Soft, chewy and easy to make sourdough discard cookies! Whip these Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies up using a bowl and spoon. No mixer needed! They’re pillow soft and extra chocolatey featuring chips and chunks! This recipe is vegetarian, and easily dairy free.
A Classic With a Twist
I first tried sourdough chocolate chip cookies at our local bakery a few years ago. What a delight to find this offering as I was just in the throws of learning sourdough, so my interest was piqued.
The texture was pillow soft and chewy, with a slight tang. Different from other chocolate chip cookie recipes and from bakeries I’d tried.
With my new knowledge of sourdough possibilities, I started experimenting and tweaking an old recipe to utilize sourdough discard on hand in the fridge that I otherwise use for banana muffins, pancakes, and biscuits. But now (!!), sourdough starter cookies!
C O O O O K I E E E S ( ! ! )
RELATED: Use your sourdough starter to make the most fabulous Seeded Multigrain Sourdough Bread or Everyday Sourdough Bread!
How to Make Sourdough Discard Cookies
In this sourdough chocolate chip cookie recipe, discard is incorporated to add flavor and for practicality purposes, to use up that sourdough discard setting in the back of the fridge. Use a bowl and spoon to whip this recipe up! No mixer needed. In summary, here’s how to make this sourdough chocolate chip cookie recipe (see recipe card below for details):
- First, melt the butter and transfer it to a large mixing bowl.
- Second, to the butter, whisk in brown and cane sugar.
- Third, whisk in the sourdough discard and egg.
- Next, mix in the dry ingredients, then add the chocolate chips and chunks.
- Last, scoop and bake.
See how easy they are to whip up?
After scooping, there’s no need to rest in the fridge unless more sourdough flavor is desired. Although at this point the cookie dough can be frozen for longer storage.
Sourdough Flavor Development
To tease more sourdough flavor from your cookies, simply rest the cookie dough in the fridge for up to three days. Do this by keeping them in the same mixing bowl, scoop then bake or scoop all the cookies and rest in the fridge between parchment paper in a covered container.
Sourdough flavor is more apparent on day three than day one.
Chocolate Chips and Chunks
This sourdough discard cookie recipe calls for chocolate chips and chunks. To create those puddles of chocolate, chop your chocolate bar into BIG chunks, about 1/2″ (1.3cm) each, so long as they fit into your cookie scoop.
I like both chips and chunks for flavor and mouth feel. Choose at least 70% chocolate for the chunks, cut from a chocolate bar, and semi sweet chocolate chips, about 60%. If preferred, use milk chocolate chips, although the cookies will taste sweeter.
A Few Recipe Notes
- Dairy Free? Yes Please! I tested this recipe with Earth Balance Buttery Sticks and it works well. Use your favorite dairy free chocolate chips and bar. I like Enjoy Life Foods and Theo Chocolate. *See recipe notes for more details.
- Freezer Friendly! I love having these cookies on hand in the freezer. Simply freeze after scooping on a parchment lined sheet pan. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer container. Thaw at room temperature for about 30 minutes, then bake.
- A Note On Sugar: I use organic cane sugar in my baking recipes. The grain size is larger than granulated sugar and may change the outcome of this recipe if substituted. If you try granulated sugar in this recipe, please let us know how it goes!
- Use a #40 cookie scoop to make portioning a snap! Or, portion to about 1 1/2 Tbs. each, then roll the dough into a ball.
More Sourdough Recipes to Love
- Sourdough Banana Muffins – use discard!
- Sourdough Discard Biscuits
- Seedy Multigrain Sourdough Bread
- Sourdough Oatmeal Pancakes – use discard
- Maple Oat Sourdough Sandwich Bread
- Everyday Sourdough – for beginners!
RELATED: DIY Sourdough Bread Starter using my handy Sourdough Starter Guide.
the recipe
Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 C + 3 Tbs (235g) Unbleached All Purpose Flour
- 1/2 tsp Baking Soda
- 3/4 tsp Baking Powder
- 3/4 tsp Fine Sea Salt
- 1/2 C + 3 Tbs (155g) Unsalted Butter
- 3/4 C (150g) Light Brown Sugar packed
- 1/4 C + 2 Tbs (80g) Cane Sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1/4 C (65g) Sourdough Discard
- 1 Large Egg
- 1/2 C Chocolate Chips I like 60% Semi Sweet
- 3 oz (85g) Chocolate Bar I like 70% - 80% Dark, chopped into large chunks.
Instructions
- Set oven rack in center of the oven and preheat oven to 350F (177C). Line a sheet pan or pans with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
- In a small sauce pot, heat the butter on low until melted. Set aside.
- Into a large mixing bowl, transfer the melted butter. It should be warm to the touch. To the butter, add the brown sugar and cane sugar. Whisk until incorporated. To the butter mixture, add the vanilla and sourdough discard. Whisk until incorporated. Crack the egg into the batter. Whisk until smooth.
- To the butter mixture, add the flour mixture all at once. Use a wooden spoon to mix the ingredients, folding and pressing the dough until there are no dry bits left.
- To the batter, add the chips and chunks. Mix until the chocolate is evenly distributed. For More Sourdough Flavor (optional): At this point, rest cookies in the fridge for up to three days. This can be done right in the mixing bowl, covered, before scooping. Or, scoop (see below), then store cookies between sheets of parchment paper in a lidded container. Bring to room temperature before baking.
- Scoop cookies using a #40 ice cream/cookie scoop and transfer to prepared pan spacing cookies at about 2" (5cm) apart. Or portion to 1 1/2 Tbs. each, then roll into a ball. To Freeze (optional): At this point the cookies can be frozen. Freeze cookies on a parchment lined sheet pan. Once frozen, transfer to a storage container and freeze for up to three weeks. When ready to bake, thaw at room temperature for about 30 minutes. Bake.
- BAKE: Bake cookies at 350F (177C) for 10-13 minutes OR when the cookies are just turning golden around the edges and the bottom is golden. Remove sheet pan from oven and set on cooling rack. Allow cookies to cool on the pan for about 5 minutes. Transfer individual cookies to a cooling rack and enjoy. Allow to cool completely before storing cookies in a cookie jar. They'll keep for up to three days.
Notes
- Reduce added salt to 1/4 tsp. due to the salt content in Earth Balance.
- Because the dough is a bit softer, rest in the fridge for about 15-20 minutes so that the dough is easier to scoop.
- Use your favorite dairy free chocolate chips and bar. I like Enjoy Life Foods and Theo Chocolate.
What a flawless cookie! So nice to have a recipe that comes together quickly, and bakes so beautifully. I dressed these babies up a little by browning the butter, adding 80 g toasted walnuts, and giving them a little sprinkle of flaky sea salt before baking. I’ve made these several times now, and everyone loves them!
Thank you for your note, Paula and giving the cookies a go! Love these tips… and yes to flaky sea salt! :D
That is a great idea Traci… I used to throw away sourdough natural yeast that I made everyday. Now you just gave me a new cooky recipe… By the way, I made EGG Drop Soup this morning… I comfort food when the weather is cold and I have not make this soup for a few months now… Thanks for a great cooky recipe… Nathan
Thank you for your note, Nathan! Let me know if you give the cookies a go!
What a great use of sourdough discard Traci! They look fabulous. Love the combo of chocolate chips and chunks.
Yes to chips and chunks! They melt differently and offer a layer of interest to cookies. Thank you Mare!
How have I never thought to use sourdough discard in a cookie recipe!? I bet it adds the best flavor! These look so amazing Traci!
Such a treat Katherine! Just adding a bit does wonders for these cookies texture and flavor (if one can be patient!).
Great cookie but I only had a bar of unsweetened chocolate bar that was 100% cacao. I used semi sweet morsels. I little too bitter for my taste buds but nothing a nice glad of milk didn’t cure. I’ll make again after purchasing a better bar of chocolate.
Hi Vickie! Hooray! Thank you for your note and giving the recipe a go! Indeed, 100% cacao is very bitter, even for a cookie with lots of sugar. A 70-80% chocolate bar tones down those bitter chocolate notes and pairs so well with semi sweet morsels! LMK if you give it a go again with a less bitter chocolate.
Of all the ways to use sourdough discard, this might be the most brilliant! Happy Valentine’s Day, Traci!
It’s such a treat, Liz! Happy Valentine’s my friend! <3