Sourdough discard crackers are thin, crispy and have that amazing tang that you can only get with real sourdough!
You'll never want to throw away your sourdough discard after you taste these addictive crunchy crackers!
Consider this your new "no-waste" recipe when it comes to sourdough baking. If you have a sourdough starter and you're tired of throwing out the discard, you'll want to start saving it for sure!
TIP - Keep a separate glass jar in your fridge specifically for sourdough discard. Instead of throwing your discard away after a feeding, add it to the jar until you have enough to make a sourdough discard recipe!
The discarded starter imparts a tangy, almost cheesy flavor into the cracker that is perfect on a charcuterie board with meats and cheeses or paired with dips like hummus.
They are so thin and crispy too. I promise you will become totally addicted!
There's only 4 ingredients; sourdough starter discard, melted butter, dried herbs and salt.
Trust me, this is a sourdough discard recipe that you're going to want to make over and over again!
If you like crackers, make sure to try our sourdough butter crackers too!
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Step by step instructions
This recipe is so easy, let's dive straight into the details!
1. Preheat your oven to 325 degrees and tear a piece of parchment paper big enough to cover a baking sheet. Melt the butter in a mixing bowl.
2. Weigh the sourdough starter discard in the mixing bowl with the melted butter and add the dried herbs and salt.
3. Stir until the ingredients are well combined.
4. Use an off-set spatula to spread a very thin, even layer of the mixture onto the parchment paper.
5. Place the parchment paper onto a baking sheet and sprinkle the top of the batter evenly with ½ teaspoon of salt.
6. Bake for 10 minutes, remove and score the crackers with a knife or a pizza cutter into squares. Return to the oven and bake an additional 40-50 minutes, making sure they don't over-bake.
7. Remove the crackers from the oven and let cool completely before breaking into pieces. Store in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to 7 days.
Tips for success
- Butter definitely gives the sourdough discard crackers the best flavor, but they can be made with other fats. I tested this recipe with olive oil but found that it tasted more oily than tangy. If you decide to use olive oil, I would make sure it is the highest quality you can find in order to get the best flavor.
- Because this is a cracker recipe without added flour, the batter is very thin and spreadable. I use parchment paper to hold the batter while baking but you could also use a silicone baking mat.
- The discard can be mixed with the other ingredients cold, right out of the fridge, or at room temperature.
- The crackers can be scored after they have baked and "set-up" for about 10 minutes if you would like a uniform cracker. If you'd like a more "rustic" cracker, let them bake without scoring and simply break them apart after they have cooled completely.
- Check your crackers around the 30-40 minute mark. Oven temperatures vary, so your crackers may be ready sooner!
- These crackers can be seasoned in so many different ways. Any fresh or dried herbs will work. Think rosemary or thyme! You can also use hard cheeses like parmesan stirred into the mixture or sprinkled on top before baking.
How to store
- Store the crackers in an air-tight container such as a mason jar with a tight lid, or a Weck jar. They can be stored at room temperature for up to a week.
Recommended kitchen tools
- silicone baking mat (affiliate link)
- offset spatula (affiliate link)
We've got other recipes that you can make with your discard like sourdough seed crackers, sourdough butter crackers, sourdough pizza crust, sourdough chocolate chip cookies, sourdough cinnamon rolls, sourdough naan and sourdough tortillas, so make sure to check them out too!
And don't forget to pin this recipe for later!
Sourdough Discard Crackers Recipe
INGREDIENTS
- ¾ cup (200 g) discarded sourdough starter (stirred down)
- 2 tablespoons (28 g) butter (melted)
- ¼ teaspoon (1 g) fine sea salt
- 2 teaspoons dried herbs (Herbs de Provence)
- ¼ teaspoon (1 g) salt for sprinkling on top
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat your oven to 325°F (162°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Melt the butter in a mixing bowl and let cool.
- Weigh the sourdough discard, dried herbs and salt into the bowl of melted butter and mix thoroughly until well combined. Use an off-set spatula to spread the mixture in a thin, even layer onto the parchment paper. Sprinkle the top with salt.
- Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and score the crackers. Bake for an additional 20-50 minutes or until the crackers are golden brown. Let cool completely before breaking into squares. (Oven temperatures vary, check the crackers after 20 minutes into baking to make sure they do not over bake. See notes.)
NOTES
- Because these crackers are so thin, in some ovens they can brown quite quickly. I recommend checking them at the 20 minute mark the first time you bake them to make sure they do not over bake and burn. Adjust your baking time accordingly!
- The discard can be used either, cold, right out of the fridge or at room temperature.
- Store in an air-tight container for up to one week at room temperature.
- Fresh herbs and grated hard cheeses can be added to create different flavors.
- Scoring the crackers is optional. The sheet can easily be broken into pieces after baking and cooling off.
Diane says
Tasted amazing very tangy and exactly what I thought. Very simple recipe and hard to screw up.
Meg says
I kept seeing great reviews of this recipe on my discard/sourdough Facebook groups. I am so happy I finally made it. I made a few additions/variations. I skipped the salt and subbed it out for lawry's season salt for a bit more flavor. instead of Herbs de Provence I used dried oregano, basil and 1/8 tsp granulated garlic and a dash of tumeric. I also mixed in 50 grams of good quality fine grated parmesan cheese. Sprinkled the tops with a very small amount of additional season salt and baked as directed. I was light handed with seasoning the tops because of the added salt from the cheese. They are so delicious it was hard to allow them to cool before devouring them! Thank you for a fantastic way to use discard without needing additional flour! I look forward to making these again soon.
Ritu says
These are so so easy to Make
And delicious ,can’t stop eating
Thanks
Marielle says
I find that I have to half the amount of herbs, or basically use a 1:1 weight ratio of salt to herbs. Otherwise, this recipe has been awesome! I love how the tang from the sourdough starter gives it a cheesey taste, and can be vegan if I use a good olive oil! It doesn't taste oily at all.
Andrea says
I have made these many times and my family loves them. Usually we use Everything but the Bagelseasoning instead of herbs. Once in a while the mixture is a little to thick & I add a teensy bit of water.
My tip is to spread it on a sheet of parchment using an offset spatula and THEN slide it onto a sheet pan. Use a pizza cutter for scoring it. I have left these in the oven a little too long several times & they were still good, just a bit darker & crisper.
David says
These are really delicious! I normally don't make extra starter. I just use what I need and feed my refrigerated starter when it gets low. But for these crackers, I've got a jar on the counter bubbling away.
I prefer to use 1 tablespoon of butter in the mix and grease my baking sheet with butter. No silpat or parchment paper.
A pastry wheel works great to cut them (like the pizza cutter).
Rosemary is my favorite add-in.
Thanks for the recipe!
Catherine says
I have made these several times. My family loves them. I sever them to guest with wine and
cheese and that was a big hit.
Colleen says
My family loves them. I read through your tips and laughed to myself because we never have any leftover to store. This batch was gone in under 30 minutes.
Jennifer says
Oh my goodness!!! These are so delicious. They are like herby cheezits!! Addicting. Only problem is when I make them they get eaten up within 5 minutes.
Julia Merrell says
I will never buy crackers again!!!!!