Air Fryer Sourdough Discard Biscuits
Intro:
These flaky, buttery sourdough discard biscuits are the perfect way to use up your sourdough starter discard! With a golden crust and tender layers inside, they cook up beautifully in the air fryer, giving you oven-quality biscuits in less time and without heating up the kitchen. The tang from the sourdough discard adds depth of flavor that sets these biscuits apart from the usual.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Chill Time (Optional for extra flakiness): 15–30 minutes
Air Fryer Cook Time: 10–12 minutes
Total Time: 25–45 minutes
Ingredients (Makes 6–8 biscuits)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
6 tbsp unsalted butter, cold and cubed
1 cup sourdough discard (unfed, cold or room temp)
2–3 tbsp cold milk or buttermilk (as needed)
Optional: 1/2 tsp sugar (for slightly sweet biscuits)
Optional: Melted butter for brushing
Instructions
Mix the Dough
In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Add the cold butter cubes and cut them in using a pastry cutter or your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized bits of butter.
Stir in the sourdough discard and 1 tbsp milk to start. Mix until the dough holds together but isn’t sticky. Add an extra tbsp of milk if needed.
Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Pat it into a rectangle about 3/4” thick. Fold the dough in half, then pat out again. Repeat the fold 3–4 times to create layers.
Cut and Chill
Cut out biscuits using a round cutter or a floured glass (about 2.5”–3” wide).
Place biscuits on a plate or tray and chill in the fridge for 15–30 minutes for best flakiness (optional, but recommended).
Air Fry
Preheat air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for 3 minutes.
Lightly grease or line the air fryer basket with parchment paper (with holes punched for airflow).
Arrange biscuits in the basket with a bit of space between each (you may need to do two batches).
Air fry at 375°F for 10–12 minutes, or until golden brown and puffed. Check at 9 minutes to avoid over-browning.
Tip: Brush the tops with melted butter right before serving for extra richness.
Serving Suggestions
These biscuits are fantastic:
Warm with butter and jam
Alongside eggs and bacon for breakfast
With honey or gravy for brunch
As a side for soups or stews
Storage & Reheating
Store cooled biscuits in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 2–3 minutes to refresh.
Freeze baked biscuits for up to 2 months; reheat directly from frozen in the air fryer at 350°F for 5–6 minutes.