard Tortillas

Photo Credit:www.anoffgridlife.com

These tortillas are the perfect use for discard, and they can be used in so many ways! Make wraps, soft tacos or even breakfast burritos with these.

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Sourdough Discard Oatmeal Cookies

Photo Credit:www.twopinkpeonies.com

Add a zing to your next batch of oatmeal cookies by adding sourdough! The whole family will love this treat!

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Sourdough Pumpkin Pancakes {Discard Option}

Photo Credit:thepeasantsdaughter.net

These sourdough pumpkin pancakes are perfect for a fall breakfast! They have a wonderful warm flavor and are a perfect use for discard.

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Sourdough cinnamon rolls with maple vanilla glaze (vegan)

Photo Credit:www.rainbownourishments.com

This vegan cinnamon roll recipe is so delicious! Top with frosting and serve for breakfast on a weekend.

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Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies

Photo Credit:sugarspunrun.com

Make these cookies the next time you crave the melty goodness of soft and chewy chocolate chip cookies but need to put sourdough discard to work.

About Michelle Marine

Michelle Marine is the author of How to Raise Chickens for Meat, a long-time green-living enthusiast, and rural Iowa mom of four. She empowers families to grow and eat seasonal, local foods; to reduce their ecological footprint; and to come together through impactful travel.

FAQs

How do I activate sourdough discard? ›

If it looks okay but you have left it for so long that it will impart too sour a flavor in whatever you cook with it, or will not render good dough or batter, rather than throwing it out, feed it some flour and water to perk it up—how much depends on the amount of discard in there.

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What is the secret to sourdough? ›

The secret to sourdough is simple: water. The more water you add to your dough will affect how open the crumb (bigger holes and softer texture) will be once it's baked.

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How many times do you discard sourdough starter? ›

Room-temperature storage: Feed twice a day

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.

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What is the key to baking successfully with sourdough starters? ›

To bake the best bread possible, always take it out and give it a few feedings until it shows strong signs of fermentation consistently each day. While I know some bakers who can make sourdough bread using their starter from the fridge, mine has never worked in this way.

Learn More Now ›

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.

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What day can I start using my 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.

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What is the secret to fluffy sourdough? ›

Keeping the lid on for the first part of baking allows steam to expand between the gluten fibers to rise the bread and create a fluffy loaf. Step 4: Remove the lid and bake for an additional 12-14 minutes or until the crust is crispy and golden brown. Once you take the lid off, the bread likely won't rise anymore.

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What not to do with sourdough? ›

Here are the big errors to avoid when working with sourdough.

You Bake Too Soon. ...
You Use Unfiltered Tap Water. ...
You Use Water That Is Too Hot or Too Cold. ...
You're Impatient. ...
You Don't Autolyse Your Dough. ...
You Don't Let Gluten Develop Properly. ...
You Don't Let the Bread Proof Long Enough. ...
You Don't Form the Bread Correctly.

More items...

Apr 1, 2022

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What does baking soda do to sourdough? ›

Baking soda or bicarbonate of soda can be used in sourdough bread to create a less sour loaf. Added after bulk fermentation, but before shaping, it can help to create a lighter, more fluffy loaf of sourdough.

What happens if you forgot to discard starter before feeding? ›

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 I leave sourdough discard out overnight? ›

As long as your kitchen isn't too warm (I'd say 78°F or higher) your starter/discard will be fine stored at room temperature for at least a few days without feeding. The flavor will get more acidic the longer it sits.

Should I stir my sourdough starter between feedings? ›

stir your starter in between feedings - try stirring it twice in between feedings and really give it a chance to get oxygen into the mix. This will help to activate your starter without too much effort.

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What is the healthiest flour for sourdough bread? ›

Compared to whole wheat flour, rye flour is said to be the most nutrient- and amylase-dense option for a sourdough starter. Overall, it has a lower gluten protein content than wheat flour, which means it produces slack, sticky, and dense doughs.

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What is the best flour to feed sourdough starter? ›

All-Purpose Flour: All-purpose flour, which is a blend of hard and soft wheat, is a popular choice for feeding sourdough starter. It provides a good balance of protein and starch, which promotes a healthy fermentation process. Bread Flour: Bread flour has a higher protein content compared to all-purpose flour.

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Can you use 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.

Can you reactivate sourdough discard? ›

As long as your sourdough discard isn't growing mold or bad bacteria, you can take a small portion out and feed it several days in a row to get it back to being a bubbly, strong, active sourdough starter.