My whole family loves sourdough pancakes and I’m often asked to make them on a busy morning. With this easy recipe I can say “Yes” every time!
The trick to making sourdough pancakes simple is to have a recipe that can be mixed and cooked within minutes. This recipe uses fully fermented sourdough starter straight from the refrigerator. Adding in real butter, eggs, milk, and unrefined sugar will result in an easy batter with all the nourishment of real traditional food!
Building Up Your Sourdough Starter
The only thing you need to do in preparation for this recipe is build your starter up over 500 grams. I almost always keep at least 500 grams of 100% hydration starter in my jar now for projects like these easy pancakes, Discard Crackers, Pasta, or even fast Pizza Crust!
After using my starter I feed it with enough equal weight flour and water to build it up over 500 grams, let it ferment for a few hours, and then stick it in the fridge. When I pull the starter out I use some for a project that calls for discard, feed it, allow it to peak, and then use that really fresh and happy starter to make bread!
For more information on caring for a sourdough starter please refer to my guide: Demystifying Sourdough – Everything You’ve Ever Wanted To Know About Sourdough Starter – Why It’s Better for You – And How To Start One.
Did Someone Say “Super Easy”?
Watch me mix up my super easy sourdough discard pancake batter in this 2-minute video! Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel so you will see all my new videos as they are published!
Super Easy Sourdough Discard Pancakes
Whip up a batch of real sourdough pancake batter in under 5 minutes!
Ingredients
- 500 grams (2 cups) sourdough starter discard, 100% hydration, stirred down
- 3 eggs
- 40 grams (1/4 cup) coconut sugar
- 100 grams (about 1/3 cup) milk (use half for thicker pancakes)
- 6 grams (1 teaspoon) salt
- 113 grams (1/2 cup) butter, melted
Instructions
- In a large bowl whisk all the ingredients together except the melted butter.
- When fully combined, slowly whisk in the melted butter.
- Whisk until smooth.
- Set the batter aside for 15 minutes.
- Heat your griddle over medium heat. When the griddle is completely hot and it just starts to smoke add the batter and reduce the heat if needed.
- Cook the pancakes until golden brown on each side.
- Serve with butter and honey or maple syrup.
Want To Learn Everything About Sourdough?
Start with this free guide:
Colleen
Tuesday 7th of November 2023
I misread the recipe. I didn’t know when to add the butter. (There’s a typo.) So no butter added. Not sure how that impacts taste. They’re still pretty good.
Butter For All
Tuesday 12th of December 2023
Thanks for alerting me Colleen I'll definitely take a look.The butter gives the pancakes a rich flavor, and also helps with them not sticking to the griddle.
Cora
Monday 27th of February 2023
one more question; You don't add flour in the ingredients for the pancakes other than what's already in the discard?
Butter For All
Monday 27th of February 2023
Nope, no additional flour. But is is important that the discard be lower hydration. If it's really runny, you might have to make crepes. :)
Cora
Monday 27th of February 2023
This picture looks like the thin sourdough pancakes I made many years ago and loved. Does the discard need to be brought to room temperature before adding the ingredients for the pancakes? The recipe I had years ago, I would pull my sourdough out of the fridge, and feed it the night before, and leave it on the counter. In the morning I would take some out before mixing in the rest of the ingredients for the pancakes. I believe is was a "Sourdough Jack's" starter that I had.
Butter For All
Monday 27th of February 2023
Hi Cora!
I have a recipe just like that! It is my FAV! You can find it here - Sourdough Pancakes
If you are using discard, I like to let it warm a little or come to room temp, just for ease of mixing. You could mix it cold tho and then wait a few minutes before cooking to give the yeast a chance to wake up.
Enjoy!
Judith Sarena
Monday 6th of February 2023
Is there no sourdough pancake recipe that calls for just flour, water and starter? One that does not include butter, eggs, milk, and sugar? Certainly the early prospectors did not carry such things with them on their mules.
Butter For All
Thursday 9th of February 2023
Hi Judith,
Yes, you can do that. You can just add salt and/or sugar to sourdough starter that is about 110-120% hydration and cook it like pancakes.
Roxanne
Monday 7th of November 2022
I love these pancakes. I’ve made them small and used them as an appetizer. Everyone loved them. Was wondering if these can be frozen for later use?
Butter For All
Tuesday 8th of November 2022
Hi Roxanne!
I'm so glad you like them! Yes, they can be frozen. I've found that once defrosted they are easily warmed up again on a griddle. Makes a very easy breakfast!!!
Enjoy!
Courtney