Sourdough Waffles

Use your sourdough discard to make sourdough waffles that are crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and just plain delicious!

Everyone who has ventured down the road of sourdough before has had the same question in mind:

What do I do with all the extra sourdough starter?

You might be tempted to throw away the sourdough discard… after all, it is called DISCARD, right?

That’s where this sourdough waffle recipe comes into play. I’m all about saving money on healthy food, which means keeping my food waste down and coming up with creative ways to use what I have.

This Sourdough Pancake Recipe is a favorite in my home, but we’re also big waffle fans too (we’ve been crushing hard on these Chocolate Blender Waffles!).

Since pancake batter and waffle batter are so similar, couldn’t I just make waffles with the sourdough discard?

Why yes – yes, you can!

SOURDOUGH WAFFLES

Sourdough waffles are kind of magical… you take something you were going to throw away (excess sourdough starter), add a few simple ingredients, and BOOM, you get a delicious meal that has a unique, one-of-a-kind flavor.

These sourdough waffles are:

• Light and fluffy inside, and just chewy enough.
• Golden brown and crispy on the outside! A must for waffles, if you ask me.
• Tangy, but not too sour (thanks to discard being PART of the recipe)
• A great way to rescue food destined for the trash
• Freezer-friendly. These waffles are easy to freeze and reheat wonderfully – perfect for batch cooking.
• Naturally delicious!

I almost always make a double or triple batch of sourdough waffles, simply because they’re so good! But they’re handy to have in the freezer too when you’re in a pinch for a quick breakfast, when you run out of bread (waffle sandwich, anyone?), or if you need a super-fast dinner during the week!

SOURDOUGH WAFFLE RECIPE INGREDIENTS

The ingredients for this sourdough waffle recipe should look familiar…

• All-Purpose Flour. I use all-purpose einkorn flour. You’re welcome to use whole wheat flour, but it will end up a little more dense.
• Baking Powder. Since we aren’t doing a long ferment like when making Sourdough Bread, this helps give the natural yeast in the sourdough starter a boost. (We won’t need baking soda.)
• Salt. Not all salts are made the same! I love Ava Jane’s Kitchen because it doesn’t have microplastics (gross, right?) and it’s SO GOOD! Plus, you can get a free 8oz. bag of sea salt (just pay shipping and handling!).
• Large Egg. To help hold everything together.
• Milk. Any milk is fine here – dairy or non-dairy milk.
• Sourdough Starter. This waffle recipe is an easy way to use the discard from your sourdough starter, but you can use active starter too. Just make sure you leave some in the jar!
• Butter. Ample fat is one of the main reasons waffles turn out crispy, so don’t skip it or try to replace it!

HOW TO MAKE SOURDOUGH DISCARD WAFFLES

Step 1. Combine the wet ingredients and dry ingredients for the sourdough discard waffles in either a blender or a very large bowl. Using a whisk, stir together well, or blend on low for about 30 seconds.

Step 2. Preheat your waffle iron according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

This double-sided waffle iron is the best waffle maker because you can make TWO waffles at the same time it would ordinarily take to make one. Plus, the pockets in the waffles turn out deep – perfect for catching melted butter and maple syrup!

Step 3. If needed, spray cooking spray on your waffle iron. Pour about ¼ cup to ½ cup of batter into your hot waffle iron (the amount depends on the waffle maker you’re using). Cook the waffles per the directions on your waffle iron, adding another 30-60 seconds of cooking time if you like them crispy.

Step 4. Remove from the waffle iron and serve hot with desired toppings.

Allow leftover sourdough waffles to cool on a wire rack before storage. Store in an airtight container in the fridge or freeze for later.

SOURDOUGH BELGIAN WAFFLES TIPS

How to freeze sourdough waffles: Place cooked waffles on a baking sheet in a single layer. Pop in the freezer for at least 4 hours (up to overnight) and then remove the waffles to a gallon-size freezer bag (I can usually get 4-5 waffles per bag). To reheat, toast the waffle in a toaster, toaster oven, or oven until warmed through and crispy.

Save ALL of your Discard: If you don’t have enough discard to make waffles today, you can save your discard by pouring it into a glass jar (instead of pouring it in the trash) and making waffles when you have enough. You can also INTENTIONALLY feed your starter extra flour and water so that you have extra discard sooner.

Don’t have enough sourdough discard? I recommend making Oatmeal Cinnamon Blender Waffles or Blender Chocolate Waffles until you have enough discard. Making cheater sourdough waffles with buttermilk or yeast doesn’t taste good (in my opinion) and isn’t worth wasting the ingredients.

Don’t have sourdough discard at all? Here’s how to make a sourdough starter. You’ll have plenty of discard in about a week, and you don’t ever have to make bread if you don’t want to!

SERVE WITH SOURDOUGH DISCARD WAFFLES

Sourdough Belgian waffles are delicious with a pat of butter and plenty of maple syrup. Or try one of these yummy toppings:

• Fresh berries, like blueberries, strawberries, or other fruit like sliced bananas
• Whipped Cream
• A sprinkling of chocolate chips
• A bit of cinnamon–sugar
• Or sprinkle on some chopped nuts for a bit of crunch – chopped pecans would be yummy!
• Peanut butter or nut butter
• Add a side of Breakfast Sausage or bacon for extra protein

INCLUDING CARBOHYDRATES LIKE WAFFLES IN YOUR DAY

When you’re tracking your macros and working toward specific nutrition goals, how do higher-carb meals like waffles fit into your day?

First off, don’t be scared of carbs! Focus on complex carbohydrates, which your body digests more slowly than simple carbohydrates, creating more lasting energy.

Secondly, remember that you’re tracking your nutrition over an entire day. If one of your meals, like waffles, is higher in carbs, you can adjust your other meals to focus more on fat and protein. Include plenty of low-carb produce to fill out your plate and you’ll still have plenty of satisfying food!

And finally, remember that eating well is a lifestyle. Real life includes treats, snacks, and fun foods and you can fit them into a balanced day.

Want to learn more about macros, nutrition goals, and accurately tracking what you eat? Grab my free guide here to start achieving your real body goals by eating the foods you love.

SOURDOUGH WAFFLES RECIPE FAQS

OTHER EASY SOURDOUGH DISCARD RECIPES

• Sourdough Crackers
• Buttery Sourdough Biscuits
• Sourdough Pancakes (Using Sourdough Starter Discard)
• Toasted Coconut and Banana Pancakes

If you’re new to sourdough, start here!