My Top 5 Sourdough Cookie Recipes by Make It Dough (2024)

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Don't throw away your sourdough discard! Use it to make delicious Sourdough Discard Cookie Recipes. There are so many ways to use sourdough starter than just baking bread. From chewy chocolate chip cookies to crispy biscotti you'll love the flavor and character it adds to cookies.

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My Top 5 Sourdough Cookie Recipes by Make It Dough (1)

The first recipe I ever developed was my Sourdough Oatmeal Cookies, so sourdough cookie recipes will always have a special place in my heart.

Why you’ll love these recipes

You can use up a lot of sourdough starter: If you don’t bake bread very often, cookies are a delicious way to use up excess sourdough starter.

Sourdough discard adds a delicious tang: The natural acidity of sourdough complement the rich buttery notes and the sugary sweetness of cookies.It also adds a nuanced flavor that you simply can't get otherwise.

Adds moisture to dough: Water that’s locked in sourdough discard keeps cookies moist and tasting fresh for days longer.

Can I add sourdough discard to any cookie recipe?

Adding sourdough discard to cookie dough isn’t as simple as simply chucking a cup of it into your favorite recipe. Sourdough contains a lot of water, and this added moisture can adversely affect the texture and flavor of cookies, causing them to either harden or spread.

Balancing the ratio of ingredients is especially important for cookies. It’s best not to experiment and to use recipes that have been specifically formulated, tried and tested using sourdough discard.

My Top 5 Sourdough Cookie Recipes by Make It Dough (2)

My Top 10 Sourdough Cookie Recipes:

This list has been updated based on the most viewed and loved recipes on Make It Dough!

Soft and Fudgy Sourdough Discard Chocolate Cookies

Soft and fudgy, these Sourdough Chocolate Cookies are made with three types of chocolate. Sourdough discard adds a delicious tang that perfectly balances the rich flavor of chocolate.

Sourdough Discard Chocolate Cookies

Sourdough Discard Crinkle Cookies

Crinkle cookies were my absolute favorite growing up. I've always been an absolute chocolate fiend, so I could never get enough of these rich and fudgy treats. When I set out to recreate a sourdough version of these cookies, I knew I wanted them to have a really soft, and chewy middle. Adding discard to

Sourdough Discard Crinkle Cookies

Chewy Sourdough Discard Oatmeal Cookies

These Sourdough Oatmeal Cookies are crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside with a great flavor thanks to browned butter and sourdough discard.

Sourdough Oatmeal Cookies

Sourdough Pumpkin Cookies

These Sourdough Pumpkin Cookies are soft, chewy, with a delicious earthy flavor thanks to the addition of pumpkin puree! A quick one-bowl recipe that tastes even better a few days after they are baked.

Sourdough Pumpkin Cookies

Chewy Sourdough Molasses Cookies

Molasses and sourdough are a match made in cookie heaven! You’ll love the taste and texture of these Sourdough Molasses Cookies. Perfectly spiced, seriously chewy with a crunchy, crackly top, these cookies develop an even more delicious texture days after being baked

Chewy Sourdough Molasses Cookies

Brown Butter Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies

These Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies are truly chewy (not crisp or gooey) with a rich nutty, toffee-like flavor thanks to the addition of browned butter and dark brown sugar. Incorporating a little bit of sourdough discard to these chocolate chip cookies adds a delicious tang that makes these cookies truly unique.

Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies

Sourdough Biscotti

Don’t throw away your excess starter, use it to make these Sourdough Biscotti. Crisp and wonderfully crunchy, these biscotti are delicious and taste delightful with a cup of coffee. These twice-baked cookies are easy to make and are the best excuse to eat dessert for breakfast!

Sourdough Biscotti

Sourdough Banana Cookies

Just like the edge of a loaf of banana bread, these Sourdough Banana Cookies are chewy, caramelized and slightly crisp. This no-frills eggless cookie uses overripe bananas and sourdough discard so you can feel good about using ingredients you may otherwise throw away.

Sourdough Banana Cookies

Sourdough Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Chewy, sweet, loaded with oatmeal and raisins with just a hint of cinnamon, I’m a bit biased but I think these Sourdough Oatmeal Raisin Cookies are the perfect cookie. This one bowl recipe is simple to make and takes less than an hour from start to finish.

Sourdough Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Sourdough Lemon Cookie Pies

Tangy, sweet and loaded with bold lemon flavor, you’ll love these Sourdough Lemon Cookies Pies. Two soft, chewy cookies with a fresh lemon filling sandwiched in the middle, you’ll love these bright zesty treats.

Sourdough Lemon Cookie Pies

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Sourdough Cookie FAQs

What is sourdough discard?

Sourdough discard is any portion of your starter that is removed during the feeding process or any part that is not used to make bread. You can use it in other bakes and dishes or store it in the refrigerator for future use.

What are sourdough discard recipes?

Sourdough discard recipes can be savory dishes and desserts that do not use sourdough for its leavening abilities. These can be breads that combine commercial yeast and sourdough discard, or that use chemical leaveners like baking powder or baking soda.

Why did my cookies spread?

Sourdough adds additional moisture to cookies which can cause them to spread. The sourdough cookie recipes on this blog are formulated to compensate for this. It’s important to maintain the proportions of ingredients in any recipe and weighing your ingredients maximizes your chances of success.

Will my sourdough cookies taste sour?

Sourdough discard adds a delicious tang that balances the sugary sweetness of cookies. The intensity of this flavor depends on the unique acidity of your sourdough discard. If you’ve been keeping your discard in the fridge for a long time, then it will impart a more pronounced flavor in your bakes.

You may also like:

  • Soft and Chewy Sourdough Discard Sugar Cookies
  • Sourdough Discard Chocolate Shortbread Cookies
  • Chewy Cranberry Oatmeal Sourdough Cookies
  • Ube White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Sourdough Cookies

« Sourdough Chocolate Chip Muffins

Sourdough Discard Cranberry Muffins »

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My Top 5 Sourdough Cookie Recipes by Make It Dough (2024)

FAQs

What is the best flour to use when making sourdough bread? ›

Whole wheat flour is an excellent choice for creating a sourdough starter due to its nutrient-rich composition and potential for fostering a robust microbial community. However, it's important to note that the quality of whole wheat flour can vary between brands.

What happens if you put too much sourdough starter in your dough? ›

If you have too much starter compared to the additional flour and water you're adding, your hungry starter consumes all the nutrients and then it's not as bubbly.

What makes sourdough more sour? ›

Longer fermentation

When it comes time to proof your dough, the longer you proof, the more sour the dough will be. As your dough proofs, the good bacteria eats up sugars and starches in the flour. This decreases the sweet undertone and creates a more sour undertone.

Are sourdough cookies better for you? ›

The process of slow fermentation allows the bacteria to break down the carbohydrates and gluten and also neutralizes the phytic acid, making it easier for the body to digest. Fermented sourdough also contains healthy resistant starch and doesn't raise blood glucose levels as much as conventional wheat cookies.

What flour do Italians use for sourdough? ›

Grano tenero flours are generally used in Italy to make both bread and pastries. Typo 2 (type 2) flour is high in bran, and still slightly coarse.

What is the healthiest flour for sourdough bread? ›

Compared to whole wheat flour, rye flour is said to be the most nutrient- and amylase-dense option for a sourdough starter. Overall, it has a lower gluten protein content than wheat flour, which means it produces slack, sticky, and dense doughs.

Why discard half sourdough starter? ›

If you don't get rid of the excess, eventually you'll have more starter than your feedings can sustain. After a few days, your daily 1/4 cup flour and water won't be enough to sustain your entire jar of starter, and your starter will be slow and sluggish, not much better than discard itself.

What is the best ratio for sourdough starter? ›

Typical feeding ratios are 1:2:2 or 1:3:3 (old sourdough: fresh flour: water). However, even extreme ratios like 1:50:50 would still work. In that case, the freshly fed sourdough would just require more or much more time to grow and reach its peak, as judged by the maximum volume increase in the jar (at least doubled).

Why does my sourdough starter rise and fall so fast? ›

If you find your starter is rising so fast that it has sunk back down to its starting point by the time you feed it, it needs more food. You can either feed it twice a day or increase the ratio to 1:3:3 or even 1:4:4, depending on your starter.

What is the secret to sourdough? ›

6. Just add water for softer sourdough. The secret to sourdough is simple: water. The more water you add to your dough will affect how open the crumb (bigger holes and softer texture) will be once it's baked.

What flour makes sourdough more sour? ›

For more tang: Incorporate some rye flour and/or whole wheat flour early in the bread-making process, such as when feeding the mother culture and the preferment. Rye flour in particular will help your culture produce some acetic acid.

Should I stir my sourdough starter? ›

It is important that you stir the sourdough starter every day in the morning and in the evening. Feed the starter. Add 60 g flour and 60 g lukewarm water, stir well to combine, and let sit out for 24 hours.

What is better than sourdough? ›

Whole wheat bread in actuality contains more resistant starch than sourdough bread, and also has more fibre, meaning it is friendlier to the gut and easier to digest.

Can you eat sourdough starter discard? ›

Yes, there are actually several health benefits to using sourdough discard in your cooking and baking. Sourdough discard is rich in probiotics, which can help promote a healthy gut microbiome and improve digestion.

Is it OK to eat sourdough bread everyday? ›

Is it healthy to eat sourdough everyday? You could eat sourdough every day, but it isn't necessarily healthy to do so. A healthy diet is characterized by balance and moderation. Whether or not it is healthy for you to consume sourdough every day depends on the rest of your diet.

Can you use any type of flour for sourdough bread? ›

Long gone are the days when you simply chose between the white and whole wheat options on the shelf. Now, you can find every type of flour for sourdough starter baking, such as white, whole wheat, organic and stoneground flour.

Does it matter what flour you use for sourdough starter? ›

You can create a sourdough starter with any flour in your pantry, though I find it easiest to use a portion of whole-grain rye flour to help speed up the process.

Should I use bread flour or all-purpose flour for sourdough? ›

Bread flour is a high protein flour, usually made from hard wheat varieties. It contains about 12- 13% protein, depending on the brand. Because it's a “strong” flour, it's excellent for chewy bagels, artisan-style sourdough bread and anything else that needs structure and height.

Can you use all-purpose flour when making sourdough? ›

My recipe for an easy loaf of healthy and nutritious sourdough bread made with all-purpose flour—all made in one day. No complicated levain steps with this recipe; just get mixing with your ripe sourdough starter!

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