Easy 5-minute sourdough pancakes made with sourdough discard! They are light, fluffy, buttery and oh-so-addicting! If you love sourdough pikelets, you'll definitely want to try this recipe!
Recently, I decided to dive into making sourdough starter so I could make my own fresh sourdough bread at home. When making a sourdough starter, I discovered that you end up with a lot of sourdough discard (the part you throw away).
Not wanting to waste precious flour, I looked up a lot of sourdough discard recipes.
This one is AMAZING. I couldn't believe how delicious these sourdough pancakes were! Surprisingly, they don't taste like sourdough at all, just fluffy, delicious pancakes. But these do not make you feel bloated.
Probably because sourdough is one of the healthiest types of bread you can eat. As the yeast goes through fermentation, it breaks down gluten, making it easier to digest and minimizing discomfort. So these pancakes are a great option for those that have a hard time digesting gluten but aren't allergic.
What's In This Blog Post
Ingredients Needed
All you need are some basic ingredients to make sourdough discard pancakes. Most importantly, you need discard! I usually have about 1 cup of discard, but the amount you add is not really important. Think of the discard as "flavoring" for your pancakes.
Sourdough discard is the part of the sourdough starter that has been broken down by yeast after it has been fed and discarded. Not sure what sourdough starter is? Check out my sourdough starter recipe.
Step-By-Step Instructions
- Place your skillet (I like to use a cast-iron skillet for even browning) on the stove and heat it on medium-low heat for 15 minutes. We're shooting for a temp of 300ºF for cooking pancakes.
Protip - Low and slow is better for pancakes to ensure a nice golden brown crust and a soft and fluffy interior. - Combine all your ingredients in one bowl and mix until combined. No worries if it's lumpy.
- Melt a teaspoon of butter in the skillet. Butter adds some delicious crispiness to your pancakes.
- Pour about ½ cup of batter into the skillet and cook for 5 minutes or until the edges of the pancake start to look dry and you can see some holes forming on top.
- Flip your pancake over and cook for another 3 minutes.
Enjoy! I slather mine in more butter, but my daughter Avalon prefers hers with cinnamon and sugar. So good!
Yes, sourdough pancakes can be a healthier alternative to traditional pancakes due to the fermentation process breaking down phytic acid, making nutrients more bioavailable. The fermentation also contributes to a lighter, fluffier texture and potentially a lower glycemic index, making them a more nutritious option. Sourdough pancakes can be further enhanced by using whole wheat flour and natural sweeteners
Overmixed batter is a likely cause of gummy sourdough pancakes. Instead of light and fluffy, they turn out dense and gummy because the gluten has overdeveloped. To avoid this, mix the batter until just combined.
Relevant Recipes
Recipe
Ingredients
- 10 ounces all-purpose flour about 2 cups spooned and leveled
- 1 cup sourdough discard more or less is ok
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 3 Tablespoons Sugar
- 14 ounces milk about 1 ¾ cups
- 2 large eggs
- 2 Tablespoons canola oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat your skillet over medium-low heat for 15 minutes
- Combine all your ingredients together in a bowl and mix until it's combined. It will be lumpy and thats ok.
- Melt 1 teaspoon of butter in your hot skillet
- Add about ½ cup of your batter into the pan and cook for 5 minutes or until the edges of your pancakes start to look dry and you start seeing holes on top of the pancake
- Flip your pancake and cook for another 3 minutes
- Serve immediately with more melted butter and syrup!
Video
Notes
- Low and slow is perfect for pancakes. I use a thermometer to check the temp of my skillet. You're shooting for 300ºF or just set your temp to medium-low
- Do not over-mix your batter or it will become tough. Just mix it until it's cohesive
- Use your batter right away for the best results
- You can save sourdough discard and use it later! Just wrap it up and put it in the fridge for up to two days. Any l longer and it starts to develop too much flavor and can taste bitter.
Denise O'Connell says
This was a great discard recipe. They turned out amazing and fluffy
Genevieve Frost says
I used a little fresh milled but otherwise followed the recipe. This was perfect. I've tried several others before hand and none worked out. My discard was old too and it still worked out perfectly
Tracie says
This recipe was fantastic. Thanks for sharing. Definitely a keeper! I’ll be honest was a little concerned about the lumps, nothing to worry about. I did use avocado oil rather than canola oil. 😋
Lacey says
This recipe makes GREAT pancakes!!