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 peanut butter cookies, sourdough ginger molasses cookies, and sourdough oatmeal cookies, 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.
Sasha says
These were so good. I followed recipe exactly. Today I am making a second batch to freeze for another time. I read all comments and will try to make them healthier another time.
Catherine says
Everyone loved this recipe.From my husband to my grandkids. Big hit in this house. Thank you
Kelly says
I just made these and followed the recipe exactly (using weights of ingredients) they taste delicious but the texture is much thicker - almost like a cross between a scone and a cookie lol any idea what i might have done wrong?
Amy says
Hi Kelly, I'm not sure. Did you chill the dough before baking?
C says
Mine turned out this way too — i think based on overmix w/o paddle mixer
Rosalie says
These are becoming our favorite chocolate chip cookies and I love how I can use my sourdough discard in the recipe. I used 1 cup wheat, 1 cup oat and 1 cup unbleached white flour and coconut and turbinado sugar. Thank you for the recipe. So delicious!
Amy says
Thanks for sharing your tips! 🙂
Heidi says
Delicious! Easy to make. Directions were excellent
Amy says
Thank you Heidi! 🙂
Krista Webb says
Made tonight, but as a whole food plant based recipe & delicious!! Here are my changes in case anyone else eats like me. Dry ingredients, stayed same. Wet ingredients, used 1/4 cup Perrier in place of egg, just stirred, no beating necessary. Applesauce in place of butter, 80g coconut sugar and 100g cane sugar in place of white sugar. Dairy free chocolate chips. Didn’t use mixer at all since I didn’t use butter. Just mix with spoon. Refrigerated dough 3 hours then spooned dough onto cookie sheet. Baked 17 minutes. Rest 5, then on to cooling rack. Another great recipe Amy!!
I will make again, but probably reduce sugar a little more. So yummy!!
Amy says
Thank you for sharing your tips Krista! 🙂
Linda says
Another home run! One of my family’s favorites! Between your pie crust, banana bread, and these cookies, I always have a use for my discard!
Amy says
Thanks Linda! 🙂
Lauren F says
I double this recipe for a party, and tried it three ways.
Good: Baked right away the night before....to "test" 😉
Better: Baked after leaving dough in the fridge overnight as per the recipe (probably 20ish hours). Definitely had a nice sourdough tang to it, but still a classic chocolate chip cookie dough taste and texture. These were for the party and I got a lot of compliments on them.
BEST: I baked some leftover dough that was in the fridge for about six hours, then in the freezer for three days, and OH MAN! Best cookie I've ever made.
Amy says
Thanks for sharing your tips Lauren! 🙂
Amanda says
These are seriously the best cookies I have every made, and I am an avid baker! I brought them to a church event and everyone couldn't believe how delicious they were! Definitely writing this one in my recipe book to keep!!!!
Amy says
Thank you so much Amanda! 🙂
Rosalie says
I made this recipe and used oat and whole wheat flour, as well as coconut sugar. I put the mixed dough covered in the fridge overnight and baked them this morning. They’re so delicious… crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside. I baked them 17 minutes. Next time will try 16 or maybe 15 minutes. Such a great way to use my sourdough discard. This recipe is a keeper. Thank you!
Amy says
That sounds delicious Rosalie! 🙂