Coffee Cake Sourdough Discard Donuts Recipe: Elevate Your Morning!

Ever found yourself staring at that jar of sourdough discard, wondering what to do with it? Don’t toss it out! Transform it into something spectacular—Coffee Cake Sourdough Discard Donuts. These beauties combine the warm, spiced goodness of coffee cake with the fluffy decadence of a donut. Plus, they’re baked, not fried, so you can indulge without guilt (well, almost). Let’s dive into this sweet adventure!

Why You’ll Love These Donuts

• Waste-free baking – No more guilt about tossing your sourdough discard!
• Perfect with coffee – The crumbly topping and light glaze pair beautifully with a fresh cup of joe.
• Baked, not fried – A slightly healthier take on traditional donuts.
• Packed with warm spices – Cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and more make each bite heavenly.

Equipment

• Donut pan – Essential for shaping the donuts.
• Mixing bowls – Needed for wet, dry, and topping mixtures.
• Whisk & spatula – Helps incorporate ingredients smoothly.
• Piping bag – Makes filling the donut pan easier.
• Cooling rack – Ensures proper air circulation after baking.

What You Will need ?

For the Donuts:

• 🥐 86g salted butter (melted)
  Substitutes: Unsalted butter + pinch of salt, coconut oil for dairy-free
• 🧅 170g light brown sugar
  Substitutes: Dark brown sugar for richer flavor, coconut sugar for a refined sugar alternative
• 🧅 113g sourdough discard
  Substitutes: Equal amount of yogurt or buttermilk if you don’t have discard
• 🍳 1 large egg
  Substitutes: Flax egg (1 tbsp flaxseed meal + 3 tbsp water) for vegan option
• 🥛 57g plain Greek yogurt
  Substitutes: Sour cream, regular yogurt, or dairy-free yogurt
• 🥛 56g milk
  Substitutes: Any dairy-free milk such as almond or oat
• 🌾 255g all-purpose flour
  Substitutes: Whole wheat flour for more fiber, gluten-free flour blend for a GF option
• ☕ 2 tsp baking powder
  Substitutes: 1 tsp baking soda + 1 tsp vinegar for similar rise
• 🍂 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  Substitutes: Pumpkin spice mix or nutmeg for variety
• 🧂 ½ tsp fine sea salt
  Substitutes: Kosher salt or Himalayan pink salt
• 🍂 ½ tsp ground ginger
  Substitutes: Freshly grated ginger or extra cinnamon
• 🍂 ½ tsp ground allspice
  Substitutes: Nutmeg or additional cloves
• 🍂 ¼ tsp ground cardamom
  Substitutes: More cinnamon or nutmeg
• 🍂 ¼ tsp ground cloves
  Substitutes: Extra allspice or nutmeg
• 🌶️ ¼ tsp black pepper
  Use for: Enhances warmth of spices, but can be omitted

For the Topping:

• 🥐 85g salted butter (melted)
  Substitutes: Unsalted butter + pinch of salt, coconut oil
• 🌾 95g all-purpose flour
  Substitutes: Whole wheat flour or almond flour for texture
• 🍬 57g cane sugar
  Substitutes: Coconut sugar or granulated sugar
• 🧅 57g light brown sugar
  Substitutes: Dark brown sugar for deeper caramel notes
• 🍂 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  Substitutes: Pumpkin spice mix or nutmeg

For the Glaze:

• 🍚 142g powdered sugar (sifted)
  Substitutes: Blend granulated sugar into fine powder or use a sugar-free alternative
• 🥛 28g milk
  Substitutes: Any non-dairy milk like almond, oat, or soy.

Step-By-Step Directions

1️⃣ Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a donut pan generously with butter or non-stick spray. Tip: Proper greasing prevents sticking and ensures smooth donut removal.

2️⃣ Mix wet ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together melted butter, brown sugar, sourdough discard, egg, yogurt, and milk until smooth and well combined. Tip: Ensure all ingredients are at room temperature for a uniform mixture.

3️⃣ Mix dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, ginger, allspice, cardamom, cloves, and black pepper. Tip: Sifting the dry ingredients together helps prevent clumping.

4️⃣ Combine: Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, stirring until just combined. Don’t overmix! Overmixing can make the donuts dense instead of fluffy.

5️⃣ Fill the pan: Spoon or pipe the batter into the donut pan, filling each cavity about ¾ full. Tip: Using a piping bag or a ziplock bag with the tip cut off makes filling easier and neater.

6️⃣ Prepare the topping: In another bowl, mix together the topping ingredients until crumbly. Sprinkle generously over each donut. Tip: Press lightly so the topping sticks while baking.

7️⃣ Bake: Place in the oven and bake for 12-15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Tip: Don’t overbake, as this can dry out the donuts. They should be slightly golden and springy to the touch.

8️⃣ Cool: Let the donuts cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Tip: If they stick, gently run a butter knife around the edges to loosen them.

9️⃣ Make the glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar and milk until smooth and pourable. Adjust thickness by adding more sugar or milk. Tip: A drizzle consistency works best for light coverage.

🔟 Glaze the donuts: Once fully cooled, drizzle the glaze over the donuts using a spoon or piping bag. Tip: Let the glaze set for a few minutes before serving to avoid mess.

1️⃣1️⃣ Enjoy! These are best eaten fresh but can be stored for later. Pair with coffee or tea for the ultimate treat! ☕🍩

Pro Tips for Success

• Use room temperature ingredients – Helps everything mix together smoothly.
• Don’t overmix – Overworking the batter can make the donuts dense.
• Piping works best – A ziplock bag with the tip cut off makes filling the donut pan a breeze.
• Let them cool – The glaze sticks better to cooled donuts.

How to Store & Reheating

• Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
• Refrigerate for up to a week for longer freshness.
• Freeze by placing in a sealed bag for up to 3 months.
• Reheat in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or in the oven at 300°F for 5 minutes to restore freshness.

How to Serve and What to Serve With?

• Serve warm with a fresh cup of coffee or tea.
• Pair with vanilla ice cream for an indulgent dessert.
• Drizzle extra glaze or add a sprinkle of powdered sugar for a sweeter touch.
• Great for brunch alongside fruit, yogurt, or eggs for balance.

FAQs

Print

There you have it—the most delicious way to use up that leftover sourdough discard! These Coffee Cake Sourdough Discard Donuts bring together the warm, spiced flavors of coffee cake with the soft, comforting texture of a donut. Whether you’re pairing them with a fresh cup of coffee or enjoying them as a midday treat, they’re bound to be a hit.

So, what are you waiting for? Preheat that oven and get baking!