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    Home » Food

    Sourdough Discard Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Modified: Aug 6, 2025 by Sarita Harbour · Published: Apr 3, 2024 · This post may contain affiliate links and Amazon links

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    I've been on a sourdough discard baking kick for months now. Here's my latest — sourdough discard chocolate chip cookies, and they're AMAZING if I do say so myself.

    A stack of sourdough chocolate chip cookies next to a bowl of chocolate chips.Pin
    Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

    How to Make Sourdough Discard Chocolate Chip Cookies

    A sourdough discard chocolate chip cookie with a bottle of milk.Pin
    Photo credit: An Off Grid life.

    I've always had a major sweet tooth, and homemade chocolate chip cookies are a staple in my kitchen. And I have to say these sourdough discard chocolate chip cookies turned out even better than I expected.

    I got the idea after making mini sourdough discard chocolate chip muffins. And those were inspired by making sourdough discard banana muffins. It's a slippery slope when it comes to me, sugar, and sourdough starter.

    Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies Ingredients

    Ingredients for sourdough discard chocolate chip cookies recipe.Pin
    Photo credit: An Off Grid life.

    With the tangy flavor of sourdough and the sweetness of chocolate chips, these cookies have quickly become a household favorite. They're super easy to make as well.

    To make these delicious cookies, you will need:

    • 1 cup unsalted butter
    • 1 cup sugar
    • 1 cup brown sugar
    • 2 eggs
    • 1 cup sourdough starter discard
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla
    • 1 ½ teaspoons salt
    • ½ teaspoon baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 3 cups flour
    • 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
    • Flaky salt to garnish (optional)

    Directions

    Two pieces of butter in a pan on a marble countertop.Pin
    Photo credit: An Off Grid life.
    A mixing bowl with a mixture of eggs and a yolk.Pin
    Photo credit: An Off Grid life.
    A metal bowl with eggs, flour, and butter in it.Pin
    Photo credit: An Off Grid life.
    A bowl of brown sugar and white sugar.Pin
    Photo credit: An Off Grid life.
    A bowl of flour and some flour.Pin
    Photo credit: An Off Grid life.
    Chocolate chip cookie dough in a mixing bowl.Pin
    Photo credit: An Off Grid life.
    Chocolate chip cookie dough in a mixing bowl.Pin
    Photo credit: An Off Grid life.
    A plastic wrapped roll of sourdough discard chocolate chip cookies on a marble surface.Pin
    Photo credit: An Off Grid life.
    Step-by-step instructions for making sourdough discard chocolate chip cookies.

    Here's how to make the cookies. They're pretty simple; my 10-year-old would have no problem baking up a batch.

    • In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until it browns. Be careful not to let it burn.
    • Allow the browned butter to cool for about 10 minutes in the fridge.
    • In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the cooled brown butter, sugar, and brown sugar until smooth.
    • Mix in the sourdough starter, eggs, and vanilla until combined.
    • Add the baking soda, baking powder, salt, and flour, mixing until thoroughly combined and scraping the sides often.
    • Fold in the chocolate chips until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
    • Transfer the cookie dough to a strip of plastic wrap and roll it into a log, covering it completely. Chill the dough in the fridge for 12-24 hours to allow the flavors to develop.
    • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
    • Using a small ice cream scoop, divide the dough into ping pong ball-sized portions, flatten into discs, and sprinkle with flaky sea salt if desired.
    • Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are golden brown and the center is no longer shiny. Allow to cool before serving.

    Storage

    These cookies never last long at our house. But I suppose you could sore the cookies in an airtight container for up to three days. Or maybe freeze them for up to 3 months.

    Sourdough Discard Chocolate Chip Cookies FAQs

    A plate of sourdough chocolate chip cookies on a table.Pin
    Photo credit: An Off Grid life.

    Got questions about this recipe or my other sourdough discard recipes? Leave a comment below and I'll answer.

    1. Can I use active sourdough starter instead of discard?

    Yes, you absolutely can use an active sourdough starter in place of discard. Just be sure to adjust the flour and liquid in the recipe accordingly to maintain the proper consistency of the dough.

    2. Can I skip chilling the dough?

    I wouldn't recommend it. Chilling the dough helps the flavors develop. It also stops the cookies from spreading too much while baking. However, if you're short on time, you can chill the dough for just one hour before baking.

    3. Can I substitute the semi-sweet chocolate chips with another type of chocolate?

    Absolutely! When I was running low, I've used milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and even white chocolate chips. Just keep in mind that different types of chocolate may alter the flavor slightly.

    Recipe

    A group of sourdough discard chocolate chip cookies on a wire rack.Pin

    Sourdough Discard Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

    Sarita Harbour
    This is my new favorite cookie. I absolutely LOVE this sourdough discard chocolate chip cookies recipe!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time 10 minutes mins
    Additional Time 1 day d
    Total Time 1 day d 30 minutes mins
    Servings 36 cookies
    Calories 187 kcal

    Equipment

    • White Sugar
    • All Purpose Flour
    • Pyrex 2-cup Measuring Cup

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 cup unsalted butter
    • 1 cup sugar
    • 1 cup brown sugar
    • 2 eggs
    • 1 cup sourdough starter discard
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla
    • 1 ½ teaspoons salt
    • ½ teaspoon baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 3 cups flour
    • 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
    • Flaky salt to garnish (optional)
    Get Recipe Ingredients

    Instructions
     

    • In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until it browns. Be careful not to let it burn.
    • Allow the browned butter to cool for about 10 minutes in the fridge.
    • In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the cooled brown butter, sugar, and brown sugar until smooth.
    • Mix in the sourdough starter, eggs, and vanilla until combined.
    • Add the baking soda, baking powder, salt, and flour, mixing until thoroughly combined and scraping the sides often.
    • Fold in the chocolate chips until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
    • Transfer the cookie dough to a strip of plastic wrap and roll into a log, covering it completely. Chill the dough in the fridge for 12-24 hours to allow the flavors to develop.
    • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
    • Using a small ice cream scoop, divide the dough into ping pong ball-sized portions, flatten into discs, and sprinkle with flaky sea salt if desired.
    • Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are golden brown and the center is no longer shiny. Allow to cool before serving.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2gCalories: 187kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 2gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 24mgSodium: 154mgFiber: 1gSugar: 16g
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    About Sarita Harbour

    Sarita Harbour is a long-time freelance writer, blogger, and homesteader who has been creating online content for over 15 years. She’s the founder of An Off Grid Life, where she shares practical advice on self-reliance, homesteading, off-grid living, and homeschooling based on her 11-year adventure living in Canada’s remote Northwest Territories.

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    Sarita Harbour.

    I'm Sarita. My family and I lived off the grid for 11 years in Canada's far north. If I did it, you can too.

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