How to Make Soft Sourdough Discard Rolls – Your Easy Guide

These superb pull-apart sourdough discard rolls are simply to die for. Super soft, fluffy rolls, coupled with the perfect hint of irresistible sweetness to have you coming back for more. And they’re super easy to make!

Table of Contents

• Is Sourdough Bread Sour?
• Making Sourdough Dinner Rolls
• Sourdough Discard Rolls Recipe
• How to Reheat Sourdough Rolls
• Flavorful Additions for Discard Rolls
• Making Adjustments
• Tips for Achieving Perfect Pull Apart Dinner Rolls?
• How to Store Discard Dinner Rolls
• More Sourdough Discard Recipes
• Discard for Dinner Rolls – Really Good!
• FAQs

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Is Sourdough Bread Sour?

If you’ve ever wondered whether sourdough tastes sour, then yes it does provide a slight sour taste. It’s normally considered more tangy than sour.

You can control the sourness of your sourdough bread by adjusting the fermentation time and feeding times of your starter. You can also add a little sugar, to minimize the sour flavor.

Making Sourdough Dinner Rolls

These sourdough discard dinner rolls are super easy to make. When using commercial yeast as well as discard, it will ensure that these are cooked and ready to eat in no time.

The good thing is that your dinner rolls will impart a unique sourdough taste with the inclusion of your sourdough discard. You can also use fed sourdough starter as well.

To achieve the softest, squishiest rolls allow them to become super puffy during the second rise. If you don’t allow the dough balls to rise enough, they’ll be dense when you bake them.

Ingredients

• ½ cup water
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 2 tsp yeast
• 2 eggs
• 3 tbsp butter
• 1 cup sourdough starter
• 4 cups flour

Sourdough Discard Rolls Recipe

• Combine sourdough discard, water, sugar, and yeast into the stand mixer bowl.
• Now add bread flour to this mixture and combine until you have a shaggy dough. Let the bread dough rest for 30 minutes.
• Add salt, and butter into the bowl, and knead the dough for 3 to 6 minutes. Keep the mixture going until you achieve a dough that is silky, soft and slapping the sides of the bowl. If you’re using a stand mixer, you’ll need a dough hook attachment for this step.
• Let the dough rise, use instant yeast as a leavening agent in this recipe instead of sourdough starter/wild yeast. This will ensure that the dough rises quickly in a warm environment.
• Once the dough has doubled, tip it out onto the counter top, and divide the dough into equal pieces. Use kitchen scales to ensure that they’re the same weight.
• Shape each piece of dough into a ball, and place them into a cast iron skillet.
• Let the shaped rolls rise again, at room temperature, so that the rolls are soft and puffy before baking them. Lightly cover them with a plastic wrap or kitchen towel.
• Once the rolls have risen, they’re ready to bake with. Have your oven preheated to 350F for 10 minutes. Spray the tops of your rolls with water and pop them into the oven.
• Bake for 30 minutes, till they’re shiny golden brown.
• Remove them from the oven, use a pastry brush to smother them in melted butter.
• Once the butter has seeped into the rolls, remove the baked rolls from the skillet and allow them to cool on a wire rack.

How to Reheat Sourdough Rolls

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F
• Place the sourdough discard rolls on a baking sheet, and brush them with butter
• Warm them up for 5 to 7 minutes, or wrap them in foil and pop them into the oven

Flavorful Additions for Discard Rolls

While these super soft rolls are incredibly delicious, there are a few additions you can use to make these sourdough rolls even more scrumptious:

• Brush the baked rolls with garlic butter and sprinkle with parsley
• Add some honey and oats to the mix, then top with oats before baking
• Add jalapenos, and grated cheddar
• Add chocolate chips to the dough, and brush with golden syrup once baked
• Brush the tops of the rolls with an egg wash before baking

Making Adjustments

Can I Make this Dinner Roll Recipe Dairy Free?

You can substitute milk for your choice of plant based milk and butter for the same amount of oil. This may alter the flavors, but the rolls will be super soft and as fluffy as the dairy ones.

Can I Make Rolls With Only Sourdough Starter?

If you plan to make this dinner roll recipe using only a sourdough starter then:

• Use an active starter
• The fermentation time will increase

However, if you’re making these dinner rolls with commercial yeast, let the dough rise for 2 hours before placing them into the fridge overnight.

Shape the rolls the next day, and wait till they’re light and puffy to bake. Follow the same temperature and baking time for sourdough discard rolls recipe.

Can I Use Whole Wheat Flour?

You can use whole wheat for these super soft dinner rolls.

Simply substitute 1 cup of all purpose flour for whole wheat flour. Avoid using only wheat flour as the rolls may emerge dense.

Tips for Achieving Perfect Pull Apart Dinner Rolls?

• Do not add hot ingredients to your dough. Your milk should be lukewarm, and the melted butter slightly cooled. If the ingredients are too hot or warm it can kill all yeast before fermentation begins.
• Refrain from placing your dough on to a cool place during fermentation. Especially during the winter, have your bowl of dough placed in a warm spot i.e. beside the stove or heater.

How to Store Discard Dinner Rolls

Once these dinner rolls have cooled, put them into an airtight container, or bread keeper away from sunlight. Make sure they remain covered for about 3 to 4 days, to keep them soft.

Alternatively you can freeze these sourdough discard rolls. Wait till they’ve cooled completely, then place the rolls into a freezer safe bag, squeezing the air out, then seal the bag. Store the dinner rolls for up to 3 months.

To thaw these rolls place them in the refrigerator overnight.

More Sourdough Discard Recipes

For more delicious sourdough discard recipes, take a look at these:

• Sourdough Pancakes
• Egg Breakfast Casserole With Sourdough Bread

Recipe for those two below! Check out these recipes as well:

• Sourdough Pull Apart Bread
• Sourdough Pumpkin Rolls
• Best Sourdough Brioche Buns

Sourdough Pancakes

Sourdough discard provides these pancakes with a delicious fluffy exterior that you’ll defiantly fall in love with. Here’s what you’ll need to bake them:

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup sourdough discard
• 1 cup milk
• 1 egg
• 2 vegetable oil

1. In a large bowl whisk together flour, baking powder and soda, sugar and salt.
2. Add the sourdough starter, milk, egg and oil, then mix until combined
3. Spray a pancake griddle, with some cooking spray or grease well with butter. Heat this to about 350 degrees
4. Pour 1/4 cup pancake batter on the hot griddle, then cook until the pancake starts bubbling on top, then flip the pancake
5. Cook for an additional 1 to 2 minutes or until the pancake is cooked evenly
6. Serve warm with butter and maple syrup

Egg Breakfast Casserole With Sourdough Bread

Sourdough bread and cheddar cheese creates a delicious twist on a traditional egg breakfast, with a slight twang that your taste buds will adore. Here’s what you’ll need for this scrumptious recipe:

• 4 cups white sourdough bread
• 1 pound turkey sausage
• 2 cups fresh shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 12 large eggs
• 2 cups whole milk
• 2 tsp dry mustard
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp ground pepper

1. Spray a baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
2. Place the bread in a prepared dish.
3. Sprinkle the bread with browned sausage.
4. Add a dash of freshly grated cheddar cheese.
5. In a medium size bowl, beat eggs, milk, dry mustard, salt and pepper. Beat this mixture until the egg yolks are well combined.
6. Pour the eggs over the cheese.
7. Cover this with a plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate overnight
8. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
9. Bake, covered with foil for 30 minutes. Cover and bake for a further 15 to 20 minutes, until the middle has puffed up and set.
10. Then cut the squares and serve warm.

Discard for Dinner Rolls – Really Good!

Sourdough discard rolls are a delicious way to use up your active sourdough starter or unfed discard. These make a great snack that you can enjoy on its own, or fill with cream cheese, making them an incredibly tasty treat. You can also eat them on the side of cheesy bacon potato casserole!

If you want something more savory for dinner, you can try my wild garlic sourdough recipe! Looking for a crowd pleaser? How about my sourdough pull apart bread?

FAQs