Have some excess sourdough discard in your fridge? Then you need to try these 17 sourdough cookie recipes! Whether you’re looking for an afternoon treat or a quick and easy dessert, there’s something here for every sweet tooth.

Adding sourdough discard to cookies can be tricky because the extra moisture can easily lead to a cakey texture instead of the soft and chewy cookies we all love. That’s why using a tried-and-tested recipe that properly accounts for the discard is so important. All of these recipes have been tested multiple times to get the texture and flavor just right.

Many of these cookies started with the same base as my longtime favorite, Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies, which I adapted from a family recipe we’ve been making for years. Since then, I’ve created everything from sourdough oatmeal cookies and sourdough peanut butter cookies to sourdough strawberry cheesecake cookies and Biscoff white chocolate sourdough cookies, so you’re sure to find a new favorite.

Why You’ll Love These Sourdough Cookies Recipes

• Great use of sourdough discard: These sourdough cookie recipes are a great way to use up your sourdough discard. Adding discard to the cookies adds a depth of flavor you will love. 
• Beginner friendly: Just like all my sourdough recipes, these cookie recipes are perfect for beginners and are easy to make on any schedule. I highly recommend starting with my most popular cookie recipe, Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies. 
• Optional fermentation: All of these sourdough discard cookie recipes can be refrigerated for a longer period (12+ hours) before baking to allow the dough to ferment. This extra fermentation time gives the sourdough cultures more time to break down some of the starches and gluten, which some people, particularly those with gluten sensitivities, may find easier to digest.

If you love baking with your sourdough starter, these sourdough cookie recipes will quickly become your new go-to treats. Whether you are looking for an afternoon treat or making a homemade sourdough gift for the holidays, there’s something here for every sweet tooth. 

What do Cookies With Sourdough Discard Taste Like?

It’s a common misconception that adding sourdough to a recipe means the recipe will automatically be sour. What the discard does do is cut some of the sweetness in the recipe so that the cookies are well balanced and have a more complex flavor profile making them more unique and leaving people wondering what it is about these cookies that they love so much more.

Classic Sourdough Discard Cookie Recipes