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.



I made these today using soft white fresh milled flour. Makes lots of tasty mini muffins. ๐
Mary, did you reduce how much soft white you used it was it still 240 g? thank you!
I have made this recipe multiple times, but it always ends up kind of dry. Any suggestions to what I should do? Thank you
Hello, I would reduce your bake time by 5 minutes and check them.
this is a very good recipe, the muffin is so soft and yummy.
i reduce the sugar to 180g and added 5g of coffee granule to the warm milk and mix well.
Thank you so much for sharing the recipe !
I made this recipe 5 times so far! Converted me to a chocolate muffin lover!
I'm going on vacation and won't have my starter. Can I make this without starter?
I made these today and my daughter said they were better than Samโs club muffinsโฆโฆ thank you
My kids said the same!
These are freakishly delicious! They came out amazing. Thank you for the recipe!
I made this recipe and substituted Cassava Flour and Monk Fruit/Allulose sweetener. They were delicious! I made them again with flour instead but kept the sweetener the same. They turned out great!
Ive made these before with freshly milled whole wheat flour and they were fantastic. I am wondering at what point do I put them in the fridge to do an overnight ferment? Do i still mix everything up like normal and stick the batter bowl in the fridge, or so I scoop them in muffin tins and then refrigerate. Do I still add all the ingredients?
Hi Sarah, thank you! Yes you can mix everything together and put it in the fridge for 24 hours.
Mine keep coming out dry. Do I need to adjust the temperature down if using a convection oven?
Hi Kz, I would check your oven with a thermometer to make sure itโs not heating past the set temp.
Great recipe, but temps and times need adjusted, at least for convection oven (confirmed temps are accurate). First time I made they were very good but over-done and I cooked on the short time (should have checked them sooner). Second time, I baked @ 400F for 5min, then reduced to 325F for 8 min and they were completely done. This was using standard muffin tins.