Sourdough breakfast recipes you can make using your sourdough starter every morning. From sweet to savory, these ideas will inspire your next breakfast menu. A sourdough starter is a versatile ingredient and works beautifully in many breakfast dishes.
Why is sourdough so well suited to breakfast? It mixes easily into recipes like pancakes and waffles, and since many of us feed our starters in the morning, it naturally becomes part of our breakfast routine. Whether you use active starter or discard, sourdough adds flavor and texture to both sweet and savory dishes.
Don’t be misled by the term “discard.” Discard simply refers to starter that isn’t at peak activity for bread baking but is still excellent for many recipes. It’s a great way to use leftover starter without wasting it.
How to Bake with Discard
Most sourdough discard can be used straight from the refrigerator or brought to room temperature; individual recipes will indicate a preference. When working with recipes that need rise, discard is often paired with baking soda or baking powder, and occasionally with a small amount of instant yeast to ensure lift.
Sweet Sourdough Breakfast Recipes
These sourdough recipes are sweeter breakfast options—ideal with syrup, powdered sugar, or jam. We’ll start with the classic.
Sourdough Discard Pancakes
Sourdough Discard Waffles
Sourdough Discard Toasted Almond Biscotti
Scones and Variations
Other sweet breakfast ideas:
- Cinnamon rolls made with sourdough discard
- Sourdough French toast
- Sourdough coffee cake
Savory Sourdough Breakfast Recipes
If you prefer savory to sweet, sourdough works wonderfully in hearty morning dishes.
Sourdough Breakfast Bites
Sourdough Bagels
Homemade sourdough bagels have a chewy texture and characteristic tang—ideal on their own, with cream cheese, or as a base for breakfast sandwiches with egg, bacon or sausage.
Sourdough Toast
Sometimes a simple slice of toasted sourdough is all you need. Top it with butter, jam, peanut butter, or avocado, or serve it alongside scrambled eggs or breakfast sausage.
Other savory ideas:
- Sourdough biscuits
- Sourdough popovers
- Sourdough English muffins
- Sourdough breakfast casserole using bread cubes
Sourdough Quick Breads
Quick breads are fast and simple: no kneading or long rests required. They’re perfect for using larger amounts of leftover starter.
Sourdough Pumpkin Bread
Sourdough Discard Banana Bread
Sourdough Zucchini Bread
Other quick bread ideas:
- Maple walnut quick bread
- Lemon sourdough cake
Sourdough Muffins
Muffins are convenient grab-and-go breakfasts. Sourdough discard adds moisture and a pleasant tang to many muffin varieties.
Sourdough Banana Muffins
Sourdough Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins
Chocolate Chip and Other Muffins
Sourdough Banana Oat Muffins
Other muffin variations include double chocolate, date-nut-cranberry, apple-cinnamon, and blueberry—sourdough adapts well to many mix-ins.
Other Sourdough Recipes
If you want even more ways to use your starter, there are many additional discard recipes to explore—from croutons and cookies to naan and beyond.
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Sourdough Croutons
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Sourdough Discard Chocolate Cookies
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Sourdough Discard Naan
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Sourdough Discard Recipes
Did you make any of these recipes? If you tried one and enjoyed it, consider leaving a rating in the recipe card and share a comment to let the creator know how it turned out. Feedback helps others decide what to try next.