Sourdough Discard Recipes

Chocolate Muffin Sourdough Bread

7 comments Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Rest assured, I only share my favorite items and am grateful for your support!

Indulge in the best of both worlds with this delectable Chocolate Muffin Sourdough Bread. Breakfast or dessert, this is a family favorite! Combining the tender texture of a bakery-style chocolate muffin with the convenience of a loaf pan, this recipe takes it to the next level by incorporating sourdough discard for enhanced flavor and texture. Plus, the addition of semi-sweet chocolate chips creates a delightful melty texture with every slice. Perfect for pleasing a crowd and using up your sourdough discard, make this irresistible Chocolate Muffin Sourdough Bread today!

Ingredients in Sourdough Chocolate Muffin Bread

Dutch Processed Cocoa Powder: Using a dark/dutch processed cocoa powder gives this sourdough chocolate muffin bread a delicious chocolate flavor.

Dark Brown Sugar: Dark brown sugar enhances the chocolate flavor in this sourdough chocolate muffin bread. If you don’t have dark brown sugar, you can use light brown sugar.

Vegetable Oil: Oil gives moisture to the chocolate muffin bread. You can use any neutral flavored oil.

Unsweetened Applesauce: I love the addition of unsweetened applesauce in this chocolate muffin bread. If you don’t have any, you can substitute additional vegetable oil.

Plain Yogurt: Plain yogurt enhances the richness of this chocolate muffin bread. Substitute Greek yogurt or sour cream if you don’t have plain yogurt.

Sourdough Discard: You can use fresh, bubbly sourdough starter if you want. If you don’t mind a more pronounced sourdough flavor, you can use refrigerated discard from up to a week or two old.  I always use 100% hydration sourdough discard.

Semi-Sweet Chocolate: I love the addition of semi-sweet chocolate chips, as they enhance the chocolate flavor in this chocolate muffin bread.

Sourdough Discard in Chocolate Muffin Bread

I love finding ways to use sourdough discard and avoid wasting it. I’ve found that for best results I use 100% hydration sourdough discard, or discard that has been fed with equal weights of water and flour. If your discard is thinner or thicker than that, add a little extra flour or splash of milk as needed. The older the discard, the more sour it has the potential to make the bread. I prefer to use discard that is only a day or two old or bubbly sourdough starter for this recipe.

Looking for More Sweet Treats?

Mixing Sourdough Chocolate Muffin Bread

This bread comes together very quickly. Preheat your oven and mix the dry ingredients together in a bowl and the wet ingredients together in a different bowl. Flour, cocoa powder, dark brown sugar, salt, baking powder and baking soda get whisked together until combined. To a liquid measuring cup (or bowl), whisk together the applesauce, vegetable oil, eggs, plain yogurt, vanilla and sourdough discard. Whisk until completely combined. Pour the wet ingredients on top of the dry ingredients and use a wooden spoon or spatula to mix until just a few dry streaks remain. Add the chocolate chips and mix very gently. The less you mix, the more tender your chocolate muffin sourdough bread will be.

Make a Parchment Sling

I always line my pan with parchment paper for any quick breads that I make. It makes cleanup so much easier, and it makes it easy to pull the loaf out of the pan to let it cool (no sticky edges or corners). I love using this parchment paper to line the pan. Pull off an amount about the size of your loaf pan and gently place it into the pan so it hangs over the long sides. Spray the short sides if desired and spread the chocolate muffin batter into the pan.

Baking Temperature and Time

Bake chocolate muffin sourdough bread at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes. After ten minutes, reduce the temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and bake for 40-50 minutes until a sharp knife or toothpick is inserted into the center and comes out clean. This initial high temperature helps activate the baking powder, giving the loaf a beautiful bakery-style top. Let the chocolate muffin sourdough bread cool completely (or almost completely) before slicing and enjoying for breakfast…or snack time or dessert–it’s especially good with a dollop of freshly whipped cream!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you store extra sourdough chocolate muffin bread?

I slice the loaf and store any extra pieces in an airtight bag or container in the freezer. When you want to eat a piece, pull it out of the freezer to thaw or zap it in the microwave for about 20 seconds.

Can I substitute different cocoa powder and brown sugar?

I am a big believer in mostly working with what you have and using substitutions when necessary. With that said, the dutch cocoa powder really gives the chocolate muffin bread a deep/rich chocolate flavor. Dark brown sugar also enhances the chocolate flavor. You can substitute these for regular cocoa powder and regular brown sugar but you won’t get the same richness of flavor.

My loaf sank in the middle. Why? How can I fix that?

This can be caused by the batter sitting out too long before baking or under-baking the loaf. Also make sure you are using fresh baking powder and baking soda. Take a toothpick and check the center of the sourdough chocolate muffin bread. If it comes out clean, it’s time to take it out of the oven.

What size loaf pan should I use for chocolate muffin sourdough bread?

This bread works well with an 8.5 by 4.5 pan or a 9 by 5 loaf pan. I own and love both of these loaf pans.

Looking for More Sourdough Discard Recipes?

Chocolate Muffin Sourdough Bread

Amy
A rich delicious loaf of chocolate muffin bread; studded with chocolate chips and mixed up with sourdough discard, this is the perfect bread for a chocolatey snack or a sweet treat.
5 from 2 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Course Bread, Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 1 loaf

Ingredients
  

  • 150 grams all purpose flour about 1 cup
  • 35 grams dutch processed cocoa powder about 1/3 cup, see recipe note
  • 200 grams dark brown sugar about 1 cup
  • 7 grams salt about 1 teaspoon
  • 4 grams baking powder about 1 teaspoon
  • 6 grams baking soda about 1 teaspoon
  • 70 grams unsweetened applesauce about 1/4 cup
  • 60 grams vegetable oil about 1/4 cup, any neutral flavored oil will work
  • 2 large eggs about 100 grams
  • 120 grams plain yogurt about 1/2 cup
  • 113 grams sourdough discard about 1/2 cup, see recipe note
  • 4 grams vanilla extract about 1 teaspoon
  • 100 grams semi-sweet chocolate chips about 1 cup

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a bread loaf pan (affiliate link) with parchment paper or grease with cooking spray. Set aside.
  • To a large bowl, add the flour, cocoa powder, dark brown sugar, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Whisk together until combined.
  • To a large liquid measuring cup or small bowl, mix the applesauce, vegetable oil, eggs, plain yogurt, sourdough discard and vanilla extract until combined. Pour into the center of the flour mixture and mix together until barely combined with just a few dry streaks.
  • Gently fold in the chocolate chips. Pour into the prepared baking loaf pan.
  • Bake at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes. After ten minutes reduce the temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and bake for 40-50 minutes until a sharp knife or toothpick is inserted into the center and comes out clean.
  • Let cool completely before slicing and enjoy!

Notes

Cocoa Powder: For best chocolate flavor, use a dutch cocoa powder (affiliate link). You can use regular cocoa powder, but the bread won’t be quite as rich and chocolatey. 
Sourdough Discard: For best results, use 100% hydration sourdough discard – sourdough that has been fed with equal weights of water and flour. If your discard is thinner or thicker than that, add a little extra flour or splash of milk as needed. The older the discard, the more sour it has the potential to make the bread. I prefer to use discard that is only a day or two old for this recipe, though any discard will work.
Keyword apple bread, chocolate bread, chocolate muffin bread recipe, sourdough chocolate muffin bread, sourdough discard, sourdough discard bread, sourdough discard chocolate bread, sourdough discard recipe, sourdough quickbread recipe
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

7 Comments

  1. Wahoooo! This looks amazing! Thanks for the great recipe!! 😍🍞🍫😋

  2. Norma Granito

    Really wanted this to work but the taste isn’t to our liking it doesn’t right. Unfortunately I won’t do again.

    • I’m sorry you didn’t like it. I use a younger discard so we can’t taste the sour flavor. My kids prefer a sweeter/chocolate flavor.

  3. 5 stars
    My family really enjoyed this recipe, it turned out perfect.
    The texture reminded me Costco chocolate muffins.

  4. 5 stars
    I rarely leave reviews but this has become a staple in our home already. One of the most moist delicious breads I have made, the sourdough adds a ton of depth so it’s just right and doesn’t feel “unmanageably” sweet like a cake. Incredible recipe!!

Leave a Comment

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

*

Recipe Rating