My Top 5 Sourdough Cookie Recipes by Make It Dough (2024)

FAQs

Are sourdough cookies better for you than regular cookies? ›

While sourdough cookies pack a healthier punch than regular cookies, I wouldn't really call them “healthy.” They still contain sugar, flour, and fat (butter, oil, etc.), so the key is to eat them in moderation.

If you have too much starter compared to the additional flour and water you're adding, your hungry starter consumes all the nutrients and then it's not as bubbly.

You can upgrade your cookie dough by adding spices to it, said Tracy Wilk, lead chef at the Institute of Culinary Education. This can lead to a warm, spicy cookie. To do so, combine ground cinnamon, ginger, and sugar, and then roll your balls of cookie dough in the mix before baking.

Cookie Dough

All you have to do is make the dough according to the directions here (either long fermented or quick version). Then, you'll shape your cookies into balls and put them on a baking sheet with parchment paper. Flash freeze the balls of dough for a couple of hours or until frozen completely.

Many store-bought doughs are considered unhealthy because they're generally higher in calories, fat (saturated and sometimes trans fat), sodium, added sugar, and preservatives to make them more shelf-stable. When you make your own cookie recipe, it's much easier to control the ingredients that go inside.

People with diabetes can eat sourdough bread or any other bread that fits into their dietary plan. That said, because sourdough bread has a lower glycemic index than other bread varieties, it can be a particularly good choice if you're watching your blood sugar levels.

Overmixing your batter can lead to runny cookies.

I mixed the batter more than I should have both during the creaming stage of the recipe and after adding the flour. As a result, the cookies came out light and airy, and I was able to taste the butter more prominently in this batch than in others.

Ideally, you can proof sourdough in the fridge for up to 36 hours, or even longer if your dough will tolerate it. You don't want to have the gluten structure break down or for the dough to use up all of its energy before it hits the oven. This will result in poor oven spring.

Maintaining A Sourdough Starter:

Like anything living, it requires food and water. The location you keep your starter in will determine how you maintain it. Leaving it out on the counter, it will need to be fed equal parts water and flour every 12-24 hours.

Can I use active sourdough instead of discard? ›

Absolutely you can! Active starter can be used in the same way as sourdough discard in sweet or savory baking. You can add active sourdough starter to any recipe you would add discard to following the same calculation.

Sourdough bread is also an excellent source of antioxidants. Studies have shown that antioxidants like the peptides found in sourdough can lower the risk for certain types of cancer, signs of aging, or chronic diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.

As one of the healthiest breads, sourdough is well-liked due to its nutritional benefits. The natural yeast in the sourdough starter breaks down a substance naturally found in wheat that can block our bodies from absorbing its nutrients.

Sourdough discard recipes not only reduce waste but also offer health benefits, making them a wonderful addition to a balanced diet. The fermentation process of the sourdough starter increases the availability of certain nutrients and can help improve digestion.