If you’ve ever kept a sourdough starter alive, you know one thing for sure: You end up with a LOT of discard. And while I love baking from scratch, there are only so many loaves of bread a person can realistically make in a week.

So instead of tossing perfectly good starter, I started experimenting with easy ways to use it up — and these sourdough discard pancakes have become one of my go-to recipes. They’re simple, slightly sweet (thanks to one unexpected ingredient), and perfect for making ahead and freezing. Which means future you gets homemade pancakes… without the effort.

The Secret Ingredient That Makes These Pancakes Better

Most sourdough pancake recipes use regular milk. But one day, I had an open can of coconut milk in the fridge that needed to be used… so I swapped it in.

And honestly? I haven’t gone back.

It gives the pancakes a light, natural sweetness without making them taste like coconut. Just slightly richer, softer, and more flavorful. It’s one of those accidental upgrades that actually makes life easier — which is very on brand for the scrunchy life.

👉 I usually keep shelf-stable coconut milk like this in my pantry.

Sourdough Discard Pancake Recipe

This recipe is simple, flexible and perfect for using up a good amount of discard at once.

Ingredients

1 cup flour
1 cup coconut milk
1 cup sourdough discard
1 egg
2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp baking powder
Pinch of salt

Instructions

In a mixing bowl, combine sourdough discard, coconut milk, and egg
In another bowl, add sugar, baking soda, baking powder, flour and salt
Mix wet and dry ingredients until just combined (don’t overmix)
Heat a pan or griddle over medium heat
Pour batter into pan and cook until bubbles form
Flip and cook until golden

👉 I like using a non-toxic nonstick skillet for easy flipping.

My Freezer Hack (This Is the Best Part)

This is where this recipe really becomes a staple in my kitchen. Instead of making pancakes every morning, I:

✔ Make a full batch

✔ Let them cool completely

✔ Store them in the freezer

Then when I want pancakes, I just pop them in the toaster…Just like an Eggo waffle, but homemade.

👉 I store mine in freezer-safe bags.

Why I Love This Recipe

This recipe checks all the boxes for real-life cooking:

Uses up a lot of sourdough discard (no waste)
Takes simple ingredients
Doesn’t require planning ahead
Freezer-friendly
Kid-friendly and busy-morning approved

And most importantly — it actually fits into a normal schedule.

Scrunchy But Real Life Note

Do I make homemade pancakes every morning? Absolutely not.

But having a stash of these in the freezer makes it way easier to choose homemade over convenience food — at least some of the time.

And that’s really the goal here. Not perfection… just making small things easier.

Tips for Best Results

Don’t overmix your batter (this keeps pancakes fluffy)
Cook on medium heat to avoid burning
Let pancakes cool fully before freezing
Separate layers with parchment paper if stacking

👉 These reusable parchment sheets make batching easier.

Want More Sourdough Ideas?

If you’re trying to use up more discard or simplify your routine, you might also love:

Final Thoughts

Sourdough doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming to be worth it. Sometimes it looks like baking bread from scratch. And sometimes it looks like pulling a pancake out of the freezer and tossing it in the toaster. Both count.

That’s the scrunchy life!

The Easiest Sourdough Discard Pancakes (With a Freezer Hack for Busy Mornings)