Simple Sourdough Discard Pancakes

These fluffy, tangy sourdough discard pancakes are quick, easy, and perfect for using up extra starter. Made with basic ingredients and ready in minutes, they’re a delicious way to start your morning!

Lazy Days Call for Pancakes

I woke up to a big storm this morning. There were no book deadlines calling my name, no big appointments I needed to get to. Basically, I could have stayed curled up under the covers all day, if I had chose to! (Those days don’t come around very often for me, so I cherish them when they do!) 

Then I remembered the discard in my refrigerator. I’ve been on a roll baking up things with that discard. Yesterday it was crackers. A couple days back: muffins. Before that, waffle. Today, with the weather being so icky, I decided to christen this “pancake day.” And boy, am I glad I did! 

The Most Versatile Recipe to Date

I’ve created a ton of recipes over the past three years, but this might be one of the most fluid, yet! I started out with a problem: No all-purpose flour. I did happen to have self-rising, so I decided to go that route. If you only have all-purpose, it’s fine. For each cup of flour you add 1 ½ teaspoons of baking powder, and ¼ teaspoon of salt. 

When I first started this recipe, I realized very quickly that I wouldn’t need all of that batter. It’s just me, myself, and I. Well, I do have the dogs, but I don’t feed them pancakes. But you get the idea. There are only so many pancakes one can eat by oneself. 

I made the first batch (four little ones) and stacked them up. But I was left with about ⅔ of the batter. Initially I thought, “Just make more pancakes and freeze them for later.) Sounded good. 

And Then What Happened?

I remembered my healthy banana berry pancakes, which inspired a new idea: I wondered if I could drop some mashed bananas into this remaining batter, along with some berries. I had a couple of over-ripe bananas on hand, as well as frozen blackberries, (my favorite). 

And guess what?! It worked! I cooked a couple of banana berry pancakes. (At this point I was too full to eat anything, but I did take a nibble. They were delicious.) 

But, I stared at that bowl of banana berry batter and thought to myself. . .

“What else can I do with that?” 

So, I dumped in more self-rising flour (eyeballing it) and created (you guessed it!). . .muffins. 

Yep. Out of one sourdough discard recipe I created basic pancakes, banana berry pancakes, and delicious homemade muffins, sure to please a crowd. 

And all of that happened quite by accident. I just hated to waste product. (Did I mention I have multiple bags of self-rising flour in my house right now?) 

You might choose to use up your batter making traditional pancakes. That’s great! These are yummy and so, so simple .

Discard Pancake Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons melted butter
• ¼ cup inactive sourdough starter discard
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 ½ cups milk
• 2 cups self-rising flour 
  • (or 2 cups all-purpose with 3 teaspoons baking powder and ½ teaspoon salt)

If you want to add some bananas, berries or other add-ins, feel free! I will list some fun ideas further down in this post. 

How to Make Discard Pancakes from Scratch

This is such a simple process, and such a great way to make use of that excess discard! Make sure you have your skillet ready to go. I used nonstick spray on mine but you use whatever method works for your pan. 

Let's make the pancake batter!

In a large bowl (microwave safe bowl), melt the butter. 

Add the starter. 

Now add the eggs, vanilla, and honey. Stir well. 

Alternate the milk with the self-rising flour, stirring as you go. 

If your batter looks too loose, give it a few minutes to sit so that it can thicken. If it’s still too loose, add a tablespoon or two of flour. 

It’s time to make your pancakes! If you’re adding mix-ins, this is the time to add them. 

Make sure your skillet is hot (I use medium-high heat but you might opt for medium low heat to start) and add about half a cup of batter to the prepared pan. Alternatively you can use a hot griddle or cast-iron skillet.

Cook until you see bubbles in the batter. 

Flip the pancakes and continue to cook until they are golden brown. 

Add your favorite toppings. Serve and enjoy! 

Store leftovers in baggies in the freezer to eat later, if you like. They should stay good up to two months when frozen. 

What to Expect from this Pancake Mix

Check out these fluffy sourdough pancakes!

They’re tasty, they’re fluffy, they’re simple. . .and they use up that pesky discard you have sitting in your refrigerator right now. Unlike some discard recipes, they’re not terribly “twangy.” (I’ll be honest: I’m not a huge fan of the sour discard taste. The balance in this recipe is perfection!) This is one of those sourdough recipes you'll turn to again and again!

Variations on this Recipe

This is such a quick and easy recipe. I ate mine with butter and pancake syrup, but here are some fun ideas for serving your pancakes: 

• Sprinkle with powdered sugar: If you’re not a fan of maple syrup, just sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve with fresh berries. 
• Add 2 mashed bananas and a cup of chopped berries or pecans. (Yum!) 
• Skip the bananas and just add berries (raspberries, strawberry bits, blueberries, etc.) 
• Skip the fruit and add chocolate chips. (Why doesn’t love a chocolate chip pancakes?) 
• Turn these pancakes into muffins with the addition of more self-rising flour and a quarter cup of sugar. (Just eyeball it until you get to a muffin consistency.) Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until golden. 

Questions People are Asking

Can I use active sourdough starter?

Absolutely! Expect an even fluffier outcome! Use the same amount, whether you choose inactive or active starter.

What if I don't end up with fluffy pancakes?

You can always add another pinch of baking powder to fluff things up!

Can I use this recipe to make sourdough waffles?

I honestly haven't tried it. I have a sourdough waffles recipe on this blog, though!

Other Breakfast Treats from Out of the Box Baking

If you liked these sourdough pancakes you’ll love our other breakfast offerings. 

• French Toast with Orange Glaze
• Easy Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
• Delicious Breakfast Enchiladas
• Easy Hash Brown Casserole

That’s it for this post, friends! I hope you enjoyed this delicious fluffy sourdough discard pancakes 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.