Sourdough Discard Chocolate Chip Muffins

Grab your sourdough, discard it, and put it to good use in this sourdough chocolate chip muffins recipe. Tender and fluffy muffins studded with sweet chocolate morsels in each bite.

The perfect breakfast muffin or even a mid-day snack. The muffin batter is easy to whip up, and before you know it, your home will smell of freshly baked muffins. This is the perfect recipe for your leftover sourdough discard.

stack of sourdough chocolate chip muffins on a plate.

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If you are new to the sourdough world, or looking for more sourdough starter discard recipes, you came to the right place. Save your active sourdough starter for baking sourdough bread, and use the discard to make muffins from scratch, all year round.

Now if you are on the hunt for more recipes, try my sourdough discard cinnamon rolls, or these easy sourdough Goldfish crackers. Or whip up these sourdough discard biscuits! Perfect for slathering on jam or pouring gravy on top.

Ingredients

This is a quick overview of the ingredients that you will need to make this recipe. You can find the full list in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

bowls of flour, discard, slat, baking soda, baking powder, chocolate chips, eggs, brown sugar, butter, vanilla, sugar, and sanding sugar.

all purpose flour
sea salt
baking soda
baking powder
light brown sugar
granulated sugar
eggs
vanilla extract
butter
chocolate chips
sourdough discard
decorative sugar for topping

Instructions

This is a quick overview of the instructions to make this recipe. You can find the full steps in the recipe card.

dry ingredients being mixed in a stainless steel mixing bowl.

In a large bowl add your flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Mix well and set to the side.

wet ingredients being mixed together in a large bowl.

Next, in another mixing bowl or stand mixer, cream the butter, sugars, egg, and vanilla until the sugar is dissolved.

batter being mixed with a rubber spatula in a metal mixing bowl.

Add the dry ingredients and work them into the dough. Add the discard starter and mix until there are no longer streaks.

chocolate chips being folded into batter in a stainless steel mixing bowl.

Fold the chocolate chips into the sourdough batter.

baked muffins cooling in a mini muffin pan.

Fill the muffin liners with the dough and bake as directed. Once done let cool a bit on a wire rack and then serve.

Hint: When mixing the batter for the sourdough discard muffins, make sure that you don’t see streaks in the batter after you add the discard. Mix until you don’t see any streaks in the batter.

See this sourdough banana muffin recipe that uses overripe bananas for that bold banana flavor.

Storage

Store the muffins at room temperature in an airtight container for 4-5 days. You can also refrigerate them for 5-6 days. The other option is freezing any muffins you don’t plan to eat right away.

You can freeze them for 2-3 months. Then, when ready to eat, thaw them on the counter for about 30 minutes.

Wendy’s Test Kitchen Tips

Make sure you start with a preheated oven, which should be fully heated before you add the muffins.
Do not overmix the batter; it will make the sourdough discard chocolate chip muffins dense and tough.
Ensure you mix the wet ingredients long enough before adding the other ingredients. You want the sugar to dissolve a bit in the batter.
You can add decorative sugar to the muffins’ tops if you want to decorate them. Just sprinkle on evenly.
Allow the muffins to cool for at least 5 minutes before serving them.

FAQs

What is sourdough discard?

The sourdough discard is the part of the sourdough discard that you will remove from the top of your starter. It is called discard as you do not use that portion of your sourdough starter when making breads and such.

Why use sourdough discard in chocolate chip muffins?

The sourdough discard will add a lot of moisture to your muffin recipe. It makes a fantastic recipe and helps reduce food waste at the same time. Whether it is a breakfast recipe or a perfect snack for mid-day cravings.

Can I freeze sourdough and discard it for later use in muffins?

Yes, you can freeze your discard. Simply place it in a freezer bag or freezer container. Then thaw it in the fridge the night before you need it. This is the perfect way to utilize all parts of your sourdough starter.

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