Cinnamon Rolls with Sourdough Discard

The most amazing cinnamon rolls ever!

This is how I make the best cinnamon rolls in the world.

Fabulous Cinnamon Rolls with Sourdough Discard.

Cinnamon rolls made even tastier with sourdough discard to ehnance flavor and richness.
Course Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Servings 12 Rolls
Author Kathleen Allenbach

Ingredients

Dough Ingredients

  • 200 grams All purpose flour unbleached
  • 60 grams White whole wheat flour (Red whole wheat may be used.)
  • 2 ½ teaspoons Instant yeast (7 grams)
  • 74 grams Granulated sugar (1/3 cup)
  • 1 tablespoon dry milk powder (Optional, but increases richness of dough.)
  • 200 grams sourdough starter discard (Discard or newly fed sourdough starter may be used.)
  • 80 grams Whole milk (Any milk may be used.)
  • 1 large egg
  • 3 ½ Tablespoons melted butter (42 grams)
  • 6 grams sea salt (1 teaspoon)

Cinnamon Filling Ingredients

  • 150 grams light brown sugar (⅔ cup packed)
  • 70 grams granulated sugar (¼ cup)
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • pinch fine sea salt
  • 4 tablespoons butter melted

Icing Ingredients

  • 4 ounces cream cheese room temperature
  • 1 tablespoon milk (Any milk will work)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 6 ounces powdered sugar-sifted works best (1 ½ cups)

Instructions

  • Make the Dough
  • In a medium bowl, combine the flours, sugar, dry milk powder and yeast.
  • Heat milk to 75°F-85°F. Pour into a large bowl and whisk in the egg and sourdough discard. Mix well.
  • Add the flour mixture to the milk mixture and mix with one hand until all the flour is incorporated. Cover and let sit for 20 minutes.
  • Add the salt and melted butter to the dough and mix well.
  • Fold over knead 20 times and let rest covered 15 minutes.
  • Fold over knead 20 times and let rest covered 15 minutes.
  • Fold over knead 20 times and let rest covered 15 minutes.
  • Fold over knead 20 times.
  • Place dough into an oiled rising container, cover and let rise until doubled. (1½-2 hours.)

Assemble the rolls

  • When the dough has doubled roll out to a 12-inch by 16-inch rectangle.
  • Mix the cinnamon filling and melt the butter.
  • Leaving a ½-inch border around the dough, brush the rectangle with melted butter and sprinkle on sugar mixture.
  • Note: 2/3 cup raisins and 1/2 cup toasted walnuts or pecan may be added here. Soak raisins for 20 minutes in hot water, drain well and cool. Toast the nuts in a 325°F oven for 8 minutes or until fragrant. Cool. Sprinkle evenly over cinnamon butter.
  • Starting at the long side, roll the dough into a tight cylinder, pinching tightly to seal the seam.
  • Cut the dough into 12 pieces andplace cut side up, into an oiled 9" by 12" baking pan. For easier removal of rolls and clean up, line the pan with parchment paper.
  • Cover the rolls with plastic and let rise until doubled, 1-1½ hours.
  • Adjust an oven rack to the middle position. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Remove the plastic and bake until the rolls are golden brown, about 30 minutes. (195°F internal temperature)
  • When rolls are finished baking, transfer to a wire rack and brush immediately with ½ of the icing.
  • Let cool for 30 minutes and add the remaining icing. (If desired.)

7 thoughts on “Cinnamon Rolls with Sourdough Discard”

  1. Loved your recipe on YouTube and came to have a look on your page. Just pointing out wee typo in the yeast, 97g yeast I think should be 7?!

      1. 5 stars
        I’ve brought them to work and shared them amongst friends, the feedback I always receive is overwhelmingly positive! Best cinnamon roll recipe ever

  2. Hi, Kathleen, I have learned a lot from your youtube videos. Thank you!
    I have never made sourdough bread, and thus I have no starter.
    Is it possible to make a substitution?
    Thanks, Noreen in WA state

    1. Hi Noreen, You can replace the sourdough starter discard with 100 grams all purpose flour and 100 grams water or milk. (Milk will create a richer dough.) Follow the recipe as directed. Note that you can create a richer dough by placing the dough into the refrigerator right after the final fold over knead. Remove the dough from the fridge anytime after 16 hours up to 3-days later. Proceed with directions.
      Kathleen

  3. 5 stars
    Hi Kathleen,
    I followed your recipe and was successful in my first attempt making cinnamon rolls from my sourdough discard.
    The recipe was easy to follow and the final product was delicious.
    My family (and neighbors) love it when I make these.
    Please post more recipes. They work every time.
    Thank you,
    Phil, Tennessee

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