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    Home » Sourdough Recipes » Sourdough Discard Ideas

    Easy Sourdough Brownies [chocolatey + fudgy]

    Published: Jan 17, 2022 · Modified: Jan 19, 2023 by The Pantry Mama This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Easy Sourdough Brownie Recipe Pinterest Image

    Who knew you could make easy sourdough brownies with sourdough starter? And seriously they are so chocolatey and fudgy!

    Adding sourdough starter (or discard) to brownies gives them a lovely sour tang which pairs perfectly with the rich, fudgy chocolate.

    This sourdough brownie recipe is seriously easy to make. You need one bowl and a brownie tin - that's it! Nothing fancy, no mixers ... but wow will you get a fancy result!

    If you love simple chocolate sourdough recipes, be sure to try these chocolate chunk sourdough muffins or these sourdough chocolate chip cookies.

    What Do Sourdough Brownies Taste Like?

    Sourdough brownies taste like regular brownies - only way better!

    These brownies have a crackly, meringue top (essential for good brownies if you ask me!).

    The brown sugar gives a good depth of flavor and using bother melted chocolate and cocoa ensures that rich chocolatey goodness.

    The sourdough starter only adds to this complex flavor profile and rounds out the often too rich feeling brownies can have.

    I love eating these slightly warm, topped with the best quality vanilla bean ice cream and sprinkled with tart raspberries - perfection!

    Dusting sourdough brownies with cocoa after baking.

    Can You Use Sourdough Discard in Chocolate Brownies?

    Absolutely. This recipe will work with either fed and bubbly starter or sourdough discard (even if it's been in the fridge).

    Chocolate works really well with the more sour notes in sourdough, so you can use discard without worrying that it will overpower the flavor.

    In fact, I think that the sour works really well in this recipe!

    I alternate between using fed starter and discard - I just use whatever I have on hand at the time. I've been known to feed my starter a little extra just to make a batch of these for dessert!

    You could even make this chocolate sourdough starter and use it in these brownies!

    Sourdough brownie ingredient close up - sourdough starter, butter, chocolate and cocoa.

    How To Make Easy Sourdough Brownies?

    Sourdough brownies are so easy to put together! You literally need a few ingredients, a mixing bowl and a brownie tin!

    Probably the hardest thing you have to do is melt the chocolate and butter together - but even that is pretty easy if you use the microwave.

    I baked these brownies in a pan similar to this (dimensions (11 x 7 x 1.5 inches).

    Here's how to make Sourdough Chocolate Brownies:

    1. Melt the chocolate and butter together (you can use the microwave to make this easy or do it over a pot of water on the stove).
    2. Whisk the butter and chocolate together until it looks like liquid chocolate.
    3. Now add the eggs, vanilla, sourdough starter and sugar together in the bowl with the butter and chocolate and whisk until well combined.
    4. Add the flour, cocoa and salt to the bowl and whisk until the batter is molten and well combined.
    5. Line a brownie tray with parchment paper and pour the sourdough brownie mix in.
    6. Bake at 180C/350F for around 20 minutes or until they are cooked to your liking.
    7. Remove from the oven and dust with cocoa. Cool slightly before serving.
    Process photos of making sourdough brownies

    Tips for Baking Sourdough Brownies

    There are a few things that make a really good chocolate brownie! Here are my best tips for making sure you get a lovely, chocolatey, fudgy brownie!

    • Using cocoa and melted chocolate together will give you the best result! You can use raw cacao, Dutched cocoa powder or regular cocoa. I've used regular cocoa in my recipe.
    • Don't overcook the brownies. They are better undercooked than over! If you like them super fudgy, reduce the cooking time by a few minutes and remove from the oven when they are still wobbly in the middle. If you insert a skewer in - it should come out covered in batter!
    • If you prefer them more cakey then cook them until the skewer comes out mostly clean.
    • Use whatever chocolate you like to eat - dark, milk, semi sweet - they are all good!
    Close up of inside of sourdough chocolate brownie - hand holding three slices of sourdough chocolate brownie.

    Flavor Variations for Sourdough Brownies

    There are so many ways you can make this recipe suit your own brownie tastes!

    Here are some ideas to for your next brownie bake!

    • Mix through some white chocolate chips and macadamia nuts when you add the flour and cocoa.
    • Add a shot of espresso to the batter and top with pecans before baking.
    • Push a punnet of fresh raspberries or blueberries into the batter before you bake the brownies.
    • Dust with icing sugar instead of cocoa.

    How To Store & Freeze

    Sourdough brownies will last for around 7 days in an airtight container. I've had better luck keeping them in a tin lined with parchment paper than plastic.

    You can freeze them. Wrap in parchment paper and then in tin foil and freeze. It's better to freeze them as a whole "cake" rather than cut before freezing.

    To defrost, allow them to sit on the counter until thawed through. Warm slightly before serving (microwave is fine).

    SOURDOUGH DISCARD RECIPES - REUSABLE BLOCK PIC

    Want More Chocolate Sourdough Recipes?

    If you are loving these easy sourdough brownies, why not try these other chocolate sourdough recipes:

    • Make this chocolate sourdough starter and add it to your brownies!
    • Try this sourdough chocolate discard loaf!
    • You'll love this sourdough chocolate star bread!
    • Prefer donuts? Why not try these sourdough baked donuts!
    Easy Sourdough Brownie Recipe Pinterest Image
    Easy Sourdough Brownie Recipe

    Sourdough Brownie Recipe

    This simple one bowl recipe uses 200g of sourdough starter to create a chocolatey, fudgy sourdough brownie recipe everyone will ask for!
    4.02 from 52 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Cook Time 25 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12

    Equipment

    • Mixing Bowl
    • Brownie Pan

    Ingredients
      

    • 150 g Butter melted
    • 200 g Chocolate milk or dark
    • 200 g Sourdough Starter can be unfed or active and bubbly
    • 200 g Dark brown sugar
    • 3 Eggs
    • 5 g Vanilla Extract
    • 50 g Cocoa Powder
    • 75 g All Purpose Flour
    • pinch Salt
    • 100 g Chocolate Pieces optional - for poking into the batter

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 180C/350F.
    • Melt 200g of chocolate together with the butter.
      I do this in the microwave - I place both ingredients in a glass bowl and do 30 second bursts until they are melted. Stir together.
      Melted chocolate and butter together in a bowl - whisked using a Danish Whisk
    • Once the chocolate and butter are melted together, add eggs, vanilla, sugar and sourdough starter to the same bowl and mix until well combined.
      Adding sourdough starter to chocolate and butter mixture
    • Then to the same bowl add the cocoa, flour and salt.
      Adding dry ingredients to wet ingredients.
    • Mix until a liquid, molten batter forms.
    • Pour the batter into a brownie tin lined with parchment paper.
      Pouring the batter into a parchment lined tin.
    • If using, poke the chocolate pieces into the batter.
    • Bake the brownies at 180C/350F for around 30 to 35 minutes (depending on your oven).
    • Dust with cocoa powder once removed from the oven.
      Dust brownies with cocoa powder once removed from the oven.

    Notes

    I have used a brownie pan with the following dimensions - 27.5 x 17.5 x 3.5 cm (11 x 7 x 1.5 inches). You can purchase a similar pan here.
    Keyword Sourdough Discard
    Tried this recipe?Share your creation with us @ThePantryMama or tag #thepantrymama!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Annette

      January 29, 2022 at 11:14 am

      Is it supposed to have milk on ingredient list but not mentioned in the steps

      Reply
      • The Pantry Mama

        January 31, 2022 at 9:33 pm

        Hi Annette - there's no milk mentioned in the ingredient list 🙂

        Reply
    2. Tracy

      March 07, 2022 at 9:16 am

      CAN YOU USE DISCARD ??

      Reply
      • The Pantry Mama

        March 07, 2022 at 12:13 pm

        yes - it has a full paragraph explaining this in the article 🙂

        Reply
    3. Helen rose

      December 17, 2022 at 7:34 pm

      5 stars
      Can you make the brownies and freeze them?

      Reply
      • The Pantry Mama

        December 22, 2022 at 9:33 am

        Yes they freeze really well. TPM x

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Kate! I’m the face behind The Pantry Mama and I want to help you bake delicious sourdough bread, no matter what your schedule. 
    When I’m not baking sourdough, I love to hang out with my three boys on our farm, tend to my jungle of indoor plants and drink good coffee.

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