Sourdough Discard Crackers

Name: Sourdough Discard Crackers
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Ingredients: 100 grams sourdough discard; 1 Tablespoon butter (melted)

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SOURDOUGH DISCARD CRACKERS is a delicious way to use that sourdough discard without baking bread. If you have sourdough starter, this is the best recipe to have. It is perfect for any level of sourdough baker and these crackers come out perfect every time!

If you are new to sourdough and not really sure what to do with that starter, this is a fabulous beginner recipe.

A batch of homemade crackers made with cheese and sprinkled with black and white sesame seeds are scattered on a sheet of brown parchment paper. The crackers appear crispy and golden brown.

Sourdough baking has really hit it big since 2020. My daughter, Tannar has been successfully baking bread since then. She has given me starter but truthfully, I didn’t really know what I was doing. I over complicated the whole process.

I made my own this past February and you can view how we did that over on our YOUTUBE CHANNEL. It really is easy as long as you stick with it!

If you don’t make anything but these crackers, you have hit the jackpot!

Ingredients

Talk about easy! This is a two ingredient deal here. All you need is sourdough discard and melted butter. We always dress ours up with seasonings and cheese but essentially the crackers made plain are really good on their own. We will talk more about how to add things to the crackers as we show you how to make them.

A kitchen counter with a jar of yeast mixture, a blue and white bowl on a kitchen scale, a stick of butter in a dish with a butter knife, and a small container with a lid. The surface is wooden.

What You’ll Need

Sourdough Discard – for about 24 crackers, you will need about 100 grams of sourdough starter discard.
Melted Butter – for this recipe, you will need 1 tablespoon of melted butter.
Cheese – while this is not required, cheese is a good flavor option to add to the crackers.
Seasonings – there are tons of options here, we like a savory cracker so for us we like using bagel seasoning and a little garlic. Get creative!

See recipe card for full ingredient list and quantities.

Instructions

This is a mix and bake recipe. It really just can’t be easier. Preheat the oven to 375° and line a sheet pan with parchment paper.

A jar of dough is being poured into a blue and white patterned bowl placed on a kitchen scale. Nearby, a stick of butter rests on a small rectangular dish, and two other bowls, one with a floral design, are on the wooden counter.

In a mixing bowl, add 100 grams of sourdough discard.

A blue and white porcelain bowl is being filled with a mixture of ingredients. A jar with a measuring guide on its side and a closed container are on a wooden surface nearby. The bowls and containers suggest a cooking or baking process.

Add in 1 tablespoon of melted butter and mix well.

A baking sheet lined with parchment paper sits on a wooden surface. A pale, creamy batter is spread unevenly in the center of the paper. A white and black container is partially visible on the right side of the image.

Pour mixture on to parchment lined sheet pan.

Hands holding a spatula spread cream cheese filling in a parchment-lined square pan on a wooden cutting board. The scene includes a baking dish partially visible on the right.

Spread in an even layer on parchment, making sure it is even as possible.

A person is sprinkling seasoning over a sheet of dough on a parchment-lined baking tray. The tray is on a wooden countertop, and a container is partially visible to the right.

Top with your favorite seasonings if you like.

A person is sprinkling seasoning over a sheet of dough in a baking pan on a wooden countertop. The person's wrist features a smart watch. A small container with a white lid is partially visible to the right.

And your favorite cheese if desired.

A person sprinkles grated cheese over seeds and seasoning on a flatbread dough, placed on a parchment-lined baking sheet. The preparation is on a wooden kitchen counter.

Bake for 5 minutes. Remove from oven and score with a knife or pizza cutter to make breaking the crackers easier. Return to the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes more until crackers are brown.

A rectangular baked dish with a crispy browned top is on a parchment-lined tray. It is on a wooden surface next to a large lidded glass jar containing a powdery white substance, likely flour or sugar.

Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Carefully break crackers apart, serve and enjoy!

Close-up of baked cheese crisps on parchment paper. The crisps are golden brown with visible sesame seeds scattered on top, showcasing a crunchy texture. Some pieces are broken, adding to the rustic appearance.

Enjoy!

If you need a great sourdough bread recipe, check out our friend Kate, at THE PANTRY MAMA for tons of great sourdough bread recipes and resources.

Why Brooke loves this recipe!

Recipes are like antiques. They are meant to be handed down from one generation to another. Each one holding a special memory or nostalgic memory. Here is why we love this one!

Knowing what is in your food is at the top of my list of reasons I love cooking with scratch made ingredients. So many processed foods on the market are just not good for us. Finding more natural alternatives to some of our favorite convenience items is a win. An easy way to make them is just icing on the cake!

A baking sheet lined with parchment paper holds several pieces of homemade crispy cheese crackers topped with sesame seeds. The crackers are golden brown, irregularly shaped, and placed haphazardly.

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Variations and Substitutions

Sourdough discard crackers can be made all kinds of ways. While we have already substituted the starch and carb source, here are some other tasty variations and substitutions for you to try.

Spicy – add some kick with your favorite cajun seasoning or even something simple like dried cayenne or red pepper flakes.
Sweet – make these a bit sweeter by adding a sprinkle of your favorite sugar substitute or even brown sugar and a touch of cinnamon!
Amp up the cheese – for a super cheesy cracker, mix 1/4 cup of your favorite shredded cheese right to the starter and butter and make a cheez it substitute.

Equipment

🔧 I love to share recipes that are no special equipment required but here are a few things that would definitely make this recipe easier!

Storage

To keep your Sourdough Discard Crackers fresh, once cooled, store in an airtight container for up to a week.

These crackers can be frozen. Allow to thaw at room temperature. If they appear soggy, crisp in an air fryer or 250° oven until firm.

A hand holds a piece of baked cheese cracker topped with sesame and black seeds. The cracker is set against a parchment paper-lined baking sheet near a window.

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Cheese crisps sprinkled with black and white sesame seeds are scattered on a piece of parchment paper. The crisps have a golden-brown color and a textured, crispy appearance.

Sourdough Discard Crackers

Sourdough Discard Crackers made with just two ingredients! Tasty, easy and customizable. Add your favorite seasonings and cheese and enjoy snacking on a scratch made snack you can feel good about.

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 25

Serving Size crackers

Ingredients

100 grams sourdough discard
1 Tablespoon butter melted

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a bowl, mix sourdough starter discard with melted butter.
100 grams sourdough discard, 1 Tablespoon butter
Spread evenly on prepared parchment lined sheet pan. Using a spatula to insure mixture is spread in an even layer. Optional: top with your favorite seasoning and cheese.
Bake for 5 minutes, remove from the oven and score crackers to desired size using a knife or pizza cutter. Place back in the oven and bake for 20 to 25 more minutes until brown and crisp. Cool, break apart and serve.

See How To Make It!

A pile of cheesy, golden-brown crackers topped with black and white sesame seeds, resting on crumpled parchment paper. The crackers have a crisp texture and appear homemade.

🍴 PRO TIP!

Not sure how to keep your discard so you have enough to make this wonderful recipe? It is easily doubled or tripled if need be. Simply discard your starter into a clean jar labeled, “discard” and keep in the refrigerator until you have enough to make more of your new favorite crackers.

🗹 RECIPE FAQ’S

Can I make these with another fat besides butter?

Yes. You can use the fat of your choice. I have made them with avocado oil and they are just as good. Feel free to substitute with the fat of your choice.

Does my starter discard need to be room temperature?

No. You can take cold discard right from the refrigerator and mix with the butter. No need to come to room temperature.

Can I line my pan with something other than parchment?

Yes. You can use a good quality silicone mat. The parchment does help the crackers crisp up so be sure to just watch during cooking time to see if it needs to be increased or decreased to get them to your desired done-ness.

What if I don’t have a kitchen scale to weigh my starter?

A good KITCHEN SCALE is a great tool to have in your arsenal. A really good one can be bought at the link provided for a small cost. If you need to know a measurement, as a general rule, 100 grams usually equals about 2/3 of a cup.

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