6+ Sourdough Cookie Recipes (2024)

My favorite sourdough cookie recipes are the most delicious way to enjoy sourdough discard. From sourdough peanut butter cookies to oatmeal, and just about everything in between.

Crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside, warm and comforting— homemade sourdough cookies really hit the spot.

If you’re looking for the perfect recipe that will take your baking game to the next level, we’ve got you covered.

This article will provide you with six delicious sourdough cookie recipes to choose from (and will be updated as more cookie recipes are created), so you can make your own yummy treats without leaving home.

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned baker, there’s something here to suit all levels. With these recipes, you’ll be able to master the art of baking homemade sourdough cookies in no time.

So preheat your oven, get ready to mix some dough, and let’s get started!

Why you will love these recipes:

Great way to use sourdough discard: Don’t toss out the sourdough starter when you are feeding it. Rather use it in discard recipes. All of these recipes can be made into sourdough discard cookies.

Can be long fermented for better digestion: All of these sourdough starter cookies can be long fermented for better digestion and more nutrition bioavailability. Yes even discard will ferment the dough.

Cookie Making Tips:

All of these cookies can be made with sourdough discard or active starter. I like using discard though for less waste in the kitchen.
For long fermentation, I usually suggest making the cookie dough, storing in the fridge for up to three days, then place on a cookie sheet and bake. The longer they are in the fridge the more fermented the grains will become.
When baking sweets, it’s preferable to use unsalted butter. This gives you greater control over the salt levels in the recipes.
Cookies do amazingly well in the freezer. Prep cookies ahead and freeze the cookie dough balls in a freezer-safe bag or freeze already baked cookies for up to 3 months.

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Stand mixer with paddle attachment or an electric hand mixer

Measuring cups and spoons

Baking sheet

Large bowl

Cooling rack

FAQ:

Why are my sourdough cookies flat?

Most likely it is because the oven is too hot or the leaveners are past their prime.

How do you use lots of sourdough discard?

Sourdough discard can be used in just about any sourdough recipes that calls for baking soda and/or baking powder as the leavening agents rather than using the wild yeast in sourdough starter to give it rise.

Check out these 35+ Sourdough Discard Recipes

What does sourdough discard do to baked goods?

It adds a delicious tangy flavor, and, if allowed to sit for some time, it can help ferment the grains to make them easier to digest and the vitamins and minerals more easily absorbed by the body.

What is sourdough discard?

Sourdough discard is a portion of unfed sourdough starter that is to be thrown away (or discarded) while another portion is left to be fed.

6+ Sourdough Cookie Recipes

Sourdough Shortbread Cookies

These sourdough shortbread cookies are buttery, crunchy and delicious. Made with sourdough discard, it’s a simple, sweet treat that is great all year round!

Sourdough Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe

Packed full of peanut butter flavor, these sourdough peanut butter cookies are soft, sweet, and has that slight sourdough tang. They are so so delicious. It’s hard to just stop at one.

Sourdough Sugar Cookies

Perfect for holiday baking, these sourdough cut out sugar cookies are delicious, sweet, and can be cut out with your favorite cookie cutters. Bake and decorate these soft, buttery, and sweet cookies.

Sourdough Oatmeal Cookies

Sourdough oatmeal cookies are here to tantalize your taste buds. This delectable treat combines oats with the complex, tangy flavor of sourdough and plump juicy raisins. Not only do sourdough oatmeal cookies have an unforgettable taste – they’re a cinch to make.

Chewy Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies

A soft and chewy sourdough chocolate chip cookie recipe packed with chocolate chunks. Whip this recipe up for a quick dessert, or long ferment for better digestion.

Sourdough Snickerdoodle Cookies

A sourdough twist on the classic snickerdoodle. These cookies have an amazing soft chewy texture, crisp edges, and lots of cinnamon flavor. All the things you expect out of a snickerdoodle.

Find More Sourdough Dessert Recipes:

Sourdough Chocolate Cake
Double Chocolate Sweet Rolls
Sourdough Babka Recipe with Chocolate Filling
Sourdough Blueberry Cobbler
Sourdough Bread Pudding

FAQs

What flour is best for sourdough? ›

Bread flour (or baker's flour) is a high protein, white flour that is milled specifically for baking bread and sourdough. You'll get the best results for your sourdough bread from using bread flour. The most popular bread flour in the US is King Arthur Bread Flour.

What is the secret to good sourdough bread? ›

Top 10 Tips & Tricks for Making Sourdough

Use your sourdough starter at its peak. ...
Moisten the surface of the dough before baking for more rise. ...
Handle with care: be gentle with your dough. ...
Use sifted flour to make your sourdough less dense. ...
Soak your flour beforehand for a lighter loaf. ...
Just add water for softer sourdough.

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What is best to bake sourdough in? ›

We recommend baking sourdough in a Dutch oven. This lets you cover your bread for the first one-third of its baking time, allowing steam to build. This steam helps the loaf reach an ideal color and texture of crust.

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What happens if you don't mix cookie dough enough? ›

Under-mixing the dough can be just as damaging as over-mixing as it can result in pockets of dry ingredients presenting in the final product. You can stop mixing when your dough looks uniform, paying extra attention to the dry ingredients, which are the biggest culprits in the under-mixing battle.

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What flour makes sourdough more sour? ›

Whole grain and rye flours provide minerals and enzymes that can influence acid production in sourdoughs.

Can I use all-purpose flour instead of bread flour for sourdough? ›

Substituting all purpose flour in a sourdough recipe that specifically calls for bread flour is not always an even swap. You'll need to REDUCE the total amount of water first. All purpose flour absorbs less water than bread flour, which can make the dough too sticky to work with otherwise.

Why do you put baking soda in sourdough bread? ›

Baking soda or bicarbonate of soda can be used in sourdough bread to create a less sour loaf. Added after bulk fermentation, but before shaping, it can help to create a lighter, more fluffy loaf of sourdough.

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How do you make sourdough bread lighter and fluffier? ›

There are several ways to make sourdough bread lighter and less dense, such as:

Increasing the hydration level of your dough, which means adding more water or using less flour. ...
Switching up the type of flour you use, or using a mixture of different flours.

Nov 15, 2015

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Is it better to use water or milk in sourdough bread? ›

No, milk should not be added to a sourdough starter. Sourdough starter needs only flour and water to colonise wild yeast.

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Can you bake sourdough on a cookie sheet? ›

If you're not using a baking stone, turn them out onto a parchment-lined (or lightly greased) baking sheet and slash them. Scoring (a.k.a. slashing) a risen loaf just before putting it into the oven helps it retain its shape by giving it a pre-designated spot — the slash — to expand.

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What temp should you bake sourdough? ›

Preheat your oven with a baking surface or combo cooker/Dutch oven inside to 450°F (230°C). Remove your dough from the fridge, score it, and transfer it to the preheated baking surface or combo cooker.

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Should I put water in the oven when baking sourdough bread? ›

In order for bread to brown, the oven must be dry. It's important to use only enough water to create a burst of steam early in the bake. A small amount of steam at the start of a bake benefits other types of baked goods too.

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What not to do when baking cookies? ›

15 Common Cookie Baking Mistakes You Might Be Making

Your cookies aren't baking evenly. ...
You use eggs straight from the fridge. ...
You use the wrong kind of flour. ...
You measure flour the wrong way. ...
You soften butter too much — or not enough. ...
You use stale baking powder or baking soda. ...
You overwork the dough.

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Nov 4, 2020

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What does overmixed cookie dough look like? ›

You may notice visible pockets of flour, streaks of butter, or uneven coloration. When overmixed, though, cookie dough will feel dense, greasy, heavy, and warm. It may be tough to roll out or work with, just like overmixed pie dough.

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Is bread flour or all-purpose flour better for sourdough? ›

Can You substitute Bread Flour for All Purpose in Sourdough? Yes, but it's not always an even swap. Flour is a like a sponge. And because all purpose flour absorbs less water than bread flour, you'll need to reduce the total amount of water in a recipe that specifically calls for bread flour.

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Can you use different flours for sourdough? ›

For example, you can use all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, rye flour, or even specialty flours like spelt or einkorn. Absolutely! You can use the same sourdough starter to make bread with different types of flour. Sourdough starters are quite versatile and can adapt to different flours.

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What is 00 flour in USA? ›

So, what is 00 flour? 00 flour is the most finely sifted type of Italian flour, made only from the endosperm. A wheat kernel is made up of three key components – the germ, the bran, and the endosperm.

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What is the best flour for homemade bread? ›

While bread flour is the best option, it can sometimes be used if you don't have bread flour. “Check the protein content,” advises Chef Jürgen, since it can vary from brand to brand, and an all-purpose flour that contains protein on the higher end of the range, 12 to 13 percent, will produce a better outcome.

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