Delicious Sourdough Discard Garlic Knots Easy Homemade

By Jason Mitchell on May 6, 2026

A pile of golden-brown, fluffy sourdough discard garlic knots brushed with garlic butter and sprinkled with parsley.

Okay, so you’ve got that sourdough starter going, right? And then there’s that moment when you feed it, and suddenly you’re staring at a whole heap of discard. I used to just chuck mine, which felt like such a waste! But then I discovered these Sourdough Discard Garlic Knots Easy Homemade, and let me tell you, it’s a total game-changer. They’re ridiculously soft, super fluffy, and absolutely drenched in this amazing garlic butter. Seriously, it’s the perfect way to use up that discard instead of tossing it. I whipped these up one evening when my sister-in-law popped over unexpectedly, and she devoured three before I even finished telling her what they were!

Why You’ll Love This Sourdough Discard Garlic Knots Recipe

  • Super Easy to Make: Seriously, if you can mix and knead a little dough, you can make these!
  • Amazing Garlic Butter Flavor: That buttery, garlicky goodness is just divine.
  • Irresistibly Soft & Fluffy: The sourdough discard gives them this incredible texture.
  • Uses Up Discard: Finally, a delicious reason not to waste your sourdough discard!

Ingredients for Your Easy Homemade Sourdough Discard Garlic Knots

  • For the Dough

  • 1/2 cup sourdough discard, make sure it’s at room temperature

  • 1/3 cup whole milk, also room temperature

  • 2 teaspoons honey

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus an extra teaspoon for brushing later

  • 1.5 cups all purpose flour

  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt

  • For the Garlic Butter

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 3 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley

Step-by-Step Instructions for Sourdough Discard Garlic Knots Easy Homemade

First things first, grab a mixing bowl and whisk together your room temperature sourdough discard, whole milk, honey, and that tablespoon of olive oil. You want it all nice and smooth before we add the dry stuff. Next, dump in your flour, garlic powder, and salt. Give it a good mix until it starts to form a soft dough. Don’t overwork it, just a quick knead for about 3 to 4 minutes until it’s smooth and just a little bit tacky. Pop that dough ball into a lightly oiled bowl, cover it up, and let it hang out in a warm spot for about 2 hours. You’ll see it get a bit puffy, which is exactly what we want! If you’re curious about who makes this awesome site, check out our About Us page!

While the dough is doing its thing, get your baking sheet ready with some parchment paper. Once the dough has rested, divide it into 8 equal pieces. Now, take each piece of dough and roll it into a rope about 12 inches long – think almost like a mini jump rope! Then, tie each rope into a knot. It’s kind of fun, like little dough pretzels. Tuck the ends underneath so they don’t burn too much. Place these cute knots on your prepared baking sheet, give them a light brush with a tiny bit more olive oil, and let them rest one last time for about 30 minutes, loosely covered. Right before they go into the heat, preheat your oven to a toasty 425 degrees Fahrenheit.

A stack of golden-brown Sourdough Discard Garlic Knots, generously topped with garlic and herbs, on a wooden plate.

Bake those knots for about 12 to 14 minutes. You’re looking for a light golden color. If you want to be really sure, you can check if the internal temperature hits at least 190 degrees Fahrenheit. While they’re baking, let’s whip up that glorious garlic butter. In a small pan over low heat, melt your butter. Toss in the minced garlic and let it get fragrant for just a minute or two – we don’t want it to burn! Stir in the salt and dried parsley. Once the knots are out of the oven and still warm, brush them all over with that amazing garlic butter. Serve these beauties immediately and watch them disappear!

Close-up of golden-brown Sourdough Discard Garlic Knots, generously topped with minced garlic and parsley.

What to Serve with Your Sourdough Discard Garlic Knots

These garlic knots are so good on their own, but they also make a fantastic partner for a few other dishes. They’re perfect with a hearty soup, like our Mediterranean White Bean Chicken Soup. They really soak up all those delicious broth flavors!

They’re also brilliant alongside a meal like our High Protein Comfort Bowl. Sometimes, you just need that extra bit of bready goodness to make a meal feel complete, you know?

Storing and Reheating Your Easy Homemade Sourdough Discard Garlic Knots

So, you’ve got some leftover goodies? No worries! Store any uneaten garlic knots in an airtight container in the fridge. They’ll be good for about 3 to 4 days. Honestly, the hardest part is resisting eating them all in one go!

When you’re ready for more, reheating is key to getting that soft, fresh-from-the-oven texture back. Forget the microwave, it makes them a bit sad and chewy. Instead, wrap them up in foil and pop them into a 350°F oven for about 5 to 8 minutes. They’ll come out warm and perfectly tender again. It’s my go-to trick to keep them tasting amazing, even the next day!

Frequently Asked Questions About Sourdough Discard Garlic Knots

What can I do if my sourdough discard is too wet or too dry?

No worries if your discard isn’t the perfect consistency! With wet discard, you might need to add just a tiny bit more flour when mixing the dough – maybe a tablespoon at a time – until it feels right. If it’s super dry, you can add a splash more milk or water to the dough ingredients. The goal is a soft, slightly tacky dough, not sticky or crumbly. You can make these Sourdough Discard Garlic Knots Easy Homemade work with most discard consistencies!

Can I make these knots ahead of time?

You sure can! The dough can rest in the fridge for up to 24 hours after the initial 2-hour rest. Just let it come back to room temperature for about 30 minutes before shaping. You can also shape the knots and let them do their final 30-minute rest in the fridge, then bake them straight from cold in a slightly hotter oven (around 450°F for about 10-12 minutes). For information on our site’s policies, please see our disclaimer.

How do I get my garlic knots super fluffy?

The secret to the fluffiness is that resting period! Don’t skimp on the two hours the dough gets to hang out and get a little puffy. Also, make sure your starter discard and milk are at room temperature; cold liquids can shock the dough and slow down the rise. And don’t over-knead! We just want it smooth and slightly elastic, not super tough. These steps ensure you get wonderfully soft and fluffy Easy Homemade Sourdough Discard Garlic Knots every time.

Before You Go

Seriously, give these sourdough discard garlic knots a whirl! They’re so simple and incredibly satisfying. If you make them, I’d absolutely love to hear what you think! Drop a comment below or rate the recipe – it helps me know you’re out there! You can always reach out on our contact page too!

A close-up of a pile of golden-brown sourdough discard garlic knots, brushed with melted butter, garlic, and parsley.

Sourdough Discard Garlic Knots

These sourdough discard garlic knots are soft, fluffy, and packed with rich garlic butter flavor. They’re perfect for using up discard and create irresistible golden knots.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 32 minutes
Servings: 8 knots
Course: Appetizer, Bread, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 200

Ingredients
  

For the Dough
  • 1/2 cup sourdough discard room temperature
  • 1/3 cup whole milk room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil plus 1 teaspoon for brushing
  • 1.5 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
For the Garlic Butter
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley

Equipment

  • mixing bowl
  • Baking sheet
  • Parchment paper
  • Small pan

Method
 

  1. In a mixing bowl, whisk together sourdough discard, milk, honey, and olive oil until smooth.
  2. Add flour, garlic powder, and salt. Mix until a soft dough forms, then knead for about 3 to 4 minutes until smooth and slightly tacky.
  3. Shape the dough into a ball and place in a lightly oiled bowl. Cover and let rest in a warm spot for 2 hours until slightly puffy.
  4. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces.
  5. Roll each piece into a rope about 12 inches long and tie into a knot, tucking the ends underneath.
  6. Place knots on the baking sheet and brush lightly with olive oil. Cover loosely and rest for 30 minutes.
  7. Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
  8. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes until lightly golden and the internal temperature reaches at least 190 degrees Fahrenheit.
  9. While baking, melt butter in a small pan over low heat. Add garlic and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant, then stir in salt and parsley.
  10. Brush warm garlic butter generously over the baked knots and serve immediately.

Notes

Reheat leftovers wrapped in foil at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 to 8 minutes to restore softness.

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