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
- Sourdough Crinkle Cookies
- The Best Fluffy and Tender Sourdough Discard Scones
- Easy One Bowl Sourdough Discard Brownie Recipe
- Easy Sourdough Discard Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast)
- Extra Flaky Sourdough Discard Pie and Galette Crust
- Soft and Fudgy Sourdough Discard Chocolate Cookies
- Flaky Buttery Sourdough Discard Biscuits
- Sourdough Pumpkin Cookies
- Homemade Sourdough Discard Fresh Pasta
- Chewy Sourdough Molasses Cookies
- Chewy Sourdough Discard Oatmeal Cookies
- Sourdough Biscotti
- Sourdough Chocolate Muffins
- Beef Empanadas with Flaky Sourdough Crust
- Sourdough Banana Cookies
- 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?
Baking is all about ratios! Therefore balancing the proportion of ingredients is especially important. 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.
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.
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.
The Best Fluffy and Tender Sourdough Discard Scones
Tender and cakey these Sourdough Discard Scones are the perfect quick bake for a seriously hearty breakfast. These are all about the butter flavor, so treat yourself and splurge on European butter (which has a higher % of fat) when you make these. Serve with your favorite jam and cream, and you are sure to impress your family and friends with this new delicious treat.
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.
Easy Sourdough Discard Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast)
Although it might have "bread" in its name, I'm classifying this not as bread because it doesn't use yeast for leavening or require rise time. These discard flatbreads are delicious, fluffy and ready in less than 30 minutes!
Extra Flaky Sourdough Discard Pie and Galette Crust
This Sourdough Pie Crust is buttery, flaky, tender and impossible to mess up! Butter and sourdough discard impart a rich flavor that serves as the perfect backdrop for any delicious fillings.
Soft and Fudgy Sourdough Discard Chocolate Cookies
Soft and fudgy, these Sourdough Chocolate Cookies are made with three types of chocolate. Sourdough discard adds a delicious tang that perfectly balances the rich flavor of chocolate.
Flaky Buttery Sourdough Discard Biscuits
Use your sourdough discard to make these flaky, buttery Sourdough Discard Biscuits. You’ll love peeling apart the delicious fluffy layers. Made with just a few simple ingredients, sourdough discard adds a depth of flavor to this easy biscuit recipe.
Sourdough Pumpkin Cookies
These Sourdough Pumpkin Cookies are soft, chewy, with a delicious earthy flavor thanks to the addition of pumpkin puree! A quick one-bowl recipe that tastes even better a few days after they are baked.
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.
Chewy Sourdough Molasses Cookies
Molasses and sourdough are a match made in cookie heaven! You’ll love the taste and texture of these Sourdough Molasses Cookies. Perfectly spiced, seriously chewy with a crunchy, crackly top, these cookies develop an even more delicious texture days after being baked
Chewy Sourdough Discard Oatmeal Cookies
These Sourdough Oatmeal Cookies are crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside with a great flavor thanks to browned butter and sourdough discard.
Sourdough Biscotti
Don’t throw away your excess starter, use it to make these Sourdough Biscotti. Crisp and wonderfully crunchy, these biscotti are delicious and taste delightful with a cup of coffee. These twice-baked cookies are easy to make and are the best excuse to eat dessert for breakfast!
Sourdough Chocolate Muffins
These Sourdough Chocolate Muffins are decadent, with a light and delicate texture. Sourdough discard and sour cream keep these muffins tender with a delicious tang that complements their rich chocolate flavor. These are perfect for an indulgent breakfast or a rich dessert.
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.
Sourdough Banana Cookies
Just like the edge of a loaf of banana bread, these Sourdough Banana Cookies are chewy, caramelized and slightly crisp. This no-frills eggless cookie uses overripe bananas and sourdough discard so you can feel good about using ingredients you may otherwise throw away.
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!