Sourdough starter adds a unique and nuanced flavor to these pancakes. They’re a surefire way to impress anyone who takes a bite. If you’ve been nurturing a sourdough starter for a while, you’ve probably either amassed or thrown away a lot of it. Making pancakes is one of the most common ways to get rid of excess starter (also known as discard).
What Is Discard, and Why Add it to Pancakes?
Sourdough discard is any portion of sourdough starter that you won’t be using to make bread. You can keep your sourdough discard in a container in the refrigerator. This starter won’t be strong enough to make bread rise, but it does make for a wonderful ingredient when added to cookies, cakes, pasta, and pancakes. Oftentimes sourdough pancake recipes result in dense and rubbery pancakes. For a long time, I gave up on adding my discard to pancakes because I never got great results, until I took the extra step of whipping my egg whites. I know what you’re thinking, who wants to whip egg whites first thing in the morning? But believe me, the effort is well worth it. By taking this extra step, you end up with pancakes that are light as air. If you need more tips and tricks on making a sourdough starter, how to use discard, and baking sourdough bread, we have a comprehensive guide to get you started.
Swaps and Substitutions
The milk in this recipe can be replaced with yogurt, sour cream, or milk substitutes like almond milk or oat milk. If using yogurt or sour cream, thin the pancake batter out with a tablespoon or two of water before folding in the egg whites. All-purpose flour is the best choice for these pancakes. Using only whole wheat flour would make them too dense. If you like the nutty flavor of whole wheat, try replacing a small portion of the all-purpose flour in the recipe with whole wheat. Incorporating add-ins like blueberries or chocolate chips could deflate the air that you’ve worked so hard to whip into your batter. Enjoy these as a topping instead!
More Fluffy Pancake Recipes
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1 1/2 cup (180g) all-purpose flour 3 tablespoons (48g) sugar 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 3 large eggs, separated 1 1/4 to 1 3/4 cup whole milk 1/2 cup (113g) sourdough starter 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 3 tablespoons (42g) butter, melted and cooled 4 tablespoons (56g) vegetable oil
For serving
Maple syrup Berries Butter
Fold the remaining whites into the batter, being careful not to knock the air out of the whites by folding too aggressively. Pour about 1/4 cup of batter per pancake into your preheated pan and cook for 2 minutes or until the edges begin to dry out, take a peek at the bottom and flip once it has browned. This batter will be very airy and light and you won’t really notice bubbles form on top as you normally would with normal pancake batter. Flip and cook the other side for another 1 1/2 to 2 minutes or until golden brown. Place cooked pancakes on the wire rack inside the oven to keep them warm while you cook the remaining pancakes. Brush the skillet with remaining vegetable oil in between batches. For best results, reheat the pancakes in the toaster or oven at 400°F for 5 minutes or until they have warmed to your desired temperature. Did you love the recipe? Leave us stars below!
