9 Easy Sourdough Discard Recipes for Beginners

Discover 9 easy and delicious sourdough discard recipes perfect for beginners! Get your free download today and learn how to reduce waste, enhance flavors, and create unique baked goods with sourdough discard.

Sourdough discard is such a valuable part of the sourdough baking process. This post will showcase a collection of easy-to-follow sourdough discard recipes that can be found on my blog answering a commonly asked quesion: What can I do with sourdough discard? 

As a helpful resource, I’ve created a FREE e-book filled with 9 easy and delicious discard recipes that are perfect for beginners! These recipes will help you make the most out of your discard and get you baking in no time. From muffins to pancakes and everything in between, this guide is designed to make using sourdough discard simple and fun. Grab your free copy now!

What is Sourdough Discard?

Sourdough discard is the portion of your sourdough starter that you remove during the feeding process. When you refresh your starter by adding fresh flour and water, you’re left with some of the old mixture that needs to be discarded. But don’t toss it! 

Sourdough discard is a goldmine for baking. It adds a subtle tangy flavor to baked goods, making them taste unique and delicious. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to reduce waste while still getting the most out of your starter.

The benefits of using sourdough discard are plentiful—it allows you to create flavorful muffins, crackers, pancakes, and more, without the need for a perfectly active starter. It’s a simple and easy way to incorporate sourdough’s benefits into your everyday baking routine. If you’re new to working with discard, check out my post, A Beginner’s Guide to Discard, for more detailed instructions and tips. 

You can also dive deeper into creative discard recipes with my Discard Crash Course. It’s a perfect way to get started using sourdough discard in fun, easy recipes!

FAQ’S

How Long Does Sourdough Discard Last in the Fridge?

Sourdough discard can be stored in the refrigerator for a week or two but honestly, I’ve kept and used it longer. Just make sure it’s in a container with a lid, so it doesn’t dry out or get contaminated. If you don’t plan to use it within that time, you can freeze it for longer storage (up to 3 months). When you’re ready to use it, let it thaw in the fridge overnight, or bring it to room temperature before adding it to your recipe.

Can I make a sourdough starter with discard?

Yes, you can! While most people start a sourdough starter from scratch with flour and water, sourdough discard can be used to create a new active sourdough starter. Simply mix a portion of your discard with fresh flour and water and follow the normal feeding process. This is a great way to build up a new, healthy starter for sharing with a friend.

Sourdough Discard Recipes for Beginners

If you’re new to sourdough discard, you’re in for a treat! These beginner-friendly recipes are a great way to use up your leftover sourdough discard while creating delicious, flavorful baked goods that are both sweet and savory. 

A few notes before we begin…

• There’s no need to bring your discard to room temperature, each of these recipes can be made with discard strait from the fridge. 
• Each of these recipes use all-purpose flour so there’s no need to purchase bread flour. 

Sourdough Discard Muffins

Learn how to make bakery-style sourdough discard muffins with this easy master recipe! Perfectly soft, fluffy, and flavorful, these muffins are a delicious way to use your sourdough discard.

The longer I spend in the kitchen, the more I appreciate recipes that are simple, versatile and don’t require a lot of complicated steps. This master muffin recipe is exactly that! It’s one you can keep on hand and easily customize with whatever ingredients you have, allowing you to make any flavor muffin you crave.

Sourdough Discard Pancakes

Want a fluffy sourdough pancake recipe that you can mix up the night before and freezes well for busy mornings? I have just the recipe for you! It’s likely that you already have all of the basic ingredients to make fluffy sourdough pancakes. The sourdough discard lends a subtle tanginess, creating a perfect balance with the sweetness of the honey. Drizzle with a little maple syrup and you have the perfect morning meal!

Sourdough Discard Crackers

Sourdough crackers are a fantastic healthy alternative to store-bought crackers. They’re easy to make at home, and kids can help with rolling out the dough and cutting fun shapes. These homemade crackers are perfect for road trips and hikes, offering a delicious and nutritious snack option that everyone will enjoy. With simple ingredients and a bit of sourdough discard, you can create a crunchy treat that’s free from preservatives and packed with flavor.

Sourdough Discard Pizza Dough

This make-ahead sourdough pizza dough recipe is a game-changing kitchen staple – your ticket to stress-free and delicious pizza nights. Bake in your home oven or outdoor pizza oven!

My favorite thing about this recipe is the convenience of pulling the already-made dough out of my freezer. Today I’m going to show you how you can have your freezer stocked with homemade sourdough pizza dough that can feed a crowd in almost no time! 

Sourdough Discard Banana Bread

What’s not to love about banana bread? This classic recipe is a great way to use up brown bananas. It’s a yummy breakfast or a sweet treat that makes a great gift. This sourdough banana bread recipe is moist and delicious. It’s also easy to make and one of my favorite ways to use sourdough starter discard. 

Sourdough Discard Biscuits

You will never make biscuits any other way once you’ve made these. This recipe is easy enough for a beginner but the taste will make everyone think your recipe’s been handed down for generations. Serve them with real butter and homemade jam, add an egg and bacon for a delicious homemade breakfast biscuit sandwich, or make easy sourdough strawberry shortcake! Hands down my families favorite sourdough discard recipe. 

Sourdough Discard Pop Tarts

Sourdough pop tarts are so ridiculously easy you’ll wonder why you’ve never made them before! Simple ingredients, minimal effort, and superior taste will have you rethinking the store-bought brand. Use your favorite jam or a brown sugar cinnamon mixture for the filling.

My favorite thing about this recipe is the responce I get from my family! My kids love these and prefer them over store-bought every time. 

Sourdough Discard Flatbread

Sourdough flatbread, also known as sourdough naan is perfect for busy families or anyone looking to use up extra sourdough discard. The sourdough starter adds a unique tangy flavor and a soft, chewy texture, making the flatbread more flavorful and satisfying than regular bread.

Flatbread dough is an easy recipe, making it the perfect option for a fast, fresh bread that can be served with a variety of dips, meals, or as a base for pizzas.

Sourdough Discard Cookies

These cookies can be as simple as scooping the dough onto a pan or get fancy and shape them with cookie cutters and top with a little buttercream frosting. This is also our recipe for decorating Christmas cookies! For best results when shaping, wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill it for an hour before cutting your shapes. 

As a special gift for you, I’m offering a FREE download with 9 easy sourdough discard recipes perfect for beginners! Just click the button below to get your copy.

There are so many reasons to love using sourdough discard in your baking—enhancing flavors, reducing waste, and creating unique dishes are just a few. I hope this inspires you to experiment with discard in new and exciting ways. If you’d like to dive deeper into using discard in all kinds of recipes, I highly recommend my Sourdough Discard Crash Course, where you’ll learn everything you need to know—and more!