18 Unusual Sourdough Recipes You Must Try

Your sourdough baking is about to get a whole lot of interesting. You’ve tried all the basic sourdough discard recipes and you’re ready to try something a little more creative. These unusual sourdough discard recipes are delicious and anything but basic.

"A cupcake with a fluffy vanilla base, topped with a generous swirl of white frosting and sprinkled with colorful candy pieces."

Sourdough Frosting

Although the idea of mixing sourdough into frosting might seem odd, the result is truly phenomenal!

"A powdered sugar-dusted sourdough funnel cake on a wire cooling rack, with a vibrant red strawberry in the background."

Fried Sourdough Discard Funnel Cakes

Making these fried sourdough discard funnel cakes is an absolute blast! They turn out crispy and golden on the outside while remaining incredibly light and airy inside, with a delightful hint of tanginess from the sourdough.

"A lemony rhubarb sourdough cake in a baking pan, with strips of pink rhubarb on top."

Lemon Rhubarb Sourdough Discard Cake

This zesty lemon rhubarb cake is wonderfully moist, sporting a fluffy and light crumb, all thanks to the magic of sourdough discard! Each forkful offers tender rhubarb, perfectly paired with honey and a hint of lemon zest to enhance its taste. Don’t worry about any tangy aftertaste; it’s all sweet satisfaction here. Plus, it’s an excellent method for putting that extra sourdough discard from your fridge to good use.

"Sourdough sweet rolls topped with a creamy glaze, resting on a wire cooling rack."

The Best Sourdough Apple Fritters Doughnut Recipe

This sourdough apple fritters recipe is incredibly easy to make and utterly delicious!

"Almond-studded sourdough biscotti arranged in a stack, showcasing a golden-brown crust."

Sourdough Biscotti

Sourdough Biscotti! These are crunchy almond cookies that get a delightful twist from a cup of sourdough discard. Perfect for dipping into your favorite coffee, espresso, or dessert wine, these sourdough-infused cookies are a treat.

"A glass bottle of milk next to two stacked sourdough cookies on a dark wooden surface."

Sourdough Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies

What’s more tempting than a giant, gooey chocolate chip cookie? It’s hard to top, but throw in the tangy taste of sourdough and rich dark chocolate, and you’ve got a serious rival!

"Fresh, homemade sourdough pasta, twirled into a nest shape on a flour-dusted wooden surface."

Sourdough Pasta

Whipping up fresh sourdough pasta at home is a breeze! With just 3 ingredients, this recipe packs a flavorful punch and is absolutely worth the effort.

"Salted chocolate rye sourdough cookies with nuts sprinkled on top, displayed on a wire cooling rack with a striped cloth underneath."

Sourdough Double Chocolate Rye Cookies

These salted chocolate rye cookies using sourdough discard are simply enchanting. They’re soft, with a cake-like texture, and oh-so-rich! Crafted with rye flour and sourdough discard, these salted double chocolate cookies have a deep, robust flavor reminiscent of brownies, perfectly hitting that sweet spot!

"A small white bowl filled with crispy, golden-brown sourdough granola with seeds and nuts."

Easy Sourdough Granola Recipe

Crafting sourdough granola is a fresh and innovative way to utilize your sourdough starter. Whether you’re aiming to boost the healthiness and taste of your homemade granola, or simply searching for a creative use for your sourdough discard, this recipe is your answer! You’re going to adore this straightforward recipe featuring nutritious ingredients—a fabulous swap for the store-bought varieties.

"Golden-brown sourdough flatbread with flecks of green herbs on parchment paper."

Sourdough Discard Zucchini Fritters

These sourdough discard zucchini fritters offer an excellent solution for utilizing your leftover sourdough starter and those extra zucchinis from your garden. They make a delightful summer side dish.

"A loaf of crusty sourdough bread with a deep brown crust, next to slices showcasing a vibrant pink crumb, with a knife in the foreground on a dark countertop."

Purple Sweet Potato Sourdough Sandwich Loaf

This Purple Sweet Potato Sourdough Bread recipe incorporates mashed Stokes purple sweet potatoes, creating a soft sandwich loaf that boasts a subtle pink hue and a rich, mildly sweet taste. Whether you choose to make this bread with an active sourdough starter or opt for a sourdough discard variation with a bit of commercial yeast, the delightful flavor remains unchanged.

"Open-faced sourdough breakfast sandwiches with melted cheese and bacon, on a wooden cutting board with greenery in the background."

Mini Sourdough Breakfast Pizza

These little gems are a total hit in our home. The simple combo of sourdough starter and cheese forms the base, making sourdough mini breakfast pizzas not just delicious, but also incredibly easy and convenient! It’s a fantastic recipe for using up sourdough discard, though any stage of starter works perfectly too.

"Slices of sourdough focaccia with a golden crust and visible herbs, stacked on parchment paper."

Sourdough Pizza Bianca

Pizza Bianca can go from a side dish to a bread choice, or even the main event, all based on your choice of toppings! Crafted with sourdough and allowed to ferment overnight, this recipe offers a depth of flavor and improved digestibility, making it a versatile and wholesome option.

"Sourdough samosas arranged in a circular pattern around a bowl of dark dipping sauce, on a wooden serving board."

Fried Sourdough Starter

Hold onto that sourdough starter discard—there’s no need to toss it out! This sourdough fry bread is the fastest and simplest solution for using up those leftovers without committing to a full batch of pancakes or muffins. And for those times when you’re feeling more ambitious with your starter, diving into a sourdough babka recipe might just be the perfect adventure!

"A close-up of sourdough zucchini fritters piled on a dark plate, highlighting their crispy edges and soft, fluffy interior."

Deep Fried Sourdough Dandelion Recipe

Dandelions, celebrated for their culinary and medicinal uses for centuries, offer a wealth of health benefits… And let’s not forget, they taste fantastic too!

"Sourdough sweet rolls with a purple sweet potato glaze, garnished with orange zest, arranged on a rustic wooden board."

Blueberry Lemon Sourdough Sweet Rolls

These Blueberry Lemon Sourdough Sweet Rolls are delightfully soft and fluffy, crafted with fresh lemons and blueberries for a tasty twist on traditional sourdough cinnamon rolls!

"Crispy fried sourdough chicken tenders served on a white plate with a side of dipping sauce."

Sourdough Fried Chicken

Fried Sourdough Chicken offers a creative solution for surplus sourdough discard, resulting in chicken that’s tender on the inside, juicy through and through, and encased in a crispy exterior.

"A bowl of square, golden-brown sourdough crackers seasoned with herbs, scattered around the bowl on a white surface."

Spicy Sourdough Chile Ranch Crackers

My sourdough chile ranch crackers bring a sourdough twist to a classic Southern favorite. Growing up, I was always amazed at how delicious “fire crackers” were. With plenty of sourdough starter discard on my hands, I figured these would make the perfect snack to create.

These recipes are just a starting point for your sourdough discard adventures. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different ingredients and flavor combinations.

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By Katie Shaw

Katie lives in Virginia with her husband, three daughters, a chocolate lab, and over thirty chickens. She loves creating simple tutorials for sourdough, bread, and soap. Her recipes, articles, and YouTube videos reach millions of people per year.

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