Creative Ways to Use Your Sourdough Starter Daily

Beyond Bread: Creative Ways to Use Your Sourdough Starter

If you’ve started your sourdough journey, you already know the magic of watching your starter bubble up with life. But did you know there’s so much more you can do with your sourdough starter than bake bread?

Whether you’re just beginning or looking to branch out, sourdough is a versatile tool in your kitchen—not just for loaves, but for pancakes, pizza dough, crackers, and even cookies!

In this post, I’m sharing some of my favorite creative ways to use your starter—plus a few tools that make baking even more fun and successful.

🥞 1. Sourdough Pancakes & Waffles

Fluffy, tangy, and gut-friendly, sourdough pancakes or waffles are a great way to use discard. Mix up a batch the night before or whip them together in the morning for a hearty breakfast.

Add-ins to try: cinnamon, blueberries, or dark chocolate chips.

🍪 2. Cookies with a Twist

Yes—cookies! Sourdough discard adds depth and chewiness to your favorite cookie recipes. Try chocolate chip, molasses, or even gingerbread. Fermenting the dough overnight boosts flavor and digestibility.

🧇 3. Crackers That Wow

Crispy, herby sourdough crackers are one of the easiest ways to use up discard—and they’re addictively good. Mix in olive oil, fresh herbs, or shredded cheese, roll thin, and bake. You’ll never go back to store-bought.

🍕 4. Homemade Sourdough Pizza Dough

Sourdough pizza dough is beginner-friendly and the flavor is unmatched. Let it ferment overnight, stretch it by hand, and top with whatever your family loves. You can even freeze extra dough for later!

🍰 5. Quick Breads, Cakes & Muffins

Sourdough starter works beautifully in banana bread, muffins, and cakes. It adds a hint of tang and keeps baked goods moist. Use discard in any recipe that also calls for baking powder or soda for rise.

🍳 Pro Tip: Don’t Toss That Discard!

Almost every recipe above uses discard, so instead of tossing it, save it in a jar in the fridge throughout the week. Then, put it to work with one of these recipes! You’ll cut down on waste and gain something delicious in the process.

🧰 Want to Bake with Confidence? Start with the Right Tools.

Over the years, I’ve tested a lot of sourdough tools—and I’ve curated a list of my favorites on Amazon to help you get the best results.

From bench scrapers to proofing baskets and my go-to digital scale, these are the essentials I recommend to everyone who bakes with me.

👉 Browse my recommended sourdough tools here
(This is my affiliate link—thanks for supporting what I do!)

👩‍🍳 Want Hands-On Help with Your Sourdough?

If you’re in the San Antonio area, I’d love to personally invite you to my next sourdough workshop! It’s a relaxed, hands-on event where I’ll walk you through:

✔️ How to feed, store, and maintain your starter
✔️ How to shape and bake a beautiful loaf
✔️ Several creative recipes that go beyond bread

This class is perfect for beginners or those with a starter who need a little more confidence and clarity.

📩 Spots fill quickly, but you can join the waitlist here to be the first to know when registration opens!

Final Thoughts: Sourdough Is Just Getting Started

Your sourdough starter is a living tool—full of potential, flavor, and versatility. It’s not just for bread (though bread is wonderful!)—it’s your secret ingredient for building gut-friendly meals, reducing waste, and trying something new in the kitchen.

So whether you’re flipping pancakes or baking your first boule, I’m here to support you.

🥖 Join the sourdough workshop waitlist here
🛒 Grab my favorite baking tools on Amazon

Let’s get baking—beyond the loaf.