Classic Sourdough Banana Bread

This sourdough banana bread recipe uses discard sourdough for a thrifty quick bread that uses ingredients that might otherwise be wasted. It’s moist, sweet, and delicious.

Why you’ll love this recipe

One of my favorite sayings it “use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.”  Not that I am able to live by it, but I love the sentiment and I think it’s a worthy goal.  And that is one of the frustrating parts of keeping a sourdough starter… you have to discard some of it every day!  So any recipe that can use up that discard starter is always welcomed.

And of course, we all have a few overripe bananas in the house.  Or is it just me? Anyway, this recipe uses up all those things in the kitchen that were not destined for greatness.  

By the way, I know the word “sourdough” can be off-putting when we talk about sweet baked goods.  But this recipe tastes just like the sweet, moist, classic banana bread we all know and love, with no sourdough taste.

It makes a great snack, dessert, or breakfast

Are you unfamiliar with the world of sourdough? Visit the beginners guide to sourdough baking, or get started with a sourdough starter of your own from scratch!

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup softened butter
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 egg
• 3 bananas mashed
• 1 cup discard sourdough starter stirred
• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Step by step sourdough banana bread

Making the batter

You can use either a stand mixer or hand mixer for this, whichever is easier for you. 

It is a quick and easy recipe, so go ahead and preheat the oven to 350 degrees before you get started.  

Beat the butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl until fluffy and well combined.  It should look light yellow.

Add the mashed banana and discard sourdough starter and gently mix them in. In a separate medium bowl, combine the flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Gently add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring until just combined.

Baking

Pour into a greased loaf pan, smooth out the top with a spatula, and bake for one hour. The top usually splits. A toothpick inserted should come out clean or with just a few moist crumbs.

(Here are good guidelines on how to tell when quick bread is done.)

Cool completely before slicing.  

Some variations

• Want to make this recipe vegan? Use a vegan butter substitute and 1/4 cup of applesauce instead of the egg.
• Add a cup of semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips to make this an extra special treat.
• Add 1/4 cup of peanut butter in with the starter
• You can absolutely reduce the sugar by as much as 1/2. It will be still be good, but less sweet (obviously).

Here’s the recipe!

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Need more breakfast recipes to use up discarded starter?

• Sourdough carrot cake cupcakes are similar but use vegetable oil and lots of delicious additions for a delicious dessert.
• You’ll love sourdough chocolate chip muffins for their sugary top.
• And fluffy sourdough pancakes are the quickest and easiest way to usee sourdough starter.

Happy baking!