Making sourdough at home? If you’re looking for sourdough starter discard recipes, I’ve got you covered.
I love bread, and it’s hard to decide my favorite. Sourdough has to be up there though, especially fresh and warm from the oven.
While I bake a lot, I had avoided sourdough, though I love baking bread. In fact, I recently shared over 100 of my favorite recipes that use yeast.
And if you aren’t familiar with yeast or comfortable baking with it, check out my everything you need to know about yeast primer.
But sourdough is different. It basically takes its own yeast from the environment and grows from there.
You need to either find a friend with a sourdough starter or grow your own – and maintain it. These tips share everything you need to know about maintaining your sourdough starter.
If you want to grow your own, I love this version of a sourdough starter that does start with a pinch of yeast for simplicity.
Alternatively, if you don’t have any yeast on hand or don’t want to start with it, this is a great method to grow your own sourdough starter using just flour and water.
The challenge? Once you have all this fantastic sourdough starter, what do you do with it? There’s only so much sourdough bread you can make – so people tell me – and when you have to toss some of the sourdough starter as you’re growing it, well… I hate waste.
Fortunately, there are a ton of sourdough starter discard recipes to create some absolutely delicious breads and more. When you discard it, add it to one of these recipes and enjoy the results.
Sourdough Starter Discard Recipes
Don't just throw away your sourdough starter when you grow your baby. Instead, use it in one of these fantastic recipes. Sourdough discard is perfect for so much more than just sourdough bread.
Which will you make first?
Sourdough Sandwich Bread
Photo Credit:thegingeredwhisk.com
Yes, sourdough bread is traditionally more of a boule, but sandwich bread can be so much more useful on a day to day basis. Just trust me and try it in place of your traditional sandwich loaf next time.
Sourdough Bread Bowls
Have you ever ordered a sourdough bread bowl for your soup at Panera or Au Bon Pain? Replicate that experience at home with this recipe that has the most delicious tang to complement those homemade soups. So. Good.
Mom’s Sourdough Hotcakes
Photo Credit:thegoodheartedwoman.com
Start your day off right. This vintage sourdough hotcakes recipe never fails. Crisp, light, and slightly tangy, these delicious sourdough pancakes make an easy breakfast or brunch.
Spiced Overnight Sourdough Waffles
Photo Credit:www.theschizochef.com
If you're going to make pancakes, you have to try waffles, too. This recipe makes the batter the night before, which not only adds more flavor but also means you can start baking first thing in the morning. I call that a win win!
Sourdough Discard Cinnamon Sugar Cake Donuts
Photo Credit:feastandfarm.com
I love making donuts at home. The classic cinnamon sugar is a family favorite, and adding that tang of sourdough to the sweetness makes these absolutely sublime.
Pumpkin Spice Sourdough Scones
Photo Credit:thegoodheartedwoman.com
Scones are hands down one of my favorite foods. These pumpkin spice sourdough scones smell like heaven, and they taste even better. This isn't just a fall dish. Keep a can of pumpkin in your pantry and enjoy them ANY time of year!
Sourdough English Muffins
Photo Credit:www.beyondthechickencoop.com
My son would eat English muffins every day if I let him. I could go bankrupt buying them, but instead ... make them! These delicious English muffins are made with both active dry yeast and sourdough starter. The sourdough adds a delicious tang to the muffins, and the yeast allows this recipe to be made quicker than with just sourdough alone.
Cranberry Crumb Sourdough Coffee Cake
Photo Credit:thegoodheartedwoman.com
Coffee cake is one of the best brunch foods ever invented. This unique version has fresh cranberries that counteract a sweet base and the tang of the sourdough. Oh yeah, the double layer of crumb topping.
Sourdough Beignets
Photo Credit:thegingeredwhisk.com
The first time I went to New Orleans and had biegnets, it was love at first bite. A sourdough version? I don't see how you can possibly go wrong with this.
Zucchini Walnut Sourdough Discard Muffins
Photo Credit:heartbeetkitchen.com
I grew up eating zucchini bread all summer long, and it's still one of my favorite quick breads. This adds a fantastic tang to a classic recipe and uses both extra sourdough starter and the zucchini growing wild in your garden.
Sourdough Banana Bread
Photo Credit:thegingeredwhisk.com
If you're more of a banana bread afficianado, of course there's a recipe for a sourdough version. The addition of lemon turns it up even another notch.
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Sourdough Muffins
Photo Credit:www.cookingwithcarlee.com
I love muffins. They're that perfect breakfast but I feel like dessert food that you can make one day and enjoy later. I freeze half a batch every time I make some, which lets me have a grab and go breakfast or snack whenever I need it. These sourdough chocolate chip ones? How can you say no?
Easy Sourdough Biscuits
Photo Credit:spinachtiger.com
These biscuits are fluffy and light with just a slight sourdough tang. It's the perfect way to start your day. Enjoy them with your favorite eggs, a bit of preserves, or top them with a good sausage gravy.
Sourdough Pumpkin Biscuits
Photo Credit:homesteadlady.com
For a fun twist, try this filling bread that makes a perfect breakfast. Top them with gravy or jam, and you'll fall in love. The sourdough you add gives them the perfect tang.
Sourdough "Morning Rounds"
Photo Credit:www.mommygearest.com
If you've never had morning rounds before, you're missing out. They have so much texture and so many flavors, and sourdough is a perfect complement. Enjoy them as is or slather peanut butter over them.
Sourdough Pizza Dough
Photo Credit:frugalflexitarian.com
You all know how much I love pizza and making my own pizza dough. Why not use up that sourdough discard and make a simple sourdough pizza? It has tons of flavor, a chewy crust and a crispy base.
Sourdough Crescent Rolls
Photo Credit:www.cookingwithcarlee.com
Crescent rolls are one of my favorite forms of bread. Forget baking them from a can, and try this homemade sourdough version instead. You may never go back.
Sourdough Crackers with Homemade Za'atar
Photo Credit:www.baked-theblog.com
If you've left your sourdough starter in the fridge unfed, this may be the perfect use for it. Make a simple rolled cracker recipe using discarded sourdough starter. A sprinkle of homemade za'atar spice takes these sourdough crackers to the next level.
Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies
These chocolate chip sourdough cookies are a great way to use up some of your sourdough starter discard. Wake up the classic cookie taste with a slight tang.
Fudgy Sourdough Brownies
Photo Credit:www.baking-sense.com
Who doesn't love a good brownie? The perfect fudgy brownie with a crackly top is made even better with a dash of sourdough discard. Can a brownie be both fudgy and airy at the same time? Yep!
Sourdough Pie Crust
Photo Credit:www.baking-sense.com
Sourdough pie crust, where have you been all my life? This pie crust is tender, flaky and tastes amazing. This just might become your go-to pie crust recipe.
What sourdough starter discard recipe will you make first?
