There are so many delicious Sourdough Recipes That Aren’t Bread. From sweet treats like cookies and cakes to savory dishes like pasta, the versatility of sourdough baking extends far beyond just homemade bread.
Every baker understands the joy of baking a fresh loaf of sourdough bread, but let's face it, bread recipes can be quite the time commitment, often taking hours or even days. Thankfully, there are plenty of simple sourdough starter recipes that go beyond bread-making, making your sourdough journey more versatile and convenient.
Short on time but still want to make flavorful bread? Try my Sourdough Discard Bread recipes that combine the efficiency of instant yeast with the flavor of long-fermented sourdough.
Jump to:
- What is sourdough discard?
- Why you should add sourdough to recipes
- Why you’ll love these recipes
- Can I add sourdough discard to any recipe?
- My Top Sourdough Recipes That Aren’t Bread
- Homemade Sourdough Discard Fresh Pasta
- Easy One Bowl Sourdough Discard Brownie Recipe
- Sourdough Sausage Rolls
- Easy Delicious Sourdough Discard Chocolate Cake
- Easy Sourdough Discard Crepes Recipe
- Sourdough Pumpkin Muffins
- Sourdough Crinkle Cookies
- Beef Empanadas with Flaky Sourdough Crust
- Simple and Delicious Sourdough Discard Zucchini Bread
- Rustic Sourdough Discard Peach Galette
- Sourdough Discard Whole Wheat Crackers
- Sourdough Discard Chocolate Shortbread Cookies
- Sweet Potato and Apple Sourdough Discard Coffee Cake
- Flaky Sourdough Fruit Tarts
- Sourdough Lemon Cookie Pies
- Recipe FAQs
- More Ways to Enjoy Your Sourdough Starter
What is sourdough discard?
Sourdough discard is basically any excess from the feeding process and any portion of your starter that isn’t used to make bread. Don’t toss it! Use it to make these sourdough discard recipes or just store it in the fridge for later use.
Why you should add sourdough to recipes
Sourdough discard adds so many benefits to bakes and dishes! Beyond adding a delicious tang that improves and enhances flavor, it adds moisture and in certain instances imparts the magic of fermentation, making dishes more digestible and nutritious.
Why you’ll love these recipes
Uses a lot of sourdough starter: If you don’t bake bread very often, it becomes a little difficult to use your discard sourdough starter. These quick sourdough recipes are easy to make and use a lot of discard.
Adds a delicious tang: The acidity of sourdough serves as the perfect flavor complement to dishes. It’s delicious in anything from Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies to Sourdough Pancakes.
Adds moisture to dough: Water that’s locked in sourdough discard keeps bakes like Sourdough Carrot Cake and Sourdough Oatmeal Raisin Cookies tasting fresh and feeling tender for days.
Makes dishes easier to digest and more nutritious: The fermentation process acts like a second stomach that predigests flour in dough and batter, this makes baked goods much easier to digest.
Minimizes food waste: Great way to use your own starter to create delicious recipes instead of throwing discard starter in the garbage.
Can I add sourdough discard to any recipe?
Adding sourdough discard to a recipe isn’t as simple as chucking a cup into your dough or batter. Sourdough contains a lot of water, and this added moisture can adversely affect the texture and flavor of a recipe. If not done correctly, it could make sourdough quick breads gummy and cookies spread.
Balancing the ratio of ingredients is especially important, so it’s best to use recipes that have been specifically formulated and tested using sourdough discard.
My Top Sourdough Recipes That Aren’t Bread
Sourdough discard adds a delicious tangy flavor that makes any great recipe even better. These no-wait sourdough recipes are quick and easy to prepare, and allow you to use a lot of leftover sourdough starter discard.
Homemade Sourdough Discard Fresh Pasta
Fresh pasta is so much easier to make than it seems. Just like baking bread, I was always intimidated by making fresh pasta but after making Sourdough Pasta for the first time, it’s been my absolute favorite way to use up my excess discard.
Easy One Bowl Sourdough Discard Brownie Recipe
Rich, and chewy with an irresistible shiny top, this Sourdough Brownie recipe is pretty darn close to perfect. Sourdough discard adds a delicious tang that makes this ultimate chocolate treat even more satisfying.
Sourdough Sausage Rolls
Delicious, savory sausage filling wrapped in crisp, flaky sourdough puff pastry these Sourdough Sausage Rolls are a definite crowd-pleaser and the perfect party appetizer.
Easy Delicious Sourdough Discard Chocolate Cake
If you want an intensely rich, fudgy and tender Chocolate Cake made completely from scratch using sourdough discard, then look no further. This Sourdough Chocolate Cake is so decadent, you won’t believe how simple it is to make.
Easy Sourdough Discard Crepes Recipe
Make the most delicious, delicate, tender Sourdough Crepes with crispy edges using your sourdough discard and just a few simple ingredients.
Sourdough Pumpkin Muffins
The perfect mix of crunchy and soft, these Sourdough Pumpkin muffins are fluffy and moist with irresistibly tall muffin tops!
Sourdough Crinkle Cookies
Light, airy with a rich chocolate flavor, these Sourdough Crinkles are quick and easy to make. Rolled in powdered sugar with a crackly top, these cookies are perfect for gift giving.
Beef Empanadas with Flaky Sourdough Crust
Beef Empanadas are a classic savory pastry from the Philippines filled with meat and vegetables encased in a crisp buttery crust. My take on is stuffed with an easy savory and sweet filling in a sourdough crust that’s impossible to mess up.
Simple and Delicious Sourdough Discard Zucchini Bread
An incredibly moist and flavorful loaf cake with aromatic cinnamon and hearty walnuts this Sourdough Discard Zucchini Bread is a great way to use up excess sourdough starter and zucchinis.
Rustic Sourdough Discard Peach Galette
Loaded with delicious fresh peaches, this Sourdough Discard Peach Galette looks elegant but is so easy to make. A flaky pastry folded around a delicious fruit filling, galettes take much less effort but are just as delicious and satisfying as a fruit pie.
Sourdough Discard Whole Wheat Crackers
Thin and crispy, these Sourdough Discard Crackers have a delicious cheesy flavor that you only get with sourdough. This quick and easy recipe will be your new favorite way to use up your sourdough discard.
Sourdough Discard Chocolate Shortbread Cookies
These buttery, melt-in-your-mouth Sourdough Discard Chocoalte Shortbread Cookies are so delicious yet so easy to make. Sourdough discard adds a delicious tang that complements the rich flavor of chocolate.
Sweet Potato and Apple Sourdough Discard Coffee Cake
This cake is fall in one bite! This Sourdough Discard Sweet Potato and Apple Coffee Cake is the perfect way to jumpstart the fall baking season. A little bit of brewed coffee is my secret ingredient, adding a little bit to the batter brings out all the earthy flavors and warm spices in the cake.
Flaky Sourdough Fruit Tarts
Fresh fruit is nestled in flaky sourdough puff pastry for the most delicious treat. Adding sourdough discard to the crust makes these tarts extra special.
Sourdough Lemon Cookie Pies
Tangy, sweet and loaded with bold lemon flavor, you’ll love these Sourdough Lemon Cookies Pies. Two soft, chewy cookies with a fresh lemon filling sandwiched in the middle, you’ll love these bright zesty treats.
Recipe FAQs
Sourdough discard recipes are dishes and bakes that do not use sourdough for its leavening abilities. These bakes and dishes usually use chemical leaveners like
Sourdough Zucchini Bread or Sourdough Waffles or no leaveners at all, such as Sourdough Pasta.
I like to keep a sourdough discard jar in the fridge. After feeding your starter or if you have any leftover active starter that you’re not using to bake bread, just toss it into a jar. No need to worry about feeding it since you won't be using it for bread baking.
Sourdough discard brings in a delightful tang that enhances the taste of both sweet and savory dishes. The level of sourness it adds varies with the unique acidity of your sourdough discard. An active sourdough starter tends to be milder and slightly sweeter, whereas discard that's been in the fridge longer packs a stronger sour punch.
Did you make this recipe? Do you have questions? Let me know below!