10 Game-Changing Sourdough Breakfast Ideas

Looking for new ways to enjoy your sourdough bread at breakfast? While butter and jam are classics, your homemade loaf can be the foundation for many delicious morning meals. It’s time to expand your breakfast options! From savory French toast to loaded discard bagels, these 10 easy sourdough breakfast ideas will help you make the most of your sourdough bread.

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Sourdough Pancakes

These fluffy sourdough pancakes transform your breakfast with a delightful tangy twist. Using up sourdough discard creates incredibly tender, nutritious pancakes that are easy to digest and perfect for topping with fresh berries and maple syrup.

Here’s how to make them:

Ingredients:

• Sourdough starter (inactive, from fridge)
• All-purpose flour
• Buttermilk (or milk + 1 tbsp vinegar)
• Large eggs
• Melted butter (or coconut/olive oil)
• Sugar
• Baking powder and baking soda
• Salt
• Vanilla extract

Steps:

1. Whisk sourdough starter, buttermilk, eggs, vanilla, and melted butter in a large bowl.
2. Add flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix just until combined – some lumps are fine.
3. Let batter rest for 15 minutes at room temperature or refrigerate overnight.
4. Heat skillet over medium heat. Add butter to coat the pan.
5. Pour batter to form circles. Cook until bubbles form on the surface and the bottom is golden brown.
6. Flip and cook the other side until golden.
7. Serve warm with fresh berries and maple syrup.

Best eaten within 24 hours for maximum fluffiness, as leavening agents gradually lose effectiveness. Try topping with nuts, goat cheese, or olive oil instead of syrup for a healthier version.

The full recipe: Delicious Sourdough Discard Pancakes

Sourdough Breakfast Sandwich

Start your day with this irresistible breakfast sandwich that combines crispy sourdough bread with your favorite morning ingredients. The tangy sourdough perfectly complements the rich, savory fillings, making each bite a delightful experience.

How to Make It:

1. Toast 2 slices of sourdough bread until golden brown
2. While bread is toasting, cook your egg (fried or scrambled) in a pan over medium heat
3. If using meat (bacon, sausage, or ham), cook it until crispy
4. Once bread is toasted, spread butter on one side of each slice
5. Layer your sandwich in this order:
   • Bottom bread slice
   • Cheese (will melt from the warm egg)
   • Hot egg
   • Meat (if using)
   • Optional toppings (avocado, tomato, greens)
   • Top bread slice
6. Press down gently to help melt the cheese
7. Cut diagonally and serve immediately

Tips:

• Use room-temperature cheese for better melting
• Season your egg with salt and pepper while cooking
• For extra crunch, toast the buttered bread in a pan
• Add hot sauce or mayo for extra flavor

The full recipe: The Most Delicious Sourdough Breakfast Sandwich

Sourdough French Toast

This sourdough French toast turns day-old bread into a golden-brown breakfast treat with a perfectly crispy exterior and custard-like center. Here’s how to make it:

Steps:

1. Whisk together eggs, milk, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a large bowl until smooth.
2. Heat butter in a skillet over medium-high heat.
3. Quickly dip sourdough slices in the egg mixture – don’t soak too long to prevent tearing.
4. Place dipped bread in a hot skillet (2 slices at a time) and cook for 3-5 minutes per side until golden brown.
5. Serve warm with butter, fresh berries, and maple syrup.

Tip: Using 2-3 day old sourdough bread works best as it better absorbs the egg mixture without falling apart. Any milk variety works great, whether dairy or plant-based.

The full recipe: The Most Delicious Sourdough French Toast

Sourdough Glazed Donuts

Indulge in these heavenly sourdough doughnuts – a perfect blend of tangy and sweet toppings. The overnight fermentation creates an incredibly light and fluffy texture, making these treats irresistible.

Here’s how to make them:

1. The night before: Mix 125g flour, 125g water, and 1 tbsp rye sourdough starter. Let ferment overnight. Set out 3 eggs to warm up.
2. Morning prep: In one bowl, combine 3 egg yolks, rum, honey, vanilla, lemon juice, zest, and melted butter. In another, mix warm milk with 250g starter, add the egg mixture and 310g flour.
3. Knead dough for 15 minutes until smooth. For sticky dough, wet your hands occasionally while kneading.
4. Let rise in a greased bowl for 3-5 hours until doubled.
5. Shape dough into 1cm thick sheet and cut circles. Let doughnuts rise for another hour until the finger indent stays.
6. Heat oil (3 fingers deep) until bubbling when tested with a wooden spoon. Fry for 2-3 minutes per side.
7. Cool slightly, then dip in melted chocolate and sprinkle with hazelnuts, coconut, or lemon zest.

Pro tip: Don’t rush the rising times – patience yields the fluffiest doughnuts!

The full recipe: Fluffy Sourdough Glazed Donuts Recipe

Sourdough Discard Cinnamon Rolls

Ready to make pillowy-soft cinnamon rolls with a tangy twist? This overnight recipe uses sourdough discard to create an irresistibly fluffy treat with complex flavor. Here’s how to make them:

Mix the Basics (10 minutes):

• Combine warm milk, sugar, eggs, butter, and vanilla in one bowl
• Mix flour, yeast, and salt in another bowl
• Combine wet and dry ingredients, then knead for 5-7 minutes until smooth

Let it Rest (9-13 hours):

• Place dough in a greased bowl
• Rise 1 hour at room temperature
• Refrigerate overnight (8-12 hours)

Create the Rolls (20 minutes):

• Roll cold dough into 1/2-inch thick rectangle
• Spread with softened butter
• Sprinkle with brown sugar-cinnamon mixture
• Roll tightly and cut into 8-12 slices

Final Steps (1.5 hours):

• Place rolls in a greased pan
• Rise 30-60 minutes
• Bake at 350°F for 25-30 minutes
• Cool briefly, then top with cream cheese glaze

Tip: For extra-gooey rolls, let them cool just 5 minutes before glazing – the warm rolls will help the glaze seep into every delicious swirl.

The full recipe: Sourdough Discard Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

Sweet Sourdough Bread

Sweet sourdough bread brings together the tangy complexity of traditional sourdough with a gentle sweetness. This recipe creates a tender, flavorful loaf that’s perfect for breakfast or afternoon tea.

Here’s how to make it:

1. Mix flour, starter, water (start with 300g), salt, and your chosen sweetener in a large bowl until a shaggy dough forms. Add more water if needed.
2. Rest covered for 30 minutes (autolyze).
3. Knead for 5-10 minutes until smooth and elastic, either by hand or with a stand mixer.
4. Perform stretch and folds every 30 minutes for 2-3 hours: pull the dough edge up and fold over the center, rotate the bowl, and repeat around the entire dough.
5. Let the dough ferment for 4-8 hours at room temperature until doubled. If using fruit, fold it in after the first hour.
6. Shape into round or oval, and place in a floured proofing basket seam-up. Cover and proof 1-2 hours.
7. Preheat oven to 450°F with Dutch oven inside—once hot, transfer dough to Dutch oven, and score top.
8. Bake 20 minutes covered, then 20-25 minutes uncovered until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 200°F.
9. Cool completely on a wire rack before slicing.

The full recipe: Sweet Sourdough Bread

Sourdough Pandesal

Get ready to make some incredibly soft and fluffy bread rolls coated in crispy breadcrumbs! This recipe takes some patience but the results are worth it. The secret to its amazing texture is using a sponge starter that develops flavor overnight.

Simple Steps:

1. Start the night before by mixing flour, water, and a starter to make your sponge. Let it rest overnight – this is where the magic happens!
2. Combine your flour with egg, salt, and sugar the next day. Gradually work in the oil until your dough becomes nice and soft.
3. Give the dough some love with a good 10-minute knead, then let it rest until it doubles in size.
4. Here comes the fun part – shape your dough into a rectangle, cut it into 12 pieces, and roll each piece in breadcrumbs.
5. Place your rolls on a baking sheet and let them puff up one final time.
6. Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes until golden brown.

The full recipe: Sourdough Pandesal Recipe

Sourdough Pastries

Discover the joy of making homemade sourdough cheese danishes! These flaky, buttery pastries feature a delightful cream cheese filling and your choice of fruit jam. The magic of sourdough starter adds complex flavor and helps create that perfect Danish texture.

How to Make Sourdough Cheese Danishes:

1. Mix dough ingredients (starter, sugar, salt, cardamom, butter, eggs, milk, vanilla, flour) until shaggy. Knead briefly, shape into a ball, and ferment for 5 hours at room temperature or 12 hours refrigerated.
2. Create a butter block by flattening cold butter with flour between parchment into an 8×7-inch rectangle. Chill until firm but workable.
3. Roll dough to 16×10 inches, place butter block in the center, and fold edges over to seal. Roll to 20×12 inches, fold like a book and chill for 20 minutes. Repeat rolling and fold into thirds. Chill overnight.
4. Cut dough in half, roll one piece to 16×8 inches, and cut into 8 squares. Fold corners to center, brush with egg wash, and proof until puffy.
5. Press the centers, and fill them with cream cheese mixture and jam. Bake at 425°F for 12-15 minutes until golden.
6. Finish with a simple milk glaze. Best enjoyed fresh and warm!

The full recipe: Sourdough Pastries – Sweet and Satisfying Recipes

Sourdough Discard Waffles

These waffles offer a subtle tangy flavor that pairs beautifully with your favorite toppings, making them a fantastic weekend breakfast option for the whole family.

How to Make Your Waffles:

• Preheat your waffle iron and set your oven to 200°F with a plate inside to keep your finished waffles warm while cooking the rest of the batch.
• In a large bowl, combine your wet ingredients – 1 cup sourdough discard, buttermilk, a beaten egg, melted butter, and your choice of sweetener (honey, maple syrup, or sugar).
• In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and a pinch of salt until well combined.
• Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with dry ingredients and stir until you have a smooth, lump-free batter.
• Ladle about ½ cup of batter (or ¾ cup for Belgian-style waffles) onto your preheated waffle iron. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the waffles are golden brown and crispy.
• Transfer finished waffles to your warm oven plate while you cook the remaining batter, then serve with your favorite toppings like maple syrup, fresh fruit, or whipped cream!

The full recipe: Sourdough Discard Waffles Recipe

Sourdough Discard Bagels

These homemade sourdough bagels are easier than you think and way better than store-bought! Using sourdough discard creates a delightful tangy flavor, while coconut sugar adds just the right touch of sweetness. You can top them with anything you love – from classic sesame seeds to zesty jalapeño cheddar.

Simple Steps to Bagel Bliss:

1. Mix yeast with warm water and let it sit for 5 minutes.
2. Add sourdough discard, coconut sugar, and oil.
3. Mix in flour and knead until smooth (7-12 minutes total, with a 15-minute rest).
4. Let rise until doubled (1-2 hours).
5. Shape them into balls, and poke holes in the centers (make them bigger than you think!).
6. Quick second rise while heating water bath.
7. Boil bagels in water with baking soda (1-2 minutes per side).
8. Add toppings and bake at 425°F for 20 minutes.
9. Cool before slicing into your homemade creations!

Sourdough Breakfast Ideas That Work

Your sourdough starter can create incredible breakfast options beyond basic toast. These recipes help you craft everything from golden-brown French toast and fluffy pancakes to crispy breakfast sandwiches and indulgent cinnamon rolls. Whether you choose a quick breakfast sandwich or spend your weekend making cheese danishes, these recipes will revolutionize your breakfast routine.

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