17 Clever Sourdough Discard Recipes To Make Now

Sourdough starter needs regular discard in order to maintain a proper pH and to keep you from having a 50 gallon barrel full of the stuff. But it feels wasteful to throw it away every day.

Flour is pretty precious.

Instead, use your discarded (unfed) starter to add extra flavor to a variety of baked goods. If you don’t want to bake every day, just pour your discard into a container and stick it in the fridge until you’re ready. You can even freeze it for later.

Just remember: Discard does not rise and will not leaven any baked good. It’s for flavor only. Discard also does not break down the gluten, sugars or phytic acid in flour and is not suitable for the gluten intolerant.

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Breakfast Treats

Breakfast is a great time to add your sourdough discard! I love cake donuts and the recipe below is so tender and light. Try crispy waffles (and freeze them for warming up in the toaster) or super unique flaky biscuits.

Sourdough discard cinnamon sugar cake donuts

So tender they melt in your mouth. These sourdough discard cake donuts will be a special treat!

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Raised Sourdough Donuts

Raised Sourdough Donuts get their rise from natural leavening and are a great way to use your sourdough starter discard! They’re easy to make with a low-maintenance dough that comes together quickly.

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Sourdough Oatmeal Pancakes

If you’ve begun your own sourdough routine, you NEED this delectable sourdough oatmeal pancake recipe! They are super tender & fluffy, made with hearty nourishing oats and fermented overnight with sourdough starter.

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Oatmeal and Chocolate Chip Sourdough Muffins

These chocolate chip sourdough muffins are a delicious and nutritious way to start your day! They are quick, easy and full of oatmeal and whole wheat goodness yet they are soft and yummy. So good!

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Sourdough Discard Waffles

Tender, fluffy and lightly sweet with a hint of sourdough flavor, these waffles make for a tasty breakfast any day of the week. Bonus: You can make pancakes with the batter, too.

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Sourdough Biscuits

These soft and flaky American-style sourdough biscuits are the perfect easy side and a great way to use some sourdough discard! The discard adds a bit of tang and extra flavour while reducing kitchen waste – win win.

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Cakes and Pies

The last thing I had ever considered putting discard in was chocolate cake, but oh! It’s so moist. Make several pie crusts and freeze for later or use it right away in a rustic apple galette.

Sourdough Pie Crust

Sourdough Pie Crust, where have you been all my life? This pie crust is tender, flaky and tastes amazing. This just might become your go-to pie crust recipe.

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Sourdough Bundt Cake with Buttermilk Glaze

Sourdough Bundt Cake with Buttermilk Glaze is a perfect snack cake. The tangy-sweet buttermilk glaze forms an ultra-thin coating. A little sourdough discard transforms an ordinary cake into an extraordinary treat.

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Sourdough Discard Apple Galette

A freeform crust makes this apple galette look rustic and special but it’s really easy to make. Use your sourdough starter in the crust!

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Sourdough Blueberry Crumb Cake

This delicious Sourdough Blueberry Crumb Cake is a great way to use your sourdough discard! An irresistible coffee cake studded with blueberries and topped with cinnamon streusel.

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Sourdough Chocolate Cake

An easy sourdough chocolate cake recipe made with sourdough discard. It’s a delicious way to reduce waste from your sourdough starter!

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The Savory Side

Not everything needs to be sweet! Make a simple pasta with tangy tomato sauce, amazingly light popovers (add herbs and cheese!), and whip up a batch of crispy cornbread.

Homemade Sourdough Pasta

When you need a creative way to use sourdough discard, try making homemade sourdough pasta! The tangy noodles pair perfectly with a spicy, flavorful sauce.

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Sourdough Popovers

Sourdough Popovers are a fun and delicious addition to almost any meal, and a fabulously easy way to use sourdough starter or discard!

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Sourdough Crescent Rolls

Sourdough crescent rolls are soft, ever so slightly sweet with a nicely rounded sourdough flavor. They are the perfect accompaniment to your next dinner!

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Gluten Free Sourdough Cornbread

A simple sourdough cornbread recipe made with sourdough discard. Sourdough discard gives this quick bread a great yeasty flavor.

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Parmesan Cheese Sourdough Crackers

Homemade sourdough crackers flavored with Parmesan cheese, fresh herbs, and sea salt. They’re perfect for soups, salads, or as a tasty snack!

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Sourdough Naan Bread

Sourdough naan is so easy its foolproof! Nothing is better than fresh off the griddle flatbread, and this naan recipe is exactly that! Delicious and flavorful naan is right around the corner with this great recipe!

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