6+ Sourdough Cookie Recipes (2024)

My favorite sourdough cookie recipes are the most delicious way to enjoy sourdough discard. From sourdough peanut butter cookies to oatmeal, and just about everything in between.

Crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside, warm and comforting— homemade sourdough cookies really hit the spot.

If you’re looking for the perfect recipe that will take your baking game to the next level, we’ve got you covered.

This article will provide you with six delicious sourdough cookie recipes to choose from (and will be updated as more cookie recipes are created), so you can make your own yummy treats without leaving home.

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned baker, there’s something here to suit all levels. With these recipes, you’ll be able to master the art of baking homemade sourdough cookies in no time.

So preheat your oven, get ready to mix some dough, and let’s get started!

Why you will love these recipes:

Great way to use sourdough discard: Don’t toss out the sourdough starter when you are feeding it. Rather use it in discard recipes. All of these recipes can be made into sourdough discard cookies.

Can be long fermented for better digestion: All of these sourdough starter cookies can be long fermented for better digestion and more nutrition bioavailability. Yes even discard will ferment the dough.

Cookie Making Tips:

All of these cookies can be made with sourdough discard or active starter. I like using discard though for less waste in the kitchen.
For long fermentation, I usually suggest making the cookie dough, storing in the fridge for up to three days, then place on a cookie sheet and bake. The longer they are in the fridge the more fermented the grains will become.
When baking sweets, it’s preferable to use unsalted butter. This gives you greater control over the salt levels in the recipes.
Cookies do amazingly well in the freezer. Prep cookies ahead and freeze the cookie dough balls in a freezer-safe bag or freeze already baked cookies for up to 3 months.

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Stand mixer with paddle attachment or an electric hand mixer

Measuring cups and spoons

Baking sheet

Large bowl

Cooling rack

FAQ:

Why are my sourdough cookies flat?

Most likely it is because the oven is too hot or the leaveners are past their prime.

How do you use lots of sourdough discard?

Sourdough discard can be used in just about any sourdough recipes that calls for baking soda and/or baking powder as the leavening agents rather than using the wild yeast in sourdough starter to give it rise.

Check out these 35+ Sourdough Discard Recipes

What does sourdough discard do to baked goods?

It adds a delicious tangy flavor, and, if allowed to sit for some time, it can help ferment the grains to make them easier to digest and the vitamins and minerals more easily absorbed by the body.

What is sourdough discard?

Sourdough discard is a portion of unfed sourdough starter that is to be thrown away (or discarded) while another portion is left to be fed.

6+ Sourdough Cookie Recipes

Sourdough Shortbread Cookies

These sourdough shortbread cookies are buttery, crunchy and delicious. Made with sourdough discard, it’s a simple, sweet treat that is great all year round!

Sourdough Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe

Packed full of peanut butter flavor, these sourdough peanut butter cookies are soft, sweet, and has that slight sourdough tang. They are so so delicious. It’s hard to just stop at one.

Sourdough Sugar Cookies

Perfect for holiday baking, these sourdough cut out sugar cookies are delicious, sweet, and can be cut out with your favorite cookie cutters. Bake and decorate these soft, buttery, and sweet cookies.

Sourdough Oatmeal Cookies

Sourdough oatmeal cookies are here to tantalize your taste buds. This delectable treat combines oats with the complex, tangy flavor of sourdough and plump juicy raisins. Not only do sourdough oatmeal cookies have an unforgettable taste – they’re a cinch to make.

Chewy Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies

A soft and chewy sourdough chocolate chip cookie recipe packed with chocolate chunks. Whip this recipe up for a quick dessert, or long ferment for better digestion.

Sourdough Snickerdoodle Cookies

A sourdough twist on the classic snickerdoodle. These cookies have an amazing soft chewy texture, crisp edges, and lots of cinnamon flavor. All the things you expect out of a snickerdoodle.

Find More Sourdough Dessert Recipes:

Sourdough Chocolate Cake
Double Chocolate Sweet Rolls
Sourdough Babka Recipe with Chocolate Filling
Sourdough Blueberry Cobbler
Sourdough Bread Pudding

FAQs

Is sourdough discard healthy? ›

Technically, sourdough discard has the same benefits as sourdough starter, since they are both wild yeast ferments. In terms of beneficial lactic acid bacteria, natural yeasts acetic acid and colonies of microbes, they are both full of them.

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Can you bake sourdough at 425? ›

Allow that to rise for about 45 minutes, at which time you can preheat your oven and the dutch oven to 425 degrees. The bread should be puffing out a bit of the basket and you are ready to score and bake.

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What temperature do you bake sourdough bread at? ›

Sourdough bread should be cooked in a Dutch Oven for 45 minutes at 230C or 450F (with the lid off for the last 10 to 15 minutes). You can lower the temperature for the last 10 to 15 minutes of the bake.

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Is sourdough bread a junk food? ›

'Sourdough contains 3g protein per slice and is fortified with calcium, iron and the B vitamins niacin and thiamine. Contrary to popular belief, it is not high in calories and can be a great source of fibre, especially when it's as pure as a product like authentic sourdough,' says Tew.

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Can you use 2 week old sourdough discard? ›

The simple answer is, you can keep sourdough discard in the fridge indefinitely, however the quality and flavor of the discard will change and even deteriorate over time.

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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.

What happens if you don't cut sourdough before baking? ›

Without scoring, the steam will find its own weak point and burst through the crust as it hardens, this creates unwanted bulges and blowouts in your bread.

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What is the best flour for sourdough bread? ›

All-purpose Flour

It strikes a perfect balance of softness and structure, making it an ideal choice for various recipes. Due to its wide availability and affordability, all-purpose flour is often my top recommendation for creating and maintaining a sourdough starter.

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When should you not use sourdough starter? ›

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. But that's not necessarily a bad thing, depending on what you want to bake with it.

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What can I do with dead sourdough? ›

If you active sourdough starter dies for some reason or you accidentally put it all in a recipe (it can happen!), you can remove a spoonful of discard from the refrigerator and feed it for a few days until it revives into a vigorous starter once again.

Can I freeze sourdough dough? ›

Although there are many opinions on this topic, you absolutely can freeze your sourdough bread dough to bake later. It's a great way to prep ahead and still have freshly baked bread when you are craving it.

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Does sourdough need to be room temp before baking? ›

Yes, absolutely. Room temperature can mean a wide range and is different for each room, but as long as the temperature is around 68 to 76°F (20 to 24°C), you'll get rise in your sourdough bread dough.

How long should I proof my sourdough on the counter? ›

(The rice flour acts as a barrier to gluten formation and keeps your dough from sticking to the bowl.) To proof them, let them sit, covered, at room temperature for up to 3–4 hours, or let them proof for a little while at room temperature and then place in the refrigerator for 12–15 hours.

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What are the benefits of sourdough discard bread? ›

It adds a delicious flavor and imparts moisture to recipes which keeps bakes tasting fresher for much longer. You can also use sourdough discard to ferment recipes which makes them healthier and easier to digest.

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What is the purpose of sourdough discard? ›

This is done to refresh the acidity levels (think sweet vs. sour smell) and to manage its overall growth in size. This technique is crucial for successful sourdough bread. However, the whole “discard” process can feel really wasteful and counterintuitive to some.