Sourdough Cookies (Easy Recipe with Dairy Free Option) (2024)

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These sourdough cookies are naturally fermented so they are easy to make and easy to digest. They're also a great way to use up sourdough discard.

Even the kids will enjoy these cookies. (They don't taste too sour – honest.) The texture is soft and cake-like, with a delicate crumb.

Sourdough Cookies (Easy Recipe with Dairy Free Option) (1)

Ideally, the recipe needs to ferment for at least eight hours. This allows the sourdough to work its magic fermenting power on the flour. I usually mix the flour one day and bake the next day. You could mix in the morning and finish later in the day.

Tips on Ingredients

I like granulated cane sugar for baking because it browns more evenly than beet sugar. You can also use brown sugar or maple sugar.

It's fine to use discard starter or active starter, made with wheat flour or rye flour. I normally use whole wheat flour, but all purpose flour is okay.

If you need to go dairy free, use coconut oil or responsibly raised palm shortening.

Flavor Ideas for Your Sourdough Cookies

My guys like sourdough chocolate chip cookies best, but you can also modify the basic recipe to make:

  • oatmeal raisin (add 1/2 cup oatmeal along with the flour)
  • cherry chocolate oatmeal (add 1/4 cup dried cherries, 1/4 cup chocolate chunks, and 1/2 cup oatmeal)
  • cinnamon apple (add 1/4 cup dried apple bits and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon)
  • white chocolate almond (add 1/4 cup white chocolate chips, 1/4 cup slivered almonds, and 1/4 teaspoon almond extract)
  • peanut butter chocolate chip (add 1/4 cup peanut butter and 1/4 cup chocolate chips)

Use your imagination and try different combinations!

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Note – if you plan to mix in moist ingredients like peanut butter, make sure your dough is quite stiff before fermenting. Adding oatmeal helps to keep your sourdough cookies from spreading too flat.

Basic Sourdough Cookies

Start with the basic sourdough cookie recipe, then customize it with family favorite ingredients.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup sourdough starter
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1 to 1-1/3 cups flour
  • 2/3 cup granulated cane sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • chocolate chunks, dried fruit, or crispy nuts (optional)

Directions

In a medium sized bowl, combine sourdough starter and butter.

Add one cup of flour. Mix well. Continue adding flour a little at a time, mixing well after each addition, until you get a very stiff dough.

Cover with a kitchen towel and allow to sour at room temperature for 8 or more hours.

The photos below show the basic dough before and after souring. It puffs up a little but, but doesn't raise like bread.

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Preheat your oven to 375 °F and get your baking sheet ready. Grease the baking sheet or line with parchment paper.

Mix egg, sugar, vanilla, sea salt and baking powder in a separate bowl. (Hold the baking soda for a bit.)

Note – the recipe video shows all the dry ingredients being added at once. This works, but your sourdough cookies are likely to be a bit flatter.

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Pour the egg mixture over the top of your soured dough. Blend well (I use my hands).

When dough is well mixed, add chocolate, fruit, etc, blend thoroughly. Lastly, sprinkle the baking soda over the top and mix well.

Drop by spoonfuls onto a cookie sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until bottoms are lightly brown and tops are soft set.

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Cool completely on a wire rack. Store in an airtight container with wax paper between layers.

Makes around 2-3 dozen cookies, depending on the size.

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I usually make a double batch to make sure we have enough.

These sourdough cookies are a little crispier when they first come out of the oven. If you must have a crisp cookie, pop them in the dehydrator for a few hours, or warm in the toaster oven for a few minutes.

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Sourdough Cookies (Easy Recipe with Dairy Free Option)

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These sourdough cookies are naturally fermented so they are easy to make and easy to digest. They’re also a great way to use up sourdough discard.

  • Author: Laurie Neverman
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 2 dozen 1x
  • Category: Dessert

Ingredients

UnitsScale

  • 1/2 cup sourdough starter
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened or coconut oil
  • 1 to 1-1/3 cups flour
  • 2/3 cup granulated cane sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • chocolate chunks, dried fruit, or crispy nuts (optional)

Instructions

  1. In a medium sized bowl, combine sourdough starter and butter.
  2. Add one cup of flour. Mix well. Continue adding flour a little at a time, mixing well after each addition, until you get a very stiff dough.
  3. Cover with a kitchen towel and allow to sour at room temperature for 8 or more hours.
  4. Preheat your oven to 375 °F and get your baking sheet ready. Grease the baking sheet or line with parchment paper.
  5. Mix egg, sugar, vanilla, sea salt and baking powder in a separate bowl. (Hold the baking soda for a bit.)
  6. Pour the egg mixture over the top of your soured dough. Blend well (I use my hands).
  7. When dough is well mixed, add chocolate, fruit, etc, blend thoroughly. Lastly, sprinkle the baking soda over the top and mix well.
  8. Drop by spoonfuls onto a cookie sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until bottoms are lightly brown and tops are soft set.
  9. Cool completely on a wire rack. Store in an airtight container with wax paper between layers.
  10. Makes around 2-3 dozen cookies, depending on the size.

Notes

My guys like sourdough chocolate chip cookies best, but you can also modify the basic recipe to make:

  • oatmeal raisin (add 1/2 cup oatmeal along with the flour)
  • cherry chocolate (add 1/4 cup dried cherries and 1/4 cup chocolate chunks)
  • cinnamon apple (add 1/4 cup dried apple bits and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon)
  • white chocolate almond (add 1/4 cup white chocolate chips, 1/4 cup slivered almonds, and 1/4 teaspoon almond extract)
  • peanut butter chocolate chip (add 1/4 cup peanut butter and 1/4 cup chocolate chips)
  • Use your imagination and try different combinations!

If you plan to mix in moist ingredients like peanut butter, make sure your dough is quite stiff before fermenting.Adding oatmeal helps to keep your sourdough cookies from spreading too flat.

Sourdough Cookies (Easy Recipe with Dairy Free Option) (8)

How to Make a Sourdough Starter and More Sourdough Recipes

Using sourdough is a great way to get more nutrition out of your baked goods. You can learn how to make your own sourdough starter in the Easy Sourdough Bread Recipe post.

Other sourdough recipes on this website include:

  • Cheesy Garlic Sourdough Crackers
  • Sourdough Brownies

This recipe is adapted from the Sourdough A to Z e-book. I can't recommend this book strongly enough.

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The book also includes how to start your own sourdough starter, dozens of recipes, gluten free sourdough and so much more. Whatever baked good you are looking for, they probably have a sourdough version in this book.

You can also find even more recipes on the Recipes and Kitchen Tips page.

Last updated in 2020.

Sourdough Cookies (Easy Recipe with Dairy Free Option) (2024)

FAQs

Does sourdough bread contain dairy? ›

In summary, sourdough bread is inherently dairy-free because it is primarily made from flour, water, a sourdough starter (which is usually dairy-free), and salt. The fermentation process relies on wild yeast and lactic acid bacteria, which are also dairy-free.

What is sourdough discard? ›

Sourdough discard refers to the excess starter that remains after it doubles in size and begins to fall back down. This term can be deceiving though as “discard” doesn't mean it's unusable or wasted. A better way to think of it is as leftovers.

Does sourdough bread have yeast? ›

That's because sourdough bread is easy to make. Instead of using baker's yeast, sourdough bread relies on a starter: a mixture of water and flour that develops a population of wild yeast. This yeast produces lactic acid, the source of sourdough bread's distinctive tangy taste.

Are sourdough discard recipes healthy? ›

Technically, sourdough discard has the same benefits as sourdough starter, since they are both wild yeast ferments. In terms of beneficial lactic acid bacteria, natural yeasts acetic acid and colonies of microbes, they are both full of them.

Is Trader Joe's sourdough bread dairy-free? ›

This product is likely dairy free.

Can lactose intolerant people have sourdough? ›

Sourdough bread does not contain lactose, so your symptoms must have another cause.

When should you throw out a sourdough discard? ›

I recommend keeping sourdough discard for about one week, but I do know others who keep it for much longer. After one week, there is a higher risk of mold or bad bacteria growing on the discard.

What can I use instead of sourdough discard? ›

Sourdough discard: If you don't sourdough discard saved up, feel free to use active sourdough starter. Active-dry yeast: You can use instant yeast for this recipe, you can skip blooming the yeast if you substitute.

What happens if you don't discard sourdough starter? ›

If you don't get rid of the excess, eventually you'll have more starter than your feedings can sustain. After a few days, your daily 1/4 cup flour and water won't be enough to sustain your entire jar of starter, and your starter will be slow and sluggish, not much better than discard itself.

Is sourdough good for your gut? ›

Yes, sourdough contains the gut-friendly lactobacillus bacteria, but the high heat of baking destroys these probiotics. So, unless you'd like to eat the raw dough, sourdough is not a probiotic food. However, it does have some digestive benefits.

Is sourdough bread inflammatory? ›

The best bread to reduce gut inflammation is bread made from whole grains. Refined grains, such as the grains found in white bread and white pasta, are known to increase inflammation across the whole body. Sourdough bread and rye bread are both good options for an anti-inflammatory diet.

Is it OK to eat sourdough bread everyday? ›

Is it healthy to eat sourdough everyday? You could eat sourdough every day, but it isn't necessarily healthy to do so. A healthy diet is characterized by balance and moderation. Whether or not it is healthy for you to consume sourdough every day depends on the rest of your diet.

Can you use 2 day old sourdough discard? ›

You can use old sourdough discard if it's been stored in the fridge, however, you really want to use it up within a week - 2 weeks max. It's better to use "fresh" discard in a sweet sourdough discard recipe. Use older discards in more savory recipes.

Is Sourdough Bread a junk food? ›

It's richer in nutrients, less likely to spike your blood sugar, contains lower amounts of gluten, and is generally easier to digest than bread made with baker's yeast. Sourdough bread is one of my favorite types of bread. Not only do I find it tastier than conventional bread, but it's also arguably more nutritious.

Can I use sourdough discard straight from fridge? ›

If you're an experienced baker and are familiar with working with a cold sourdough starter that has been kept in the refrigerator for a long time and you've had success, then it's totally OK to use your starter straight from the refrigerator. You can utilize a cold starter in any sourdough discard recipe.

What bread does not contain dairy? ›

The most common vegan bread types are sourdough, Ezekiel bread, ciabatta, focaccia and baguettes. Don't miss our recipe for homemade vegan banana bread!

What type of bread is dairy-free? ›

Wholemeal and brown bread is generally lactose-free.

Is sourdough gluten and dairy-free? ›

Sourdough is not gluten free, but we know that many people with IBS, gluten intolerance, or gluten sensitivity can tolerate sourdough bread. This is because the methods used to make sourdough break down some of the gluten in the flour so it is easier to digest. Think of sourdough as low-gluten rather than gluten-free.

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