Savory Sourdough Cheese Waffles [easy discard recipe]

Do you love delicious sourdough waffles? Well what if I told you that you could make sourdough cheese waffles and they are out of this world delicious? Crispy, golden edges, brimming with cheddar cheese and fluffy sourdough goodness. Does life get any better? Say hello to your new favorite weekend breakfast!

Whether you add some savory toppings to these sourdough cheese waffles, or serve them as a side dish to fried chicken, they are going to rock your world. They work well at any time of the day ... breakfast, lunch, dinner or anything in between. My biggest tip? Make a double batch!

Now if you absolutely love using cheese together with your own sourdough starter, make sure you check out this sourdough rosemary and parmesan loaf, these sourdough cheese muffins or these sourdough zucchini muffins.

Why You'll Love This Sourdough Waffle Recipe?

Savory Twist - this sourdough cheese waffle recipe is a savory, cheesy twist on a regular, sweet sourdough waffle recipe. These sourdough cheddar waffles can be used as a crispy side dish to crispy chicken, pulled pork, spaghetti - there's really no limit to how you can serve these cheesy waffles!

Quick Sourdough Recipe - this recipe can be prepared and cooked in under 30 minutes, making it a wonderful savory breakfast in a hurry or an "emergency bread" for your next dinner. Many waffle recipes require the egg whites to be whipped separately into stiff peaks and folded into the mixture. This recipe is so easy, you literally need a bowl and a fork! This recipe is part of a collection of "no wait sourdough recipes".

Use Up Little Bits of Cheese - if you have a few different bits of cheese that need using up, this is the perfect recipe to use it up in. While I've suggested cheddar cheese (because I think it gives the best flavor), these sourdough cheese waffles will work just as well with any type of melty cheese. Let your imagination run wild!

If you are looking for other sourdough waffle recipes, you might like to check out these no wait sourdough waffles, overnight sourdough waffles or pumpkin sourdough waffles.

Sourdough Starter or Sourdough Discard?

You can use active sourdough starter or unfed sourdough starter (sourdough starter discard) to successfully make this recipe. The tanginess of your sourdough starter pairs perfectly with the salty cheddar cheese, creating a great depth of flavor. I love using active starter with these waffles and then letting the mixture sit for a little bit to get the most benefit out of the sourdough starter.

If you are using unfed starter (sourdough discard) make sure it's not too old and sour as this will negatively impact the flavor profile of your sourdough starter waffles.

If you are just beginning your sourdough journey, you may find these sourdough tips helpful to bring you sourdough success:

• How To Feed Sourdough Starter (at any stage of the sourdough journey)
• Beginner's Guide to Making Simple Sourdough Bread
• Most Common Sourdough Starter Questions (and all the answers)
• How To Tell If Your Sourdough Bread Is Under Fermented

How To Make Sourdough Cheese Waffles

You are going to love just how easy this sourdough cheese waffles recipe is to put together. Many cheese waffle recipes require the egg whites to be whipped into stiff peaks before being folded into the mixture at the very end (a bit like these sourdough blondies that need the egg whites whipped to create that meringue like top). This recipe is so much easier than that!

While I was developing this recipe, I tested out folding in the egg whites at the end and found it didn't make a significant difference to the texture or crispiness of these waffles. And because I love to keep things easy (and of course create less washing up), I decided to simply add the eggs at the beginning, just like when making my no wait sourdough discard waffles.

This sourdough cheese waffle mixture can also be cooked as sourdough pancakes if you do not have a waffle iron or waffle maker. Just be sure to add a little butter to the pan to ensure they do not stick.

In a large bowl, mix together room temperature sourdough starter (or sourdough starter discard), milk and eggs until well combined (you can use your own buttermilk if you'd prefer, there are notes in the recipe card for this).

Pour in the melted butter and stir through the starter mixture.

In a separate bowl, mix together the all purpose flour, salt, baking powder, cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese and garlic powder.

Now pour the dry ingredients on top of the liquid ingredients.

Mix until it forms a thick waffle batter (it's much the same consistency as a thick pancake batter).

Heat up your waffle iron and spoon mixture into the hot waffle iron. Cook according to your waffle iron's instructions until golden brown and cripsy. Allow waffles to sit on a wire cooling rack while you make the other waffles. This allows them to breathe and remain crispy. 

This recipe makes 5 to 6 generous sized sourdough cheese waffles. You can add butter to the waffle irons, however there should be enough butter and cheese in the mixture to make the outside of the waffles golden brown.

Want To Take These Sourdough Cheese Waffles To The Next Level?

I love these sourdough cheese waffles just as they are written in the recipe, but like most things, there are ways to make them tailored to your very own tastebuds. Here are a few additions that I love making when I want to change things up a bit.

• Add a teaspoon of cayenne pepper or black pepper to the mixture before cooking for a little spice. Chopped jalapenos are also a fabulous spicy addition to these crispy waffles. I love making spicy sourdough cheddar waffles to pair with dishes like pulled pork or chili (oh so good).
  
• Add a few tablespoons of your favorite fresh herbs to the mixture. Fresh parsley, chives, garlic, thyme and rosemary all work really well with these savory sourdough waffles. Sourdough cheese waffles made with fresh herbs are lovely served alongside your favorite soup.
  
• Add a few sliced green onions or spring onions to your mixture before cooking for a fresh, spring twist.

What Waffle Maker Should You Use?

I have used a very cheap plug-in waffle maker (very similar to this one). If you can, I recommend using a Belgian waffle maker because you'll get those extra crispy, thick sourdough cheese waffles of your dreams.

But honestly, any waffle maker, as long as it's hot enough, will give you delicious, crispy sourdough cheese waffles. 

This mixture will also work really well in a cast iron waffle maker if you're lucky enough to have one.

How To Store + Freeze

These sourdough cheese waffles really are best served immediately, while they're hot and crispy. If you need to make lots to feed a crowd, I suggest keeping them warm in the oven while you make a few batches. They can also be allowed to cool and then warm them in the oven. I have an air fryer setting on my oven which crisps them up again nicely once they're cool.

These sourdough cheese waffles also freeze really well. I layer parchment paper between each one to ensure they don't stick together. Allow them to thaw at room temp and enjoy cold, or zap a little in the microwave. They will also return to their delicious crispy state if you warm them in the oven.

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