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    Home » All Recipes » Breakfast

    Sourdough Discard Pancake Recipe

    July 17, 2022 by Emily Leave a Comment

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    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Light, fluffy, and perfectly tangy, this Sourdough Discard Pancake recipe is one you should definitely have in your arsenal. Unlike some other sourdough pancake recipes, this one is fast and easy, requiring zero overnight rest. It’s also a great use for all that sourdough starter languishing in your fridge! Make yourself a short stack of these golden beauties and start the day off on the best foot ever.

    Sourdough Discard Pancakes with blueberries on top.
    Jump to:
    • About This Recipe
    • Ingredients & Substitutions
    • Equipment
    • How To Make Sourdough Discard Pancakes
    • Optional Variations
    • Expert Tips
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • More Sourdough Discard Recipes
    • More Breakfast Recipes
    • Sourdough Discard Pancake Recipe

    About This Recipe

    If you’ve taken to keeping discard sourdough starter, you know there’s a LOT to use or get rid of. Instead of gifting it to friends or tossing it in the compost, make the most of your ingredients with this easy recipe for sourdough discard pancakes!

    Made with just 8 ingredients in all of 20 minutes, these delectably fluffy flapjacks are sure to put a smile on even the groggiest of faces. You can even do Future You a favor by meal prepping these sourdough pancakes on the weekend and keeping them in the freezer for quick grab-n-go meals. Trust me, Eggos have nothing on these gorgeously golden beauties.

    Since they are made with extra sourdough starter, your morning short stack will have a nice dose of probiotic goodness that leaves you feeling full without feeling stuffed. As with most pancakes, they’re also endlessly versatile. Make them dairy-free, add your favorite mix-ins, savory toppings, or shape them into your kid’s initials. In short, this has quickly become one of Calvin and my favorite breakfast recipes!

    Stack of sourdough pancakes on a plate.

    Ingredients & Substitutions

    These sourdough starter pancakes use a number of basic ingredients. Here’s your list:

    • 100% Hydration Starter - If you’ve recently become obsessed with baking your own bread from scratch (or if you have some neglected starter in the fridge from the winter), this pancake recipe is an excellent way to use up the excess active starter you’re sure to have. Good news - there's no need to feed it before proceeding with the recipe; you can just grab it from the fridge and go!
    • Milk - Dairy or plant-based milk will do just fine here. 
    • Melted Butter - Cultured, organic, and/or grass-fed are preferred. Make sure to keep some extra on hand for the skillet! You can easily swap in vegan butter if needed.
    • Egg - Let it come to room temperature for easy mixing. You can also swap in a store-bought vegan egg replacer or a flax egg if needed.
    • Granulated Sugar - Just a little bit of sugar helps to balance out the tanginess of the sourdough and encourages the surface of your pancakes to become brilliantly caramelized in the pan.
    • Baking Powder - Remember that BP starts to work as soon as it hits liquid, so don’t mix up your batter until you’re ready to pan-fry.
    • Salt - Yes, even pancakes need seasoning.
    • All-Purpose Flour - If you decide to use self-rising flour, omit the baking powder. This should also work with white whole wheat flour if you want a little extra nutrition for breakfast.
    • Maple Syrup & Fresh Berries and Fruit - For serving. Feel free to use any toppings your heart desires!
    Labeled ingredient shot of sourdough pancakes recipe.

    Equipment

    Making sourdough discard fluffy pancakes is just as easy as making regular ol’ griddlecakes. Here’s what you’ll need to grab:

    • Whisk. The batter is nice and thin, so a regular balloon whisk will do the trick to mix pancake batter.
    • Skillet or Griddle - So long as it is relatively heavy-bottomed and you allow it to preheat, any type of pan will work here. Feel free to use a seasoned cast-iron skillet (especially if you want to cook breakfast on the grill), non-stick, or a regular sauté pan.
    • Spatula - I tend to reach for my fish spatula for flipping flapjacks. The longer base makes it easier to handle!

    How To Make Sourdough Discard Pancakes

    Aside from adding some sourdough starter to the mix, this recipe is as straightforward as what you’d find on the back of a box of Bisquick.

    Step 1: Make Batter. Combine wet ingredients in a medium bowl and whisk until smooth. Add dry ingredients to the wet and continue to mix until no lumps remain.

    Step 2: Pan Fry. Melt some butter in a skillet until bubbling. Add 3 Tablespoons of pancake batter . 

    Pancake batter in a mixing bowl.
    Mixing pancake batter
    Panfried sourdough pancakes.
    Pan frying pancakes

    Step 3: Flip. Cook over medium heat until you start to see bubbles rise to the surface of the pancake then flip until the second side also turns a golden brown. If making a large batch, you can always line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and turn the oven on warm or low. It's an easy way to keep your pancakes warm until you're ready to serve them!

    Step 4: Enjoy! Serve with maple syrup and top with fresh fruit. Have the best day ever!

    Pancakes on a cooling rack after being pan fried.
    Cooked sourdough pancakes
    Stack of pancakes with fruit and maple syrup on top.
    Fruit and maple syrup topped pancakes

    Optional Variations

    These pancakes have the slight tang of sourdough and the fluffiness of buttermilk pancakes, which in my world renders them perfect. That said, there are PLENTY of ways to customize them to your liking. Here are a few of my favorite variations:

    • Get creative with mix-ins. Sliced bananas, chocolate chips, or blueberries are all a great place to start.
    • Make them dairy-free and/or vegan. Swap in your favorite plant-based milk and butter, then use either a flax egg or store-bought vegan egg replacer.
    • Make fun shapes. When I was growing up, my Mom would make pancakes in the shape of an E for Emily or different numbers on my birthday. Feel free to get creative! You can either free-hand them (which is easier if you use a squeeze bottle), or use a pancake mold - a great way to create shapes with ease.
    • Swap maple syrup for fruit preserves. I’m a big fan of maple syrup on my pancakes, but fruit preserves, homemade nutella, all-natural nut butter, or honey make for a fine substitute!
    • Turn them into pancake mini muffins. If you’ve ever had Danish aebleskivers, you know how delightful pancake bites can be. Feel free to hack your way to hygge heaven using your mini muffin tins. Grease them with butter, fill halfway with sourdough pancake batter, and bake at 350F for about 10 minutes, or until golden and cooked through. 

    Expert Tips

    Homemade pancakes are a breeze to make (even when you use sourdough starter in the batter). That said, I do have a few tips to share:

    • Make sure your pan is nice and hot. I don’t know what the deal is, but the first pancake I make is always the palest and least appealing. I think it has to do with my impatience for a heaping stack of griddlecakes. Make sure you let your pan get nice and hot (the butter should start bubbling) before you pour in the batter.
    • Make and freeze for quick grab-and-go breakfasts. If you’re the meal prepping sort, these sourdough discard pancakes are a real winner. Make them according to the recipe directions, then allow to cool entirely. Separate your stack of pancakes with a piece of parchment between each layer, then place in a zip-top bag or freezer-safe airtight container or freezer bag. When you’re ready to eat, pop them in the toaster to warm through!
    • Use a muffin disher, pancake dispenser, or a squeeze bottle for a cleaner kitchen. If you don’t have any of these things, you can either a.) repurpose an old condiment bottle, or b.) use a mixing bowl with a pouring lip. 
    • Warm your maple syrup. Keep your breakfast nice and warm by zapping your maple syrup for about 15-30 seconds in the microwave before pouring over your stack of fluffy morning deliciousness.
    Sourdough discard pancakes on a plate with blueberries and apricots on top.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is sourdough starter discard?

    It’s just what it sounds like: the bit of sourdough starter you have to get rid of to make room when you feed it.

    Can I use sourdough discard straight from the fridge?

    If you are using it for a sourdough discard recipe like these pancakes, then yes! If you’re planning on making sourdough bread from it, be sure to follow the directions in my Homemade Dutch Oven Sourdough Bread post!

    Can I use unfed sourdough starter for these pancakes?

    Yep! Just pull the jar out of the fridge, measure out your cup of discard to use, then feed your starter while you’re at it, because why not?

    How long does sourdough discard last in the fridge?

    I’d suggest using it within 2 weeks, as the acidity will continue to grow. You can also keep it indefinitely in the freezer if you prefer. 

    More Sourdough Discard Recipes

    • How to Store Sourdough Bread
    • Sourdough Discard Crackers
    • Sourdough Walnut Banana Bread made with Sourdough Discard
    • The Ultimate Primer On Making Sourdough From Starter

    More Breakfast Recipes

    • How to Make Raspberry Compote
    • Vegan Overnight Oats with Coconut Milk
    • How to Make Cream of Wheat
    • How to Cook Steel Cut Oats

    As always, I love seeing your creations and hearing from you! If you try the recipe for this Dutch Oven Sourdough Bread, please share your creation with me on social media! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube and Pinterest - for more delicious recipes sent straight to your inbox, sign up for my newsletter! 

    Sourdough Discard Pancake Recipe

    Light, fluffy, and perfectly tangy, this recipe for Sourdough Discard Pancakes is one you should definitely have in your arsenal. Unlike some other sourdough pancake recipes, this one is fast and easy, requiring zero overnight rest. It’s also a great use for all that sourdough starter languishing in your fridge! Make yourself a short stack of these golden beauties and start the day off on the best foot ever.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    Course: Breakfast
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Breakfast
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 4 minutes
    Total Time: 14 minutes
    Servings: 5 Servings
    Calories: 205kcal
    Author: Emily Laurae

    Equipment

    • Whisk
    • Skillet/Griddle
    • Spatula

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 Cup (200 g) Sourdough Starter
    • 1 cup (244 g) Milk
    • ¼ cup (57 g) Butter, melted
    • 1 Egg, large
    • 3 Tablespoons Granulated Sugar
    • 2 teaspoons Baking powder
    • ¼ teaspoon Salt
    • 1 ½ cups (180 g) All purpose flour
    • Maple syrup & Fresh Fruit to serve

    Instructions

    • Combine wet ingredients in a medium bowl and whisk until smooth. Add dry ingredients to the wet and continue to mix until no lumps remain.
      1 Cup Sourdough Starter, 1 cup Milk, ¼ cup Butter, 1 Egg, 3 Tablespoons Granulated Sugar, 2 teaspoons Baking powder, ¼ teaspoon Salt, 1 ½ cups All purpose flour
    • Add 3 Tablespoons of pancake batter to a skillet with melted butter
    • Cook until you start to see bubbles arise to the surface of the pancake then flip until the second side also turns a golden brown.
    • Serve with maple syrup and top with fresh fruit!
      Maple syrup & Fresh Fruit to serve

    Notes

    Optional Variations
    These pancakes have the slight tang of sourdough and the fluffiness of buttermilk pancakes, which in my world renders them perfect. That said, there are PLENTY of ways to customize them to your liking. Here are a few of my favorite variations:
      • Get creative with mix-ins. Sliced bananas, chocolate chips, or blueberries are all a great place to start.
      • Make them dairy-free and/or vegan. Swap in your favorite plant-based milk and butter, then use either a flax egg or store-bought vegan egg replacer.
    • Make fun shapes. Feel free to get creative! You can either free-hand them (which is easier if you use a squeeze bottle), or use a pancake mold.
    • Swap maple syrup for fruit preserves. I’m a big fan of maple syrup on my pancakes, but fruit preserves, homemade nutella, all-natural nut butter, or honey make for a fine substitute!
    • Turn them into pancake mini muffins. If you’ve ever had Danish aebleskivers, you know how delightful pancake bites can be. Feel free to hack your way to hygge heaven using your mini muffin tins. Grease them with butter, fill halfway with sourdough pancake batter, and bake at 350F for about 10 minutes, or until golden and cooked through.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 205kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 60mg | Sodium: 382mg | Potassium: 59mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 371IU | Calcium: 133mg | Iron: 1mg
    Enjoyed this recipe?Mention @emilylaurae or tag #emilylaurae!

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    About Emily

    Emily is the recipe developer, writer, and food photographer behind Emily Laurae. After finishing Pastry School and working as a chef in the restaurant industry, she created this blog to share those skills with home bakers and creators all over the world!

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