Cultured Guru Logo
Cultured Guru Logo
  • Start Here
  • RecipesWe love to create delicious recipes with gut health in mind. By using our recipes, you can easily create any dish knowing that it’s good for gut health! Our recipe blog also includes Vegan Recipes, Vegetarian Recipes, Gluten Free Recipes, and Paleo Recipes.
  • About
  • Learn
  • Shop
  • Contact
  • Start Here
  • RecipesWe love to create delicious recipes with gut health in mind. By using our recipes, you can easily create any dish knowing that it’s good for gut health! Our recipe blog also includes Vegan Recipes, Vegetarian Recipes, Gluten Free Recipes, and Paleo Recipes.
  • About
  • Learn
  • Shop
  • Contact
Sourdough Discard

Orange Cardamom Muffins with Sourdough Discard

These sourdough orange cardamom muffins are perfectly sweet and great for an easy breakfast. This recipe also has an option for apple cardamom muffins.

Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Jump to Recipe Rate Recipe

RECIPE INDEX

|

Ferment | Sourdough Discard

Orange Cardamom Muffins with Sourdough Discard

These sourdough orange cardamom muffins are perfectly sweet and great for an easy breakfast. This recipe also has an option for apple cardamom muffins.

Ingredients for Orange Cardamom Muffins

The ingredients for these orange cardamom muffins are pretty basic muffin ingredients. I used orange juice and the orange zest with the wet ingredients. These muffins have a strong, sweet, and refreshing orange flavor. Instead of throwing away your sourdough starter discard, you can use it in a delicious muffin recipe like this. Here’s what you’ll need for the recipe:

Dry Ingredients: 

  • All-purpose flour
  • Organic Sugar (any kind will do, even coconut sugar)
  • Baking soda
  • Salt
  • organic Corn starch
  • Orange zest
  • Cardamom, ground

Wet Ingredients: 

  • grass-fed butter (or vegan butter)
  • organic pastured eggs (or vegan egg replacer equaling two eggs)
  • sourdough starter
  • 1 Ripe banana, mashed
  • Vanilla extract
  • grass-fed whole milk (or any dairy-free milk)
  • Orange juice

Glaze

  • Orange Juice
  • Powdered Sugar

Apple Cardamom Muffins Option

If you aren’t a huge fan of orange, but you like apple, you can change up this recipe a little bit. To make these into apple cardamom muffins, simply sub the orange juice for apple juice!

Using Sourdough Discard to Make Cardamom Muffins

It’s so easy to incorporate sourdough starter into muffin recipes. Simply add the sourdough starter to the wet ingredients and combine! It’s very important to combine all the wet ingredients first and separately combine all the dry ingredients. Then, fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until it’s all just combined. Do not over mix this muffin batter, or the muffins will be too chewy and dense. Usually, it takes me about 7 folds to get everything evenly combined. The muffin batter will be very thick.

Orange Cardamom Muffins and apple cardamom muffins with a powdered sugar glaze on top

Sourdough Starter Discard Orange Cardamom Muffins

Since this is a sourdough starter discard recipe, you may be wondering what kind of sourdough stater I use. I mainly keep a Sprouted Rye Sourdough Starter. We also have an Easy Sourdough Starter Recipe with Sourdough Starter Feeding Instructions you can check out! 

If I need to feed my starter, but I don’t plan on spending the whole day baking a loaf of bread, I like to use the discard in fun recipes like this. Jon and I both love these muffins for a quick grab and go breakfast or for an evening sweet treat.

Other Sourdough Recipes to Try

  • Simple Sourdough Carrot Cake Banana Bread
  • Blueberry Sourdough Bagels
  • How to Bake Sourdough Discard Banana Nut Muffins
Print
Sourdough Discard

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.8 from 4 reviews

Orange Cardamom Muffins with Sourdough Discard

These sourdough orange cardamom muffins are so flavorful, perfectly sweet, and are great for an easy breakfast on the go. This recipe also has an option for apple cardamom muffins.

  • Prep: 15 minutes
  • Cook: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients

Dry Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons orange zest
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons cardamom
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup grass-fed butter
  • 1/2 cup sourdough starter
  • 1 ripe banana, mashed
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup whole milk
  • 2 tablespoons orange juice
  • 2 eggs

Glaze

  • 1 tablespoon orange juice
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350° F.
  2. Line a muffin tin with paper liners, or grease the tin with a bit of oil.
  3. In a medium-large mixing bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients. 
  4. In a separate bowl, mash the ripe banana. Then add in the remaining wet ingredients with the banana. Whisk until just combined. 
  5. Gently fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until everything is just combined. Do not over mix. The batter should be thick. 
  6. Spoon the batter into the muffin tin. 
  7. Bake for 30-35 minutes. 
  8. Allow cooling for about 45 minutes
  9. Mix icing, and drizzle it on top the muffins.

Notes

  • you can evenly substitute the milk, eggs, and butter for vegan alternatives to make these muffins vegan.
  • to make these apple cardamom muffins, sub the orange juice for apple juice.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a 5-star review below if you loved it! Tag @cultured.guru on Instagram

 

Nutrition information is auto-calculated and estimated as close as possible. We are not responsible for any errors. We have tested the recipe for accuracy, but your results may vary.

author avatar
Kaitlynn Fenley Author, Educator, Food Microbiologist
Kaitlynn is a food microbiologist and fermentation expert teaching people how to ferment foods and drinks at home.
See Full Bio
fermentation food microbiology sourdough sauerkraut fermenting at home fermented foods fermented drinks
social network icon social network icon social network icon social network icon

welcome!

hey i’m kaitlynn, i’m a microbiologist and together with my husband jon we are cultured guru.

more about us

let’s connect!

newest recipe

Sourdough Cottage Cheese Banana Bread (High Protein)
Sourdough Discard

Sourdough Cottage Cheese Banana Bread (High Protein)

never miss a thing

learn more about microbes from a microbiologist
Loading

on pinterest

Instant Pot Vegan Chicken Noodle Soup
Sourdough Smores Cookies
High Protein Cottage Cheese Mac and Cheese
Sourdough & Miso Chicolate Chip Cookies
Sourdough Dinner Rolls
Homemade Cottage Cheese

top rated recipes

How to Make Moroccan Preserved Lemons with Sea Salt
Fruits & Roots

How to Make Moroccan Preserved Lemons with Sea Salt

Slow Cooked Pork Roast with Sauerkraut Potatoes and Carrots
Protein

Slow Cooked Pork Roast with Sauerkraut Potatoes and Carrots

Sparkling Golden Beet Kvass Made the Traditional Way
Fizzy Drinks

Sparkling Golden Beet Kvass Made the Traditional Way

learn more

Understand microbes and master fermentation with our online courses!

learn

rate and review
We would love to hear what you think!
Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

  1. Ashley
    10|25|2022

    Would these be okay to long ferment at some point? If so where in the recipe? Thanks 🙂

    Reply
    1. Kaitlynn Fenley
      10|26|2022

      They should be. I don’t usually long ferment muffins, but other bakers have told me they refrigerate theirs after they put all the batter in the muffin tin with good results.

      Reply
      1. Ashley
        10|27|2022

        Interesting, With my very little knowledge of sourdough I had thought it would be better for nutrient absorption to long ferment most doughs/breads etc. What’s your opinion?

        Reply
        1. Kaitlynn Fenley
          10|27|2022

          Yeah, I long ferment all of my sourdough breads… It’s great for digestibility. But discard recipes, like muffins, biscuits or crackers do not have to be long fermented, they can be but it’s not required.

          Reply
          1. Ashley
            10|27|2022

            That’s a great tip Thank you for the quick response 🙂 Looking forward to making these with my girls this afternoon.

      2. Rahmah
        07|14|2024

        I made this today following the baking temperature and timing. but the muffins turn out to be hard on the outside. May be I had to reduce time and temperature. The taste it self is so nice and smells gooood. I will reduce the sugar on my 2nd attempt. Thank you for sharing🙏

        Reply
  2. Jackie
    12|04|2022

    Do you think this could work with your gluten free starter? I am getting ready to give the GF starter a try and was looking for discard recipes.

    Reply
    1. Kaitlynn Fenley
      12|05|2022

      maybe, but I’ve never made it with GF starter or GF flour so I’m not sure.

      Reply
    2. Katrina
      02|20|2023

      I made these GF & they turned out so good! Will definitely be making these again. Delicious!

      Reply
      1. Kaitlynn Fenley
        02|20|2023

        Oh I’m so glad they worked out with GF flour! thanks for trying the recipe 🙂

        Reply
  3. Wendy
    12|08|2023

    I’ve made these muffins 3 times now. Everyone I’ve shared them with say they’re absolutely delicious. What a wonderful way to use my sourdough discard!

    Thank you

    Reply
    1. Kaitlynn Fenley
      12|09|2023

      I’m happy to hear the muffins were a hit!

      Reply
  4. Susan
    01|20|2024

    What does the cornstarch add? I prefer not to use this ingredient.

    Reply
    1. Kaitlynn Fenley
      01|22|2024

      It gives the muffins a slightly lighter texture. You can leave it out though, the muffins will still come out good.

      Reply

you may also like

Family Favorites The Best Sourdough Discard Muffins for Back-to-School
Sourdough Discard View Recipe

The Best Sourdough Discard Muffins for Back-to-School

Quick & Easy How to Bake Sourdough Discard Banana Nut Muffins
Sourdough Discard View Recipe

How to Bake Sourdough Discard Banana Nut Muffins

Family Favorites Low-Sugar Oatmeal Strawberry Muffins With Sourdough Discard
Sourdough Discard View Recipe

Low-Sugar Oatmeal Strawberry Muffins With Sourdough Discard

join us on insta

@cultured.guru

sourdough discard 🤝 cottage cheese combined tw sourdough discard 🤝 cottage cheese

combined two of the best fermented foods to make the best pancakes. And yes, you can ferment the batter overnight in the fridge for easier digestion. 

My recipe makes 15 pancakes and each serving of 3 pancakes had 17 grams of protein! 

Get the recipe from my recipe index, linked in my profile✨

#sourdough #cottagecheese #pancakes #fermentation
It can suppress overgrowth of Candida albicans, wh It can suppress overgrowth of Candida albicans, while boosting good bacteria in your gut! 

Roasting garlic increases beneficial garlic compounds like diallyl sulfide and diallyl disulfide — or DADS, for short. Both of these compounds have been studied for their anti-inflammatory (anti-cancer), antioxidant, and antifungal properties.

It’s definitely a sauerkraut you should keep in your rotation.

To get the recipe google “garlic sauerkraut.” and you’ll see mine it’s the first one.

Sources:
PMC8777027 (Diallyl Disulfide (DADS) Ameliorates Intestinal Candida albicansInfection by Modulating the Gut microbiota and Metabolites and Providing Intestinal Protection)

https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes9100401 (diallyl disulfide (DADS) shows a substantial increase, with concentrations rising from 1.6 mg/g in non-fermented garlic to 4.8 mg/g in its fermented counterpart, suggesting enhanced bioactivity through fermentation)
✨Cottage Cheese Ice Cream✨with Brown Butter an ✨Cottage Cheese Ice Cream✨with Brown Butter and Vanilla

I know, I know, I’m making everything with cottage cheese right now. But how can I not? Cottage cheese is one of the most protein-rich fermented foods.

If you love ice cream and cheesecake-like flavor, you’ll love this recipe. it’s high in protein, requires only four simple ingredients, and does not require churning. So, you do not need an ice cream maker!

A half-cup serving of this ice cream has 12 grams of protein, making it a healthy and balanced sweet snack. Get the recipe from the recipe index linked in my profile. 

#cottagecheese #icecream
Baked ✨Cottage Cheese✨ Queso Dip It’s crea Baked ✨Cottage Cheese✨ Queso Dip 

It’s creamy, cheesy, and packed with protein, but with fewer calories thanks to the cottage cheese base. And it’s only 6 ingredients +toppings! 

I love it topped with cilantro, diced tomatoes, onions and fresh jalapeños! 

Get the full recipe from my recipe index, linked in my bio. 

#queso #cheese #cottagecheese
Why do you add water to sauerkraut? To that I as Why do you add water to sauerkraut? 

To that I ask: who told y’all you can’t add water to sauerkraut? 

Adding water standardizes my recipes, making sure everyone gets enough brine, regardless of cabbage variability. 

Google “cultured guru sauerkraut” and you’ll see my recipes! 

#sauerkraut #fermentation
Bok choy is similar in texture to Napa cabbage and Bok choy is similar in texture to Napa cabbage and lovely for fermentation. 

Since bok choy and all cabbages grow low and very close to the soil, their microbiome composition is wonderful! This makes all cabbages easy vegetables to ferment, and fermented bok choy is one of my absolute favorites.

Google fermented bok choy and you’ll see my recipe, it’s the first one. ☝🏼 #cabbage #fermentation #homestead 

Ps. I used some tiny weck jar lids for weights in my bigger weck jar and it worked great!
LEARN ABOUT MICROBES FROM A MICROBIOLoGIST
Loading

recipes

  • Sourdough
  • Sauerkraut
  • Yogurt & Kefir
  • Pickles
  • Sweets & Snacks

more

  • Start Here
  • About
  • Learn
  • Shop
  • Contact

social

  • TikTokVisit Cultured Guru TikTok Account
  • InstagramCultured Guru Instagram Account
  • PinterestVisit Cultured Guru’s Pinterest Account
  • FacebookVisit Cultured Guru’s Facebook page
  • Privacy & Terms
copyright

©2025

Cultured Guru

.

website by saevil row + MTT. all rights reserved.