Sourdough Pancakes With Starter Discard (No Added Flour)

These sourdough discard pancakes are quick, easy, and delicious!

Bright eyed children skip to the kitchen whilst a bleary eyed mama wearily grabs the sourdough starter. Another day has begun, and though it takes me a few moments (coffee beans) to embrace it, I’m happy knowing we are starting the day off with an easy sourdough meal that fills little tummies.

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Within minutes, we’ve created gourmet pancakes that are delicious, sugar free, and full of healthy protein and fats. Key nutrients to keeping my kids full and focused during school!

My kiddos and I love making sourdough pancakes with our starter. We whip these up about 3 days a week, often experimenting with flavors and toppings.

Quick and Easy Sourdough Pancake Recipe From Discard

Because these sourdough pancakes are made with starter discard, they are quick and easy. You simply feed your sourdough starter the night before, and in the morning use the discard to make your pancakes.

It’s a simple recipe for those of us who may not be getting a ton of sleep (wink wink).

It takes us about five minutes to put all the ingredients together, and each pancake a few minutes to cook per side.

These pancakes are light and thin, with a delicious extra vanilla taste. You won’t miss the sugar!

No Added Flour

These sourdough discard pancakes are so easy because they require no additional flour. You are literally just scooping out your discard and using that for the base of your pancakes. They are quicker and less mess, which is crucial for busy mornings!

Don’t Let Sourdough Scare You!

I have to share that I was quite intimidated when I began my foray into sourdough almost two years ago. But, don’t let the process of fermenting flour scare you!

I am not the best cook in the world, but I have managed to create and maintain a sourdough starter with no problems. It’s been a great learning experience for both myself and my kids!

What Is Discard?

What does the term “sourdough discard” mean?

When you go to feed your starter, you “discard” or throw away a portion of your starter.

Then, you feed it flour again.

With these pancakes, instead of throwing away a portion of your starter, you are going to use it for the base of your sourdough pancakes.

How To Make Sourdough Discard Pancakes

Throughout my sourdough journey I’ve often found the process a bit confusing…

When do I feed my sourdough starter? And how much?

This is my process:

I need two cups of sourdough starting when making these pancakes. So that means I need to feed it enough flour the night before for it to be ready the next day.

The night before I make these pancakes, I will discard a half cup of sourdough starter and feed my sourdough starter one cup of King Arthur flour and one cup of filtered water. Mix well.

If you don’t keep several cups of starter on hand, and your starter is smaller, you will need to feed it more (enough to have two cups in the morning).

Let your kids join in the fun to learn responsibility and basic cooking skills!

Tips

Here are a few tips for your pancakes:

-I feed my sourdough starter about 12 hours before using.

-We add two teaspoons of vanilla for extra flavor without added sugar.

-I don’t always let my butter cool before adding to my pancake mix (you can), and I’ve had no problems.

-Make your own simple homemade syrup by using a one cup of berries to one tablespoon of honey ratio.

-Mix your recipe very very well for best results. You’ll want to see the baking soda froth up the pancakes. It’s fun!

Sourdough Books For Beginners

New to sourdough adventures? I recommend reading Artisan Sourdough Made Simple or Classic Sourdoughs.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Why Are My Sourdough Pancakes Gooey?

Make sure to cook your pancakes fully in order to ensure they are cooked all the way through. Before flipping, I always ensure there are lots of bubbles on the uncooked side of the pancake.