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Learn how to make sourdough chocolate chip cookies at home with your sourdough discard!
These bakery-style cookies are soft, thick, and chewy. Loaded with chocolate chips in every bite!
Make the dough in advance and keep it in the fridge or freezer. You'll never be more than minutes away from satisfying your sweet tooth!
Sourdough chocolate chip cookies are a thing. A very delicious thing indeed!
Sourdough discard makes a naturally fermented cookie that your family will rave about.
Just like our sourdough chocolate chip scones, sourdough graham crackers for s'mores, and double chocolate sourdough muffins they are perfectly sweetened and stay soft and fresh tasting for days.
They are everything you're looking for when it comes to homemade chocolate chip cookies, but better!
Instructions
In order to create a soft and chewy sourdough chocolate chip cookie, the batter must NOT be over-mixed.
After several test batches, we found that the following method worked best for incorporating the ingredients without overmixing the dough.
To achieve this, use the paddle attachment with a stand mixer to beat cold, cubed butter with the sugars until it starts to come together, 45-60 seconds. The mixture will be thick and uneven looking.
Add the chocolate chips and continue to beat on low speed for 30 seconds. The texture of the chocolate chips will help blend the butter and sugar together evenly. (We are not looking for light and fluffy.)
Whisk the dry ingredients together in a small bowl and add them to the butter mixture and mix on low speed until it has a "crumbly" texture, 20-30 seconds.
Use a fork to beat the egg, sourdough discard, and vanilla in a small bowl. Add it to the batter and mix on low speed until "just incorporated", 20-30 seconds.
Use a spatula to make sure the ingredients are fully combined.
The goal is to avoid over-mixing the batter so that you get a thick, chewy, perfect cookie!
Use a cookie scoop to portion the dough into 12 large balls. Place them on a parchment-lined cookie sheet and chill in the fridge for a minimum of 2 hours. 24 hours is best!
When you are ready to bake the cookies, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Bake the cookies for 15-17 minutes, or until the outside of the cookies are golden brown and the middle still looks slightly under-baked.
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack.
Tips and Tricks
After each addition of ingredients to the stand mixer, mix until "just incorporated". You do not want to add any air to the batter. Adding too much air creates a more "cake-like" cookie.
Bread flour is higher in gluten, which produces a more chewy cookie. If you don't have bread flour, you can use all-purpose flour in its place.
Enhance the flavor of the cookie with flaked sea salt. Add a pinch on top of the dough balls before you place them in the oven. (This is totally optional but highly recommended!)
How to store and freeze
Baked cookies
Store baked sourdough chocolate chip cookies at room temperature in an air-tight container for up to 7 days. (To keep them extra fresh and chewy, place a small piece of white bread in the container.)
Freeze any leftover baked cookies for up to 3 months. After the cookies have cooled completely, individually wrap them in plastic wrap and insert them into a freezer-safe bag.
Unbaked cookie dough
Store unbaked cookie dough in the fridge, covered tightly for up to 7 days. (According to the FDA, unbaked cookie dough is not safe for consumption.)
To Freeze unbaked cookie dough, portion the dough out onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and place it in the freezer. Transfer the frozen dough balls into a freezer-safe container and keep them frozen for up to 3 months.
Bake in a 375°F (190°C) oven for 17-20 minutes, straight from the freezer.
Alternatively, allow the dough to thaw in the fridge overnight and bake according to the original directions.
Other sourdough discard recipes you may like:
- sourdough brownies
- cut out sourdough sugar cookies
- sourdough thumbprint cookies
- sourdough blueberry muffins
- sourdough sugar cookie bars
Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
INGREDIENTS
Dry Ingredients
- ¾ cup + 1 teaspoon (95 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup + 1 teaspoon (125 g) bread flour (all-purpose can be substituted, see notes)
- 1 teaspoon (5 g) fine sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
Wet Ingredients 1
- 1 large (1) egg
- ½ cup (125 g) sourdough starter discard
- 1 teaspoon (5 g) vanilla extract
Wet Ingredients 2
- 8 tablespoons (113 g) unsalted butter (cold, cubed)
- ½ cup (100 g) light brown sugar
- ½ cup (100 g) white granulated sugar
- 1 ½ cups (340 g) chocolate chips (semi-sweet or milk chocolate)
INSTRUCTIONS
Mix dry ingredients
- Use a whisk or a fork to mix the bread flour, all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a small bowl. Set aside.
Mix wet ingredients 1
- In a separate small bowl, use a whisk or a fork to beat the egg, vanilla extract and sourdough starter until smooth. Set aside.
Mix wet ingredients 2
- Place the cold, cubed butter, light brown sugar and granulated sugar into the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment. Beat on low-speed until the mixture forms small crumbles, 45-60 seconds. Add the chocolate chips and mix on low-speed 30-45 seconds. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- Add the dry ingredients and mix on low-speed until the batter starts to become a crumbly mixture, 20-30 seconds. Pour in the egg mixture and mix on low-speed until the dough comes together and starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl, 20-30 seconds. Use a spatula to stir the batter, ensuring all of the ingredients have been fully incorporated.
- Use a cookie scoop to portion the dough into 12 balls, (2 scoops per cookie) and place them on a parchment-lined baking tray. Cover the dough with a sheet of plastic wrap so they do not dry out. Chill the dough in the fridge for a minimum of 2 hours. (24 hours is best!)
- Bake in a preheated, 375°F (190°C) oven for 15-17 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the center still appears slightly under-baked. Remove and allow the cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack.
NOTES
- Store baked cookies at room temperature in an air-tight container for up to 7 days. Place a small slice of white bread inside the container to help keep cookies fresh.
- Freeze unbaked dough for up to 3 months.
- Bread flour can be replaced with equal parts all-purpose flour. Using 100% all-purpose flour will produce a less chewy cookie.
PREVIOUS
Debbie Reeves says
I think my sourdough starter may be thicker than yours. Should I just thin it out a bit before measuring or will that throw things off?
Amy says
No, do not thin it out. Are you using discard or fed starter?
Debbie Reeves says
Can these be made without a stand mixer, mine is about dead.
Amy says
Yes you can use an electric hand mixer or a spatula and good old fashioned elbow grease! 🙂
Katie M says
This was the first chocolate chip cookie with sourdough starter I have tried, and I won’t need to try any others because these came out perfect & delicious!!! The only change I made was using 1/2 semi-sweet & 1/2 white chocolate chips (how I usually do CC cookies). I can’t wait to share these with friends & family!!!!
Ashley says
These are the absolute best chocolate chip cookies. It’s a family favorite! They never last more than a few days in our house before my family is begging for another batch. It’s such a perfect way to use my discard.
Wendy L Surdam says
Second time making this recipe, they're hands down THE BEST Chocolate chip cookies ever. My entire family loves them so much this time I had to make a double batch!
Amy says
So glad you and your family like them, Wendy. I love it when families can enjoy recipes together!
Joyce says
Mmmm these are so good! These just came out of the oven, and I just had to eat one, even though it's 2 AM. So good!
Nat says
These are hands down the best cookies I’ve ever made. I get literally millions of compliments when I make these. I’ve made these alongside the NYT CC cookies that have 15k 5 start reviews and are deemed the best chocolate chip cookies on the internet, and these sourdough ones blew them out of the water. It wasn’t even a close competition. Amazing recipe <3
Amy says
So glad you enjoyed these, Nat. What a sweet compliment. I appreciate your feedback so much! 🙂
Chani says
These look amazing, and I want to try. Anyone use oil instead of butter? I just don't have a healthy butter.
Thanks!
Joyce says
Hi Chani! I didn't want these to be dairy, so I replaced the butter with margarine and it came out delish. Not the healthiest alternative, but there are replacements out there that aren't as junky.
Brittany says
Has anyone tested out replacing the sugar with honey in this recipe?
Stephanie E says
I have the same question. Did you try it?
Jessie says
Loved them!
When doubling this recipe, do i double everything including the sourdough starter or no?
Amy says
Yes I would double the starter as well!
Alisha Chewning says
Mine came out kind of cakey . Do you know why?
Amy says
It sounds like you may not have enough flour in the batter. Do you use a scale or measuring cups when measuring your flour?
Alisha says
i used a scale! i also live in Colorado at 6500ft altitude
Amy says
I wish I could help but I don't have experience baking in high altitude. I did find this high altitude baking resource that you may find useful.