Category: Sweet Treats

Sourdough Discard Apple Cake

Sometimes I’ll make a recipe and think, this REALLY needs to go on my website ASAP. I made this Apple Cake for book club last month and I couldn’t stop eating it. I knew it needed a permanent place on my site, so here it is: Sourdough Discard Apple Cake – a delicious spiced cake filled with a whole lot of freshly chopped apples. The apples bake and melt into the cake, resulting in little chunks of soft apple in every bite. This apple cake is just delicious and the perfect bridge from summertime weather to the cooler fall days.

Adding Sourdough Discard to Apple Cake

If you know me, you know I love throwing sourdough discard into almost anything–less waste and the health benefits of sourdough. Yes please! In order to not have an overpowering sourdough flavor, which I don’t like in sweet apple cake, I use sourdough discard that is no more than a day or two old. Sometimes I’ll even use bubbly, fresh sourdough starter. If you don’t mind a more pronounced sourdough flavor, you can use refrigerated discard from up to a week or two old.

For more favorite sourdough discard recipes, check out these favorites: The Best Zucchini Bread with Sourdough Discard, Brown Butter Sourdough Chocolate Chunk Cookies, Sourdough Blueberry Crumb Cake and so many more!

Fresh Apple Chunks

To peel or not to peel? That is often the question I ask myself when working with fruit that has a skin on it (I ask the same question when making this perfect peach cobbler). Truthfully, I have made this recipe many times with the apple skins on, and I don’t notice them at all. If you are super sensitive to apple skins, it may be worth it to peel your apples. I do peel apples when I make apple pie, but I don’t think this fresh apple cake needs it. Just grab an apple, cut off the sides and cut them into chunks. If you do want to peel your apples, grab yourself one of these apple peelers/corers. It makes the job SO much easier. I’ve had one for over 3 years and it’s still going strong–I won’t go back! It also makes quick work for dried apples, which we love this time of year.

Lining the Pan for Apple Cake

This apple cake works perfectly for a 9 by 13 pan. I always bake cakes in metal pans instead of glass because they tend to turn out more consistently. If you want easier clean up, do yourself a favor and make a parchment sling (I didn’t do that as you can see in the photos, though it was okay thanks to my favorite non-stick pan and a little cooking spray). The sourdough discard apple cake itself is light and not too thick, which makes this pan a good size to bake in.

Ingredients Listed by Weight instead of Cups

I’ve listed all the ingredients for this sourdough apple cake in grams. I grew up using cups, Tablespoons and teaspoons but have found over the years that they are not as accurate when it comes to baking. With that said, I still go back to my roots and find myself pulling out the cups to measure things by weight (ha!). I try to list both in my recipes to help those who are just starting out baking with sourdough make the transition. And definitely a kitchen scale is a game changer. Grab one if you haven’t already!

Mix together the Sourdough Apple Cake Batter

Put your bowl on a kitchen scale and tare the scale (set it to zero). Add the sourdough discard, sugar, eggs, applesauce, vegetable oil and vanilla extract. Mix together until completely combined. In a small bowl whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. Add right on top of the wet ingredients and gently mix to combine until just a few streaks of flour remain. Pour in the chopped apples, mix together and then spread into the prepared pan.

Baking and Serving Sourdough Apple Cake

Bake this cake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 40 minutes. The apples will get all tender and soft. The cake will be moist and baked through. Remove the pan from the oven and let sit for a few minutes. I like to whip up some fresh whipped cream. Add some heavy cream to a bowl. Sprinkle on a teaspoon or so of granulated sugar and whip until light and fluffy. Cut a slice of apple cake and top with a dollop of fresh whipped cream. Enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of apples should I use for apple cake?

We picked honey crisp apples to use in this apple cake. Any tart/sweet apple will work well for this recipe. I would also use granny smith or pink ladies.

I keep sourdough discard in my refrigerator. Can I use it in this recipe?

You can. I prefer to use fresh discard that hasn’t been sitting in the refrigerator longer than a day or two. If you don’t mind a more pronounced sourdough flavor, you can use it up to two weeks from your refrigerator.

How do I store the leftover cake?

I store this at room temperature for the first 24 hours in an airtight container or ziplock bag. After 24 hours I stick any leftovers in my freezer. When you’re ready to eat a slice of apple cake again, thaw back to room temperature and enjoy!

Can this recipe be cut in half?

Yes. You can cut this recipe in half and bake it in an 8 by 8 pan. I do prefer to cut it by a quarter for a little thicker apple cake, but cutting it in half will work too.

Sourdough Apple Cake

Sourdough Discard Apple Cake

Apple Cake is a sweet, spiced cake filled with fresh apples and enhanced with sourdough discard. We love to serve this apple cake warm with a dollop of whipped cream. Absolutely delicious!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 40 mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American, German
Servings 12 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 450 grams chopped apples about 4 cups
  • 245 grams sourdough discard, 100% hydration see recipe notes
  • 220 grams granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs about 100 grams
  • 65 grams applesauce
  • 55 grams vegetable oil or other neutral flavored oil
  • 8 grams vanilla extract about 1 teaspoon
  • 115 grams all purpose flour
  • 10 grams ground cinnamon about 2 teaspoons
  • 8 grams baking soda about 1 teaspoon
  • 6 grams salt about 1 teaspoon

Instructions
 

  • Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a 9 by 13 metal pan with cooking spray or a parchment sling.
  • Chop apples and set aside. Apples can be peeled or skins left on, whatever you prefer. We like honey crisp or granny smith apples in this recipe.
  • In a medium-sized bowl, mix together sourdough discard, sugar, eggs, applesauce, vegetable oil and vanilla extract until completely combined. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt.
  • Add the dry ingredients on top of the wet ingredients and gently combine until a few streaks of flour are left with most of the mixture combined. Add the chopped apples to the batter and mix until combined.
  • Pour the apple cake mixture into the prepared pan and bake for 40 minutes.
  • Let the apple cake cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving warm. We love eating this cake warm with a dollop of freshly whipped cream. It is also delicious at room temperature.

Notes

Sourdough Discard: In order to avoid a stronger sourdough flavor, use sourdough discard that is no more than a day or two old. 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. 
Keyword apfelkuchen, apple cake, beginner sourdough, sourdough discard, sourdough discard recipe, sourdough recipe

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Disclaimer: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a very small amount from qualifying purchases.

Follow me on Instagram @amybakesbread, like Amy Bakes Bread on Facebook or follow me on Pinterest for more baking ideas. Please share this recipe if you enjoyed it! Post a photo and tag me @amybakesbread so I can see your bake.

One response to “Sourdough Discard Apple Cake”

  1. Kris Avatar
    Kris

    What a delicious apple cake for Fall! 🍎 🍏🍂🍁😋

    Reply

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Amy1 Comment

Sourdough Peach Galette

Every summer we look forward to ordering a box of peaches from The Peach Truck which brings the most delicious, juicy Georgia peaches straight to our town twice a summer. We look forward to eating, grilling and baking with these sweet peaches. Looking for more peach recipes? Check out these recipes for sweet peach bread and our favorite peach cobbler. This sourdough peach galette is a new favorite summer dessert; sweet peaches nestled into a sourdough pastry crust and topped with cream and sugar. It’s relatively quick to assemble and is a show-stopper dessert for any summer BBQ or weekend get-together. We love adding a scoop of ice cream on top for a really decadent treat.

What is a Galette?

A galette is a French-style pastry that is rolled out, stuffed with sweet or savory filling and the edges are roughly folded in to create a rustic pastry base. The lack of a pan to bake the galette in gives the pastry its free-form shape and it is very forgiving. Simply roll out the dough, fill it and fold up the edges before baking. Easy peasy and oh so delicious. If you’re looking for another take on a galette, check out this berry tart.

Sourdough Discard Recipe

If you’ve been around for awhile, you know I love recipes that use sourdough discard. Not only does it help me use up the discard in my refrigerator but I love the health benefits of sourdough too (all that “good” bacteria that help maintain a stable, healthy digestive system). This recipe calls for 1/2 cup of sourdough discard. If you don’t have discard on hand you can use sourdough starter, though I prefer refrigerated discard. The chilled discard helps keep the butter cold in the galette, resulting in a nice and flaky crust when baked. It’s also important to use discard that is 100% hydration (meaning it’s been fed equal weights water and flour). If you use discard with a higher hydration, you’ll want to add a little more flour to the dough. Conversely, if you use a lower hydration discard, you’ll want a little less flour.

Sourdough Crust

To make the sourdough peach galette crust, add the flour, sugar and salt and fluff together. Use a cheese grater to grate cold butter right on top of the dry ingredients. Mix together. To a small bowl, add the flour, sugar and salt. Fluff together with a fork. Pour the sourdough discard and ice water on top of the flour mixture and use your hands to gently form a ball. Knead the dough a few times to bring the dough together. If the dough is too crumbly, add another teaspoon or two of ice water until the dough comes together. Cover the dough ball with plastic wrap and freeze for about 15-20 minutes while you make the peach filling. If you want to make the pastry ahead of time, refrigerate the pastry for at least an hour or up to a couple of days before using.

The key to a good galette crust is keeping the ingredients as cold as possible and not over-mixing the dough. The cold butter in the pastry, when put in a hot oven, will form a flaky crust when baked. Over-mixing the dough results in a tough crust, because it starts to develop the gluten in the flour. The goal is to keep the gluten from developing through a short mix and just a few kneads.

Sourdough Peach Galette Filling

For a filling bursting with the flavors of summer peaches, use ripe peaches that still have a little bit of firmness. Choose 6 to 8 medium to large ripe peaches. Freestone peaches are easier than the cling variety (early variety) to pit and slice. Slice the peach down the middle and twist to separate. Take the pit out of the peach and place the peach halves flesh side down on a cutting board. Thinly slice the peaches and put them in a bowl. Toss the peach slices with sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, salt and cornstarch and set aside. I used 8 peaches in making this galette by nestling the peach slices very close together. You could get away with 6 peaches by spreading the slices out a bit more.

Assembling the Galette

Take a large sheet of parchment paper and roll out the chilled pastry dough into a rough circle, about 12-14 inches. Layer the peaches in a circle, leaving a 2-inch border around the pastry. Continue layering the peaches until the entire galette is covered (except for the border). Take the dough from the border and fold it over on top of the edge of the peaches. Use scissors as needed to cut and fold the galette into a circular, free-form shape. If your pastry crust has a hole, cut a little excess dough and patch places as needed. Part of the simplicity and beauty of a galette is the rustic nature of this dessert, so don’t worry if it doesn’t look perfect.

Baking the Sourdough Peach Galette

Brush the top of the peaches and the outside of the pastry crust with heavy cream. Sprinkle with a Tablespoon of granulated sugar. Gently but quickly, transfer the parchment paper with the galette on it to a baking sheet. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes. Then reduce the temperature to 375 degrees and finish baking for 30-35 minutes until the peach filling is bubbling and the crust is golden brown. Let the galette cool before slicing to serve. We love adding a scoop of ice cream or whipped cream on top. Talk about delicious!

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I chill pastry dough before baking?

Pastry should always be chilled before rolling out and baked. Cold helps relax the gluten to prevent the dough shrinking and the chilled butter in the pastry creates flaky layers when baked.

What variety of peaches should I use in peach galette?

Freestone peaches are easiest to use in this recipe because they twist and pull apart easily. Cling peach varieties can be used but will take a little more work getting the peach off the pit. Both types of peaches are delicious in this galette.

How should I store leftover sourdough peach galette?

Leftover galette can be covered and stored at room temperature for up to 24 hours. After that refrigerate for a few days and re-heat just a bit before serving.

Try these favorite sourdough discard recipes: fan favorite sourdough pretzel bites, sourdough discard pita bread, sourdough zucchini bread, crispy waffles and so many more.

Sourdough Peach Galette

Sweet peaches nestled inside a sourdough pastry crust and baked to perfection will be the star of any dinner party. This sourdough peach galette is a quick, delicious show-stopper dessert. We love it topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 mins
Cook Time 50 mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 1 10-12 inch galette

Ingredients
  

Sourdough Pastry

  • 1 3/4 cup all purpose or pastry flour 240 grams
  • 1 Tablespoon sugar 14 grams
  • 1 teaspoon salt 6 grams
  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter chilled
  • 1/2 cup cold sourdough discard 132 grams–see recipe notes
  • 1/4 cup ice water 50 grams

Peach Filling

  • 6-8 peaches see recipe notes
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 1/2 Tablespoons cornstarch

Sourdough Peach Galette Topping

  • 2 Tablespoons heavy cream
  • 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar

Instructions
 

Sourdough Galette Pastry

  • To a small bowl, add the flour, sugar and salt. Fluff together with a fork.
  • Grate the cold butter and toss grated butter with the flour mixture.
  • Pour the sourdough discard and ice water into the mixture and use your hands to gently form into a ball. Knead the dough a few times (being careful not to over-knead) to bring the dough together. If the dough has trouble coming together and is too crumbly, add another teaspoon or two of ice water until it comes together.
  • Cover the dough ball and place into the freezer (15-20 minutes) while you make the peach filling. If you want to make the pastry ahead of time, place the pastry in the refrigerator for an hour or up to a couple days before using.

Peach Galette Filling

  • Cut a ripe peach in half. Twist apart and remove the pit from one side of the peach. Place peach flesh-side down and thinly slice. Put the peach slices in a bowl. Repeat the process with the rest of the peaches until they are all sliced and in the bowl.
  • Add the sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, salt and cornstarch to the peaches. Gently mix together until all the peaches are covered.

Assembly: Sourdough Peach Galette

  • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Take a large sheet of parchment paper and place it on the counter. Lightly flour the parchment paper. Take the pastry dough out of the freezer and place it on top of the lightly floured parchment paper. It should be chilled but not frozen. If it's frozen, let the dough thaw a bit before proceeding with the recipe.
  • Roll the dough out into a large circle, about 12-14 inches. Place the peaches in a circle on top of the pastry dough, leaving about a 2 inch border of dough around the galette. Nestle the sliced peaches into the pastry dough with as many peaches touching as possible.
  • Once all the peaches have been added to the galette, take the dough around the border and pull it up and on top of the peaches. Cut the dough as needed to help form the galette into a circle. It's okay if it is not a complete circle or irregularly shaped. This is a free-form crust and will look rustic and beautiful once baked. Use scraps of dough as needed to patch the dough if there are holes.
  • Brush heavy cream over the peaches and pastry and sprinkle with granulated sugar. Being careful but quick, transfer the parchment paper holding the galette onto a baking sheet. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes. Then reduce the temperature to 375 degrees and continue baking 30-35 minutes until peaches are bubbly and crust is golden.
  • Let galette cool and serve slices topped with whipped cream or ice cream. Enjoy!

Notes

Sourdough Discard: To keep the butter cold in the pastry dough, use cold sourdough discard directly from the refrigerator. This pastry is based on 100% hydration discard. If your discard was fed with a higher ratio of flour to water,  you may need a little more ice water in the pastry. If you have less flour in the discard, you’ll need a little less ice water.
Peaches: This galette is best with fresh peaches. I have not tried it using frozen peaches. Peaches can be peeled or you can leave the peels on. Slice each peach in half, remove the pit and then thinly slice the peach. For a fuller galette with peaches touching each other, use 8 peaches. You can also get away with about 6 peaches if you spread them out a bit.
Keyword fresh peaches, peach, peach dessert, peach galette

Rating: 1 out of 5.

Disclaimer: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a very small amount from qualifying purchases.

Follow me on Instagram @amybakesbread, like Amy Bakes Bread on Facebook or follow me on Pinterest for more baking ideas. Please share this recipe if you enjoyed it! Post a photo and tag me @amybakesbread so I can see your bake.

One response to “Sourdough Peach Galette”

  1. Kris Avatar
    Kris

    Yummmmm! Those photos make my mouth water! Thanks for sharing!! 🍑🥧😋

    Reply

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Amy1 Comment

Strawberry Lemonade Bars

Is there anything better than freshly picked strawberries? I am a lover of all things seasonal, and these strawberry lemonade bars are a new take on an old favorite recipe. These strawberry lemonade bars are filled with sweet strawberries and fresh lemon zest and juice. Chewy, soft and really the perfect little bite to welcome summer. The sweet strawberry glaze on top adds the perfect bright sweetness that complements the bars perfectly. Add these strawberry lemonade bars to your recipe list this summer. You won’t regret it!

Working with Fresh Strawberries in Strawberry Lemonade Bars

This recipe calls for fresh strawberries in these strawberry lemonade bars. Strawberries have a high water content, which adds more moisture to the batter. Overly wet batter can quickly become “bready” instead of the chewy/cakey texture we are going for. To combat this issue, we start by dicing the strawberries small. Add a teaspoon of sugar to the strawberries, mix them up and let them sit for about 10 minutes. This maceration helps the strawberries release some of their juices and adds some sweetness to the berries. While the berries sit, mix up the batter. Take a fine mesh strainer and strain the juice away from the strawberries, reserving the juice to use in the glaze later on. Mix the strained strawberries into the batter with a gentle hand before filling the pan and baking.

Baking with Freeze Dried Strawberries

One of the best kept secrets in strawberry flavored bakes is using freeze-dried strawberries. Freeze-dried strawberries taste delicious but in order to use them in baked goods, they need to be ground down to very small pieces or a powder-like consistency. If you add the freeze-dried berries without this step, they turn chewy and the texture is not good. I like to take my bag of freeze-dried strawberries and open the top a bit to let out the air. Then I re-seal the bag and roll over it a few times with a rolling pin, getting the berries as crushed as possible. You can substitute the fresh strawberries in this recipe for freeze-dried “powder,” just a few Tablespoons should do the trick. I also like the addition of freeze-dried strawberries in the glaze on these strawberry lemonade bars. They add the perfect strawberry flavor.

Adding Fresh Lemon Juice and Zest

Fresh lemon juice and zest really makes these bars stand out. Don’t think about using the store-bought lemon juice. Store-bought lemon juice is too acidic and will ruin the flavor of these lemonade bars. Zest the lemons right into the batter and reserve just a bit of lemon zest for the glaze. After zesting, juice the lemons to add to the batter and glaze of these strawberry lemonade bars. If you just want a little lemon flavor you can decrease the lemon juice and zest used in the recipe. I love the tart and sweet combination of these strawberry lemonade bars as written, but you can adjust based on your personal preferences.

Baking Tips for Strawberry Lemonade Bars

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees before making the batter. Line an 8 by 8 pan with parchment paper. Place a piece of parchment paper over the pan and cut out the corners (as seen in the video below). Gently spoon the batter into the pan and bake for about 20 minutes. Insert a toothpick into the pan to check if the bars are finished baking. If the toothpick comes out without any wet batter on it, the bars are finished. Let the bars cool before topping with the strawberry lemon glaze.

Chewy Strawberry Lemonade Bars

Chewy and soft at the same time, these lemonade bars are the perfect little summer treat. The zing from the lemon strawberry glaze complements these brownie-like bars. You can adjust the tartness by decreasing the lemon juice and zest in the batter, but I love how tart they are. Strawberry lemonade bars taste good at room temperature, but they are also delicious chilled in the fridge for an hour or so. Cut them into 16 pieces or even 24 if you’d like a two-bite treat. I hope you enjoy these as much as we do during the summertime!

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I crush freeze dried strawberries before baking with them?

Freeze dried strawberries taste great on their own, but when added to baked goods they often get chewy. Instead, crush them up into a powder and add a few teaspoons or Tablespoons to your baked goods. You will have that delicious fresh strawberry flavor without affecting the texture of your baked goods.

How should I store strawberry lemonade bars?

Strawberry lemonade bars can be stored at room temperature for 24 hours or chilled in the refrigerator for a couple days. Enjoy the bars chilled, straight from the fridge for a special treat.

How tart is the lemon in the strawberry lemonade bars?

These are full of lemon and strawberry flavor. The fresh lemon is definitely on the tart side. If you prefer your lemon bars sweeter, decrease the lemon juice and zest just a bit.

I don’t have lemons. Can I use store-bought lemon juice instead of freshly squeezed lemon?

Please don’t do this. Store-bought lemon juice is too acidic and will ruin the flavor of these lemonade bars. If you only have one or two lemons on hand, just add what you can. The lemon flavor may not be quite as pronounced but they should still taste delicious.

For other delicious strawberry bakes, try these fresh strawberry scones, strawberry buttermilk cake or strawberry fruit pizza. We also love these luscious lemon bars and blueberry lemon muffins.

Strawberry Lemonade Bars

Soft and chewy bars with the perfect pop of fresh strawberries and tart lemon. These are the perfect summer treat chilled or at room temperature.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 25 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Cooling Time 30 mins
Course bars, Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 16 bars

Ingredients
  

Strawberry Lemonade Bars

  • 1 cup diced strawberries liquid squeezed
  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 Tablespoon lemon zest from 1 large lemon
  • 3 Tablespoons lemon juice freshly squeezed
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Strawberry Lemon Glaze

  • 3/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons strawberry juice reserved from strawberries
  • 1 teaspoon crushed, freeze dried strawberries optional

Instructions
 

Strawberry Lemonade Bars

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line an 8 by 8 pan with parchment paper.
  • Dice the strawberries and add them to a liquid measuring cup or small bowl. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of sugar over the diced strawberries and mix together. Let strawberries sit for 10 minutes to release some of the juices.
  • To a bowl, add the melted butter and granulated sugar. Mix. Add the eggs and mix until combined. Zest one large lemon directly into the mixture (about 1 Tablespoon), then add the lemon juice and vanilla extract. Mix well until combined.
  • To a small bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Pour the flour mixture on top of the wet mixture and mix until just combined.
  • Take the diced strawberries and strain the juice out of them, reserving the sweetened strawberry juice for the glaze. Add the strained strawberries to the batter and mix gently. Spread the batter in the parchment-lined pan and bake for about 20 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean (no streaks of cake). Let cool completely before topping with glaze.

Strawberry Lemonade Glaze

  • Whisk together the powdered sugar with 1 teaspoon lemon juice and 2 teaspoons of the reserved strawberry juice. If the glaze is too thick, add a little more lemon or strawberry juice to the glaze. Zest about 1/2 teaspoon of lemon into the glaze for more lemon flavor. Mix until combined. For a more pronounced strawberry flavor: crush up freeze-dried strawberries into a powder and add a teaspoon of freeze-dried strawberry powder to the glaze.
  • Spread the glaze over the cooled bars, using an offset spatula to spread as needed.
  • After the bars are glazed, let glaze set. Enjoy room temperature or refrigerate and enjoy chilled.

Notes

Freeze Dried Strawberries: I love the fresh strawberry flavor that freeze dried strawberries bring to the glaze. Use a rolling pin to crush the freeze dried strawberries into a powder, and then add a teaspoon to the glaze. You can also substitute crushed, freeze-dried strawberries for the strawberries in the batter with good results.
Keyword bars, lemon bars, strawberry lemon bars

Rating: 1 out of 5.

Disclaimer: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a very small amount from qualifying purchases.

Follow me on Instagram @amybakesbread, like Amy Bakes Bread on Facebook or follow me on Pinterest for more baking ideas. Please share this recipe if you enjoyed it! Post a photo and tag me @amybakesbread so I can see your bake.

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Amy3 Comments

Sourdough Rhubarb Snack Cake

Do you grow rhubarb? One of my childhood memories is of a wild and unruly garden our family tried and mostly failed at tending. Rhubarb, however grew plentifully. Mom would take these beautiful stalks of rhubarb, chop them, coat the rhubarb pieces in sugar and transform them into the perfect rhubarb pie (no strawberries…just sweet/tart rhubarb). Ever since, I’ve loved rhubarb with its sweet and tart flavor combination. This sourdough rhubarb snack cake reminds me of the rhubarb pie I grew up eating. Nothing but rhubarb and sweet sugar to give flavor to this cake. The rhubarb melts into the tender cake and sweet crumb topping and makes a delicious snack or dessert on a spring or summer day. The next time you see rhubarb at your local grocery or farmer’s market, pick some up! Add this sourdough rhubarb snack cake to your list to make this summer.

What is the Difference Between Green and Red Rhubarb?

What is the difference between green and red rhubarb? I asked myself this question as we tried growing rhubarb ourselves last year and the stalks mostly came out green with just a hint of red. Apparently, there is not much difference! The flavor of red and green rhubarb is the same. It’s just the color that looks different. The photos from this rhubarb snack cake were taken with rhubarb straight from our garden, which just happened to be more on the green side. Aesthetically, if you prefer the look of red rhubarb choose that when you pick up the rhubarb for this cake. It will taste delicious, no matter the color!

Using Sourdough Discard in Cake

A word of warning: not all sourdough discard is created equal. The age of the discard makes a difference. I prefer using a “fresh” discard that is only a day or two old (at the most). My family didn’t even know there was sourdough in this recipe because the discard I used came straight from the jar–right before I fed my starter again. Some of my family members like the tang in sourdough bread but not baked goods. Discard that has been sitting in the fridge for a week or two gives a lot more “tang” to this cake. You can also use bubbly sourdough starter for less sourdough flavor but all the sourdough benefits.

One Bowl Mixing Method

If you’ve been around for any length of time, you know that I love using the least number of bowls possible in baking (fewer bowls = fewer dishes to wash). While this recipe isn’t exactly a one-bowl recipe, the number of bowls can be reduced with these tips. Use a small bowl to mix together the rhubarb, sugar and lemon zest. Set it aside. To a medium-sized bowl, beat together the butter, sugar and lemon zest until light and fluffy. Add the egg, sourdough discard, sour cream and vanilla and beat until light and fluffy. For the dry mixture: add the flour right on top of the center of the wet mixture (don’t mix it in yet…this is the one-bowl method). Add the baking powder and salt on top of the FLOUR. Use a fork to fluff the baking powder and salt into the flour to combine it just a bit. Then use the mixer to combine the dry ingredients with the wet until just combined. Spread this batter in an 8 by 8, parchment-lined pan, top it with the rhubarb and then mix up the crumb topping in the bowl the rhubarb mixture was in–see what I did there? Saved you from washing dishes!

Use a Parchment Sling

Do yourself a favor and use a parchment sling for this snack cake. Non-stick parchment paper makes this easy to lift out of your baking pan and cut into beautiful pieces. I like to lay parchment paper over the top of the pan, cut the corners out of each piece and then press it into the pan. You can watch a video of this process here. I used to think lining a pan with parchment paper was overrated. Nope! Now, I don’t bake without it! My favorite parchment paper is this one from Costco, though it looks like you can snag it on Amazon too. It holds up great for baking crusty sourdough and for all the cookie bars too.

Crumb Topping for Sourdough Rhubarb Cake

Don’t even think about making this cake without the crumb topping. The sweet crumbs nestled in between tart rhubarb is what gives this cake such a unique and delicious flavor. The crumb topping is quick to toss together and gives a deeper flavor by using brown sugar. For quick cleanup, mix up the crumb topping in the same bowl the rhubarb mixture sat in. You don’t even need to wash it out first.

Baking Sourdough Rhubarb Snack Cake

Stick the finished cake in a preheated 350 degree oven. Once the cake is baking, check on it after about 50 minutes by sticking a toothpick or thin knife into the center of the cake. If no wet batter streaks remain, the cake is finished baking. Most ovens vary in temperature, so it’s important to look for the signs of readiness instead of going purely off the written recipe time. Let the cake cool and enjoy!

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If you’re looking for other tart spring/summer desserts, this sourdough blueberry cake and these lemon bars are some of our favorites.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add strawberries to this cake to make a strawberry rhubarb sourdough snack cake?

I have never done this, but I think it would taste good (maybe a tad bit sweeter). I would chop ripe strawberries and replace them for about 1/3 of the rhubarb in the rhubarb mixture.

What can I substitute for sour cream in this recipe?

If you don’t have sour cream on hand, I like to replace this with the same amount of Greek Yogurt. Plain yogurt would work in a pinch.

What is 100% hydration sourdough discard?

100% hydration means an equal weight of water and flour added to a small amount of sourdough. Sourdough can be kept at different hydrations for different purposes. Most sourdough recipes will call for 100% hydration, meaning the sourdough starter was fed with equal weights of flour and water. If your starter is not kept at 100% hydration, you may need to increase the flour in the recipe (for higher hydration–more liquid sourdough) or decrease the flour for lower hydration (stiffer sourdough).

Sourdough Rhubarb Snack Cake

Sweet and tart, tender and delicious, this sourdough rhubarb snack cake is full of summer flavors perfect for a summer party or to enjoy on spring day.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 55 mins
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 16 slices

Ingredients
  

Rhubarb Mixture

  • 1 1/2-2 cups rhubarb, chopped into 1 inch pieces
  • 1/3 cup white sugar
  • 1/2 Tablespoon lemon juice fresh squeezed is best, save lemon to zest for cake

Sourdough Snack Cake

  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/3 cup sourdough discard 100% hydration, see recipe notes
  • 2 Tablespoons sour cream or greek yogurt
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Crumb Topping

  • 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter melted
  • 2 Tablespoons packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup all purpose flour
  • pinch of salt
  • sprinkle of cinnamon

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Chop rhubarb into small, 1 inch pieces and toss into a small bowl. Add 1/3 cup sugar and lemon zest. Stir to combine and set aside.
  • Prepare an 8 by 8 baking pan with a parchment sling.
  • To a medium sized bowl, beat together butter, sugar and lemon zest until light and fluffy. Add the egg and beat again until fully incorporated. Add the sourdough discard, sour cream and vanilla extract. Beat together until incorporated.
  • To the middle of the mixture (or in a separate small bowl), add the flour, baking powder and salt. Lightly fluff the baking powder and salt into the flour with a fork (if mixing in a bowl, add it to the wet mixture now) and mix until just combined.
  • Scoop the batter into the prepared pan and gently spread into an even layer using an offset spatula or the back of a spoon. Pour the prepared rhubarb mixture over the cake batter, creating an even layer as best you can.
  • Stir together the crumb mixture: melt the butter and add the brown sugar, flour, salt and sprinkle of cinnamon. Once it comes together, use your fingers to spread chunks of crumb topping evenly over the rhubarb layer.
  • Bake in preheated oven for 50-60 minutes. The cake is finished when a toothpick is inserted into the cake and comes out clean–no wet cake batter. Cool completely and then remove the cake (using your parchment sling) and cut into pieces to serve. Enjoy!

Notes

Sourdough Discard: Not all sourdough discard is created equal. Discard that has been sitting in the fridge for a month will be more sour than discard sitting for a day or two. Using older discard can alter or deepen the sourdough flavor. If you don’t want much sourdough flavor and are making this recipe to use up discard, use a “newer” or less-sour discard. If you want to taste the sourdough flavor, choose a discard that has been in your refrigerator for awhile.
Keyword beginner sourdough, rhubarb, sourdough discard

Disclaimer: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a very small amount from qualifying purchases.

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Amy1 Comment

Fresh Strawberry Scones

Sometimes I make a recipe and just know that it needs to be shared. Immediately! Fresh Strawberry Scones are incredibly delicious and with Kentucky’s too short strawberry season I knew this recipe needed to be posted ASAP so you can enjoy some of these delicious scones before the freshly picked strawberries are gone for the season. I’m sure these scones would be delicious with store-bought berries too but there’s just something about picking your own strawberries or grabbing a gallon or two of freshly picked strawberries from a local farm. You just can’t beat those sun-ripened strawberries in the middle of May and the fresh strawberry flavor really comes through in these scones.

Fresh Strawberry Filling

Fresh strawberries are magical. Bursting with beautiful flavor, I love how these scones highlight the fresh flavor of strawberry. After picking your fresh strawberries or grabbing some from your local farm, dice up two cups of strawberries and put them in a liquid measuring cup. Using a potato masher or fork/spoon, smash the strawberries in the liquid measuring cup. The goal here is to release the juices from the berries until the liquid measuring cup has reduced to 1 1/2 cups of smushed strawberries. Too much liquid in scones can make the scones taste “bready” and not flaky. Place a fine mesh strainer on top of a bowl. Pour the juicy, 1 1/2 cups of strawberries into the fine mesh strainer and push the strawberry mixture back and forth to strain out about 1/2 cup of juice. Dump the strawberries in the strainer back into the liquid measuring cup. Set the strawberry liquid to the side to use in the glaze. Add 1/3 cup powdered sugar and 3 Tablespoons of flour to the strawberries in the liquid measuring cup and mix it up. Set aside while you make the strawberry scones.

Preheat the Oven

I used to be the kind of baker who would forget to preheat my oven. ALL. THE. TIME. As a busy mom, I never thought I had the time to wait for my oven to fully preheat. While that might work for some recipes (I’ll often put loaves of bread into a preheating oven to finish the rise while the oven comes to temperature), it does not work well for others. These scones really benefit from a properly preheated oven. Baking scones at a high heat activates the baking powder for a beautiful rise and turns the chilled butter into steamy air pockets which make for a light and airy scone. Basically, for this recipe, you won’t want to cut corners. Preheat the oven as you’re pulling the ingredients out for these fresh strawberry scones and you won’t regret it!

Grate the Butter

One of my favorite tips when working with pastry, scones or biscuits is to grate the butter into the flour mixture. Start with butter straight from the freezer or refrigerator. Grate it into a pile and add the small bits of grated butter to the flour mixture. This grated butter is the perfect size for most recipes calling to “cut in” butter. You can also use a pastry cutter (affiliate link) to get pea-sized pieces of butter sprinkled throughout the flour mixture.

Scone Dough: Keep Ingredients Chilled

Scone dough comes together fast. Use an all purpose or low protein content (8-10%) flour, whisked with the sugar, baking powder and salt. Grate in the cold butter and toss it together before adding in the chilled liquid ingredients (egg, milk and cream). The colder the ingredients, the better the scones (ie: flaky, higher rise, better texture). After mixing together the scone dough, spreading the filling on top and pinching them closed, I’ll stick the cut scones into the freezer to chill for a few minutes before baking. Pre-made scones can also be frozen and then baked at your convenience. Just add a couple minutes of baking time.

Use a Light Hand and Laminate the Dough

Scone dough is very similar to biscuits or pie crust. If the dough is overworked, the gluten starts to develop, which results in tough, not tender scones. To achieve a tender scone, do your best to use a light hand when working the dough. I use a fork to mix the dough together until it has just barely come together. Then turn the dough out on the countertop and separate it into two pieces of dough and pat each piece into a square. To “laminate” the dough, fold the square in half and then in half again. Laminating creates more tender and flaky layers of scone dough. That’s about all you’ll want to “work” this dough.

Assembling the Scones

Typically, scone dough is rolled out, cut and baked. This recipe differs because you actually cut the dough in half. I based these fresh strawberry scones off of our favorite King Cake Scones which are also delicious. Roll out both halves of the dough into equal eight inch circles. Then add sweet strawberry filling on top of one of the circles of scone dough. Smooth it around, leaving a little bit of space at the edge of the circle of dough. Then sandwich the other piece of dough on top. You get a nice thick layer of strawberry filling in the middle of the scone. Pinch the edges of the scone dough closed together, moving around the edges of the dough. Initially I thought the scones would be oozing out filling but the filling holds pretty well when baked. A little strawberry mixture will ooze out a bit, but it is easily removed from the scone after the scone cools if desired. At this point the scones can be baked immediately or chilled a little longer in the freezer before baking.

Bake and Top the Scones with Glaze

Once you put the scones into the oven, it’s time to use the strawberry juice you set to the side after making the strawberry filling. This juice is full of sweet strawberry flavor. It will also have a beautiful pink hue without using any food coloring. Add 1 cup of powdered sugar to about 1/4 cup of reserved strawberry juice. Whisk together while the scones bake, and drizzle the scones with this beautiful glaze once they have baked and cooled about 5-10 minutes. Enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to use fresh strawberries in these scones? Can I use strawberry jam instead?

These scones taste best with freshly picked strawberries. If fresh strawberries are not in season, choose strawberries that have good flavor. You can also try substituting about 1/2 cup strawberry jam mixed with a Tablespoon of flour for the strawberry filling if you’re in a bind.

Why should I bake scones at a high temperature?

The high temperature activates the baking powder to give a beautiful rise to the scone. It also turns the butter into steamy pockets of air without leaving butter oozing on the baking sheet.

How do I store leftover strawberry scones?

Scones can be left at room temperature for up to 24 hours. After 24 hours, place in a ziplock bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

Looking for Other Favorite Fresh Strawberry Recipes?

Try our favorite strawberry buttermilk cake, the best strawberry shortcake, delicious strawberry fruit pizza or these strawberry orange muffins.

Fresh Strawberry Scones

Delicious scones made with freshly picked, ripe strawberries and drizzled with sweet strawberry glaze. These are the perfect scones to make for a weekend brunch or after going strawberry picking!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Course Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 8 scones

Ingredients
  

Fresh Strawberry Scones

  • 2 3/4 cup all purpose flour see recipe notes
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter chilled or frozen
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream
  • 1/3 cup milk

Strawberry Scone Filling

  • 2 cups diced strawberries freshly picked is best
  • 1/3 cup powdered sugar
  • 3 Tablespoons flour

Scone Glaze

  • 1/4 cup reserved strawberry juice
  • 1 cup powdered sugar

Instructions
 

Strawberry Scone Filling

  • Put two cups of diced strawberries in a liquid measuring cup. Smush the strawberries, extracting some of the juices from the berries until the strawberries reduce a bit and the liquid measuring cup shows 1 1/2 cups.
  • Place a fine mesh strainer on top of a bowl. Pour the juicy, 1 1/2 cups of strawberries into the fine mesh strainer and push the strawberry mixture back and forth to strain out about 1/2 cup of juice.
  • Dump the strawberries in the strainer back into the liquid measuring cup. Set the strawberry liquid to the side to use in the glaze. Add 1/3 cup powdered sugar and 3 Tablespoons of flour to the strawberries in the liquid measuring cup and mix it up. Set aside while you make the strawberry scones.

Strawberry Scone Dough

  • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
  • Grate the entire stick of cold butter into small pieces. Add the butter to the flour mixture and mix until little pieces of butter are evenly distributed throughout. Alternatively you can "cut" the butter into the flour mixture using a pastry cutter into pea sized shapes.
  • Mix together the eggs, heavy cream and milk in a liquid measuring cup. Pour into the butter/flour mixture and mix together until it is just combined and forms a ball.
  • Turn the dough out onto a countertop or pastry mat and knead two or three times. Cut the dough into two equal sections.
  • Lightly flour both balls of dough. Roll both balls out into equal sized 8 inch circles. Spread the strawberry filling on top of one of the circles, leaving a little gap on the edges.
  • Place the other 8 inch circle of dough on top of the strawberry filling, sandwiching the scone dough together. Pinch the seams closed.
  • Cut the dough into 8 triangular sections and place on a parchment lined baking sheet.
  • Bake scones for 14-16 minutes until baked through and a little brown on top.
  • While the scones bake, mix up the glaze. Whisk together 1/4 cup of the reserved strawberry juice with 1 cup powdered sugar. After the scones have cooled a bit, top each scone with glaze. Enjoy!

Notes

Flour: This recipe works great with all purpose flour. If you happen to have a soft flour (protein content of 8.5-10%), that will work the best for a softer, melt-in-your-mouth scone. I buy my flour from Weisenberger Mills.
Strawberry Filling: I prefer this recipe with fresh strawberries. If you don’t have fresh strawberries on hand, you can use your favorite strawberry jam in place of the fresh strawberry filling. Use 1/2 cup of your favorite strawberry jam and mix 1 Tablespoon of flour with the jam before spreading on the scone dough.
Keyword fresh strawberries, Scones, strawberry scone

Rating: 1 out of 5.

Disclaimer: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a very small amount from qualifying purchases.

Follow me on Instagram @amybakesbread, like Amy Bakes Bread on Facebook or follow me on Pinterest for more baking ideas. Please share this recipe if you enjoyed it! Post a photo and tag me @amybakesbread so I can see your bake.

Amy2 Comments

Chocolate Banana Sourdough Muffins

Brown bananas and sourdough discard are two things that I am constantly looking for ways to use up in my kitchen. I’ve got a good sourdough discard banana bread recipe but this recipe for chocolate banana sourdough muffins hits me straight in my chocolate-loving heart. Chock full of banana, oats and sourdough I can at least pretend the health benefits outweigh the brown sugar. But seriously, these are decadent, delicious and you probably have all the ingredients you need on hand to make them today.

Sourdough Discard in Baked Goods

If you’re new around here, you may not know that I love baking with sourdough. I’ve got a whole bunch of recipes that use sourdough discard and sourdough starter. Because I refresh my sourdough starter often, I end up with quite a bit of leftover discard in my fridge. I don’t like this discard to go to waste, so I find muffins, waffles, crackers, pretzels and rolls to put it into. The sourdough discard enhances the flavor and creates less kitchen waste.

How Long Does Sourdough Discard Last?

Typically sourdough discard can last a couple of weeks in your refrigerator. The longer the discard sits in your fridge, the more fermented and sour it will taste. If you like this flavor in your baked goods, use discard that is older. For a more mellow flavor, use discard that is only a day or two old. If you love baking with sourdough but don’t want any sour flavor, use bubbly sourdough starter instead of the discard. You can use what you prefer. I typically use a 100% hydration sourdough discard–equal weights of water and flour mixed with the starter. If your discard is maintained at a different hydration you may need a splash of milk for a thicker discard or a little extra flour for a thinner discard.

Overripe Bananas and Ground Oats

Anytime you bake with bananas, whether it’s banana bread, banana muffins or these chocolate sourdough banana muffins, you will want to use overripe bananas. These brown or black bananas add a lot of flavor and moisture to the recipe. I also love the use of oats in this recipe. It gives an added punch of whole grains and combined with the flour gives a melt-in-your-mouth muffin texture. Grind up one cup of oats in a blender and mix it right in with the flour mixture. I haven’t used whole wheat flour or gluten-free flour in this recipe, but I bet either would substitute really well.

Good Quality Cocoa Powder

One of the key flavors in this recipe comes from the cocoa powder. I love this cocoa powder and buy it in bulk at Costco. It is deep, rich and flavorful. Use whatever cocoa powder you love, preferably one that has a rich flavor that will transfer through to the muffins. I also always use semi-sweet chocolate chips in this recipe. I prefer the rich taste of chocolate to come through. Good quality chocolate also helps mellow the sourdough discard flavor if you are using an older discard.

Mixing the Muffin Batter

Most of the time when I mix together this muffin batter I’ll smash the bananas, add the brown sugar, eggs, melted butter, vanilla extract and sourdough discard. I’ll mix that together really well until combined. Then I’ll add in the cocoa powder and mix it until incorporated. I’ll add the flour on top of the mixture and pour the salt and baking powder right on top of the flour, taking care not to get the salt/powder in the liquid mixture. I like to fluff the salt and baking powder using a fork to mix it into the flour (this saves me a bowl and makes clean up easier). Then I’ll add the ground oats on top and gently mix together the batter. Over-mixing muffing batter leads to gummy and dense muffins. I like my muffins light and airy so I don’t mind leaving a few little streaks of flour. Add in the chocolate chips for the perfect chocolatey banana muffin and stir gently before scooping and filling a 12 cup muffin tin.

Baking Temperature is The Key to a Nicely Risen Muffin

This recipe calls for baking the muffins at a high temperature of 400 degrees for the first 5 minutes and then reducing the temperature to 325 degrees for the last 15 minutes of baking. The reason: a perfectly risen muffin. The high heat helps activate the baking powder in the muffin which gives the muffin the perfect rise. If you don’t want to do this step, go ahead and bake the muffins at 325 degrees for the whole 20-22 minutes. You may not have quite the same bakery-quality rise, but they will still be delicious.