Chocolate Chip Sourdough Cookies
These sourdough chocolate chip cookies have brown butter, rye flour, and discard from sourdough starter. The brown butter deepens the caramel-like flavor while also reducing the water content…. an important step to balance the extra moisture from the sourdough discard. Rye flour adds a subtle complexity that pairs so well with melty chocolate, while the sourdough discard brings a slight tang that balances the sweetness. A long chill time ensures the perfect texture; crispy edges with soft, gooey centers.
Servings: 36 cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter 16 tablespoons; 226 grams
- ¾ cup packed brown sugar 160 grams
- ½ cup granulated sugar 100 grams
- ¾ cup sourdough discard 170 grams
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 large egg yolks 30 to 36 grams
- 2 cups all-purpose flour 240 grams
- ⅔ cup rye flour 70 grams
- 1-½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1-¼ teaspoons salt
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips or chopped chocolate
- 1 to 2 tablespoons Fleur de sel or other large flake sea salt optional
Instructions
Brown the Butter
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter, stirring frequently. As it heats, it will begin to foam. Keep stirring and watch closely as the color starts to change. The milk solids at the bottom will gradually turn from pale to golden, then deep amber.
- Once you see the browned milk solids, remove the pan from heat immediately to prevent burning. Transfer the butter to a mixing bowl and let it cool slightly before proceeding.
Mix the cookie dough
- Add the brown sugar and granulated sugar to the brown butter. Beat until well combined. Add the sourdough discard and vanilla extract, mixing until fully incorporated. Blend in the egg yolks until smooth.
- Place a metal sifter over the bowl and sift in the all-purpose flour, rye flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir until just combined, ensuring no dry streaks remain.
- Fold in the chocolate chips or chopped chocolate.
Portion and Chill
- Using a #40 cookie scoop (about 2 tablespoons), scoop the dough into balls and place them close together on a baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or up to 72 hours.
Bake the Cookies
- When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and arrange the chilled dough balls 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 8 to 9 minutes, or until the edges are set but the centers still look slightly soft. Remove from the oven and sprinkle the tops with Fleur de sel (if using).
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 2 to 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Let the sourdough discard come to room temperature before using it to ensure even mixing.
- Watch the butter closely while it browns, stirring constantly. The color changes quickly, and once it reaches that rich, nutty stage, it can burn in seconds.
- Chilling the cookie dough allows the flour to hydrate, enhances the flavor with a longer ferment time, and prevents the cookies from spreading too much.
- For accurate flour measurement, use a scale. If measuring by volume, spoon the flour into the cup and level it off instead of scooping directly from the bag to avoid adding too much.
- Sprinkle flaky salt on the cookies while they’re still warm so it sticks properly and enhances the chocolate.
- Since egg yolk sizes vary, using a weight measurement ensures the right balance of fat and moisture, which is especially important since the discard adds extra liquid.
- Sourdough discard can vary in liquid content, especially as it ages; it tends to become thinner over time.
- For the best results, use discard that is no older than 48 hours. Older discard can be too runny, which may affect the dough’s consistency. If your discard is on the thinner side, an extra tablespoon of flour can help.
- Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. Moving them too soon can cause them to break.
- Pull the cookies from the oven when the centers still look slightly soft. They’ll continue to set as they cool, giving them that perfectly chewy texture.
- If you freeze the cookie dough in pre-portioned balls, you can bake them from frozen. Just add 1 to 2 minutes to the bake time.
Nutrition
Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 172kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 25mg | Sodium: 133mg | Potassium: 80mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 177IU | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 1mg
