Fluffy Sourdough Discard Pancakes – The Best Recipe!

These fluffy pancakes made with sourdough starter discard and basic ingredients are the best pancakes!  Making fluffy sourdough pancakes is a great way to use your starter or dip your toes in if you’re not quite ready to use it for making sourdough bread just yet.

This was the very first thing I ever made with my sourdough starter when I got it going years ago.  I was intimidated by sourdough bread but had lots of starter from the building process and needed to put it to use.  I didn’t know much about sourdough back then, but I could do basic math and knew that my starter was about half flour and half water.   So I made some adjustments to my go-to pancake recipe and that’s how this fluffy sourdough pancake recipe was born.

I’ve tried other sourdough pancake recipes and many are very flat or taste of baking soda.  I don’t know about you, but I like my pancakes thick and fluffy!  There’s nothing better than a fat stack of fluffy, delicious pancakes topped with fresh, raw butter and maple syrup for breakfast on a Saturday morning.  

My kids love these too and ask for them all the time.  I don’t usually operate as a short-order chef in my home but for pancakes, I will make an exception.  I have one child who likes bananas and chocolate chips, another likes white chocolate chips, and another likes blueberries.  The toddler gets what he gets, but in time we will see what he comes up with when it’s time to take orders for pancakes.

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This recipe uses an entire cup of starter, so it’s a great way to use discard or excess sourdough starter when you’re in the process of building a new starter or anytime you have leftover sourdough starter after baking bread.

These pancakes are fluffy, not flat!  And they taste like regular pancakes.  Lots of sourdough pancake recipes yield a very flat, sour pancake, which some people prefer.  But if you like yours thick, this is the recipe for you.

This is a quick, one-bowl recipe that doesn’t require long fermentation, so the batter is ready to go as soon as you mix it up.  But if you want to use active sourdough starter and let it ferment overnight or for a few hours before making pancakes – that’s fine too!

Spend the day with me in my homestead kitchen in this video – sourdough pancakes are on the menu!

What You’ll Need

INGREDIENTS

• 1 C sourdough starter (240 grams)
• 1/4 C sugar (50 grams)
• 1 C milk (240 grams)
• 2 eggs (100 grams)
• 1 t vanilla extract (4.2 grams)
• 1 1/4 C all-purpose flour (150 grams)
• 1 t baking powder (4.8 grams)
• 1 t baking soda (4.8 grams)
• 1/4 t sea salt (1.25 grams)

TOOLS

Step-By-Step Instructions

Heat a skillet or griddle on medium heat while you mix the batter.

Combine the sourdough starter, sugar, milk, eggs, and vanilla in a large bowl and whisk until smooth.  Add the dry ingredients – flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to the wet ingredients and whisk until the batter is smooth.

You can make pancakes right away or let the batter sit at room temperature for a few hours if you’d like it to ferment.  If you’re ready to go right away…

Turn down the heat to medium-low heat, spread some coconut oil, olive oil, or melted butter to coat the surface of the skillet or griddle, and then ladle a half cup of batter onto the hot griddle.

Cook the pancakes for 2-3 minutes on each side.  Look for bubbles around the edges of each pancake to know when it’s ready to flip.  When you see bubbles and the edges begin to look dry, use a spatula to slightly lift edge and check the first side.   Once the first side is golden brown, flip and wait until the second side is golden brown as well, then transfer to a dish with a lid to keep pancakes warm while you finish the batch.  

Serve warm with fresh butter, maple syrup, and whatever toppings you like.  My favorite way to enjoy these pancakes is with whipped cream and fresh berries on top!

FAQ

What is a Sourdough Starter and How Do I Make One?

A sourdough starter is a mixture of flour and water that captures wild yeast and bacteria from the environment and acts as a leavening agent. To make a sourdough starter, mix equal parts water and flour in a jar, cover with a loose fitting lid, and allow to ferment at room temp for 24 hours. Discard half of the mixture after the 24 hours is up, “feed” the starter equal parts water and flour, cover with a loose fitting lid, and allow to ferment at room temp for 24 hours. Repeat this process of discarding, feeding, and fermenting for 1-2 weeks and you will have a mature sourdough starter ready to bake with. See my detailed blog posts on how to make and maintain a sourdough starter.

Do I need to let sourdough pancake batter ferment overnight?

This recipe does not need to ferment overnight, it’s ready to go right away.  However, you can let it ferment for a few hours or overnight if you’d like.  Just prepare the batter the night before, cover it, and place it in the fridge until the next morning.

Can I use whole wheat flour to make sourdough pancakes?

Yes, you can experiment with different kinds of flour when making sourdough pancakes.  Just remember that the type of flour you use will affect the texture and flavor of your pancakes.

Tips

• The batter shouldn’t be runny, but it shouldn’t be too thick to pour.  If the batter is too thin, add a tablespoon of flour at a time to thicken it up.  If the batter is too thick, add a tablespoon of milk at a time to thin it down.
• Add a teaspoon of cinnamon or your favorite toppings like chocolate chips, fresh berries, or bananas to the batter for a delicious breakfast treat.
• If you don’t want to mess with making several rounds of pancakes in a skillet or on a griddle – pour all of the batter onto a greased baking sheet and bake at 400F for 15-17 minutes or until golden brown.  Cut into squares and serve, this is the easiest way to make pancakes on the go!

Storage

Sourdough pancakes can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days, or in the refrigerator for 5 days.  They can also be frozen for up to 3 months.

All Things Sourdough…

Sourdough Artisan Bread Made Simple

Sourdough Crepes

How to Make A Sourdough Starter

Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies

Sourdough Sandwich Bread

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