Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls are a deliciously sweet treat that will have your taste buds jumping for joy. These delectable rolls are made with a light, fluffy dough and are filled with cinnamon-sugar goodness.
Enjoy them warm out of the oven as an indulgent snack or serve as an impressive dessert. Whatever you choose, you won’t be disappointed! If you love everything sourdough, make sure you check out my The Sourdough Essentials Physical Cookbook
Why You’ll Love Cinnamon Rolls
- These sourdough rolls are a delicious treat that are sure to satisfy any sweet tooth while still using far less sugar than most recipes out there!
- The flavor of a sourdough cinnamon roll is unique and incomparable with other types of rolls. The dough itself has a light, airy texture that pairs perfectly with the warm, gooey cinnamon-sugar filling.
- Making your cinnamon rolls from scratch can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience, especially if you use a sourdough starter culture you’ve nurtured yourself!
Ingredients Needed
Keep in mind that the recipe card will have a complete list of all the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe!
A sourdough starter is a culture of wild yeast and bacteria used to make leavened bread products. It provides a unique flavor and texture that sets sourdough bread apart from traditional bread recipes.
Water helps to hydrate the flour, allowing it to bind with the yeast, starches, and proteins in the dough and form gluten strands which give bread its structure.
Sea salt is an essential ingredient that adds flavor and helps control the fermentation of the dough.
Not only does honey add sweetness to your rolls, but also aids in browning and gives a subtle flavor.
Avocado oil gives your rolls an extra moist texture by covering flour particles with fat so they can’t absorb as much water during baking. It also has beneficial fatty acid content that can help nourish your body! You can also use coconut oil.
Eggs provide protein that helps the dough rise higher once baked, as well as a beautiful golden-brown color on top of your finished product.
The type of flour you use will determine the type of consistency you get for your cinnamon rolls. All purpose flour, whole wheat or khorasan (Kamut) flours all have different characteristics that contribute to each roll’s final result.
FAQs for Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls
Where did cinnamon rolls originate?
Legend says cinnamon bark may have made its way to Europe from Sri Lanka while some credit it from Egypt over 2,000 years ago!
Sweden may have been the first to really create the cinnamon roll as we know it. It is called ‘kanelbulle’ and they add cardamom for a distinct flavor.
In Germany, they have ‘franzbrotchen’ which looks like a cross between a cinnamon roll and a croissant.
Britain is known for its Chelsea bun. We all know this from the Great British Baking Show, don’t we?
In Canada, they serve cinnamon buns made with lots of cinnamon, so much so that it can be spicy to the taste!
How long does it take to make Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls?
It typically takes less than 30 minutes to make your dough. The long ferment, which is all hands off, takes the longest! Depending on where you put your dough, sourdough can take 6-8 to rise. Feel free to give these a long ferment by putting the dough in the refrigerator for up to 5 days! After you shape your rolls, they will need to rise again and then bake!
Are cinnamon rolls healthy?
These Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls are a healthier option compared to other types of cinnamon rolls as they are made from wholesome ingredients like wheat flour, natural sweeteners and healthy fats. The amount of sugar is far less than a most other recipes! The fermentation process breaks down the gluten and makes it so much easier for the body to digest. They can also be topped with nutrient-rich seeds or nuts for added nutrition.
How do I refrigerate cinnamon rolls?
After baking, allow the cinnamon rolls to cool completely before placing them in an airtight container or plastic wrap. You can then store them in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Can I freeze cinnamon rolls?
Yes, you can freeze baked Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls. Let them cool completely. You can wrap each one individually with plastic wrap or store them all together in an airtight container. They can be frozen for up to 2-3 months.
How do I thaw frozen Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls?
To thaw frozen cinnamon rolls, remove them from the freezer and let them sit at room temperature until they are completely thawed.
To reheat frozen baked cinnamon rolls, remove the desired number of rolls from the freezer and let them thaw on the counter. Reheat in a 250° oven until warmed throughout. It will be like a freshly baked cinnamon roll, warm from the oven!
More Sourdough Recipes to Check Out
What should homemade cinnamon roll dough feel like?
I often talk about learning to read the dough. An enriched dough such as this (meaning it has added fat like egg and oil) should be a soft, stretchy dough. This requires kneading the dough long enough so that it forms that good structure.
Do not add too much flour to your dough or it will make your cinnamon rolls turn out dense and tough. Adding a little bit of flour at a time until it reaches a the correct consistency is better than adding it all at once.
Are you excited to try your made from scratch cinnamon rolls?
These cinnamon rolls are a delightful treat that can be enjoyed by anyone with a sweet tooth. Not only do they offer the classic flavors of cinnamon and sugar, but they also have the added benefit of being made with a natural sourdough starter.
This gives them a unique texture and flavor profile that is sure to impress even the most discerning palates. Whether you are an experienced baker or just starting out, these cinnamon rolls are a fun and delicious way to experiment in the kitchen.
So, why not give them a try and experience their mouth-watering goodness for yourself?
Watch me make Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls here!
Want to make heart shaped cinnamon rolls? I show how to do that HERE!
Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients
Dough
- 1/2 cup starter
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup avocado oil
- 2 eggs
- 4-4.5 cups flour
Filling
- softened butter
- 1/3 cup coconut sugar
- 2 tsp cinnamon
Frosting
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
- 4 oz cream cheese
- 1-2 tablespoon pure maple syrup
Instructions
- Combine the starter, water, salt, honey, oil and eggs in a mixer. Add the flour a cup at a time, allowing the mixer to incorporate the flour each time.
- Continue adding flour until the dough cleans the sides of the mixing bowl. Start checking at 3 cups of flour. Knead for 10 minutes. The dough should not be sticky, but should be elastic and have stretch to it. Too much flour will make the rolls tough and not tender.
- Take the dough out of the mixer and form it into a ball. Place it into a bowl big enough for the dough to double in size. If doing a long ferment, refrigerate for 1-3 days. Cover the bowl and let the dough rise somewhere warm until it nearly double.
- Turn the dough onto the counter. Roll the dough into a rectangle, (about 15×10 inches). Spread a layer of butter over the dough and then sprinkle the coconut sugar and cinnamon all across the dough.
- Roll the dough lengthwise into a log. Cut into 9 pieces using a sharp knife or slice with dental floss.
- Place the rolls into an oiled 9×9 baking pan and let rise somewhere warm until nearly double in size. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes.
- While cinnamon rolls are baking, whisk together frosting ingredients until smooth and creamy. Add milk to thin to desired consistency. Spread over warm cinnamon rolls and serve.
Does it need to be active starter? Looks delish!
Author
Yes, active starter 🙂
Hi Laura, Can these be made without using a mixer
Author
Yes! You can knead by hand.