Sourdough Granola [with discard option]

Sourdough granola! Yes, you read that right. You can make the most delicious granola using sourdough starter.

It's super easy, crunchy and delicious. And the best thing is that it contains very little sugar and isn't processed like the boxes you buy from the store.

Sourdough granola can be made to suit your personal tastes and requirements.

In fact, I've provided 8 delicious sourdough granola flavor variations that you can make from this one, simple recipe!

• Honey Oat
• Maple Pecan
• Apricot & Almond
• Choc Coconut
• Apple & Cinnamon
• Pumpkin Spice
• Gingerbread Granola
• Festive Christmas Granola

You could even create your own unique flavor combination once you get the hang of the method. And if you're looking for a delicious way to use your granola, why not try these jumbo sourdough granola muffins or these baked sourdough granola bars!

Why Does Sourdough Starter Work in Granola?

Sourdough starter is used in granola to bind it all together.

The starter allows you to make a nice, chunky granola. It binds the nuts, seeds and oats together perfectly.

You can choose to keep it chunky or break it down further if you prefer.

The sourdough starter also means you can use less sweetner in the granola. Traditionally, you use honey or maple syrup to bind it together.

The sourdough starter means you can use much less to get the same effect.

Of course if you prefer a sweeter granola, you can add more honey or maple syrup.

Or even add extra dried fruit at the end. I've been loving raisins and apricots - but you could use cranberries, pineapple, mango or even dried apple and banana.

Sourdough Discard Granola

The great thing about this recipe is that you can use active sourdough starter or discard.

If you use discard, you really want to make sure that your starter is at least a few weeks old.

And try to use fresh discard.

Fresh discard is a portion of starter that you take out of the jar before you feed. Using it right after you've removed it, rather than storing in the fridge first is best.

If you use older discard, you will get quite a tangy tasting granola.

I love using active, fed starter to make my granola. If I know I'm going to be making bread, I will just feed my starter an extra 50g of flour and water so I have extra starter to make a batch of granola with.

How To Make Sourdough Granola

Sourdough granola is super easy to put together. The hardest thing to do is decide what nuts and seeds to add to the mix!

In the recipe at the end of the post, I've chosen to use pecans, walnuts, hemp seeds and pumpkin seeds.

I've also mixed some raisins and chopped dried apricots once the granola has cooled.

You can really add any type of nuts and seeds you like - it's a great way to use up what you have in the pantry.

I've also given plenty of flavor suggestions further down the page.

Here's how to make sourdough granola:

1. Preheat your oven.
2. Add the sourdough starter, honey, vanilla and coconut oil together in a bowl.
3. Once the liquid ingredients are smooth, add the oats, nuts and spices.
4. Stir the ingredients until everything is coated with the sourdough starter mixture.
5. Press a tight layer of granola onto a baking tray lined with baking paper.
6. Bake low and slow until the mixture is lightly toasted.
7. Once cooled, break the granola up into pieces and toss through the dried fruit if using.

Tips for The Best Sourdough Granola

While sourdough granola is really easy to make, there are a few things you can do to ensure you get the best finished product.

• You can use either discarded sourdough starter or active, fed starter. I would avoid using old discard in this recipe as it will give you quite a strong flavor.
  
  When I need a batch of sourdough granola, I just feed my starter a little extra and use it once it's peaked. Super easy!

• Bake the granola low and slow. The honey (or maple syrup) used in the mixture means that it will burn easily. It's better to bake it lower and slower, than have the oven too hot and end up with burnt, bitter granola.

• If you take it out of the oven and the edges are golden but the middle seems like it needs a little longer, then crumble the edges and remove them and break the middle part up a little and then pop it back in the oven for a few minutes to crisp up.

• Don't add the dried fruit until after the granola has been baked and cooled.
  
  If you bake the dried fruit in the granola it will become hard and even drier. You want the dried fruit to add some sweetness and moisture to the granola.

How To Store It

Sourdough granola lasts quite a while. I prefer to store it in a tall, glass jar. It not only looks super pretty on your counter top, it keeps it fresh for a lot longer.

Any air tight container will keep the granola fresh, however I think glass will keep it crunchier than plastic.

Granola Flavor Variations

While this granola recipe is super tasty as it is, it can be fun to create different flavor variations. It's really easy to change out a few ingredients to create these 6 different flavors!

Honey Oat Sourdough Granola

• Use 50g of raw almonds as the nuts and 50g of rice cereal for the seeds.
• Increase the honey to 40g.
• You can still add dried fruit if you wish, but this is just as yummy without it.

Maple Pecan Sourdough Granola

• Use maple syrup instead of honey (you can increase the amount a little for a more pronounced flavor).
• Use 100g of chopped pecans instead of the nuts and seeds in the recipe.

Apricot & Almond Sourdough Granola

• Use 70g of natural almonds instead of the nuts and seeds.
• Leave out the spices.
• Add 100g of chopped, dried apricots and 50g of flaked almonds after the granola has been baked and cooled.

Choc Coconut Sourdough Granola

For an even more delicious chocolate flavor, why not make this chocolate sourdough starter and create your granola from that!

• Use 100g of shredded coconut instead of the nuts and seeds.
• Use 20g of cocoa powder instead of the spices
• Stir through 50 - 100g of mini chocolate chips once the granola has cooled (depending on how chocolatey you want it).

Apple & Cinnamon Sourdough Granola

For this flavor variation, why not make a batch of apple sourdough starter to really make the apple flavor pop!

• Use 100g of walnuts instead of the nuts and seeds
• Double the cinnamon used to 2 teaspoons.
• Add 100g of dried apple pieces after the granola has been baked and cooled.

Pumpkin Spice Sourdough Granola

• Use 50g of pecans and 50g of pumpkin seeds.
• Use 2 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice instead of the spiced listed in the recipe
• Add 100g of cranberries when the granola has cooled.

Gingerbread Granola

• Double the cinnamon used to 2 teaspoons.
• Add ½ to 1 teaspoon of powdered ginger (depending on your taste).
• Add ¼ teaspoon of powdered cloves.
• Increase the maple syrup or honey if you would prefer a sweeter taste.
• If gifting this one, you could also crush up some gingerbread and toss through the baked granola.

Festive Christmas Granola

• Double the cinnamon to 2 teaspoons.
• Add two teaspoons of orange zest before baking.
• Add 100g of cranberries and 100g of dark choc chips once the granola has cooled.

Serving Suggestions & Uses

There are so many ways you can use up this sourdough granola. You don't just have to eat it as cereal!

Here are a few ways that we are using it at my house (let me tell you that I make like a 4x batch of this stuff because it disappears so quickly!).

• Serve with thick, creamy yoghurt and slice banana for a quick, easy breakfast.

• Make a super chunky batch and use it as a base for a trail mix for work snacks.

• Use it as a topping for crackers - these cinnamon sugar crackers work really well as a base.
  
• Use it in these jumbo sourdough granola muffins.

• Stir it into your favorite chocolate and spread over a baking tray to set - sourdough granola chocolate bark!

• Use it as the topping for a fruit crumble dessert.

Further Reading

If you love this recipe for sourdough granola, you'll love these ideas:

• Why not make it a breakfast to remember with the fluffiest sourdough discard pancakes ever!

• Keep the good food coming with this easy Honey Oat Sourdough Loaf.

• You will love this simple recipe for pumpkin cinnamon sourdough rolls.

Share the sourdough love!