14 Easy Sourdough Discard Recipes For Beginners
Last Updated on July 5, 2025 by Jamie Saechao
These quick and easy sourdough discard recipes for beginners will help you gain confidence in your sourdough baking!
The best thing you can do if you are new to sourdough is bake several times a week or even every day, if you can.
As you bake bread, you will probably end up with some sourdough discard. The simple recipes below are the perfect way to use up any extra discard.
To gain confidence in your bread baking, you can choose one simple bread recipe to practice over and over.
In addition to baking bread, the discard from your sourdough starter opens the door to all kinds of fun and tasty recipes. Sourdough discard is simple to use and adds a delicious tang to baked goods.
When To Use Discard
Use discard in a recipe when it is flat, runny, and no longer active and bubbly.
The timing of this can vary depending on the strength of your starter and your home’s temperature. Generally speaking, I use my starter around the 18-24 hour mark for these recipes.
I also keep some in the refrigerator and will use that for up to a week at a time. Refrigerated discard is totally flat and runny, and it works perfectly as an addition to baked goods. You’ll love the tangy flavor discard adds!
If you only have active starter, you can stir it down and use it in many of these recipes.
Let’s dive into the most delicious discard recipes that are simple to make!
Easy Sourdough Discard Recipes For Beginners
Let’s have a look at some classic, easy recipes that have been converted to sourdough! These are the best recipes for beginner bakers.
As a busy mom, I like to keep things streamlined in the kitchen – and these discard recipes provide a quick way to bake for my kids.
All of these recipes are simple and easy to make and take advantage of that amazing sourdough tang that comes from using discard!
1. Fudgy Sourdough Brownies
These sourdough brownies are absolutely divine!
Featuring cocoa powder, chocolate chips, and tangy sourdough discard, these brownies are soft, chewy, and irresistible.
This fun dessert is also quick and easy to make- you only need one sauce pan for mixing up the dough!
2. Waffles
Sourdough discard waffles are a quick and filling breakfast.
My recipe is also incredibly simple to make.
Just whip up the batter the night before and let it ferment over night, then add in your eggs, butter and vanilla.
Get the full recipe here!
3. Sourdough Discard Pancakes
Speaking of breakfast, these easy sourdough pancakes are a perfect way to use up extra discard.
Light and fluffy, these pancakes feature a delicious sourdough tang.
The eggs and butter used in the batter create a filling recipe that keeps the kiddos full until lunch.
4. Sourdough Pumpkin Muffins
These pumpkin muffins are soft, moist, and full of fall flavor.
Like my brownies, these muffins are another simple one-bowl recipe that can be whipped up in a matter of minutes.
This is the perfect autumn discard recipe– or snack!
5. Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies
This delicious chocolate chip cookie discard recipe has gone viral on pinterest.
Ashlan says:
“Typically I don’t leave comments on Pinterest… but this was the PERFECT cookie recipe.. I will be making these again and again!!! Fabulous recipe.”
6. Sourdough Chocolate M+M Cookies
This fun recipe takes chocolate chip cookies to the next level!
M+M’s combined with chocolate chips and sourdough discard make for a sweet, tangy cookie.
This cookie is fun for holidays like Easter and Christmas.
7. Sourdough Cheddar Biscuits
These simple cheddar biscuits are a delicious dinner side that quick and easy to make.
Using just a few simple ingredients, these savory biscuits are one of the best sourdough discard sides to have in your recipe box.
Light, fluffy, and full of flavor, this sourdough side tastes a lot like Red Lobster biscuits.
8. Discard Snickerdoodle Cookies
I love taking classic cookie recipes and giving them a sourdough spin, and these old-fashioned snickerdoodle cookies do not disappoint!
These cookies feature sugar, cinnamon, cream of tartar and sourdough discard.
They are the perfect holiday cookie!
Out of all the cookie recipes I’ve created, these are definitely my favorite!
9. Easy Sourdough Discard Crackers
This tangy sourdough discard cracker recipe uses JUST sourdough discard for the base.
They are fully fermented, tangy, crispy, and irresistible.
Paired with pears and cheese, these crackers make a great mid afternoon snack.
10. Double Chocolate Cookies
Calling all chocolate lovers! These chewy double chocolate chip cookies are absolutely irresistible.
Filled with cocoa powder, dark chocolate chips, and tangy sourdough, these decadent cookies don’t last long after baking.
11. Sourdough Cheese Its
These sourdough discard cheese its are so good my kids (and the neighbor kids) ask me to make them on repeat.
Made from discard only, these easy crackers are the perfect salty snack.
Mix together shredded cheese, discard, and salt then bake. One of my favorite low fuss discard recipes!
12. Sourdough Banana Bread
Chocolate lovers, it’s time to celebrate!
This sourdough banana bread is a decadent infusion of tropical bananas, rich chocolate, and sourdough tang.
Moist, soft, and delicious, this easy banana bread is one of our favorites.
13. Sourdough Pikelets
Sourdough pikelets have buttery, crispy tops and a soft chewy interior.
They are similar to English muffins but much easier to bake!
Top these tiny golden pancakes with honey and syrup or use them as a base layer for sandwiches.
You’ll soon wake up to your children chirping for pikelets instead of pancakes!
14. Crepes
Sourdough crepes are so easy to make.
They can be loaded with sweet whip cream and fruit or piled high with savory meats and cheese.
Crepes take only a few minutes to whip together. They make for a simple, easy lunch that is both wholesome and delicious!
