Sourdough Brownies

Sourdough brownies are chocolatey and fudgy, with a signature sourdough kick. Whip them up in an afternoon or long ferment them overnight!

Every day I receive countless messages about sourdough. From making and caring for starters, to more recipes for using up the abundance of starter from all that feeding and discarding.

I take that back – there is no discarding in our house. We will always find a way to use our starter (like these discard recipes). I’m not the type to waste perfectly good food. 

On a recent podcast episode, we go into this a little more as we discuss how to be a naturally frugal person.

One frugal tip is not to waste food, but also make simple dishes. So, instead of throwing away your starter, use it to make crepes, pizza crust, flat bread, and so much more (find more ideas here).

While these sourdough dishes may be simple, they are really good. 

There is nothing like a fudgy sourdough brownie. And topped with some homemade ice cream…seriously delicious. 

We’re talking high up on the list with cookies or cake. It’s a tough call.

Why you will love this recipe:

Delicious: Classic sweet and fudgy brownies with the slight tang from sourdough. There is really no beating the flavor.

Healthier: It can also be made with whole grain flour. Long ferment it to help break down the phytic acid, reduce the gluten content, and make the nutrients more bioavailable. If you want to use unrefined sugar, swap out the sugar for coconut sugar.

Fudgy: As every good brownie should be… they are incredibly fudgy on the inside with that classic crackle top.

Tips

• My sourdough starter is at 100% hydration, meaning I feed it with equal parts flour and water. 
• Make sure your eggs are room temperature. If you forgot to take your eggs out of the fridge ahead of time, you can bring them up to room temperature by placing them in a bowl of hot water for 5-10 minutes.
• Allow the brownies to cool totally before cutting. Once they are completely cooled, the flavor will have developed, and the brownies will hold together.
• Long ferment the dough overnight to add more delicious tang from the fermentation of the grains.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.

Sourdough Brownies Ingredients:

Butter – Unsalted. You want to be able to control the amount of salt in the recipe.

Semi-sweet chocolate chips – This gives it a nice balance without making the brownies too sweet.

Vanilla – Store-bought or homemade.

Flour – Whole grain, spelt, or all-purpose will work

Sugar – Could also substitute with coconut sugar if desired.

Cocoa powder

Salt

Eggs

Sourdough discard – This is sourdough starter that hasn’t been fed. You could also use active starter, but it won’t have as much of that sourdough tang.

Tools you may need:

9×13 Baking dish

Bowls of various sizes.

Measuring cups and spoons

Saucepan

Silicone spatula

How To Make Sourdough Brownies

Preheat the oven to 350 and prepare a 9×9 pan by lining with parchment paper.

In a medium saucepan over low/medium heat, melt butter.

Take off heat and add chocolate chips and vanilla.

Stir until all melted together.

In a medium or large bowl, combine flour, sugar, cocoa powder, and salt. Stir to combine.

Pour chocolate butter mixture into the dry ingredients.

Add in eggs and sourdough discard.

Stir well until there are no clumps.

Pour into prepared pan.

Bake 40 minutes in prepared 9 X9 pan or until a toothpick comes out clean and the middle is set.

Allow to cool completely before slicing and serving. This will help it set up and also develop the flavors.

Storage:

Store in an air-tight container for up to two or three days. You can also store them in the refrigerator for three to five days, or freeze for up to three months.

FAQ

Can you make these sourdough brownies long fermented?

Yes. Combine the flour, sourdough starter, sugar, and half a cup of melted butter the night before. Cover and leave overnight up to 24 hours. The next day, add the rest of the ingredients.

What can I do with a lot of sourdough starter?

There are so many recipes you can make with sourdough starter or discard. Brownies, crepes, dutch baby pancakes, waffles, the easiest pizza crust ever, sourdough crackers, and more. You can find those recipes here.

How do I make my brownies more fudgy?

Fudgy brownies have more fat in them than flour, while cake like brownies have more flour than fat.

Can I freeze fresh baked brownies?

It is best to wait until they have completely cooled before freezing. Wrap in plastic wrap or foil and then place in a freezer safe zip-lock bag and try to remove as much as as possible. This can be done as a slab or cut into pieces. Freeze up to 3 months.

To thaw, simply place the brownies on a plate and place them at room temperature until thawed.

How do you make a sourdough starter?

You can find the directions and all the tips and tricks to make your own sourdough starter here.

Find More Delicious Sourdough Dessert Recipes:

• Sourdough Cream Cheese Cobbler
• Banana Bread
• Chocolate Zucchini Muffins
• Sourdough Chocolate Rolls
• Blueberry Cobbler

If you try this recipe and love it, I would love if you could come back and give it 5 stars! 

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