Sourdough Discard Chocolate Cake

Sourdough Discard Chocolate Cake = A fluffy, perfectly moist chocolate cake made with sourdough starter! And the sourdough discard adds just the tiniest hint of savory to balance out the sweetness of a rich chocolate cake.

You’ll want to save this one! Last minute work pot-luck? Check. Just need a chocolate cake asap? Check. This chocolate cake is seriously good. It’s also very easy, requiring just one bowl and your typical chocolate cake ingredients, like eggs, all-purpose flour, cocoa, etc.

Disclaimer: this post may contain affiliate links, which means if you decide to purchase any of the items linked in this post, I should earn a small commission. This creates no additional cost to you and helps support the work that goes into running The Fig Jar. Thank you! -Becky 

Ingredients

Sourdough discard chocolate cake

• All-purpose flour
• Cocoa powder
• Granulated sugar
• Baking soda
• Baking powder
• Salt
• Vanilla
• Eggs
• Sourdough starter
• Vegetable oil
• Hot coffee or water
• Milk
• Vinegar

This ingredient list might look a little long but it’s all fairly basic items you likely already have on hand. Sourdough starter might be the only one you are lacking, unless of course you already have a starter! If you don’t have one, it’s super easy. All you need is flour, water, a jar and a little time. I explain all about how to make sourdough starter in this post.

Perfect chocolate frosting for chocolate cake

• Butter
• Cocoa powder
• Powdered sugar
• Vanilla
• Salt
• Coffee or milk

How to make sourdough discard chocolate cake

Step 1

In a large mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients: flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar. Use a whisk to combine.

Step 2

Add the wet ingredients next: oil, eggs, vanilla extract, sourdough starter, milk, vinegar and discard. Whisk until fully combined, you can also use an electric mixer. Stir in the hot coffee last.

Step 3

Pour the batter into a prepared baking pan. I used a metal (13 x 9 inch) baking pan. Be aware that using a different pan (like ceramic) may affect the baking time. Bake the cake for 25-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Step 4

Frost that cake! Once it’s cooled of course. Making a decadent chocolate frosting is so easy, I usually don’t even measure, but I realized not everyone feels comfortable with that so measurements are included below.

Making frosting is simple: just beat softened butter with an electric mixer, add powdered sugar and cocoa and beat some more. Then add milk or you can use coffee if you have some left over from making the cake batter. A pinch of salt and splash of vanilla and you’re good to go.

Cake making equipment

• Metal baking tin (affiliate link)
• Electric mixer (affiliate link)
• Mixing bowls (affiliate link)
• Measuring cups (affiliate link)

Tried this sourdough discard chocolate cake recipe?

If you’ve made this recipe, let me know by leaving a comment/rating below, I’d love to hear from you! You can also find me on instagram @thefigjar.

More chocolatey recipes to try

• Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Espresso Sea Salt Frosted Brownies

Sourdough Discard Chocolate Cake

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4 from 2 reviews

Super moist and fluffy chocolate cake with a secret ingredient–sourdough starter!

• Author: Becky Schmieg
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 35 minutes
• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

Sourdough Chocolate Cake

• 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup cocoa powder
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup oil (vegetable oil)
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup sourdough starter discard
• 1 cup milk
• 1 tbsp vinegar
• 1/2 cup hot coffee

Chocolate Frosting

• 1 cup butter (2 sticks at room temperature)
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1 tbsp milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• pinch of salt

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Instructions

Sourdough chocolate cake

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. In a large mixing bowl combine flour, cocoa, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt using a whisk.
   
3. Then add, oil, milk, eggs, vanilla, vinegar, sourdough starter and whisk vigorously until fully combined and no lumps remain (you can also use an electric mixer). Stir in the hot coffee.
4. Pour batter into a greased 13 x 9 inch baking pan, batter will be thin. Bake for 25-35 minutes until a tooth pick inserted in the center comes out clean.
   

Chocolate frosting

1. In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to beat softened butter until creamy.
2. Add cocoa powder, powdered sugar, salt, vanilla and 1 tbsp milk, then beat until fully combined and creamy.
   
3. Allow cake to cool fully before frosting. Use an off-set spatula to spread frosting on to cake. For best results, place all of the frosting on the center of the cake then gently spread outward to all corners.

Notes

Start testing the cake at 25 minutes and check every 5 minutes until its done

If you don’t have coffee or want to make it just for a cake, you can just use hot water

If you don’t want to use regular milk in the batter – I have subbed oat milk with good results!