Sourdough Graham Crackers

Sourdough graham crackers are an easy and wholesome twist on a childhood favorite snack. Made with honey, cinnamon, and sourdough starter, these homemade graham crackers are as comforting as the original and so much better for you!

I love trying to replicate my family’s favorite snacks at home. It makes it so much easier to ensure that no unwanted chemicals or preservatives are in our food, and it also almost always tastes better. 🙂 Homemade cheez-its, bagel bites, and pop tarts have definitely become some of our new favorites. While I can’t say we never buy these from the store, the homemade versions just taste so much better.

My younger brother loves graham crackers, so of course, I had to try and make some myself. And yes, I did make them with sourdough – couldn’t resist! 🙂 In general, I’m not a huge fan of graham crackers, but I definitely enjoyed these. After all, they’re no ordinary graham crackers. Instead of being dry and stale like the store-bought version, these graham crackers are slightly soft and full of flavor. Cinnamon, honey, and sourdough make such a cozy combination, perfect for dunking in milk, using in desserts, or even making s’mores.

Besides tasting delicious, sourdough graham crackers are also super easy to make. You only need a few ingredients from your pantry and a few minutes to mix up the cracker dough. And as an added bonus, they’ll make your kitchen smell INCREDIBLE as they bake. Try making some for yourself and see what you think!

What gives graham crackers their distinctive flavor?

While graham crackers are often marketed as containing whole wheat and honey, the whole wheat flour actually doesn’t contribute much to the graham flavor. Instead, the cinnamon with honey and a hint of vanilla give the crackers their signature taste. Because of this, you can use all-purpose flour to make graham crackers and still enjoy that classic flavor!

Tips for making sourdough graham crackers:

• These sourdough graham crackers are dairy-free because of the coconut oil. However, if you’re allergic to coconut or would prefer not to use coconut oil, you can use softened butter instead.
• Make sure to refrigerate the graham cracker dough before you cut it into crackers! If you don’t, the dough will get too warm and will spread out when you bake the crackers.
• If you want pillowy graham crackers, just don’t roll the dough out as thin. Aim for about 1/4 inch thickness. For crisper crackers, roll the dough out thinner and bake the crackers for 1-2 minutes longer.
• Store these graham crackers in an air-tight container for up to 1 week.

Tools you will need

To make these sourdough graham crackers, you’ll need two mixing bowls, measuring cups, a spoon, baking trays, parchment paper, a knife or pizza cutter, and a rolling pin.

Ingredients you will need

You probably have all these ingredients in your pantry already!

• 2 cups flour – You can use all-purpose flour or a combination of all-purpose and whole wheat flour.
• 1/2 cup sourdough starter – This can be active or discard starter.
• 1/4 cup honey – Normally graham crackers are made with honey, but if you prefer you can change this to maple syrup.
• 1/4 cup coconut oil – Feel free to replace this with butter if you want.
• 2 tbsp maple syrup – Adds a little extra sweetness and color.
• 1 tsp baking soda – This makes the crackers rise a bit, which is why sourdough discard works in this recipe.
• 1 tsp cinnamon – Cinnamon adds such a cozy and comforting flavor!
• 1 tsp vanilla – You can’t have cinnamon without vanilla. 🙂
• 1/2 tsp salt – Kosher salt works well for this.

How to make sourdough graham crackers

Combine the sourdough starter, honey, coconut oil, vanilla, and maple syrup in a mixing bowl. In another bowl, stir together the baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, and stir to form the graham cracker dough. Cover the dough and refrigerate it for at least one hour.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and use the convection setting if you have it.

Place the graham cracker dough on a sheet of parchment paper and roll it out flat using a rolling pin. If you want more pillowy graham crackers, don’t roll the dough as thin.

Use a knife or a pizza cutter to cut the dough into individual crackers. Prick each cracker several times with the prongs of a fork.

Bake the graham crackers for 10 – 12 minutes depending on how crisp you want them to be. After 5 minutes, break the crackers apart and enjoy!

Want to try more sourdough discard recipes?

If so, you should check out the Kitchen Counter for lots of sourdough baking inspiration! Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Sourdough Discard Bagels
• Sourdough Discard Pizza
• Sourdough Cheese Crackers
• Sourdough Discard Biscuits
• Sourdough Pop Tarts

If you make this recipe and enjoy it, let me know in the comments section below! You can also tag me on instagram @oldfashionedinspiration with a picture of your creation.