10 Sourdough Discard Recipes: Creative Ideas to Try

Looking for ways to use up your sourdough discard? This collection of 10 creative recipes is here to inspire you! From savoury snacks to sweet treats, these easy-to-follow ideas will help you turn that extra starter into something delicious and reduce food waste in the process.

10 Creative Sourdough Discard Recipes to Try

If you’ve ever nurtured a sourdough starter, you know that a lot of love (and potentially waste) goes into it. In order to maintain your starter and keep it active, you have to feed it regularly with fresh flour and water. And before feeding it, you need to remove some of the sourdough starter which is known as the “discard”.

Now, here’s the thing: just because you’re discarding it doesn’t mean the sourdough discard is useless. In fact, sourdough discard is a secret weapon in the kitchen.

And while it might not have as much rising power on its own, sourdough discard adds a subtle tang and sourness as well as depth to baked goods. It works with both sweet and savoury recipes.

Flavoursome and versatile, you can use it to bake many different things from pancakes, to crackers, muffins, cakes, pizza dough, flatbread, scones, biscuits, or even granola.

You don’t have to use your sourdough discard straightaway so whenever you are feeding your starter, just keep your discards together in a closed jar and pop the container in the fridge where it should keep for a week. Remember to check for funny colour or smell before using it and chuck it in the compost if it has gone off.

Once you have accumulated enough discard, simply add some to your baked good. You can pretty much use it in almost any baked goods. As a rule of thumb, if you are not following a specific sourdough discard recipe, try to keep the discard weight to around 20% of the total batter weight.

Here are a few sourdough discard recipe ideas to get you started.

– Sourdough Discard Pancakes –

Sourdough Oatmeal Pancakes from Champagne Tastes

These sourdough oatmeal pancakes are a fluffy, delicious breakfast made with sourdough discard, milk kefir (or buttermilk), flour and rolled oats.

Optional additions like sliced bananas or chopped nuts can be incorporated for extra flavour and texture. The recipe is adaptable for gluten-free diets by using a gluten-free sourdough starter and flour, making it a versatile choice for various dietary needs.

– Sourdough Discard Crackers –

Easy Discard Sourdough Crackers Recipe With Herbs from Tasty Sourdough

This easy sourdough discard cracker recipe is a brilliant way to transform leftover starter into a savoury snack. Infused with Italian herbs, garlic, and onion powder, the dough is mixed, rolled thin, cut into shapes and air-fried in just six minutes.

The recipe is highly adaptable, offering options for chewy, crispy, or crunchy textures depending on your preference, and can be customised with different toppings. Ideal for snacking, dipping, or adding to a cheeseboard, these crackers are a flavourful and waste-free treat.

– Sourdough Discard Muffins –

Protein Sourdough Blueberry Muffins With Streusel from the Pleasure of Eating

These bakery-style jumbo muffins boast a moist, fluffy crumb enriched with sourdough discard for a gentle tang, and a boost of protein powder to enhance their nutritional profile. Bursting with juicy blueberries and topped with a crunchy streusel, they make for a satisfying breakfast, snack, or dessert. The recipe is adaptable, allowing for overnight fermentation and various mix-ins, and the muffins freeze and reheat beautifully.

Sourdough Discard Poppy Seed Muffins from Stretch and Folds

These muffins are another example on how to repurpose sourdough discard this time, into a soft, lemony treat with a subtle tang. The recipe combines Greek yoghurt, milk, butter, and fresh lemon zest for a moist crumb, while poppy seeds add a gentle crunch. These muffins are quick to prepare and can be enjoyed plain or topped with an optional lemon glaze for added sweetness. Perfect for breakfast, a snack, or dessert.

Healthy Sourdough Banana Muffins from Fox and Briar

Made with white whole wheat flour, ripe bananas, and naturally sweetened with pure maple syrup, these muffins make an indulgent and nutritious start to your day. The addition of Greek yogurt and melted butter ensures a moist, tender crumb, while mini chocolate chips provide a delightful touch of sweetness. Perfect for breakfast or a snack, these muffins are both delicious and easy to prepare.

– Sourdough Discard Granola –

Sourdough Granola from Somebody Feed Seb

This sourdough granola recipe is definitely one to add to your regular rotation! Packed with nuts and featuring big clusters of oat mixture, this maple and pecan granola is everything you want in a chunky sourdough granola, that’s perfect for breakfast or simply as a delicious snack. Plus, it stands head and shoulders above any shop-bought granola we’ve ever tried!

– Sourdough Discard Cakes –

Blueberry Sourdough Bread from Pastries & Sourdough

This blueberry sourdough bread is super easy to make. Using sourdough discard instead of an active starter, it’s perfect when you crave something quick and sweet.

– Sourdough Discard Brownies –

Sourdough Brownies with Protein from The Pleasure of Eating

Rich and fudgy these brownies cleverly incorporates sourdough discard, ripe banana, and dark chocolate whey protein for added nutrition. Each brownie offers approximately 4–5g of protein, making them a more satisfying indulgence. These brownies are freezer-friendly and ideal for meal prep.

– Sourdough Discard Cupcakes –

Sourdough Chocolate Cupcakes from Pastries & Sourdough

Homemade sourdough chocolate cupcakes are the perfect snack to make with children. These little cakes are made with discard and can be made in less than half an hour. Combining the rich flavour of cocoa with the subtle tang of sourdough, these cupcakes are a delightful twist on a classic treat.

– Sourdough Discard Bars –

Sourdough Discard Granola Bars from Ginger Homemaking

These sourdough discard granola bars are a wholesome, homemade alternative to store-bought snacks, combining rolled oats, peanut butter, honey, and sourdough discard for a chewy texture and rich flavour. Mini chocolate chips and optional chopped peanuts add indulgence and crunch, while the recipe remains adaptable—perfect for adding dried fruit, seeds, or alternative nut butters. These bars are easy to prepare, requiring just a single bowl and a quick bake, followed by chilling to set. Ideal for breakfast, lunchboxes, or on-the-go snacking, they also freeze well.

10 Sourdough Discard Recipes