Description

This recipe for Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls combines the tangy depth of a natural sourdough starter with the rich flavors of cinnamon and brown sugar, finished with a smooth cream cheese frosting. Perfect for a leisurely morning, these rolls require patience through a long rise time but deliver soft, fluffy, and irresistibly flavorful treats that pair beautifully with coffee or tea.

Ingredients

Scale

Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls Dough

100 grams (1/3 cup) active sourdough starter
175 grams (3/4 cup) warm milk
30 grams (2 Tablespoons) dark brown sugar
57 grams (4 Tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted
5 grams (3/4 teaspoon) salt
1 large egg, room temperature
370 grams (2 1/2 cups + 2 Tablespoons) bread flour
120 grams (1/2 cup) heavy cream, warm (just before baking)

Filling

57 grams (1/4 cup) unsalted butter, softened
150 grams (2/3 cup) dark brown sugar
12 grams (5 teaspoons) ground cinnamon

Cream Cheese Frosting

28 grams (2 Tablespoons) unsalted butter, room temperature
55 grams (2 ounces) cream cheese, room temperature
15 grams (1 Tablespoon) heavy cream
90 grams (3/4 cup) powdered sugar

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Instructions

Prepare the Dough Base: Add active sourdough starter, dark brown sugar, and warm milk (no hotter than 120°F) to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on low speed until ingredients are fully combined.
Add Butter, Salt, and Egg: To the bowl, add melted unsalted butter, salt, and the room temperature egg. Mix on low speed until thoroughly combined.
Incorporate Flour: Switch to the dough hook attachment. Add bread flour gradually, about 70 grams at a time, mixing on medium speed and scraping down the bowl between additions. Continue until dough pulls from the sides and feels tacky but not sticky.
Knead the Dough: Knead the dough on medium speed for an additional 5 minutes to develop gluten structure.
First Rise: Cover the bowl and leave the dough to rise in a warm place until doubled in size, approximately 6-7 hours in a 70°F kitchen.
Shape the Dough: Transfer the risen dough onto a lightly floured surface and roll it into a 16 by 12-inch rectangle.
Apply Filling: Spread the softened butter over the dough’s surface evenly. In a small bowl, mix together dark brown sugar and ground cinnamon, then sprinkle this mixture evenly over the buttered dough.
Roll and Cut: Starting from the long edge nearest you, roll the dough into a log. Trim uneven edges and cut into 9 equal pieces (about 1 3/4 inches each), using floss, string, or a sharp knife.
Prepare Baking Dish and Arrange Rolls: Grease a 9 x 9-inch baking dish or cast iron skillet with butter and arrange rolls spaced about 1/2 to 1 inch apart.
Second Rise: Cover the rolls with a damp towel and allow them to rise until noticeably puffed and grown, about 3-4 hours in a 70°F environment. Alternatively, cover and refrigerate overnight and then allow longer rising time before baking.
Preheat Oven and Add Cream: Preheat oven to 350°F. Just before baking, pour warm heavy cream over the risen rolls to keep them moist during baking.
Bake: Bake the rolls for 30-35 minutes until golden on top and an internal temperature of 190°F is reached.
Cool Slightly: Remove rolls from oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool briefly.
Prepare Frosting: While rolls cool, beat together room temperature unsalted butter and cream cheese in a bowl. Add powdered sugar and heavy cream, mixing until smooth and creamy.
Frost and Serve: Spread cream cheese frosting over warm rolls using an offset spatula, allowing it to melt into cracks for a luscious finish. Serve warm.

Notes

Use a kitchen scale for precision when measuring ingredients.
Light brown sugar can be substituted for dark brown sugar in both dough and filling.
The dough requires long fermentation times; adjust rising based on your kitchen temperature.
For make-ahead convenience, shaped rolls can be refrigerated or frozen before baking. Thaw and allow to rise fully before baking.
To freeze baked rolls for later use, bake, cool, do not frost, then freeze. Reheat at 350°F for about 15 minutes and add frosting after warming.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Rewarm before serving for best texture.
Ideal serving is warm with melted frosting alongside tea or coffee.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cinnamon roll
Calories: 400
Sugar: 20g
Sodium: 220mg
Fat: 18g
Saturated Fat: 10g
Unsaturated Fat: 7g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 52g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 6g
Cholesterol: 75mg