These sourdough discard scones have a rich and buttery crumb, a crisp exterior, notes of molasses from brown sugar, and a bit of tanginess from sourdough discard. They have a light and flaky texture, and are loaded with gooey chocolate chips. These delicious sourdough scones can be prepped the night before, and enjoyed for breakfast, brunch, or afternoon tea.
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I love making sourdough discard recipes, like focaccia, cornbread, and naan. Not only is it a great way to use your sourdough starter discard, but it provides complex flavor and a biscuit-like tender crumb to baked goods.
Tender on the inside with rich bites of chocolate chips, and a golden brown and crisp exterior, serve your homemade scones for breakfast or afternoon tea, and put some in the freezer for later.
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⭐️ Why These Sourdough Scones are the Best
- Light and flaky scones with a rich and buttery element. They fall somewhere between a cookie and cake with a crisp exterior.
- Brown sugar adds deep molasses notes, sourdough discard provides slight tanginess, and chocolate chips add rich chocolate flavor.
- Easy sourdough scone recipe that uses simple ingredients and is freezer-friendly.
- Make ahead instructions provided so you can bake later
- Versatile scone recipe that can be made a variety of ways
- Excellent way to use your sourdough starter discard, which helps to tenderize the scones.
☕️ Sourdough Discard Scones
Using sourdough discard (i.e. the excess sourdough starter that you remove before each feeding) in scones provides acidity and acts a lot like buttermilk, which tenderizes the dough and adds a tangy flavor.
Because it's not active starter, you still need a leavener, like yeast, baking soda, or baking powder.
Sourdough starter is full of wild yeast and lactic acid bacteria. In addition, it's high in fiber, a good source of protein, can aid digestion, and can help with blood sugar management. Read more about the health benefits of sourdough!
🍫 Ingredient Notes
- Whole wheat flour - Adds a subtle nutty flavor and added nutrition
- Light brown sugar - Provides warm molasses flavor
- Baking powder - Acts as the leavener in this recipe (because we're not using active sourdough starter, we still need to use leavener to help our scones rise).
- Unsalted butter - Gives our scones a flaky texture and using unsalted butter helps us control the amount of salt used.
- Semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips - Use your favorite brand of chocolate chips
- Sourdough starter discard - Adds a tangy and more nuanced flavor, and makes tender scones
- Heavy cream - Makes our scones much more tender; use milk or half & half in place of heavy cream
- Coarse or granulated sugar - Adds a sweet finishing crunch
📝 Variations & Substitutions
- Dairy-free sourdough scones: Substitute dairy-free butter and cream or milk.
- Spice: Add a pinch of ground cinnamon or cardamom for warm spice.
- Nuts: Add ½ cup of chopped walnuts, hazelnuts, or almonds for some crunch.
- Make gluten-free: Substitute total flour amount (2 cups) for all-purpose gluten-free flour. I don't recommend using almond flour or coconut flour, as they contain added moisture and will throw off the texture of the scones.
- Dried fruit: Add ½ cup of raisins, figs, apricots, or dates for added sweetness and a chewy bite.
- Savory scones: Leave out brown sugar and vanilla extract, and add your favorite savory flavoring, like ½ cup of shredded cheese, 2 tablespoons of diced jalapeño, and/or 1 teaspoon of dried thyme.
🔪 How to Make Sourdough Discard Scones
In a medium bowl, whisk the all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, brown sugar, salt, and baking powder together. Cube the cold butter or use a box grater to grate the butter into the bowl.
Use a fork or pastry cutter to squish the butter pieces into flour mixture until pea-sized crumbs are formed. Add chocolate chips and stir.
In a separate bowl, whisk the sourdough starter, egg, vanilla extract, and 2 tablespoons of heavy cream until well combined and smooth. Pour into the flour mixture and use a fork or wooden spoon to gently mix together (the dough will be crumbly).
Place a piece of parchment on the counter and lightly dust with flour. Turn the dough out onto the parchment-lined counter and use your hands to bring it together, pressing and shaping into an 8" disc.
Use a sharp knife or bench scraper to cut the dough into 8 wedges. Arrange the wedges on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spaced out evenly. Place baking sheet in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to chill dough.
When ready to bake, preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Brush the tops of scones with heavy cream and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the scones are golden brown. Transfer scones to a cooling rack.
🍴 Storage Instructions
Place scones in an airtight container and store at room temperature for up to 4 days.
How to freeze: After completely cooled, wrap individual scones in foil, place in a freezer-safe container, and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. To thaw, place in the refrigerator overnight.
👩🏼🍳 Expert Tips
- Make ahead: Assemble scones the night before and store (covered) in the fridge to bake the next morning.
- Freeze unbaked scones: Place scone wedges on parchment-lined baking sheet and place in freezer for 30 minutes. Transfer frozen wedges to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Bake the scones directly from freezer but add 2-3 minutes to baking time.
- Roll out your dough on parchment paper. This prevents your dough from sticking to the counter and also makes for easy clean up.
- Use cold butter. This helps to create that lovely flaky texture in your scones.
- Don't overwork the dough. Mix it just enough to bring it together (it will still look a bit shaggy). If your dough is overworked, your scones will be tough instead of tender.
- How to serve scones: Pair with vegetarian quiche or asparagus frittata for a festive brunch.
💬 Frequently Asked Questions
Using sourdough discard in baking provides acidity and acts a lot like buttermilk, which tenderizes the dough and adds a tangy flavor.
You can add sourdough discard to so many baking recipes that already contain a leavening agent, including cornbread, naan, focaccia, and whole wheat bread.
Although it takes a very long time for sourdough discard to spoil, in general, if you see signs of mold on the surface of your discard, you should throw it away. You can prevent your sourdough discard from spoiling by storing it in the refrigerator, feeding it once a week, and stirring the separated water - also known as "hooch" - back into the discard.
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Sourdough Discard Scones Recipe
Equipment
- 1 large baking sheet
- 1 sharp knife or bench scraper
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup whole wheat flour
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 Tablespoon baking powder
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, chilled or frozen
- 1 cup semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips
- ½ cup sourdough starter discard
- 1 egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 4 Tablespoons heavy cream, divided
- 2 Tablespoons coarse or granulated sugar
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk the all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, brown sugar, salt, and baking powder together.
- Cube the cold butter or use a box grater to grate the butter into the bowl. Use a fork or pastry cutter to squish the butter pieces into flour mixture until pea-sized crumbs are formed. Add chocolate chips and stir.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the sourdough starter, egg, vanilla extract, and 2 tablespoons of heavy cream until well combined and smooth. Pour into the flour mixture and use a fork or wooden spoon to gently mix together (the dough will be crumbly).
- Place a piece of parchment on the counter and lightly dust with flour. Turn the dough out onto the parchment-lined counter and use your hands to bring it together, pressing and shaping into an 8" disc.
- Use a sharp knife or bench scraper to cut the dough into 8 wedges. Arrange the wedges on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spaced out evenly. Place baking sheet in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to chill dough.
- When ready to bake, preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Brush the tops of scones with heavy cream and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the scones are golden brown. Transfer scones to a cooling rack.
Notes
- Storage: Place scones in an airtight container and store at room temperature for up to 4 days.
- Make ahead: Assemble scones the night before and store (covered) in the fridge to bake the next morning.
- Roll out your dough on parchment paper. This prevents your dough from sticking to the counter and also makes for easy clean up.
- Use cold butter. This helps to create that lovely flaky texture in your scones.
- Don't overwork the dough. Mix it just enough to bring it together (it will still look a bit shaggy). If your dough is overworked, your scones will be tough instead of tender.
Jerry says
I love the added tanginess the discard gave my scones!! I added a handful more of chocolate chips and my family devoured them. I will be making them again!
MaryAnne says
You can never add too many chocolate chips, Jerry! So happy you liked them! 😊