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    Home » Sourdough

    Sourdough Starter Discard Crackers

    April 18, 2022 by Kristin @ Dirt & Dough Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Flip lock jar with sourdough crackers and a jar of sourdough discard.
    A fliplock jar with homemade crackers and a rolling pin.

    Sourdough discard crackers are a great way to use up that excess starter and make a fun snack. They take very little time to rest and are easy to roll out, cut, and bake. These flaky crackers are loaded with fresh rosemary and chunky sea salt.

    *Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission. Read full privacy policy here.

    A jar full of homemade crackers with a jar of sourdough starter and a rolling pin.
    Sourdough Discard Crackers

    Does this ever happen to you? You feed your starter with all the intention to make sourdough bread and then the next day you realize you forgot and now you have all this starter that is no longer alive and bubbly.

    With a busy family like ours, it happens so often. But I don't consider it a waste! Even if that starter isn't active enough for bread we can still make so many different things.

    Learn more about what sourdough discard is and how to use it.

    One of my (and my kids') favorite things to make with my inactive starter (or discard) is homemade sourdough crackers. It's a great way to use up all that excess starter.

    They are very simple, need little resting time, and offer a healthier alternative to store-bought crackers.

    These rosemary and sea salt crackers are flakey and have that tangy sourdough flavor we all love. Perfect to go with a dip or even just eat them on their own. Honestly, most of them don't make it off the sheet pan.

    Here is what you will need to make these sourdough discard crackers.

    Ingredients

    Ingredients for sourdough crackers. Flour, butter, flaky sea salt, rosemary and sourdough discard.
    Ingredients

    These crackers use simple ingredients but the star is that sourdough starter! Don't have a starter? Learn how to make your own.

    • Sourdough Starter Discard
    • All-purpose flour
    • Butter
    • Fresh Rosemary
    • Flaky sea salt (Maldon)

    See the recipe card for full measurements.

    Instructions

    Step 1: Start off by measuring out 230 grams of unfed sourdough starter in a large bowl.

    Step 2: Add flour, cubed room temp butter, and fresh rosemary. The butter needs to be very soft but not melted.

    Glass bowl with flour, butter and fresh rosemary.
    Mix in flour and butter

    Step 3:

    Using a dough whisk, or fork, mix everything together until it starts to form a ball.

    Glass bowl with a danish dough whisk mixing starter, flour and butter.
    Dough Whisk Mixing Flour and Starter

    Step 3: Using lightly floured hands, knead the ball of dough to incorporate all the butter. Stretch it out and fold it over multiple times. This will help give it that flaky consistency.

    It should be a stiff dough and a bit tacky. Add a little more flour as needed to help with handling.

    Kneading a ball of dough.
    Kneading

    Step 4: Cover and let rest for one hour at room temperature. Can be covered with a light tea towel or plastic wrap.

    Step 5: When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Take out a sheet pan and parchment paper. Cut the paper to the size of the pan.

    Step 6: On the parchment paper, roll out the cracker dough until really thin. For crunchy crackers roll out as thin as possible, but for a thicker, flaky cracker roll out to about ⅛".

    Tips for rolling:

    • If the parchment is sliding on the counter hold the paper with one hand and roll it with the other.
    • Using a second piece of parchment over the top of the dough will help the rolling pin from sticking to it. Try to avoid adding very little to no flour at this point.
    • When rolling it can be helpful to flip the entire thing over and roll the other side.
    • Be sure to roll it out vertically and horizontally to get a nice and even rectangle shape the size of your sheet pan.
    • Can also cut the dough into two and bake it in two separate pans.
    Rolling cracker dough on parchment paper.
    Hold the paper with one hand roll with the other
    Rolling cracker dough between two pieces of parchment paper.
    Place a piece of parchment on top
    Flipping cracker dough over to get an even consistency.
    Flip dough over for consistency

    Step 7: Once the dough is rolled out thin, transfer the entire paper to a baking sheet.

    Step 8: Using a pastry or pizza wheel, cut the dough into bite-size crackers. A small cookie cutter could also be used for different shapes.

    Sourdough discard cracker dough being cut into little squares with a pastry wheel.

    Step 9: Using a fork poke holes into each of the crackers. This will allow air to escape and keep them from bubbling up.

    Dip the fork in flour before poking holes to help prevent it from sticking too much.

    A fork poking holes into the raw sourdough cracker dough.

    Step 10: Sprinkle the sea salt on top of the dough making sure to cover all the crackers.

    Step 11: Place in the oven and bake for 20-30 minutes. The exact time will depend on how thin they were rolled out. For thicker crackers, it could take closer to 30 minutes, and for really thin will be around 20.

    Step 12: Halfway through baking rotate the sheet pan. The back of the oven tends to be a bit hotter so this will help give them a more even bake.

    They are done when the tops start to turn golden brown.

    Step 13: Remove from oven and transfer parchment paper to a wire rack to cool. If left on the baking sheet the bottoms will start to overcook.

    Fresh homemade sourdough discard crackers with fresh rosemary and a jar of crackers in the back.

    Step 14: Enjoy on their own or with a dip.

    Substitutions

    • Dried Herbs - Dried herbs can be used in place of fresh. Fresh is always best but in a pinch use 2 teaspoons of dried crushed rosemary.
    • Italian Seasoning instead of rosemary.

    Variations

    • Herbs - Experiment with different fresh herbs. Rosemary is a great choice but other herbs such as thyme or parsley could also be used.
    • Everything seasoning. Instead of flaky sea salt top the crackers with everything seasoning to give it a very different taste. Just be sure to add about 1 teaspoon of salt when mixing the dough.

    Equipment

    Danish Bread Whisk - Very helpful in combining the flour and sourdough starter.

    Rolling Pin - To roll out the dough.

    Pastry Wheel - A fun pastry cutter is how we achieve the decorative edges. If you do not have one a pizza cutter will also work great.

    Baking Sheet - Make sure it's at least a 12"x17" baking sheet.

    Parchment paper - This makes it easier to roll out and then transfer to the cookie sheet and eventually onto a cooling rack.

    Cooling rack

    Digital scale: - The most accurate way to bake is with a kitchen scale. Every measurement of flour can vary from cup to cup so having a scale is the best way to ensure the exact same amount is used.

    Storage

    Sourdough crackers are best eaten right away but can be kept in an airtight container for up to a week.

    They can also be frozen in a freezer-safe container for a couple of months.

    Do you love smoked salmon? Try these crackers with a homemade smoked salmon dip.

    A flip lock jar with rosemary and sea salt sourdough crackers.
    Sourdough Discard Crackers

    And that's it! Can you believe you can make your very own crackers at home? Did you try them? Would love to hear how it went and what you think. Leave a comment or question below.

    Other sourdough discard recipes:

    • Sourdough Discard Banana Bread
    • Sourdough Discard Naan
    • Sourdough Discard Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins
    • Sourdough Starter Breakfast Bites

    Click to see even more sourdough discard recipes.

    Did you make it? Please let me know in the comments below and leave a 5-star rating on the recipe card. I love hearing from you! Subscribe to join my email list for recipes right to your inbox. We can also connect on social media via Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook.

    A flip lock jar with rosemary and sea salt sourdough crackers.

    Sourdough Discard Crackers

    These flaky sourdough discard crackers are loaded with fresh rosemary and chunky sea salt. Super easy to make and a great way to use up some of that sourdough discard.
    No ratings yet
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Rest TIme 1 hr
    Total Time 1 hr 40 mins
    Course Snack
    Cuisine American

    Equipment

    Danish Bread Whisk
    Digital scale
    Rolling Pin
    Pastry Wheel
    Baking Sheet
    Parchment Paper
    Cooling Rack

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 Cup Sourdough Starter Discard 230 grams
    • 1 Cup All Purpose Flour 140 grams
    • 4 tablespoons Softened Unsalted Butter Cut into small cubes
    • 2 tablespoons Fresh Rosemary Chopped up. Can substitue for 2 teasppons dried rosemary.
    • Flaky Sea Salt Sprinkled on top

    Instructions
     

    • Start off by measuring out 230 grams of unfed sourdough starter in a large bowl.
    • Add flour, cubed room temp butter, and fresh rosemary. The butter needs to be very soft but not melted.
    • Using a dough whisk, or fork, mix everything together until it starts to form a ball.
    • Using lightly floured hands, knead the ball of dough to incorporate all the butter. Stretch it out and fold it over multiple times.
    • It should be a stiff dough and a bit tacky. Add a little more flour as needed to help with handling.
    • Cover and let rest for one hour at room temperature. Can be covered with a light tea towel or plastic wrap.
    • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
    • Take out a sheet pan and parchment paper cut to the size of the pan.
    • On the parchment paper, roll out the cracker dough until really thin.
      For crunchy crackers roll out as thin as possible, but for a thicker, flaky cracker roll out to about ⅛".
    • Once the dough is rolled out thin, transfer the entire paper to a baking sheet.
    • Using a pastry or pizza wheel, cut the dough into bite-size crackers. A small cookie cutter could also be used for different shapes.
    • Using a fork poke holes into each of the crackers. This will allow air to escape and keep them from bubbling up.
    • Sprikle the top with the flaky sea salt. A little goes a long way.
    • Place in the oven and bake for 20-30 minutes. The exact time will depend on how thin they were rolled out. For thicker crackers, it could take closer to 30 minutes, and for really thin will be around 20.
    • Halfway through baking rotate the sheet pan. The back of the oven tends to be a bit hotter so this will help give them a more even bake.
    • They are done when the tops start to turn golden brown.
    • Remove from oven and transfer parchment paper to a wire rack to cool. If left on the baking sheet the bottoms will start to overcook.
    • Enjoy on their own or serve with a dip.

    Notes

    Tips for rolling out the dough:
    • If the parchment is sliding on the counter hold the paper with one hand and roll it with the other.
    • Using a second piece of parchment over the top of the dough will help the rolling pin from sticking to it. Try to avoid adding very little to no flour at this point.
    • When rolling it can be helpful to flip the entire thing over and roll the other side.
    • Be sure to roll it out vertically and horizontally to get a nice and even rectangle shape the size of your sheet pan.
    • Can also cut the dough into two and bake it in two separate pans.
    Substitutions
    • Dried Herbs - Dried herbs can be used in place of fresh. Fresh is always best but in a pinch use 2 teaspoons of dried crushed rosemary.
    • Italian Seasoning instead of rosemary.
    Variations
    • Herbs - Experiment with different fresh herbs. Rosemary is a great choice but other herbs such as thyme or parsley could also be used.
    • Everything seasoning. Instead of flaky sea salt top the crackers with everything seasoning to give it a very different taste. Just be sure to add about 1 teaspoon of salt when mixing the dough.
    Storage
    Sourdough crackers are best eaten right away but can be kept in an airtight container for up to a week.
    They can also be frozen in a freezer-safe container for a couple of months.
    Keyword Sourdough Crackers, Sourdough discard, sourdough recipes, Sourdough Starter
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    My name is Kristin and this is Dirt & Dough, where I share my love for all things homemade and homegrown. I have a deep passion for food, not just preparing but also growing my own. My desire is to teach and inspire others to start cooking delicious meals at home while learning to grow fresh produce in the garden.

    Learn more about me →

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