It took me about a month to get my sourdough starter active and ready to use. When the time came, I had a mile-long of recipes to try, and I couldn’t decide where to start.
Now, whenever I share my starter with a friend or talk to anybody else at the beginning of their sourdough journey, I am sure to share all the recipes using sourdough starter that I keep coming back to. All of these recipes are beginner-friendly, super delicious, and regularly used in my kitchen.
With that said, here are my favorite sourdough recipes for beginners.
1. Sourdough Artisan Loaf
I would be remiss to start off with anything other than a classic: artisan bread. Currently, I am working on perfecting my version of Farmhouse on Boone’s Beginner Sourdough Bread Recipe. I’ve got the inside down, but my crust hasn’t turned out perfectly yet.
I have also used the same-day Dutch oven bread recipe from The Feathered Nester. It is good if you are in a pinch and you need a loaf for dinner one night, but after trying an overnight recipe with a cold ferment, there’s no going back.
Pro tip: Turn your oven light and stick your dough in there during proofing so you can maintain the temperature, especially if you keep your house on the colder side.
2. Sourdough Pizza Crusts
My absolute favorite sourdough recipe is the sourdough pizza crust from Little Spoon Farm. They are so easy to make and absolutely delicious.
We use this recipe for “Pizza Wednesday” every single week, and we have started turning it into an event with friends and family, which has been really nice. Another thing I like about these pizzas is that they are only about 8 inches, so when we have pizza night, I make a bunch of different varieties to suit everybody’s preferences.
If you aren’t convinced yet, my dad has owned pizza shops for about three decades, and he had no notes on this pizza. (If you know him, he ALWAYS has notes, so this is very impressive!!) You have to try it!
Pro tip: The dough freezes really well! The recipe makes four pizzas, so when we have extra dough, I wrap it up and stick it in the freezer to save it for a rainy day.
3. Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies
Another favorite in my house (and everywhere we take them) is sourdough chocolate chip cookies. I really like Farm House on Boone’s chocolate chip cookie recipe.
This dough also freezes very well, so I typically double the batch and freeze it in small portions so I can quickly whip up a dozen or so whenever I need them.
Pro tip: Make the cookies smaller than the recipe calls for, and they bake so much better. I aim for 34 to 36g per cookie because after making this recipe a dozen or more times, that is what has turned out best!
4. Sourdough Pie Crusts
Another recurring sourdough recipe in my kitchen is the sourdough pie crust recipe from Farmhouse on Boone. It’s so versatile and delicious.
These crusts have a very unique depth that pairs nicely with both sweet and savory fillings. I’ve used it for apple pie, pumpkin pie, mini apple crumbles, and quiches (both full-sized and mini).
Pro tip: Make it with an active starter. It’s a discard recipe, and it tastes great either way. But I like the texture a lot better when you use a bubbly, active starter.
5. Sourdough Brownie Bites
I absolutely love brownies, so naturally, making a sourdough version was a must. I really like The Pantry Mama’s brownie bite recipe. They are made in a mini muffin tin, which is such a fun size. Plus, they use quite a bit of starter, so they are a great recipe for when your discard collection starts to pile up.
Pro tip: Stick these in the fridge overnight for a bulk ferment. The first time I made these, I baked half immediately and the second half the next day. They baked so much better after spending the night in the fridge.
6. Sourdough Bagels
I’ve made sourdough bagels a couple of times now, and they were such a hit with my family. I use the bagel recipe from Little Spoon Farm, and I was surprised how easy they were to make. The boiling step intimidated me, but it ended up being no big deal at all.
My taste testers and I agree that these are very light and easy on the stomach. They don’t make you feel overly full like some bagels with commercial yeast tend to do. Plus, they are perfect for baby-sized hands. My littlest taste tester absolutely loves them, too
Pro tip: Eat these right away. They are best served fresh.
7. Sourdough Dinner Rolls
I love a good dinner roll, and the sourdough version of this staple does not disappoint. I use the sourdough dinner roll recipe from Farmhouse on Boone.
Although they are great on their own, I really like to use these rolls to make meatball sliders. We make a version of the AlDenteDiva’s meatball sliders, and they are great.
Pro tip: These rolls are definitely a bit sour. Some of my taste testers are picky with things that are obviously sourdough, so if you’re feeding a crowd with similar preferences, I recommend adding more starter to make them less sour.
8. Sourdough Sandwich Bread
A sourdough sandwich bread is a must, and it took me a couple of tries before finding the perfect recipe. Turns out, my favorite sandwich bread recipe is the one from Farmhouse on Boone (surprise, surprise lol).
Pro tip: Cut this recipe in half if you’re using a Kitchen Aid mixer. The author of the recipe says this, and I didn’t listen. It turned out okay, but my mixer was so hot after, so I think I pushed her a little too far.
9. Sourdough Banana Muffins
Banana muffins have been my signature treat for years. They are great for all sorts of occasions, and since they are fruit-based, they feel like a healthy dessert. I recently tried Farm House on Boone’s banana muffin recipe, and it was an instant favorite. My taste testers were huge fans.
It made a lot more batter than the recipe said it would, so I ended up with enough batter to make 21 muffins and a small loaf of bread with it. I probably could’ve loaded the muffin pans up a bit more, but it all turned out well.
Pro tip: Long ferment this batter overnight in the fridge, and use dark chocolate chips. Dark chocolate adds a nice touch of depth.
10. Sourdough Pretzel Bites
Pretzel bites are my favorite sourdough appetizer. Full stop. I searched quite a bit for a sourdough pretzel recipe since so many use a combination of yeast and sourdough discard, so I was thrilled when I found the pretzel bite recipe from Caroha. It uses an active starter instead of yeast, which is just what I was looking for.
Pro Tip: These are great straight out of the oven. But if I serve them later, I brush them with some butter and stick them back in the oven at 350-ish to reheat them for 8-10 minutes. The also pair nicely with some fresh beer cheese.
Ready to Start Baking?
There are so many recipes for using sourdough starter. Sourdough fits in every course of the meal, from appetizers to desserts. Hopefully, this round-up gives you some inspiration for the next experiment in your sourdough recipe!
Which of these sourdough recipes for beginners will you start with? What essentials would you add to this list?
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