Double Chocolate Sourdough Muffins
These double chocolate sourdough muffins are the best muffins you'll ever make with your sourdough starter discard.
Chock-full of chocolate chips so there's extra chocolate in every bite. They practically melt in your mouth!
The batter can be mixed and baked right away OR fermented overnight in the fridge.
They bake up just like big, bakery-style muffins that are ultra moist!

This AMAZING recipe for double chocolate sourdough muffins is a delicious way to use your unfed sourdough starter discard.
The addition of cocoa powder and chocolate chips makes them irresistible.
A sourdough recipe that's sure to become one of your favorites!
This muffin recipe makes 16 double chocolate sourdough muffins.
Because these muffins freeze great, we like to make a double batch and freeze some for later. They are easy to thaw out for a quick breakfast, snack or dessert.
What you'll need for sourdough chocolate muffins
For this recipe, we modified our sourdough banana nut muffins by removing the bananas and butter and replacing them with extra sour cream and oil to keep the muffins super moist.
We also added cocoa powder and chocolate chips for a rich deep chocolate flavor.
- all-purpose flour
- cocoa powder
- baking soda
- baking powder
- salt
- vegetable oil*
- granulated sugar
- eggs
- sour cream*
- milk*
- vanilla extract
- unfed sourdough starter discard
- chocolate chips
Here are a few ways to modify the recipe if needed:
- We prefer to use avocado oil for our recipes because it has a neutral flavor. Avocado oil can be replaced with either melted butter or melted coconut oil. Do not use solid coconut oil in this recipe as it will not mix into the batter evenly.
- Sour cream can be replaced with full-fat, plain greek yogurt.
- We use unsweetened almond milk to help thin down the batter but feel free to choose from whole milk, skim milk, or any plant-based milk.
- Because this recipe is made with a ยฝ cup sourdough starter that hasn't been fed, it's a great way to make sure that your sourdough discard never goes to waste. But, it can also be used with a sourdough starter that is active. You will still need to use baking soda and baking powder for the muffins to rise.
- If you like nuts, try adding a ยฝ cup of chopped pecans or chopped walnuts for a different flavor variation.
- For the best texture, we do not recommend using whole wheat flour or bread flour.
Helpful equipment
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How to make double chocolate sourdough muffins

The batter is made without the use of a stand mixer. All you need is a few bowls, a whisk, and a spatula to mix the batter. (The recipe makes 16 muffins)
NOTE: The muffins will bake at 425ยฐF (218ยฐC) for the first 5 minutes and at 350ยฐF (176ยฐC) for the remaining 15 minutes. The initial higher temperature will help to give the muffins a bigger oven spring.
Preheat the oven to 425ยฐF (218ยฐC) and place the oven rack in the center position. Line a muffin tin with paper liners.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the AP flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set the bowl aside.
In a separate bowl mix the wet ingredients. Use a whisk to combine the oil, sugar, eggs, sour cream, milk, vanilla extract, and sourdough starter discard. Mix until the ingredients come together and are smooth.
Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients and mix the batter until it just comes together. Do not over-mix the batter.
Add the chocolate chips and stir until they are evenly distributed in the batter.
Use an ice cream scooper to fill the liners. The batter should come to the top of the liner for bigger muffins. Sprinkle a few chocolate chips on top of each one if you want even more chocolate flavor!
Bake the muffins for the first 5 minutes at 425ยฐF (218ยฐC) in the preheated oven. Lower the oven temperature to 350ยฐF (176ยฐC) and continue to bake the muffins for an additional 15-18 minutes.
A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean when they are done.
Remove the muffins from the oven and allow them to cool completely in the muffin tin or transfer them to a wire rack.

How to store them
If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or in the fridge for up to a week.
They freeze great too! Just wrap them individually in plastic wrap and place them into a freezer-safe container to avoid freezer burn. The sourdough muffins will stay fresh for up to 3 months in the freezer.
More sourdough discard recipes
- sourdough morning glory muffins
- sourdough blueberry muffins
- lemon poppy seed sourdough muffins
- sourdough pop tarts
- sourdough chocolate chip cookies
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Double Chocolate Sourdough Muffins
INGREDIENTS
- 2 cups (240 g) all purpose flour
- ยฝ cup (45 g) cocoa powder (regular or dark)
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ยฝ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon (5 g) salt
- ยฝ cup (125 g) unfed sourdough starter
- ยฝ cup (120 g) avocado oil (or vegetable oil)
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- ยพ cup (185 g) sour cream
- 2 teaspoons (10 g) vanilla extract
- ยผ cup (60 g) milk
- 1 ยพ cups (315 g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat the oven to 425ยฐF (218ยฐC) and place the oven rack in the center position. Line a muffin tin with paper liners.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together 2 cups AP flour, ยฝ cup cocoa powder, ยฝ teaspoon baking soda, 2 teaspoons baking powder and 1 teaspoon salt. Set the bowl aside.
- In a separate bowl mix the wet ingredients. Use a whisk to combine the ยฝ cup of oil, 1 cup sugar, 2 eggs, ยพ cup sour cream, ยผ cup milk, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract and ยฝ cup of sourdough starter discard. Mix until the ingredients come together and are smooth.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients and mix the batter until it just comes together. Do not over mix the batter. Add the chocolate chips and stir until they are evenly distributed in the batter.
- Use an ice cream scooper to fill the liners. The batter should come to the top of the liner for bigger muffins. Sprinkle a few chocolate chips on top of each one if you want even more chocolate flavor!
- Bake the muffins for the first 5 minutes at 425ยฐF (218ยฐC) in the preheated oven. Lower the oven temperature to 350ยฐF (176ยฐC) and continue to bake the muffins for an additional 15-18 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean when they are done.
- Remove the muffins from the oven and allow them to cool completely in the muffin tin.



Can you use active sourdough starter?
Yes, but you will still need to add the leavening agents.
I used gluten free plain flour but other than that followed the recipe. Turned out great. Really easy to make and very tasty
Love this recipe! Followed it exactly as written and the muffins turned out great. I will be making them again for sure!
Thank you Lisa!
Made these with only 70g sugar and 100g chocolate chips and itโs more than enough sweetness for our taste. They are super soft and fluffy and moist! I left them proof overnight at 19C room temperature and then directly into the frige for another 5h.
Could you add peanut butter to this recipe? would it change any hydration level?
I would reduce the oil in half if you want to add peanut butter to the batter.
I used rye sour dough discard and the double chocolate muffins are amazing. OMG. I only had a cup of choc chips but still turned out . Will be making this again with my discard. Thankyou.
Thank you for sharing Annie! I bet the rye added an amazing flavor!
The description indicates that you can set the mixture aside to ferment overnight in the fridge. When does this step happen? Also, do you add the baking soda and baking powder right before baking if you let the batter rest?
Yes add them right before baking for best results. You'll need to let the batter come to room temperature before mixing it in.
we made the recipe as instructed and kids LOVED it.
I'm curious though, is there a way or a step we could pause at and allow the ingredients to ferment overnight?
Made them exactly as stated in recipe-they are amazing!
Can you substitute buttermilk for the sour cream
Hi Vera, yes, that should be fine.