Rustic Apple Cider & Maple Sugar Sourdough Discard Cookies
October 8, 2025
Apple Cider Sourdough Discard Cookies You’ll Want to Bake All Season Long!
Brown butter. Maple sugar. A splash of apple cider. These cookies are basically a warm fall hug fresh from the oven. 🍎🍪
These apple cider sourdough discard cookies are what cozy weekends were made for — soft and chewy in the middle, lightly crisp on the edges, and filled with that sweet apple-cinnamon aroma that makes the whole kitchen smell like fall.
Each cookie starts with rich brown butter and a touch of maple sugar for warmth, then gets a splash of apple cider reduction to bring out a subtle tang that pairs perfectly with your sourdough discard. The result? A rustic, melt-in-your-mouth cookie that tastes like an apple cider donut met a maple sugar dream. 🍁✨
Sprinkle these apple cider sourdough discard cookies with maple-cinnamon sugar for a sparkly crunch, or swirl on a tangy cream cheese dip if you’re feeling extra cozy. Either way, they’re the kind of cookies that disappear as fast as they cool.
🥰 Why You’ll Love These Cookies
🥄 Brown Butter Magic – Nutty, caramel depth in every bite.
🍁 Maple Sugar Sweetness – Warm, subtle, and sparkly.
🍎 Apple Cider Twist – Cozy fall aroma that fills the kitchen.
♻️ Sourdough Discard Win – Soft, chewy, and zero waste.
☕ Cozy & Comforting – Perfect with coffee, cider, or a chill day.
👩🍳 A Baker’s Tease
🍯 No Maple Sugar? Swap in light brown sugar or a drizzle of maple syrup for that same cozy sweetness.
🍎 Cider Secrets – Reduce your apple cider ahead of time; it adds depth and a hint of tang that wakes up every bite.
🧈 Brown Butter = Magic – Don’t skip it. That nutty flavor makes these cookies unforgettable.
💛 Chill Time Matters – A short chill keeps the edges crisp and centers perfectly chewy.
☕ Next-Day Upgrade – Somehow even softer the next morning — especially with coffee or chai.
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Ingredients
Adjust Servings
| 120 g (½ cup) unsalted butter, browned and cooled slightly | |
| 150 g (¾ cup, packed) maple sugar (or light brown sugar) | |
| 1 large egg | |
| 1 tsp vanilla extract | |
| 80 g (⅓ cup) sourdough discard (unfed, room temp) | |
| 60 ml (¼ cup) apple cider → reduce to 30 ml (2 Tbsp) for concentrated flavor | |
| 200 g (1 ⅔ cups) all-purpose flour | |
| ½ tsp baking soda | |
| ½ tsp baking powder | |
| ½ tsp fine sea salt | |
| 1 tsp cinnamon | |
| ¼ tsp nutmeg (freshly grated if possible) | |
| ¼ tsp ground ginger |
Cream cheese dip
| 2 tbsp maple sugar or powdered sugar | |
| 1 tsp apple cider reduction | |
| pinch of cinnamon |
Nutritional Information
Directions
Brown the butter
Reduce the cider
Mix wet ingredients
Mix dry ingredients
Combine
Bake
Cool & enjoy
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