These fluffy Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls are a delectable breakfast treat served up with a buttercream frosting! For those of you with a sourdough starter wondering what else you can make than loaves of bread, here's one (seriously good) recipe!

Homemade Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls

They're here! The long-awaited sourdough cinnamon rolls I've been teasing you about on Instagram have finally dropped and I can't wait to see you make these, too. Just like sourdough bread, it's a recipe that takes some patience as you make the dough and let it rise, but man oh man, are they worth the wait. This recipe uses a sourdough starter; read my whole post here about easily making your own sourdough starter! The starter should be at its peak in height when you use it, and bubbly and active. Feed it 2 to 4 hours before using, depending on its habits, so that it's at its peak when you are using it.

This recipe was developed with a sourdough starter that is kept at 100% hydration (it's fed an equal amount of flour and water), which you can find in my tutorial. It was also tested with Bob's Red Mill all-purpose flour. I recommend trying to avoid flour that has been bleached for best results. The rising times can vary a lot depending on your schedule and how warm your kitchen is. Feel free to let the recipe work in your favor. Know that the longer it rises each time, the more sour flavor it will have. I also used a buttercream frosting, but if you prefer a cream cheese frosting for your cinnamon rolls, feel free to use one instead.

You can make the dough and prepare the rolled dough the night before, and then cover them tightly with plastic wrap and let them rise overnight in the fridge after you've cut and shaped them. Bring them to room temperature before baking in the morning. This adds quite a bit of sour flavor.

What's in these Cinnamon Rolls?

Sourdough cinnamon rolls have simple ingredients and are great to make if you have an active sourdough starter!

Milk: Milk is the liquid that activates your starter and adds some creaminess to the dough.

Sugar: To sweeten the dough slightly, sugar is incorporated.

Butter: Butter adds a nice richness and golden color to the dough.

Active & bubble sourdough starter: Find my tutorial here to make your own sourdough starter!

Salt: Salt elevates and balances all the other flavors.

Eggs: Eggs bind everything together.

All-purpose flour: Flour is what makes the dough into a bread-like texture. I recommend using all-purpose and unbleached for the best results!

Plus ingredients for the filling (brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter) and the frosting (butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk)!

How to Make Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls from Scratch:

It's a lot of steps, but don't let it intimidate you! They're time intensive but easy and SO worth it!

Warm the milk, sugar, and butter.
Mix milk mixture, sourdough starter, salt, 2 eggs, and 2 cups of flour in stand mixer with dough hook on low until wet dough forms.
Mix on medium-low speed to knead very well for 4 to 5 minutes.
Let dough rest for 5 minutes.
Add about ⅓ cup flour; let the machine knead the mixture for another 4 to 5 minutes.
Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead by hand until dough is no longer sticky, but is still tender.
Lightly grease mixing bowl and return the dough to bowl.
Cover dough with damp kitchen towel, and let rise for 3 to 6 hours at room temperature.
Prepare 9x13 baking dish by greasing it well.
Gently remove the dough from the bowl onto a lightly floured work surface.
Roll out the dough into a rectangle that is 14 by 18 inches.
Spread soft butter evenly over the rectangle of rolled-out dough.
Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over the butter.
Sprinkle cinnamon evenly over the brown sugar.
Roll the dough up against itself into a log.
Cut the entire log into 12 even pieces.
Place them flat side down evenly in the pan.
Cover rolls with damp towel, and allow to rise at room temperature for additional 1 to 3 hours.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F., and bake te rolls for 20 to 25 minutes.
Icing: add the butter to a microwave safe bowl and melt.
Add vanilla and powdered sugar to the warm butter and whisk.
Add 1 tablespoon milk at a time; stir to combine.
Allow rolls to rest for 5 minutes after baking.
Spread the warm rolls gently with the icing to cover well. Serve warm.

Tips to Make The Best Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls:

Use unbleached flour: Unbleached flour creates the best consistency and rise for sourdough cinnamon rolls.
Soften the butter for the filling: You want softened but not melted butter for the filling. Microwave it in short increments until it's easy to spread with a butter knife. Melted butter will leak out of the rolls when baking.
Pay attention to rise time: You may have to let your dough rise longer depending on the temperature of the room. Also, the longer the rise, the more sourdough flavor they'll have. If you like strong sourdough, make the dough and prepare the raw rolls in a baking dish before covering and refrigerating overnight. Bake the next morning.

How to Store Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls:

Store leftover, cooled cinnamon rolls in one layer in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. You can also freeze them for 3 to 4 months.

FAQ:

What if my dough doesn't rise?

If your dough isn't rising, try placing it in a sunnier or warmer area of your home. Sometimes a chilly room keeps it from activating and rising.

Another issue may be with the sourdough starter itself. Mixing it with too hot of liquid can kill the natural yeast in the starter, so just make sure you use warm liquid, not hot. You also want it to be at its peak in height when you use it, and bubbly and active. Feed it 2 to 4 hours before using, depending on its habits, so that it's at its peak when you are using it.

Can I make cinnamon rolls ahead of time?

Yes! Prepare the dough and the raw rolls in the baking dish, but instead of baking immediately, refrigerate overnight and bake them in the morning. It makes them extra fluffy and they'll have a stronger sourdough flavor!

More Sourdough Recipes: