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Crispy homemade sourdough discard crackers piled on a wooden board with cheese, herbs, and sea salt

Sourdough Discard Crackers

The crispiest, most addictive homemade sourdough discard crackers you'll ever make! This easy recipe transforms unfed sourdough starter into golden, crunchy crackers in just 45 minutes. Only 5 simple ingredients, endlessly customizable with seeds, herbs, or cheese — way better than store-bought!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
10 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 60
Course: Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 165

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup sourdough discard 240g, unfed, room temperature
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour 120g, plus more for dusting
  • 1/4 cup olive oil 60ml, extra virgin for best flavor
  • 1 teaspoon salt plus more for topping
  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs or rosemary, thyme, oregano
  • 2 tablespoons sesame seeds optional, for topping
  • 2 tablespoons everything bagel seasoning optional, for topping
  • 2 tablespoons flaky sea salt for topping
  • 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese optional, for cheesy variation
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil for brushing on top before baking

Equipment

  • 1 Large mixing bowl For combining ingredients
  • 1 Rolling Pin Or wine bottle in a pinch!
  • 2 Large Baking Sheets For batch baking
  • 1 Parchment Paper Roll Essential for thin rolling
  • 1 Pizza Cutter or Sharp Knife For cutting clean lines
  • 1 Fork For docking the crackers
  • 1 Pastry brush For brushing oil on top

Method
 

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the sourdough discard, all-purpose flour, olive oil, salt, and dried herbs. Mix with a wooden spoon or your hands until a shaggy dough forms. If too sticky, add 1 tablespoon flour at a time. If too dry, add a teaspoon of water until smooth.
  3. Let the dough rest at room temperature for 10-15 minutes. This relaxes the gluten and makes rolling much easier — your crackers will turn out crispier!
  4. Divide the dough in half. Place one piece between two sheets of parchment paper (or on a lightly floured surface) and roll out as thin as possible — aim for about 1/8 inch (3mm) thick or less. The thinner you roll, the crispier the crackers!
  5. Use a pizza cutter, sharp knife, or fluted pastry wheel to cut the dough into 1-inch squares, rectangles, or triangles. No need to separate them — they'll snap apart easily after baking.
  6. Brush the surface lightly with olive oil (or water), then sprinkle generously with flaky sea salt and your favorite toppings: sesame seeds, everything bagel seasoning, grated parmesan, herbs, or spices.
  7. Use a fork to gently dock (poke holes in) each cracker. This prevents puffing and creates that classic flat cracker look.
  8. Transfer the parchment to a baking sheet and bake for 18-25 minutes, until the crackers are deeply golden brown and crispy. Watch carefully toward the end — crackers go from perfect to burnt in 60 seconds!
  9. Let the crackers cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes. They'll crisp up even more as they cool. Once cool, snap them apart along the cut lines.
  10. While the first batch cools, roll out and bake the second half of the dough using the same method.
  11. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. Pile them high on a cheese board, pair with dips, or enjoy by the handful!

Notes

• Roll THIN: The #1 secret to crispy crackers is rolling the dough paper-thin (1/8 inch or less). Thick crackers stay chewy, not crunchy.
• Older Discard = More Flavor: Use 3-7 day old discard for the deepest sourdough tang. Fresh discard works too — just expect a milder taste.
• Don't Skip Docking: Poking holes with a fork prevents the crackers from puffing up like mini pita breads. Always dock!
• Bake Until DEEP Golden: Pale crackers = chewy crackers. Bake until deep golden brown for maximum crunch.
• Storage: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. NEVER refrigerate — moisture will make them soft!
• Re-Crisping: If crackers lose their crunch, pop them in a 300°F oven for 5-7 minutes to bring them back to life.
• Make Ahead: Prepare the dough up to 2 days ahead and refrigerate tightly wrapped. Let sit at room temp 20-30 minutes before rolling.
• Freezer Friendly: Freeze baked crackers in a sealed bag for up to 3 months. Re-crisp in the oven before serving.
• Gluten-Free Option: Substitute with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. Use a gluten-free sourdough starter for fully GF crackers.
• Flavor Variations: Try cheesy parmesan, everything bagel, rosemary garlic, ranch, multigrain, cinnamon sugar, chocolate sea salt, or nutty seed combinations!
• Pasta Machine Hack: For perfectly thin, even crackers, run the dough through a pasta machine on the second-thinnest setting!
• Active Starter Option: You can use active fed sourdough starter instead of discard. The flavor will be milder but still delicious.