Got a sweet tooth and a jar of discard in the fridge? These sourdough discard recipes turn your leftover starter into delicious sourdough dessert recipes - think classic desserts with a clever, tangy sourdough twist. Whether you're baking for a cosy weekend treat or a special occasion, there's something here for every baker, every craving, and any time of year.
Jump to:
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost for you! Thank you!
Why Use Sourdough Starter Discard in Baking?
Using unfed sourdough starter (aka discard) in your baking is a great way to reduce food waste and add depth to your sweet treats. While it won't make your dessert rise like sourdough bread, it lends a little bit of tangy flavour that balances sweetness beautifully.
Plus, the good bacteria and acidity in sourdough discard slightly prolong the shelf life of the baked goods.
For sourdough bakers with jars of extra sourdough discard, this is an easy solution that turns leftovers into something delicious. Plus, incorporating discard into recipes often improves texture and moisture-just make sure to follow tested recipes for the best results.
Sourdough Cookies
Sourdough Cookies are a wonderful way to use up extra discard while adding a subtle tang and soft, chewy texture to your favourite bakes.
Chewy Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies
These Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies are made with rich brown butter for extra depth. They are finished with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt to balance the sweetness. Slightly chewy, slightly crisp, and full of flavour, they're a clever way to use up discard.
RECIPE: Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies
Sourdough Peanut Butter Cookies
These Sourdough Peanut Butter Cookies are soft, nutty, and just the right amount of crumbly. The sourdough discard adds a subtle tang that plays perfectly with the rich peanut butter flavour.
RECIPE: Sourdough Peanut Butter Cookies
Sourdough Sugar Cookies
Sourdough Sugar Cookies hold their shape beautifully, making them perfect for cutting into fun designs and decorating for any occasion. Soft in the centre with crisp edges, they're a great way to use up discard and get creative.
RECIPE: Sourdough Sugar Cookies
Sourdough Oat And Raisin Cookies
Chewy, hearty, and just the right amount of sweet, these Sourdough Oat and Raisin Cookies are a cosy way to use up your discard.
RECIPE: Sourdough Oat And Raisin Cookies
Sourdough Easter Cookies With Mini Eggs
These colourful Sourdough Easter Cookies with Mini Eggs are crunchy at the edges, soft in the middle, and packed with festive chocolatey bites. Perfect use of leftover Easter eggs.
RECIPE: Sourdough Easter Cookies With Mini Eggs
Sourdough Gingerbread Cookies
Sourdough Gingerbread Cookies are perfectly spiced with a perfect balance of warmth and sweetness, making them a festive treat for the holiday season.
RECIPE: Sourdough Gingerbread Cookies
Sourdough Tahini Cookies With Chocolate Chunks
If you love cookies with a nutty flavour and a perfectly chewy centre, these Sourdough Tahini Cookies are about to become your new favourite treat! Combining rich tahini, sourdough discard, and a touch of dark chocolate, they're a great way to use up extra discard while making something utterly delicious.
RECIPE: Sourdough Tahini Cookies
Sourdough Biscotti With Cocoa Powder and Hazelnuts
Sourdough Biscotti with Cocoa Powder and Hazelnuts offer a crunchy, chocolatey twist on the classic, perfect for dipping into your favourite coffee or tea.
RECIPE: Sourdough Biscotti With Cocoa Powder
Soourdough Almond Biscotti With Orange Zest
Deliciously crunchy, twice-baked Italian cookies - these Sourdough Biscotti feature almonds and lots of citrus zest! Perfect for Christmas gifting!
Get Recipe Here: Almond and Orange Sourdough Biscotti (Made With Discard)
Sourdough Pumpkin Cookies With Chocolate Chips
Made with pumpkin puree, sourdough discard and white chocolate chips, this autumn treat is irresistible with its soft chewy cookie texture.
Get Recipe Here: Sourdough Pumpkin Cookies With Chocolate Chips
Sourdough Snowball Cookies
Melt-in-the-mouth, super buttery and messy to eat (in the best possible way), these sugar-dusted sourdough cookies are made with pecans and pistachio nuts!
Get Recipe Here: Sourdough Snowball Cookies
Sourdough Cakes & Cupcakes
Decadent cakes and cupcakes are a delicious way to use up that extra discard while adding a unique depth of flavour to your sweet treats.
Sourdough Carrot Cake
Sourdough carrot cake is a moist, flavour-packed treat with a subtle tang, topped with luscious cream cheese frosting for the perfect balance of sweetness and richness.
RECIPE: Sourdough Carrot Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting
Sourdough Apple Cake
Sourdough apple cake is like a warm hug in dessert form-tender, spiced, and full of sweet, juicy apples, with that sought-after sourdough twist that takes it to the next level!
RECIPE: Sourdough Apple Cake Recipe With Discard
Sourdough Rhubarb Cake
Are you in the rhubarb season right now? This sourdough cake is the perfect balance of tart and sweet, with a light, moist crumb and a zesty tang from the sourdough - it's like spring on a plate!
RECIPE: Sourdough Rhubarb Cake (With Discard or Not)
Sourdough Lemon Poppy Seed Cake
Burst of sunshine, anyone? Zesty lemon, crunchy poppy seeds, and that signature sourdough tang in every bite make it irresistibly refreshing!
RECIPE: Easy Sourdough Lemon Cake
Sourdough Lime Drizzle Cake
A tropical dream with its zesty lime kick, perfectly sweet drizzle, and the tangy depth of sourdough. British classic with a twist!
RECIPE: Sourdough Lime Drizzle Cake
Sourdough Banana Bread
This banana bread is everything you want - moist, sweet, and full of chocolate chips!
RECIPE: Sourdough Banana Bread (Made With Sourdough Discard)
Sourdough Vanilla Cupcakes
These vanilla cupcakes are light, fluffy, and bursting with rich flavour from either vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste. Topped with smooth, tangy cream cheese frosting, they're the perfect sweet bite!
RECIPE: Sourdough Vanilla Cupcakes With Cream Cheese Frosting
Sourdough Carrot Cupcakes
As delicious as carrot cake, but in a more elegant individually, portioned form!
Get Recipe Here: Sourdough Discard Carrot Cupcakes
Sourdough Brownies, Blondies, Muffins and More
Cakes and cookies don't float your boat? I bet we can tempt you with at least one of these delicious small bakes.
Pumpkin Sourdough Muffins
Autumn in a bite! These Sourdough Pumpkin Muffins are the perfect way to make use of your leftover sourdough discard while celebrating the cosy, spiced flavours of fall.
Get Recipe Here: Sourdough Pumpkin Muffins
Fudgy Sourdough Brownies
This sourdough brownie recipe is your answer to those intense chocolate cravings, delivering a fudgy, melt-in-your-mouth texture with an irresistible shiny top. Made with dark chocolate and no unfermented flour, these brownies are the ultimate chocolate treat and the perfect brownie every time!
RECIPE: Extra Fudgy Sourdough Discard Brownies
Sourdough Rhubarb Muffins
Super moist, full of rhubarb and ginger, perfect way to use up sourdough discard!
Get Recipe Here: Sourdough Discard Rhubarb Muffins
Sourdough Blondies With White Chocolate Chips
These Sourdough Blondies, packed with white chocolate chips and pecans, have a delicious twist thanks to dark brown sugar, giving them a rich, caramel flavour. With their shiny, crackly top, they're the perfect balance of sweet and nutty!
RECIPE: Sourdough Blondies (Made With Discard)
Sourdough Canelés
Sourdough Canelés are a little French pastry magic-crispy on the outside with a soft, custardy centre. The sourdough discard adds a unique depth of flavour, making these small treats perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth with a twist!
RECIPE: Sourdough Canelés
Sourdough Mince Pies
Sourdough Mince Pies are a festive British classic with a great twist - made using sourdough shortcrust pastry for an extra layer of flavour. These little treats are perfect for Christmas, combining the rich, spiced filling with a flaky, tangy crust that takes them to the next level!
RECIPE: Pear Mince Pies With Sourdough Pastry
Sourdough Lemon Muffins
Sourdough Lemon Muffins bring the perfect balance of zesty freshness and soft, fluffy texture. The sourdough discard adds a subtle tang that complements lemon very well.
RECIPE: Sourdough Lemon Muffins (Sourdough Discard Recipe)
Sourdough Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins
Bright lemon flavour pairs perfectly with the poppy seeds in this Sourdough Muffin recipe. The sourdough discard adds a little extra fluffiness, making them irresistible for breakfast or a dessert.
RECIPE: Sourdough Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins (Discard Recipe)
Sourdough Lemon Bars
Sourdough discard is used in both the buttery shortcrust base and the tangy lemon filling! If you're a lemon lover, you will be obsessed with these Sourdough Lemon Bars! And if you have limes, try our Sourdough Lime Bars instead.
Get Recipe Here: Sourdough Lemon Bars or Sourdough Lime Bars
Strawberry Sourdough Cobbler
Make this easy sourdough dessert any time of year by using frozen strawberries and a delicious buttery sourdough discard cobbler topping!
Get Recipe Here: Strawberry Sourdough Cobbler
Desserts With Active Sourdough Starter
If you've had your fill of sourdough discard dessert recipes and are ready for something new, it might be time to put your active starter to work. Using active starter in your baking brings the wild yeast into play, creating delicious treats with a unique depth of flavour.
- Sourdough Almond Croissant Focaccia
- Cinnamon Sugar Sourdough Pretzel Bites
- Sourdough Chocolate Hot Cross Buns
- Sourdough Cardamom Buns (Swedish Kardemummabullar)
- Sourdough Pain Aux Raisins Recipe
- Sourdough Pain Au Chocolat (Chocolate Croissants)
- Sourdough Apple Donuts
- Sourdough Hot Cross Buns (Step-By-Step Recipe)
- Sourdough Strawberry Babka (With Cream Cheese Swirl)
- Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls (Overnight Recipe) - Soft & Fluffy
- Sourdough Babka With Cinnamon
- Cinnamon Sourdough Cruffins
Leave a Reply