Sourdough Discard Crackers

Looking for a quick and tasty way to use up sourdough discard? These buttery, crispy sourdough discard crackers are loaded with flavor and ready in minutes—perfect for snacking, dipping, or charcuterie boards!

What is sourdough discard? 

Sourdough bakers love the process of building up their active starter, but aren’t always keen on the “discard” process. Why? Because it’s a waste of perfectly good flour. That’s why these “discard” recipes are so helpful! You can use that discarded starter to make all sorts of delicious things! 

I’ve used discard in my waffles, my focaccia, and even my muffins. But today I had my heart set on something super simple. . .crackers. 

I’d been thinking about making discard crackers for some time, but wasn’t sure how to go about it. I searched online and found a bunch of recipes, but in the end just merged several ideas into my own concoction. 

And boy, am I glad I did! 

I might never buy store-bought crackers again! These are delicious and so, so easy to make. (Trust me when I say that simple recipes are my favorite, especially when it comes to savory treats.) 

All that to say, I came up with a great recipe, one I’m happy to share with you, my sourdough-loving friends! 

Let’s get started! 

Sourdough Discard Crackers Ingredients

You will find a full printable recipe card at the bottom of this post, but here’s a quick peek at what you’ll need to make these crackers. These are simple items you might already have on hand in your pantry or refrigerator. 

• 1 cup cold (inactive) sourdough discard
• 3 tablespoons melted butter
• ⅓ cup shredded parmesan
• 1 tablespoon Everything Bagel seasoning
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• More salt, parmesan, and Everything Bagel seasoning for sprinkling on top. 

How to Make Sourdough Discard Crackers

These come together so easily!

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Melt butter in a medium bowl. 

Stir discard well and pour into the melted butter. 

Add seasoning, parmesan, and ¼ teaspoon salt. 

Stir well. 

Spread the discard onto a large sheet of parchment paper (cut to fit your baking sheet). I used a small off-set spatula for this process. 

Sprinkle with a bit more seasoning and salt, as well as a tablespoon of parmesan. 

Place parchment paper on cookie sheet and put into the oven. 

Bake for 15 minutes. 

Remove and score crackers. 

Place back in oven and bake for 15-20 minutes. 

Remove and cool on wire rack. 

Serve and enjoy. 

Store leftover crackers in an ziplock bag (or other airtight container). They should stay fresh for up to a week. You can freeze them up to two months. 

What to Expect from this Recipe

I loved these so much! In fact, I was incredibly surprised to discover how much I enjoyed them! Talk about an easy, inexpensive snack! More than anything, I'm happy to have a discard go-to recipe because I have so much on hand at all times! (Such are the woes--or should I say blessings--of being a sourdough baker!

Variations to this Recipe

I went with Everything Bagel seasoning, but has occurred to me that a variety of other seasonings might work, as well. Here are some suggestions: 

Sesame Seed: These would add a bit of crunch to the already-delicious cracker. 

Olive Oil and Sea Salt: Skip the butter and use Olive Oil, instead! 

Chili Lime – Chili powder and a squeeze of lime juice or zest.

Ranch Powder + Cheese – Use dry ranch dressing mix and a touch of mozzarella or parmesan.

Rosemary & Sea Salt – Fresh chopped rosemary and flaky salt on top.

Cheddar & Chive – Add shredded sharp cheddar and a teaspoon of dried chives.

Brown Sugar Pecan – Stir in brown sugar and finely chopped pecans in place of the cheese.

Other Discard Recipes

• Soft Sourdough Discard Sandwich Loaf
• Sourdough Discard Focaccia
• Starter Discard Banana Bread

That’s it for this post, friends! 

I hope you enjoyed this delicious recipe. 

If you make this recipe and love it, don’t forget to leave a review and a comment below. And while you're at it, go ahead and pin some photos to your Pinterest boards!

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About the Author

Janice Thompson is an author, baker, and all-around mischief maker! She has overcome a host of baking catastrophes, including a toppled wedding cake, to learn more about the baking process. Janice has published over 165 books for the Christian market but particularly enjoys writing recipes and baking devotions. To learn more about Janice or to drop her a note, visit her About the Author page.