Sourdough Discard Apple Muffins or Bread Loaf Recipe

Looking for an incredibly easy sourdough discard recipe that makes either delicious sourdough applesauce muffins or an applesauce bread loaf? Or maybe both? This sourdough discard apple muffins or bread loaf recipe is the perfect way to use up extra sourdough discard and homemade apple sauce.

We can a massive amount of applesauce each year, from the sweet apples our trees produce. One of the apple trees on our property is actually a tree that my husband had planted as a small boy, how cool is that. 

Check out how I make our homemade applesauce and the step by step guide for canning it here!

If preferred, active sourdough starter can be used in place of the discard in this sourdough apple muffin recipe. Also, if regular sized muffins is preferred over the mini muffins and bread loaf, see the note on the recipe card regarding baking time. Regardless, the end result is a delightful treat with the sweetness of applesauce and cinnamon, and a little tang of sourdough. 

Why Sourdough?

Sourdough seems to be growing in popularity, mainly due to the nutritional benefits. Using basic ingredients, sourdough makes one of the healthiest breads. Sourdough bread has a lower glycemic index than whole wheat bread or white bread, and the baked goods typically contain less gluten than regular yeast breads. Sourdough is a fermented bread. Fermented bread is great for an anti-inflammatory diet, can improve gut health, and contains higher levels of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Sourdough starter discard recipes typically take no more time or effort than other similar recipes (recipes that do not contain the sourdough discard ingredient).

Maintaining a Sourdough Starter

I had dabbled in the world of sourdough over the years, but never fully jumped in until a client of mine had gifted me a sourdough starter. It is easiest to get started with sourdough by using an already established starter, however, it is possible to create a starter from scratch as well.

A sourdough starter takes a little bit of maintenance - feeding and discarding daily. Typically, it is a 1:1:1 ratio of an established starter, all purpose flour (unbleached) and distilled water. The consistency should be that of pancake batter, so sometimes less water is appropriate. 

For a sourdough beginner, I highly recommend starting with sourdough discard recipes, such as this one. Baking with leftover sourdough discard is a great way to keep any of the extra sourdough starter from going to waste. In my opinion, the sourdough starter discard recipes are much easier to follow than recipes calling for active starter.  

Recipes calling for active sourdough starter typically require multiple steps to ensure sufficient rising and proofing, which complicates the process and can be overwhelming for a beginner. Most discard recipes, on the other hand, do not. Also, to utilize active starter you have to catch the starter when it is in fact active. This can be intimidating to someone new to sourdough or in the beginning, so getting the hang of daily feeding and utilizing the discard in recipes can be a great place to get started. 

For more detailed info on maintaining a sourdough starter, check out this very detailed post here written by Farmhouse on Boone.

Another delicious recipe, perfect for beginners, is my sourdough discard pumpkin muffin recipe — check it out here! 

Equipment for Baking

• Large Mixing Bowl
• Medium-sized Bowl
• Stand Mixer or Mixing Spoon
• Mini Muffin Tin 
• 9in x 5in Bread Pan
• Mini Muffin Cups
• Measuring Cup
• Measuring Spoon

Ingredients for Discard Muffins/ Bread

• 1 ½ cups unsweetened applesauce 
• 1 cup sourdough discard (or active starter)
• ¾ cup honey (or 1 ½ cups white sugar)
• 3 cups unbleached all purpose flour
• ½ cup melted butter (or olive oil or coconut oil)
• 2 large eggs
• 1 ½ tablespoons vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 tablespoons cinnamon

Instructions Sourdough Discard Apple Muffins or Bread Loaf Recipe

First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Then, in a large bowl, mix the wet ingredients (applesauce, sourdough discard, honey, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla. 

Next, in a medium-sized bowl, combine the dry ingredients (flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda, cinnamon). 

Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix well. The easiest way is using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, but a regular spatula works too. 

Line a mini muffin tin with muffin liners, cupcake liners, paper liners, or spray with nonstick spray. 

Using a small cookie scoop, add the muffin batter to the mini muffin tin. 

Prep the loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray and add the remaining sourdough apple cinnamon muffins mixture to the loaf pan. 

Place the muffin tin and the loaf pan into the oven. The minin muffins will bake for 15 minutes and the bread will bake for 45 minutes. 

Check to see if the muffins and the bread are done by inserting a toothpick into the center of a muffin or loaf, it should be clean when removed. If not, then bake for a little longer. 

Allow the muffins to cool for 15 minutes before enjoying with a little butter. 

Note: we can some homemade applesauce with cinnamon already mixed in. If that is the case, do not add the additional cinnamon. In addition, I like to leave some canned applesauce a bit chunkier for baking. 

Note: for regular sized muffins, bake for 20 minutes and complete the toothpick test. 

Storing Apple Cinnamon Sourdough Muffins

The best way to store the muffins is in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator. Eat within 5 days of baking or freeze for later.  

Sourdough Discard Apple Muffins or Bread Loaf Recipe

Porchontheprairie

A super easy sourdough discard recipe! The perfect way to use up sourdough discard and applesauce. A tasty sweet treat with a little bit of tang, make this recipe into a bread loaf and mini muffins! (See notes for regular muffins baking time.)

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Course Breakfast, Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American

Equipment

• Large Mixing Bowl
• Medium-sized Bowl
• Stand Mixer or Mixing Spoon
• Mini Muffin Tin
• 9in x 5in Bread Pan
• Mini Muffin Cups
• Measuring Cup
• Measuring Spoon

Ingredients

  

• 1 ½ cups unsweetened applesauce
• 1 cup sourdough discard or active starter
• ¾ cup honey or 1 ½ cups white sugar
• 3 cups unbleached all purpose flour
• ½ cup melted butter or olive oil or coconut oil
• 2 large eggs
• 1 ½ tablespoons vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 tablespoons cinnamon

Instructions

 

• First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Then, in a large bowl, mix the wet ingredients (applesauce, sourdough discard, honey, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla.
• Next, in a medium-sized bowl, combine the dry ingredients (flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda, cinnamon).
• Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix well. The easiest way is using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment.
• Line a mini muffin tin with muffin liners, cupcake liners, paper liners, or spray with nonstick spray.
• Using a small cookie scoop, add the muffin batter to the mini muffin tin.
• Prep the loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray and add the remaining sourdough apple cinnamon muffins mixture to the loaf pan.
• Place the muffin tin and the loaf pan into the oven. The minin muffins will bake for 15 minutes and the bread will bake for 45 minutes.
• Check to see if the muffins and the bread are done by inserting a toothpick into the center of a muffin or loaf, it should be clean when removed. If not, then bake for a little longer.
• Allow the muffins to cool for 15 minutes before enjoying with a little butter.

Notes

Note: we can some homemade applesauce with cinnamon already mixed in. If that is the case, do not add the additional cinnamon. In addition, I like to leave some canned applesauce a bit chunkier for baking.

For regular sized muffins, bake for 20 minutes and complete the toothpick test.

Keyword Sourdough Discard Apple Muffins or Bread Loaf Recipe

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Additional Apple Recipes

​For delicious sourdough discard apple pie cinnamon rolls, check out this delectable recipe here! To learn to make and water bath can my homemade apple pie filling (without pectin) checkout the easy step-by-step recipe here.

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