27 Recipes Using Sourdough Discard That Are Actually Genius

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If you’ve been tossing out sourdough discard, it’s time to rethink that. These recipes using sourdough discard show how easy it is to turn something you’d normally discard into a flavorful, useful ingredient. From snacks to main dishes, these recipes make the most out of your sourdough leftovers without any extra fuss. Not only will you reduce waste, but you’ll also discover a few new go-to meals that you’ll want to keep in your regular rotation. The best part? No special ingredients required, just your trusty sourdough discard.

Sourdough Discard Chocolate Chip Muffins

Bowl of chocolate chip muffins, one with a bite taken out, on a wooden table next to a blue and white cloth.
Sourdough Discard Chocolate Chip Muffins. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

These muffins manage to be fluffy, rich, and just a little smug about how little waste went into them. They’re an easy win if you’re working through recipes using sourdough discard without wanting to bake another loaf.
Get the Recipe: Sourdough Discard Chocolate Chip Muffins

Sourdough Discard Crackers

A glass jar filled with thin, crispy crackers, some with visible seeds.
Sourdough Discard Crackers. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

These sharp little snackers are crispy, salty, and surprisingly addictive. Ideal for anyone who’s pretending they don’t love carbs while still hunting for recipes using sourdough discard.
Get the Recipe: Sourdough Discard Crackers

Sourdough Whole Wheat Blueberry Muffins

A blueberry muffin broken in half on a white surface, revealing a moist interior with visible blueberries.
Sourdough Whole Wheat Blueberry Muffins. Photo credit: Served From Scratch.

Blueberries bring the flair, sourdough discard keeps things grounded, and together they actually pull it off. Add this to your stash of recipes using sourdough discard when you want breakfast to seem halfway healthy.
Get the Recipe: Sourdough Whole Wheat Blueberry Muffins

Sourdough Brownies

Two strawberries sit next to several chocolate brownies on a white plate. A glass is blurred in the background.
Sourdough Brownies. Photo credit: Growing Dawn.

These brownies don’t act like they came from scraps, but they totally did. If you’re dabbling in recipes using sourdough discard and want something that doubles as dessert and humble brag, this is your stop.
Get the Recipe: Sourdough Brownies

Simple Sourdough Pretzel Bites Made with Fresh Milled Flour

Pretzel bites topped with salt on a cooling rack.
Simple Sourdough Pretzel Bites Made with Fresh Milled Flour. Photo credit: A Hint of Homestead.

Chewy, golden, and unfairly snackable, these bites prove discard doesn’t belong in the trash. Great pick when you’re looking for recipes using sourdough discard that actually get devoured.
Get the Recipe: Simple Sourdough Pretzel Bites Made with Fresh Milled Flour

Sourdough Apple Coffee Cake

A slice of crumb cake with a crumbly, nutty topping on a plate, next to a fork.
Sourdough Apple Coffee Cake. Photo credit: Milk and Pop.

Apple chunks, cinnamon, and a little sourdough funk team up like they’ve been planning this cake all along. It’s a sneaky way to clear out discard without making it the main event.
Get the Recipe: Sourdough Apple Coffee Cake

Sourdough Discard Graham Cracker Recipe

A wooden cutting board with neatly arranged rectangular cookies on a blue cloth.
Sourdough Discard Graham Cracker Recipe. Photo credit: Stretch and Folds .

These grahams come out crunchy, golden, and way too easy to nibble straight off the pan. A solid move when you’re digging for recipes using sourdough discard that don’t taste like a compromise.
Get the Recipe: Sourdough Discard Graham Cracker Recipe

Sourdough Discard Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

A plate of powdered sugar-coated cookies on a wooden table, surrounded by red and green Christmas ornaments and a plaid ribbon.
Sourdough Discard Chocolate Crinkle Cookies. Photo credit: Lynn’s Way of Life.

They look fancy but take no effort—just how weekday baking should be. These belong in your list of recipes using sourdough discard if you want something that looks like you tried.
Get the Recipe: Sourdough Discard Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Sourdough Discard Molasses Cookie Recipe with Fresh Milled Flour

A plate with six round, cracked cookies sitting on a bright blue rimmed plate, placed on a light-colored surface.
Sourdough Discard Molasses Cookie Recipe with Fresh Milled Flour. Photo credit: A Hint of Homestead.

Dark, chewy, and packed with warm spice, these cookies bring cozy vibes with zero waste. Keep this one on hand for recipes using sourdough discard that don’t play around.
Get the Recipe: Sourdough Discard Molasses Cookie Recipe with Fresh Milled Flour

Easy Sourdough Pumpkin Muffins

Pumpkin muffins on a rustic wooden table with a small pumpkin and cinnamon stick nearby.
Easy Sourdough Pumpkin Muffins. Photo credit: Milk Glass Home & Kitchen.

Pumpkin and discard share the spotlight here without getting weird about it. They’re a fall favorite that earns a spot in your recipe stash for those “oops, forgot to feed it” moments.
Get the Recipe: Easy Sourdough Pumpkin Muffins

Sourdough Fruit and Nut Gourmet Crackers

Close-up of a slice of multigrain bread with nuts and seeds, topped with a smear of butter.
Sourdough Fruit and Nut Gourmet Crackers. Photo credit: Milk and Pop.

These fancy-looking crackers act like they belong on a cheese board, but you’ll catch yourself snacking on them plain. Not all recipes using sourdough discard pull double duty like this.
Get the Recipe: Sourdough Fruit and Nut Gourmet Crackers

Crispy Sourdough Zucchini Fritters

A plate of golden-brown vegetable fritters stacked on top of each other, resting on a wooden cutting board.
Crispy Sourdough Zucchini Fritters. Photo credit: Lynn’s Way of Life.

These fritters crisp up like champs and somehow use up both discard and zucchini before either goes slimy. That’s a win-win you don’t get often from recipes using sourdough discard.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Sourdough Zucchini Fritters

Za’atar Sourdough Discard Crackers

A bowl filled with mixed seeds, surrounded by square, seed-topped crackers resting on the bowl and scattered around on a white surface.
Za’atar Sourdough Discard Crackers. Photo credit: Hilda’s Kitchen Blog.

Bold and a little wild, these crackers show up with spice and serious crunch. They’re not your average use-it-up bake, which is exactly why they stand out in the list of recipes using sourdough discard.
Get the Recipe: Za’atar Sourdough Discard Crackers

Cinnamon Sourdough Discard Muffins

A plate of crumb-topped muffins, with one muffin partially sliced open to show the inside texture. A glass of milk and kitchen items are blurred in the background.
Cinnamon Sourdough Discard Muffins. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

Warm, soft, and full of cinnamon swagger, these muffins come together faster than your coffee brews. If you’re trying to keep your sourdough discard in check without much fuss, this one’s a keeper.
Get the Recipe: Cinnamon Sourdough Discard Muffins

Sourdough Oatmeal Toffee Cookies

Oatmeal cookies with chunks of nuts stacked on a surface, one cookie partially broken to show texture.
Sourdough Oatmeal Toffee Cookies. Photo credit: A Hint of Homestead.

These chewy little rebels balance oats, toffee, and sourdough discard like they’ve done it a hundred times. File under “recipes using sourdough discard that feel like a reward.”
Get the Recipe: Sourdough Oatmeal Toffee Cookies

Sourdough Sesame Rye Crackers From Scratch

A stack of seven square crackers with visible salt granules, placed on a light surface scattered with more crackers in the background.
Sourdough Sesame Rye Crackers From Scratch. Photo credit: Served From Scratch.

Earthy, nutty, and deeply snackable, these crackers don’t just sit around waiting for cheese. Great for anyone who wants bold recipes using sourdough discard that punch way above their weight.
Get the Recipe: Sourdough Sesame Rye Crackers From Scratch

Sourdough Discard Chocolate Chip Cookies

A cookie with chocolate chips and a green candy, partially eaten, on a cooling rack.
Sourdough Discard Chocolate Chip Cookies. Photo credit: Stretch and Folds.

These are soft, chewy, and completely unwilling to admit they started as leftovers. You’ll want to stash this one near the top of your pile of recipes using sourdough discard.
Get the Recipe: Sourdough Discard Chocolate Chip Cookies

Rosemary Sourdough Crackers

A white bowl filled with square crackers topped with salt and herbs, surrounded by sliced apricots and a sprig of rosemary on a wooden surface.
Rosemary Sourdough Crackers. Photo credit: Three Olives Branch.

Crisp edges, herbal kick, and enough charm to show up at dinner parties. Use this when you’re bored of basic snacks and want discard to actually do something interesting.
Get the Recipe: Rosemary Sourdough Crackers

Sourdough Lemon Bars

Close-up of lemon bars dusted with powdered sugar on a wire rack.
Sourdough Lemon Bars. Photo credit: Home Grown Happiness.

Tangy, bright, and totally unfussy, these lemon bars pull in just enough sourdough discard to keep things interesting. Not every recipe on the list feels this sunny.
Get the Recipe: Sourdough Lemon Bars

Soft Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies Made with Fresh Milled Flour

A batch of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies cools on a black wire rack.
Soft Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies Made with Fresh Milled Flour. Photo credit: A Hint of Homestead.

Somehow soft and rich without falling apart, these cookies are a flex if you’ve got fresh flour on hand. Perfect for recipes using sourdough discard that still want to act a little fancy.
Get the Recipe: Soft Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies Made with Fresh Milled Flour

Sourdough Discard Tortillas

Stack of homemade flatbreads on a wooden cutting board.
Sourdough Discard Tortillas. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

Flat, flexible, and way better than store-bought, these tortillas fix breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They earn their spot in your stack of recipes using sourdough discard, especially when you forgot to buy bread again.
Get the Recipe: Sourdough Discard Tortillas

Easy Sourdough Discard Focaccia Recipe

Sliced bread with seeds on a wooden board, surrounded by a striped cloth, a jar of spices, and a glass jar with a lid.
Easy Sourdough Discard Focaccia Recipe. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

You don’t need to overthink this one—just mix, press, and enjoy the squishy payoff. It’s one of those recipes using sourdough discard that doesn’t require a pep talk before starting.
Get the Recipe: Easy Sourdough Discard Focaccia Recipe

Sourdough Discard Banana Muffins

Four muffins on a wooden board with parchment paper, a blue and white striped cloth, and a bunch of bananas on the side.
Sourdough Discard Banana Muffins. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

Banana does the heavy lifting while discard sneaks in for extra flavor without taking over. Add this one to your lineup of recipes using sourdough discard that don’t taste like leftovers.
Get the Recipe: Sourdough Discard Banana Muffins

Sourdough Snickerdoodle Cookies

A stack of three cookies with the top one partially eaten, set against a blurred background with a cloth and a milk bottle.
Sourdough Snickerdoodle Cookies. Photo credit: Andee’s Apron.

Soft middles, cinnamon sugar edges, and a little tang thanks to the discard—these cookies are showing off, and they know it. They slide right into any solid lineup of recipes using sourdough discard.
Get the Recipe: Sourdough Snickerdoodle Cookies

Sourdough Graham Crackers

Six bear-shaped cookies on crumpled white parchment paper.
Sourdough Graham Crackers. Photo credit: Two Pink Peonies.

These grahams bake up just sweet enough and hold their crunch like pros. Great for when you’ve got discard to spare but no energy to deal with anything fussy.
Get the Recipe: Sourdough Graham Crackers

Old-Fashioned Easy Sourdough Discard Biscuits Recipe

A plate with three golden biscuits stacked on a wooden surface. Nearby are a stick of butter, a dark jar, and a blue striped cloth.
Old-Fashioned Easy Sourdough Discard Biscuits Recipe. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

Fluffy inside, crisp outside, and not one bit sorry for being made from leftovers. One of the easier recipes using sourdough discard that still feels like you did something right.
Get the Recipe: Old-Fashioned Easy Sourdough Discard Biscuits Recipe

Sourdough Blueberry Muffins

Blueberry muffins in a tray, with one muffin halved in front. Fresh blueberries are in a compartment, alongside a juiced lemon and a wooden reamer.
Sourdough Blueberry Muffins. Photo credit: Cinnamon Shtick.

Sweet blueberries and sourdough discard team up like it’s not their first time in the batter. These are a smart way to use up what’s in the jar without it feeling like a chore.
Get the Recipe: Sourdough Blueberry Muffins

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Sarita Harbour has been stretching her food dollars to feed her family for over 30 years. As a former banker and current freelance writer, she's written boatloads of articles about budgeting, homesteading, gardening, personal finance and more. Her food-related articles have been widely syndicated through AP and MSN. Look for her food features at NBC, The Seattle Times, Yahoo! Life, Chowhound, Tasting Table and MSN.