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Looking for easy sourdough discard recipes to use up your discard? Here we’ll share our favorite sourdough discard recipes for muffins, bread, pizza crust, desserts, and more!
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Most home bakers have a jar of something scary sitting in the back of their refrigerator.
It’s been there for too long, it has a funny smell, and if you don’t feed it soon, it’s going to pitch a fit.
No, it’s not something your sweet toddler dragged in. It’s the jar of sourdough discard you dutifully accumulated while making your sourdough starter.
You don’t want to throw it away because the waste police will come for you.
But you’ve thought about it, haven’t you? Don’t worry, we’ve all been there.
So much so that I’ve thought of a way to put discard in just about everything, and I’m here to share with you all of my family’s favorite sourdough discard recipes!
From muffins and quickbreads to pizza crust and desserts, I’ll give you every reason not to throw out that sourdough discard, and show you how to make it really delicious (even if it smells like a jar of drunken sailors)
What Is Sourdough Discard?
Sourdough discard is the portion of sourdough starter that is discarded during the feeding process. When you maintain a sourdough starter, you regularly feed it with fresh flour and water to keep it active and healthy (more on that here). To prevent the starter from growing too large, a portion is “discarded” before feeding.
Despite the name, sourdough discard is not waste. It’s simply unfed starter, meaning it hasn’t been recently fed and isn’t strong enough to reliably rise bread on its own. The good news is it still contains beneficial wild yeast and bacteria, along with a rich, slightly tangy flavor that works beautifully in recipes like muffins and pizza crust.
Unlike active sourdough starter, discard is best used in recipes that don’t rely heavily on fermentation for structure and rise. Instead, it adds depth of flavor and a subtle sourdough taste to all of your favorite sourdough discard recipes. What more could you ask for?
Why Use Sourdough Discard?
Using discard in sourdough discard recipes is an easy way to reduce waste and bring your favorite tangy sourdough flavor to all of your favorite baked goods. Sourdough discard brings a mild tang and depth that enhances both sweet and savory recipes. Even simple foods like pancakes or cookies can taste more complex and satisfying when you add discrd.
Sourdough discard recipes are also incredibly convenient (every mom’s dream, really). Because discard doesn’t need to be active, you can use it straight from the refrigerator without planning ahead. This makes it perfect for quick, same-day recipes when you want something homemade without the wait.
Even though sourdough discard recipes aren’t typically long-fermented, using sourdough discard also adds digestive benefits. As the discard has set in your refrigerator, it has been fermenting and growing that beautiful wild yeast and beneficial gut bacteria that not only make your sourdough discard recipes taste extra special but also make them easier to digest.
Easy Sourdough Discard Recipes
Breakfast Sourdough Discard Recipes
Start your day with these easy breakfast sourdough discard recipes that are quick to make and full of flavor! From pancakes to quick breads and muffins, these recipes are perfect for using up discard without a long ferment.
Sourdough Discard Cinnamon Rolls
Perhaps the most magnificent sourdough discard recipe on the blog is this sourdough discard cinnamon rolls recipe. It allows you to skip the overnight ferment and still have the tangy, melt-in-your-mouth sourdough cinnamon rolls of your dreams.
Sourdough Discard Blueberry Muffins
These sourdough discard blueberry muffins are the perfect breakfast recipe to serve alongside eggs or bacon, or to offer the kids as an afternoon pick-me-up. I like to use frozen wild blueberries, but you can use whatever blueberries you prefer!
Sourdough Discard Cottage Cheese Pankcakes
These sourdough discard cottage cheese pancakes contain 25 grams of clean protein with no fancy protein powders! Blend up a batch for the whole family and top them with lots of butter and maple syrup.
Sourdough Chocolate Chip Muffins
Chocolate chip muffins are one of my favorite sourdough discard recipes! The chocolate chips balance the sourdough discard perfectly, and the kids love them.
Sourdough Discard Bread Recipes
These sourdough discard recipes for bread are a great way to bake homemade bread without relying on a fully active starter. From soft sandwich loaves to quick breads and biscuits, you’ll find simple options for everyday baking.
Sourdough Discard Sandwich Bread
This sandwich bread is one of those sourdough discard recipes you’ll want to make on repeat. Soft, fluffy bread that’s lightly sweetened with honey is something we all need on our counter for the week.
Sourdough Discard Bagels
These sourdough discard bagels make the perfect bagel sandwiches for a packed lunch or simple breadfast slathered with cream cheese! And they freeze beautifully.
Sourdough Discard English Muffins
These sourdough discard English muffins make the best nooks and crannies without the long fermentation of classic English muffins! Use them for easy breakfast sandwiches or spread with butter and jam for a healthy start to the day.
Sourdough Discard Tortillas
These sourdough tortillas are a staple in our home! They’re perfect for lunch wraps or enchilada stuffing.
Sourdough Discard Hamburger Buns
This is one of my absolute favorite sourdough discard recipes. Once you try these hamburger buns, you will never, and I mean never, go back to store-bought.
Sourdough Discard Rolls
These sourdough discard rolls are the perfect side dish to just about any meal, and an absolute must for the holidays.
Sourdough Discard Pizza Dough
In the mood for sourdough pizza but don’t have time for an overnight ferment? No problem! This sourdough discard recipe for pizza dough comes together quickly for a dinner everyone will love.
Sourdough Cornbread
This sourdough cornbread is a staple for slathering with butter and serving alongside your favorite soup and casserole recipes! Made with sourdough discard, cornmeal, and a touch of sweetness, it’ll warm bellies and please a crowd.
Sourdough Discard Focaccia
If you love the crispy, garlicky crust of a sourdough focaccia, this sourdough discard version delivers the same results in a fraction of the time! Perfect for serving alongside pasta and soup or dipping in a bit of olive oil.
Sourdough Buttermilk Biscuits
Sourdough buttermilk biscuits are one of those sourdough discard recipes I can make by heart. They’re fluffy, slightly tangy, and perfect served with lots of butter and honey or in our biscuits and gravy casserole.
Sweet Sourdough Discard Recipes
If you’re craving something sweet, these sourdough discard recipes are the perfect place to start. Cookies, pie crusts, and cakes are all immeasurably better with the subtle tang and depth of flavor that discard adds.
Sourdough Strawberry Bread
This strawberry sourdough bread is studded with bright, beautiful strawberries and topped with a sweet, naturally pink glaze that’s perfect for summer get-togethers, Valentine’s desserts, or a simple afternoon pick-me-up.
Sourdough Discard Pie Crust
Give me all the sourdough discard recipes that are versatile enough to hold anything from a quiche to a pumpkin or pecan pie with homemade whipped cream. This sourdough pie crust is buttery, flaky, and perfect for all your pastry-shell needs.
Sourdough chocolate Chip Cookies
These sourdough discard chocolate chip cookies are worth batch-prepping and freezing for emergencies. Cookie emergencies. You know what I’m talking about.
Sourdough Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Sourdough oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are the perfect afternoon snack for hungry kids (and moms!). They’re chewy, chocolatey, and contain oatmeal, which basically makes them a salad. Right? Right.
Sourdough French Apple Cake
This French apple cake is everything that’s good about a French dessert (simple, decadent, lots of butter), but enhanced with sourdough discard. Top it with a sprinkle of powdered sugar and serve it to your favorite people.
Tips for Baking with Sourdough Discard
Baking with sourdough discard is so simple once you understand how it behaves. Here are a few tips to help you get the best results every time:
- Sourdough discard does not need to be active or recently fed to be used in recipes
- It adds flavor more than rise, so most recipes rely on baking powder, baking soda, or yeast
- The older the discard, the stronger the tangy flavor will be
- Stir your discard before using if liquid has separated on top
- You may need to slightly adjust liquid in recipes depending on how thick your discard is
- Discard works best in quick recipes like pancakes, biscuits, muffins, and crusts
- For best results, use discard that has been stored properly in the refrigerator
FAQs about Sourdough Discard
What can I make with sourdough discard?
You can make all of the recipes in this post, including pancakes, muffins, bread, cookies, pizza dough, and more. The sky is truly the limit!
Do I have to use sourdough discard immediately?
Nope! Sourdough discard can be stored in the refrigerator and used later when you’re ready to bake.
Is sourdough discard healthy?
Sourdough discard still contains beneficial components from fermented flour and can be a wholesome addition to many recipes.
Can I use sourdough discard without feeding it?
Absolutely, sourdough discard is specifically meant to be used without feeding. It’s perfect for quick recipes that don’t rely on fermentation for rise.
Sourdough Discard is Your New Magic Secret Ingredient
I hope I’ve given you the confidence to bake just bout anything with your sourdough discard. From breads to muffins and crusts, you can turn any of your favorite recipes into a sourdough discard recipe with a few tweaks. I’d love to know how you plan to use your discard in the comments! Happy baking!
For more Sourdough Help, check out:
- Why is My Sourdough Not Rising?
- Why is My Sourdough Bread Gummy? (And how to Fix it)
- Why is My Sourdough Starter Not Rising?
- Why is My Sourdough So Sticky? (And How to Fix it!)
- How to Make Sourdough Starter
