15 Best Gluten Free Sourdough Discard Recipes

These 15 Gluten Free Sourdough Discard Recipes are hands-down some of the best bakes I’ve had since going gluten-free nine years ago.

If you’ve embarked on a gluten-free sourdough journey, you’ve likely run into the same question we all do: What am I supposed to do with all this discard?

First, What's Sourdough Discard?

Sourdough discard is the portion of starter you remove before feeding. It may seem sleepy, but it’s still active and full of flavor—perfect for baking! Still confused? You can read more about the difference between sourdough starter and discard.

While it might seem like a byproduct, it’s actually one of my favorite secret ingredients in the kitchen. Gluten free sourdough discard gives you that signature sourdough tang without the wait. It's an easy way to add depth, texture, and richness to recipes you're already making.

You Don't Actually Throw it Away!

In this post, I’m sharing my favorite gluten free sourdough discard recipes: flaky pie crust, chewy pretzels, soft sandwich bread, tender biscuits, fudgy brownies, chewy cookies, even homemade pop-tarts—and more. These are recipes I come back to again and again, and I hope you’ll find a new favorite or two!

New to Gluten Free Sourdough?

If you haven’t started your gluten free sourdough journey yet, don’t worry—I’ve got a guide on how to make a gluten free sourdough starter to walk you through it step by step.

Without further ado, let’s put that discard to good use. Your next bake is waiting!

15 Best Gluten Free Sourdough Discard Recipes:

1

Gluten Free Sourdough Bread Bowl Recipe | Sourdough Discard Recipe

Beautiful golden brown and chewy gluten free sourdough bread bowls with a pillowy soft interior. They're also dairy-free and vegan (apart from an egg wash, which can be replaced with oil.)

Simply ladle in your favorite soup or hearty chili, and you’ve got a perfect pairing that feels like home in every bite.

Check out this recipe

2

Sourdough Discard Brownies | Best Gluten Free Sourdough Discard Recipes

Gluten Free Sourdough Discard Brownies are incredibly fudgy and chewy with the perfect crackly, shiny crust.

Check out this recipe

3

Gluten Free Lemon Bundt Cake | Best Sourdough Discard Recipes

Gluten Free Lemon Cake is sponge-y and dense, yet light and airy. The gluten free sourdough discard adds a slight tang, perfectly complemented by a homemade lemon glaze, fresh lemon zest, and fresh fruit.

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4

Gluten Free Sourdough Cheddar Biscuits | Best Sourdough Discard Recipes

Gluten Free Sourdough Cheddar Biscuits have a tender, flaky texture and a rich, cheesy flavor, which comes from the generous amount of cheddar cheese baked into them. They have a golden-brown crust that's slightly crisp on the outside, and they're incredibly buttery and soft on the inside. The sourdough adds a slight tang.

Check out this recipe

5

Gluten Free Sourdough Poptarts | Homemade Strawberry Poptarts

Gluten Free Sourdough Poptarts are stuffed with strawberry jam filling, baked until golden brown and flaky, then topped with a strawberry glaze. This gluten free poptart recipe is actually an improvement to their regular wheat counterparts. The crust is much thicker and has a crispy, buttery exterior.

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6

Gluten Free Soft Pretzel | Best Sourdough Discard Recipes

Chewy, golden brown gluten-free soft pretzels made using gluten-free sourdough discard. Enjoy fresh and hot with your favorite dipping sauce, or coat in cinnamon-sugar. Tastes just like the mall.

Check out this recipe

7

Gluten Free Sourdough Chocolate Chip Muffins | Sourdough Discard Recipes

Tender, fluffy muffins made with a combination of gluten free sourdough discard and Greek yogurt for a subtle tang. Every bite contains a burst of rich, melty chocolate chips - it's basically like eating a chocolate chip cookie for breakfast.

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8

Gluten Free Sourdough Rolls | Best Fluffy Gluten Free Rolls Recipe

Incredibly fluffy and pull-apart tender Gluten Free Sourdough Rolls. You can serve these for dinner in just about an hour! Serve with homemade Cinnamon Honey Butter for the ultimate pairing.

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9

Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies | Gluten Free Sourdough Discard Recipes

The perfect way to use up some extra gluten-free sourdough discard. These cookies have a soft-baked and fluffy interior with a chewy, golden brown exterior and a generous disbursement of chocolate chips. For a slight sourdough tang, use discard up to two weeks old.

Check out this recipe

10

Gluten Free Sourdough Pancakes | Sourdough Discard Recipes | Best Fluffy Pancakes

Fluffy pancakes with a soft and tender crumb. They have a perfectly balanced flavor profile between sweet and that classic sourdough "tang".

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11

Gluten Free Sourdough Pie Crust - Sourdough Discard Recipes

Gluten Free Sourdough Pie Crust is buttery, flaky, and tender. An egg wash gets it perfectly golden brown on the outside while being soft and flaky on the inside. Use it for savory or sweet recipes - use older discard or ferment the dough in the fridge for savory recipes, optional. *Makes ONE top or bottom crust - double recipe to make both a bottom and top crust.

Check out this recipe

12

Gluten Free Sourdough Sandwich Bread |Sourdough Discard Recipes

Soft, fluffy, and moist gluten-free sourdough sandwich bread that's crisp and golden brown on the outside. It uses gluten-free all purpose flour for efficiency and cost-effectiveness. In addition, it uses a combination of gluten-free sourdough discard and yeast instead of active starter, making this recipe super easy, fast, and great for beginners.

Check out this recipe

13

Gluten Free Sourdough Pizza Crust - Best Sourdough Discard Recipes

Gluten Free Sourdough Pizza Crust is one of my favorite ways to use up sourdough discard. It uses a combination of discard and yeast to get both a perfect sourdough tang and a quick rise (no more than a 45-minute wait!), plus it's dairy-free and uses no pysllium gum. I also use an all purpose gluten-free flour (I like to keep my discard recipes super simple) so there's no weighing multiple flours. Press it as thin or as thick as you like - we like thick crust pizza around here.

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14

Gluten Free Sourdough Banana Bread | Sourdough Discard Recipes

This banana bread turns out super moist, tender, and perfectly spiced with cinnamon. The sourdough discard doesn't really add any tang in this recipe (unless you're using 1-2 week old discard, then it might add a subtle touch.) Chopped pecans or walnuts are a favorite in banana bread and add a little more sustenance.

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15

Gluten Free Sourdough Poptarts Recipe | Brown Sugar and Cinnamon

Gluten-free sourdough pie crust is stuffed with a cinnamon brown sugar filling, baked until golden brown and flaky, then topped with a cinnamon glaze.

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Which of These Gluten Free Sourdough Discard Recipes Are You Going to Try First?

I'd love to know which of these gf sourdough discard recipes caught your eye first. Or if you've already made one or a few, let me know in the comments!

Looking for Gluten Free Sourdough Recipes?

If you're looking for more of a traditional sourdough experience, then you'll want to check out my Gluten Free Sourdough Boule.