If you are looking for sourdough recipes to do with your leftover sourdough starter, also known as sourdough discard, keep reading!
Once you’ve created your own sourdough starter, it’s essential to keep it healthy by feeding it regularly. Depending on how often you cook, you’ll want to feed it either twice a day or once a week; that’s entirely up to you and your baking style!
Feeding a sourdough starter is simple. It combines the starter sourdough, extra flour, and water in a specific ratio.
There is often a lot of discard during the sourdough feeding process, the good news is that it doesn’t have to be that way! We are sharing the easiest ways to avoid waste with 65 sourdough starter discard recipes.
We promise you’re going to love them!
How To Maintain Your Sourdough Starter/Discard
Fresh sourdough starter is amazing! It’s a great way to make pancakes, cakes, bread, and anything you can think of. The important thing is to maintain it healthy and ready to be used. The best way to do that is by feeding it regularly.
Before we get started, here’s a quick tip: there are many different ways to maintain your discard starter sourdough, so make sure to try a few until you find the one that works for you. The best thing is that there’s no wrong or right way.
If you bake a lot, it’s a good idea to keep it on your counter at room temperature and feed it twice a day. Keeping it at room temperature offers some of the best results because it’s the best environment for beneficial bacteria, like lactobacilli, to thrive. This is the perfect way for people who are always ready to bake!
But if you are more casual, you can store your sourdough starter in your fridge and feed it once a week. Most casual bakers choose to do this as they don’t bake often enough.
It sounds simple, and it is but sometimes it can be difficult to getting that new starter going strong. If you’re having this struggle, here are some more detailed do’s and don’ts for sourdough starter to help you solve it and move on to baking up some deliciousness with it!
Now, here’s our list of sourdough discard recipes that you’ll love!
65 Favorite Discard Recipes / Starter Recipes
1. Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls
The fermentation process in this recipe gives the cinnamon buns a greater depth of flavor for the perfect balance of sweet, sour, and softness. From Farmhouse on Boone.
2. Sourdough Oatmeal Cookies
Sourdough Oatmeal Cookies are an easy discard recipe you will want to make again and again! Soft and cakey oatmeal cookies iced with thick icing. From The Gingered Whisk.
3. Sourdough Waffles
Sourdough Waffles are so simple to make using your discarded sourdough starter. Top with delicious maple-glazed peaches or summer fruit. Yummy! From Feasting At Home.
4. Sourdough Chocolate Cake
This sourdough chocolate cake has the most amazing texture and is the best way for all chocolate lovers to use their extra sourdough starter. From Milk and Pop.
5. Sourdough Cinnamon Buns
The added boost in flavor and the subtle chewy texture from a sourdough starter take these soft, buttery, cinnamon sugar-laced buns over the top! Try this recipe from King Arthur Baking.
6. Sourdough Scones with Lemony Glaze
Learn how to make the most delicious sourdough scones using a leftover sourdough starter studded with berries and topped with an optional lemony glaze. From Feasting At Home.
7. Sourdough Discard Crackers
You’ll never want to throw away your sourdough discard after you taste these addictive crunchy crackers! From Little Spoon Farm.
8. Sourdough Pancakes
Not only is this pancake easy recipe super yummy, but it’s a great way to use up excess sourdough discard. These pancakes are a little different from traditional pancakes, but we are sure you will love them. From Homemaking For God.
9. Blueberry Sourdough Muffin Recipe
Sourdough muffins are a perfect way to give your sourdough starter discard a good use. Tender, moist and flavorful, these easy muffins are absolutely delicious! From The Gingered Whisk.
10. The Best Sourdough Discard Waffles
This recipe uses unfed sourdough starter, and makes golden, crispy, and fluffy waffles – perfect for those with a sweet tooth! From Rustic Family Recipes.
11. Sourdough discard cinnamon sugar cake donuts
With a heaping cup of sourdough discard on hand you can make a giant batch of the softest, most delicate cinnamon sugar cake donuts. From Feast and Farm.
12. Sourdough Soft Pretzels
If you hate to throw away that sourdough discard, check out this recipe to make soft pretzels. Use your favorite dip to make it extra flavorful! From Baking Sense.
13. Sourdough Crepes
This sourdough crepes recipe makes the most delicate, french-style pancake with perfect crispy edges! You can fill it with either sweet or savory fillings. From Little Spoon Farm.
14. Perfect Sourdough Sugar Cookies
These sugar cookies are simple to make, perfect for cut-outs and decorating, and don’t need to be chilled before baking. A fantastic recipe to use your sourdough starter discard! From The Gingered Whisk.
15. Sourdough Pop Tarts
Sourdough pop tarts are easy to make with your sourdough discard and taste so much better than any store-bought toaster pastry! The crust is filled with your favorite pop tart flavor and topped with a sweet glaze. From Little Spoon Farm.
16. Easy Sourdough Bagels
Make and personalize these easy sourdough bagels by topping them with your favorite seeds and seasonings (we love sesame seeds!). From Pantry Mama.
17. Sourdough Gingerbread Cookies
Sourdough gingerbread cookies provide an unusual way to use your sourdough discard. Although it’s perfectly fine to use a fresh starter with lots of bubbles in these cookies too! From Pantry Mama.
18. Sourdough Pumpkin Muffins
You can use canned pumpkin puree or make your own. You can also choose between using your discard sourdough or an active sourdough starter for these muffins too! From Pantry Mama.
19. Small Batch Sourdough Pizza Dough
This dough creates a sourdough pizza crust that is airy and chewy with a delicious flavor that will have you making homemade pizza every weekend. From Ahead of Thyme.
20. Chicken and Sourdough Dumplings
This chicken and dumpling soup is perfect for fall and winter, and it’s extremely easy to make with fresh sourdough starter or sourdough starter discard. They have a great chewy texture and pleasant, slightly sour flavor. From Butter for All.
21. Sourdough Tempura Fried Pacific Cod
Sourdough discard is just water, flour, and wild yeast, and tempura batter is just egg, flour and water… Combine both recipes and you end up with sourdough tempura that has an exceptional taste! From Divine Lifestyle.
22. Sourdough Onion Rings
Make the crispiest, crunchiest, tastiest onion rings you’ve ever had, with the perfect amount of coating, by using sourdough starter discard! From Eat The Love.
23. Sourdough Granola Bars
These sourdough granola bars made with sourdough discard are a great breakfast or snack on the go! From The Gingered Whisk.
24. Sourdough English Muffins
Put that sourdough starter to good use and make your own sourdough English muffins from scratch using this recipe from Fresh April Flours.
25. Sourdough Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
Using discard sourdough starter, these carrot cupcakes are sweet and moist, topped with a delicious and simple cream cheese frosting. So tasty! From Heart’s Content Farmhouse.
26. Sourdough Cheddar Crackers with Discard
A delicious way to use your discard sourdough starter, this recipe for sourdough cheddar crackers is ready in under thirty minutes. From Hearts Content Farmhouse.
27. Sourdough Granola Bars
Sourdough granola bars are the perfect snack. The best part is that they can be made gluten-free, sugar-free, or vegan! From Fermenting For Foodies.
28. Sourdough Dutch Baby/German Pancake
This Sourdough Dutch Baby or German Pancake is yeasty and melt-in-your-mouth delicious! Let it ferment for about 12 hours for the perfect taste. From Buttered Side up Blog.
29. Sourdough Pumpkin Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Sweet pumpkin spice mixed with tangy sourdough starter combine to form this moist, easy-to-make sourdough pumpkin cake. From Heart’s Content Farmhouse.
30. Sourdough Coffee Cake with Cinnamon Streusel Topping
A delicious use for your leftover sourdough starter, this sourdough coffee cake is swirled and topped with cinnamon sugar streusel for the perfect sweet morning treat. From Heart’s Content Farmhouse.
31. Sourdough Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
This recipe to make oatmeal chocolate chip cookies with your excess sourdough is so easy, tasty, and makes four dozen. From Taste of Home.
32. Everything Sourdough Crackers
Everything sourdough crackers are crunchy, flavorful, and seriously addictive. Serve them up with slices of cheese or all on their own for the perfect savory snack! From The Suburban Soapbox.
33. Cheese and Chive Sourdough Biscuits Recipe
These tasty Cheese and Chive Sourdough Biscuits are the perfect soup companion. The best part is that they can be used for sandwiches and even frozen for later use. From Leelalicious.
34. Sourdough Discard Donuts Recipe
Make the softest glazed doughnuts and use your sourdough discard with this delicious sourdough discard donuts recipe! From Goodie Godmother.
35. The Best Sourdough Chocolate Cake Recipe
This chocolate sourdough cake is filled with creamy chocolate frosting and topped with a rich chocolate ganache. Perfect for birthday parties or really, any occasion. From Homegrown Happiness.
36. Vegan Sourdough Pancakes Recipe
These vegan sourdough pancakes are light, fluffy, & made with sourdough starter discard. You’ll love that these pancakes are vegan, egg-free, and dairy free. From The Herbeevore.
37. Vegan Sourdough Waffles
Make these yummy vegan sourdough waffles to use up some of your sourdough discard, and then add whatever topping you can think of, like apple slices, pomegranate seeds, peanut butter, etc. From Salt n’ Sprinkles.
38. Vegan Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls
These addicting sourdough cinnamon rolls are light, fluffy, and filled with amazing cinnamon flavor. You’ll love baking them multiple times! From The Hint Of Rosemary.
39. Sourdough Discard Scones with Blueberries and Lemon
Enjoy these sourdough blueberry scones that are soft and tender, filled with juicy plump blueberries and lemon zest. Topped with lemon glaze. From Homegrown Happiness.
40. Sourdough Garlic Bread Bites
Sourdough Garlic Bread Bites are a fun way to enjoy garlic bread with a sourdough twist. They can be made with very few ingredients but are so tasty. From Pantry Mama.
41. Easy Sourdough Discard Sandwich Bread Recipe
This quick and easy sourdough discard sandwich bread is a great sourdough recipe to have in your book for when you need to use up some discard. You’ll get a super soft, light and airy crumb with a soft crust that’s easy to eat. From Pantry Mama.
42. Sourdough Discard Naan Recipe
This easy sourdough naan flatbread recipe is made using sourdough starter discard and doesn’t require yeast! Plus, it’s has melted butter and garlic, doesn’t it sound so delicious? From Midwest Nice Blog.
43. Sourdough Fried Chicken
These sourdough fried chicken strips are full of flavor and are the perfect combination of tender juicy chicken and crispy fried batter. From Raspberries and Kohlrabi.
44. Perfect Sourdough Discard Snickerdoodle Cookies with Brown Butter
Let’s make some snickerdoodle cookies! They are tangy, with a hint of vanilla, and lots of cinnamon. My favorite part is the crispy cinnamon-sugar crust. From Raspberries and Kohlrabi.
45. Sourdough Pasta
With only a few simple ingredients – including your sourdough pasta -, you’ll have fresh pasta that is sure to impress your friends and family. Serve with pesto or roasted tomato sauce and enjoy! From Make It Dough.
46. Sourdough Puff Pastry made With Discard Starter
If you love pastries but don’t have the patience to roll each one, try making this homemade flaky sourdough puff pastry. Real butter rolled in the layers makes it so flavourful and light. From Homegrown Happiness.
47. Orange Cardamom Muffins with Sourdough Discard
Use your typical muffin ingredients to make these orange cardamom muffins, and add orange juice to the wet ingredients list for an orangy flavor. Bake with your sourdough discard! From Cultured Guru.
48. Peanut Butter Cookies Sourdough Recipe
These peanut butter cookie are easy to make and provides a great way to use up sourdough discard which gives a delicious depth of flavor that livens up the soft cookies. From Homemade Food Junkie.
49. Super Yummy and Easy Sourdough Biscuit Recipe
This sourdough biscuit recipe is pretty amazing and so easy to make. Plus, it only takes 30 minutes, so it’s perfect when time is short. From Homemaking For God.
50. Cinnamon Sugar Sourdough Donut Holes Recipe
Nothing beats a warm sugary donut, and these sourdough donut holes are so easy to make. Make sure to use some active sourdough starter to get the dough rise. From 104 Homestead.
51. Sourdough Discard Chocolate Mug Cakes
The Whole Food Diary shared a super delicious sourdough discard chocolate mug cake, as well as some tips for not discarding sourdough starters. So practical!
52. sourdough discard pineapple upside-down cake
This pineapple upside down-cake is so moist, soft and tender with a delicious caramel topping that is just too easy to love. From Make It Dough.
53. Sourdough Crepes Recipes
All you need are 5 ingredients and some delicious fillings to make this healthy recipe with your starter sourdough. From Farmhouse On Boone.
54. Simple Sourdough Cobbler
This sourdough cobbler is a wonderfully quick and simple dessert. It is similar to a pie or a crisp, with a biscuit-based sourdough topping. From Fermenting For Foodies.
55. Sourdough Discard Scallion Pancake
Not only are these sourdough scallion pancakes a great way to put that discard starter to use, but they’re also a great way to use up a remaining nib of fresh ginger or the last few scallions that you bought for a recipe. From The Practical Kitchen.
56. Blueberry Sourdough Sweet Rolls
Fluffy, buttery, blueberry sourdough sweet rolls are a sweet and tangy dough baked with a blueberry, brown sugar sauce for a delightful breakfast treat – or any time of the day. From A Blossoming Life.
57. Sourdough Chocolate Zucchini Muffins
Let’s make the tastiest chocolate orange muffins ever. Chocolate sourdough batter is mixed with chocolate chips, shredded zucchini, and hints of orange to make the best sourdough muffins. From Farmhouse on Boon.
58. Sourdough Discard Blondies
These sourdough blondies are out of this world, with a special decadent brown sugar flavor. The flavor of sourdough adds a much-needed complexity that complements the sweetness of this sugary treat. From Make It Dough.
59. Cinnamon Maple Sourdough Apple Pie
Healthy and tasty! This cinnamon maple sourdough apple pie is the perfect healthy apple treat for fall. With no white sugar, fermented grains, and whole ingredients, it can be served for both breakfast and dessert. From Farmhouse On Boone.
60. Sourdough Discard Apple Galette
The beauty of this galette is that you can fill it with however you dream of. Choose between apples, blueberries, or pears (or whatever you prefer) to make this decadent dessert. From Savoring Italy.
61. Rosemary Olive Oil Sourdough Crackers
We are sharing this recipe because we just can’t have enough of these delicate sourdough crackers, and we know you’ll love them too. From Butter and Air.
62. Sourdough Crackers with Olive Oil & Herbs
You’ll never throw away sourdough starter again once you’ve tried these ultra-thin and crispy olive oil crackers seasoned with herbs and flake sea salt. From Love and Olive Oil.
63. Gluten Free Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies
Gluten-free sourdough chocolate chip cookies are your basic cookie recipe made with sourdough starter discard. They’re thick, soft cookies that just melt in your mouth! Try this recipe from What The Fork Food Blog.
64. Gluten Free Sourdough Chocolate Cake Recipe
Or you can also make this super delicious, decadent sourdough chocolate cake! From What The Fork Food Blog.
65. Fluffy Gluten-Free Sourdough Pancakes
Ultra moist and fluffy gluten-free sourdough pancakes made dairy-free! These delightful pancakes have that unique sourdough flavor and are fun for the whole family! From The Roasted Root.
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