Sourdough Discard Chocolate Cake
Incredibly moist and rich, this one-bowl chocolate cake uses sourdough discard to deliver bakery-level decadence with minimal effort.
At a Glance
Loaf Style: Discard-based sweet cake
Skill Level: Beginner
Total Time: ~1½ hours
Prep Time: ~15 minutes
Yield: One 9x9-inch cake or 12 cupcakes
Hydration: N/A
Bake Temp: 350°F / 175°C
Baking Vessel: Square cake pan or muffin tin
Ingredients
Cake Batter
200g sourdough discard (unfed)
120g all-purpose flour
200g granulated sugar
50g unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp fine sea salt
2 large eggs
120ml neutral oil (e.g. sunflower or vegetable)
240ml buttermilk (or 1 cup milk + 1 tbsp vinegar)
1 tsp vanilla extract
60ml hot coffee or boiling water
Optional Frosting
120g unsalted butter, softened
200g icing sugar
40g cocoa powder
2–3 tbsp milk or cream
Pinch of salt
Instructions
Make the Batter
1. Preheat oven to 350°F / 175°C. Grease and line a 9x9-inch pan or prepare muffin tins.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.
3. In a separate bowl, combine eggs, oil, sourdough discard, buttermilk, and vanilla. Mix until smooth.
4. Add wet ingredients to dry and stir gently until combined.
5. Pour in hot coffee or water and mix until silky and smooth (batter will be thin).
Bake
6. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
7. Cool completely in the pan before frosting or serving.
Make the Frosting (Optional)
8. Beat butter, icing sugar, cocoa powder, and salt until fluffy. Add milk gradually until desired texture is reached.
9. Spread over cooled cake and garnish with chocolate curls, berries, or a dusting of cocoa.
Visual Cues
Cake should have a glossy top with a moist, tender crumb.
When sliced, the interior should be soft, dark, and slightly springy to the touch.
Why This Works
The acidity in sourdough discard reacts with baking soda to create lift and tenderness, while the long hydration in the batter boosts richness and moisture. The addition of hot liquid deepens the cocoa flavor for an ultra-satisfying result.
