Name: Easy Sourdough Waffle Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 6 large waffles
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup sourdough starter or discard; 2/3 cup milk; 2 tablespoons oil; 1 tablespoon sugar; 2 large eggs; 1 cup all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking soda; Waffle toppings ((such as syrup, butter, jam, or fresh berries))

Crunchy and golden on the outside, soft and fluffy in the middle, this easySourdough Wafflesmake a perfect classic breakfast when you have a sourdough starter on hand. If you love the taste of sourdough bread and the texture of waffles, get ready for your new favorite breakfast!

A stack of golden, round waffles made from a sourdough waffle recipe sits on a wire cooling rack against a white marble background.

Sourdough wafflesare light and airy, with just the right amount of crispiness on the outside. The batter is very quick to put together and doesn’t need any resting time since baking soda is used as the leavening agent. They are a great quick option for weekday or weekend mornings alike.

Feel free to use mature starter or discard in this recipe. They both work great and taste good either way!What makes these waffles super awesome is their simplicity — just a handful of pantry staples and that sourdough discard you’d otherwise toss, and you’ll create breakfast perfection in just 25 minutes!

🍞 18Easy Sourdough Recipes!

sourdough waffle on round white plate with pat of butter on white towel with forks

Why You’ll Love This Sourdough Waffle Recipe

Uses Up Sourdough Discard: If you’re maintaining a sourdough starter, you know the guilt of tossing that discard! These sourdough discard waffles transform it into something spectacular.
Crispy Outside, Fluffy Inside: The sourdough starter creates the perfect texture contrast – a satisfyingly crunchy exterior with a tender, airy center full of flavor.
Make-Ahead Friendly: The batter comes together in minutes, and any leftoversourdough waffles freeze beautifully for quick weekday breakfasts.
Versatile Canvas: These waffles work beautifully with every topping imaginable – from classic maple syrup and honey to fresh berries, nut butters, homemade butter, or even savory options like fried chicken!

🧇 Waffles are such asimple to make breakfastfor busy weekdays — or make some ahead to freeze for even quicker breakfasts!

Recipe Ingredients

Sourdough starter discardoractive sourdough starter
Milk
Oil
Sugar
Eggs
All-purpose flour
Baking soda

See recipe card below for full info on ingredients and quantities

Feautured Review

Ali Davis ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

October 10, 2024

So goood! Made extra to freeze, perfect to throw in toaster for quick yummy breakfast (or snack)!

sourdough starter in glass ball canning jar with rubberband white lid on crooked

How To Make Sourdough Waffles

Turn on your waffle maker according to manufacturer’s instructions, ensuring it reaches the proper temperature. The surface should be hot enough that water droplets sizzle immediately.
In a large bowl, combine sourdough starter, milk, oil (or melted butter), sugar, and eggs. Whisk vigorously until completely smooth and well incorporated.
Stir in the all-purpose flour (or whole wheat flour) and baking soda until just combined. The batter should resemble traditional waffle consistency—adjust with flour or milk as needed based on your starter’s thickness.
Lightly brush the hot waffle iron with vegetable oil or waffle butter, then pour in batter according to your machine’s capacity. Close the lid and cook until golden brown and crispy, typically 4-6 minutes.
Transfer finished waffles to a wire rack rather than stacking them. This allows air circulation and prevents steam from softening the crispy exterior.
Top warm waffles with your favorites like homemade butter, honey, syrup, fresh berries, or whipped cream. Enjoy immediately for the best texture.

sourdough waffles on a cooking rack made with a sourdough waffle recipe.

Recipe FAQs

How do I store leftover waffles?

Once the waffles are cooled, store them in an airtight bag or container with a lid. Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 4 months.

How do I reheat leftover waffles?

To reheat refrigerated waffles, place them on a wire rack placed inside of a baking sheet in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes. You can also pop them in the toaster until heated through. To reheat frozen waffles, either allow them to thaw in the fridge overnight and then follow the steps above. You can also pop them in the toaster, but it will take twice as long when frozen!

My sourdough starter isn’t very active. Will this recipe still work?

Yes! This recipe works wonderfully with active starter or discard. The baking soda provides additional leavening, so even a sluggish starter will create beautiful waffles.

two sourdough waffles with butter on white plates with forks next to stick of butter and waffles on cooling rack

Expert Tips

Freezer Friendly:This recipe is really easy to scale up if you’d like to make a larger batch of waffles. They freeze very well and heat in a toaster nicely.
Texture Adjusting:Feel free to adjust the flour or milk as needed to get a smoother batter; your starter or discard will influence the initial texture.
Test Your Waffle Iron Temperature.:Most waffle irons have an indicator light, but the surefire way to tell is when the steam stops escaping from the sides of your waffle iron. This typically takes 3-5 minutes, depending on your specific appliance.
Wire Rack Secret: Never stack warm waffles – they’ll lose their crispness! Instead, place them in a single layer on a wire cooling rack while you finish cooking the batch.
Don’t overmix the batter.Stir just until the flour and baking soda (or baking powder if substituting) are incorporated. A few lumps are fine and will result in more tender waffles.

Storage and Reheating Tips

Room Temperature

Fresh waffles stay crispy for 1-2 hours on a wire rack. Don’t cover or stack them if you want to maintain texture.

Refrigerator

Store cooled waffles in the fridge in an airtight container or in a ziplock bag with parchment paper between layers for up to 4 days. Reheat in a toaster oven or toaster for best results.

Freezer

Leftover sourdough waffles freeze exceptionally well for up to 3 months. Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze individually, then transfer to a freezer bag. Reheat directly from frozen in a toaster or toaster oven until crispy and warmed through.

Make-Ahead

Prepare the batter the night before and refrigerate. Let it come to room temperature before cooking, or mix dry and wet ingredients separately and combine in the morning.