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Sourdough Discard Cinnamon Rolls

Nothing is quite as delicious as waking up and deciding to make cinnamon rolls. These Sourdough Discard Cinnamon Rolls would win dessert of the year! Today you’re going to learn how to make something incredibly delicious!

The best thing about these fluffy sourdough cinnamon rolls is that there is no rise time, you can eat them right away or the next day. Plus, they’re really easy to make. Give them a try today!

Sourdough Discard Cinnamon rolls on a white plate with a green and white napkin in the background

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Using a sourdough discard starter, you can make Discard Cinnamon Rolls. I used to be intimidated by making cinnamon rolls, but now I can make them without any issues! My step-by-step recipe will teach you how to make the rolls, filling, and glaze!

I have a confession to make: I’m addicted to sourdough discard cinnamon rolls. There, I said it. Every time I make a batch of sourdough starter, I can’t help but think about the delicious cinnamon rolls I can make with the discarded starter.

And let me tell you, they are absolutely delicious! If you’ve never had a sourdough discard cinnamon roll before, you’re in for a real treat. They are fluffy and moist with a sweet and gooey cinnamon filling.

Plus, the added tang from the sourdough starter makes them extra special. So if you’re looking for an easy and delicious breakfast or dessert idea, be sure to give these rolls a try!

two sourdough discard cinnamon rolls on a white plate with a green and white napkin

โค๏ธ Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Making cinnamon rolls from scratch – If you’ve always wanted to make cinnamon rolls from scratch, then this is your recipe to try!
  • Easy to follow recipe – Why should you want to spend hours making a recipe that makes no sense? My recipe is simple to follow and you’ll be able to make it in no time.
  • Cinnamon rolls everyone loves – Now is your chance to make cinnamon rolls that everyone loves!
ingredients for sourdough discard cinnamon rolls on a wooden background labelled with text

๐Ÿ›’Ingredients

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Dough Ingredients

  • butter, cold
  • all-purpose flour
  • sourdough starter discard
  • milk
  • granulated sugar
  • salt
  • baking powder
  • baking soda

Filling Ingredients

  • light brown sugar
  • cinnamon
  • butter, melted

Glaze Ingredients

  • powdered sugar
  • butter, melted
  • vanilla extract
  • milk

See the recipe card below for quantities.

๐Ÿ”ช How to Make Sourdough Discard Cinnamon Rolls

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Spray with cooking spray a 12โ€ cast iron skillet.

cubed butter and flour in a white mixing bowl on a wooden background

In a large bowl, add your flour. Cut your butter into pats and add to your flour. Using your hands, or a pastry cutter, work the butter into the dough. Crumbles should resemble pea-sized.

sourdough dough in a white mixing bowl on a wooden background

Add to your flour mixture, sourdough starter, milk, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Mix well.

cinnamon roll dough, rolled out on a floured wooden background

Lightly flour a flat surface and add your dough mixture. Roll your dough to a 12 x 22 inches rectangle.

Filling: Melt your butter in a small bowl. Add to your butter mixture your cinnamon and sugar. Mix.

dough topped with brown sugar and cinnamon on a wooden background

Brush your cinnamon sugar mixture to your dough evenly, leaving space on the edges.

cinnamon roll dough being rolled up on a wooden background

Roll your dough towards you longways. Pinch the ends together.

roll of sourdough cinnamon rolls being sliced into cinnamon rolls

Cut your cinnamon rolls into 12 pieces. I suggest using a sharp knife, or bread knife. Cut in the middle to create two pieces, then cut again to create four pieces, etc. until you have 12!

cinnamon rolls placed in an a cast-iron skillet

Place each piece of your cinnamon roll in your skillet with the swirl showing top to bottom. Place evenly so that each cinnamon roll has room.

off center pan full of sourdough discard cinnamon rolls

Bake your cinnamon rolls for 35 to 40 minutes or until lightly brown.

powdered sugar and milk glaze being stirred in a bowl

While your cinnamon rolls are baking, mix together all of the ingredients for your glaze. Set aside.

cinnamon rolls in a cast-iron skillet topped with a simple glaze

Once your cinnamon rolls are done remove them from the oven. Pour the glaze evenly over the cinnamon rolls.

๐Ÿ“Variations

Sometimes you may find that adding or taking something away makes a recipe worth making. Check out some of these various options.

  • Different colored icing – change up the color of the icing by adding a little food coloring to the glaze! You can make them holiday appropriate by doing this.
  • Add more spice – want to make the cinnamon rolls even more amazing? Add more spices. Adding cinnamon, nutmeg, or ginger can add so much to these cinnamon rolls.
  • Dark chocolate chunks – if you love chocolate, try adding some dark chocoalte chunks to the cinnamon rolls for baking.

Love cinnamon rolls? Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls are soooo delicious.

vertical image of two sourdough discard cinnamon rolls on a white plate

๐Ÿฅ„ Equipment

  • Castiron skillet or baking dish
  • large bowl
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • pastry cutter
  • rolling pin
  • small bowl
  • pastry brush
  • sharp serrated knife or bread knife
  • small mixing bowl for glaze

๐Ÿฅซ Storage

The beautiful thing about these Sourdough Discard cinnamon rolls is that they are easy to store. Place them in an airtight container. You can put them on the counter for up to two days.

These cinnamon rolls can be frozen! Try to consume them within 30 days of freezing them.

๐Ÿ’ญ Tips

  • You’ll want to pour the glaze on the cinnamon rolls while they are still warm. Trust me, you’ll love the taste of glaze on the cinnamon rolls while warm!
  • These soft dough cinnamon rolls do not need time for the dough rise, nor do they need a second rise which is what makes them the best cinnamon rolls if you ask me.
  • And if you want to get fancy you can use unscented dental floss to cut your cinnamon if you don’t have a knife.
  • Sourdough cinnamon rolls have a tangy flavor compared to traditional cinnamon rolls.
  • Don’t forget to use a floured rolling pin to prevent the dough from sticking.
  • For best results be sure to grease and flour the bottom of the pan or cast-iron skillet well to prevent sticking for sourdough cinnamon buns.
  • Use cream cheese frosting instead of glaze if you want to add a slight tang to the top of these warm rolls.
  • Dark brown sugar can be used in the cinnamon filling of these sticky buns.
  • If you do not have a cast-iron skillet you can use a large rectangle cake pan.
sourdough cinnamon roll cut open on a white plate

โ‰๏ธ FAQ

Do you have questions about this recipe? Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions.

How do you store cinnamon rolls overnight?

If you want to enjoy cinnamon rolls in the morning, cover them with plastic wrap and place them on the countertop. If you haven’t baked them yet, then cover them with plastic wrap and place them in the fridge overnight.

How long can you leave cinnamon roll dough in the fridge?

You can leave cinnamon roll dough in the fridge for up to 3 days before using it.

Why do my cinnamon rolls get hard?

Your cinnamon rolls might be too hard because you used too much flour. Try to use the recommended amount of flour.

Do I need to use commercial yeast for this sourdough cinnamon roll recipe?

No, because you are using an active starter, you will need to use yeast.

Where do I store sourdough starter?

You can store your sourdough starter in a warm place at room temperature or in the fridge.

Should I use salted or unsalted butter?

I like to use unsalted butter in baking, but you can use either one for these classic cinnamon rolls.

๐Ÿฝ More Breakfast Recipes

Do you enjoy breakfast? Try these delicious recipes:

๐ŸงพSourdough Discard Cinamon Rolls

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square image sized for recipe card with close up image of sourdough discard cinnamon rolls on a white plate

Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls

Do you have a sourdough starter that you're not sure what to do with? I've got the perfect recipe for you, Sourdough Discard Cinnamon Rolls! These cinnamon rolls turn out light fluffy and delicious.
4.15 from 270 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 12 Cinnamon Rolls
Calories: 331kcal
Author: Wendy

Equipment

  • Large bowl
  • knife and cutting board
  • small bowl

Ingredients

  • 8 tablespoons butter cold
  • 2 ยฝ cups all-purpose flour
  • โ…“ cup sourdough starter discard
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
  • ยพ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ยฝ teaspoon baking soda

Filling

  • ยพ cup light brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 4 tablespoons butter melted

Glaze

  • 1 ยผ cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tablespoon butter melted
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 ยฝ tablespoons milk

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Spray with cooking spray a 12โ€ cast iron skillet.
  • In a large bowl, add your flour. Cut your butter into pats and add to your flour. Using your hands, or a pastry cutter, work the butter into the dough. Crumbles should resemble pea size.
  • Add to your flour mixture, sourdough starter, milk, sugar, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Mix well.
  • Lightly flour a flat surface and add your dough mixture. Roll your dough to a 12 x 22 inches rectangle.

Filling

  • Melt your butter in a small bowl. Add to your butter mixture your cinnamon and sugar. Mix.
  • Brush your cinnamon sugar mixture to your dough evenly, leaving space on the edges.
  • Roll your dough toward you long ways. Pinch the ends together.
  • Cut your cinnamon rolls into 12 pieces. I suggest using a sharp knife, or bread knife. Cut in the middle to create two pieces, then cut again to create four pieces, etc. until you have 12!
  • Place each piece of your cinnamon roll in your skillet with the swirl showing top to bottom. Place evenly so that each cinnamon roll has room.
  • Bake your cinnamon rolls for 35 to 40 minutes or until lightly brown.
  • While your cinnamon rolls are baking, mixed together all of the ingredients for your glaze. Set aside.
  • Once your cinnamon rolls are done remove them from the oven. Pour the glaze evenly over the cinnamon rolls.
  • Serve and enjoy!

Notes

  • You may need to add up to an additional cup of flour depending on your elevation and starter. You will know you have enough flour when it becomes a dough ball and not more like a batter.
  • If you want a light and fluffy texture instead of a more dense texture, add your dough to a stand mixer with a dough hook and give it about a minute of mixing to activate the gluten and make them lighter.ย 

Disclaimer:

Any nutritional data I provide is an approximation and actual dietary information can vary based on ingredients and proportion sizes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Cinnamon Roll | Calories: 331kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 337mg | Potassium: 86mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 416IU | Vitamin C: 0.01mg | Calcium: 70mg | Iron: 1mg
close up image of two sourdough cinnamon cinnamon rolls on a white plate

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157 Comments

  1. Iโ€™m excited to try your recipe! I like that the sugar content is not crazy sky high. I also like that your recipe is not a large one. Some of the cinnamon roll recipes Iโ€™ve seen called for 6 cups of flour and 6 cups of powdered sugar. My household is small. This recipe will be perfect! Thank you!

    1. I have a small family also so I try to keep my recipes on the smaller side. Thank you for stopping by! I hope that you enjoy them!

    2. Hi! Very interesting recipe :). I am curious why the dough doesn’t need to rise at all before baking? Will the bread beer fluffy or dense when the dough was not given any time to rise? Thank you.

      1. Because you are using sourdough discard instead of yeast, no rise time is needed. These rolls are fluffy just like a regular cinnamon roll.

        1. Sourdough discard would need rise time. No rise time is needed because this recipe used baking soda and baking powder for a chemical rise. ๐Ÿ™‚

          1. You are correct, they baking soda and powder are what gives these the rise. I wanted this recipe to be simple not time consuming waiting for sourdough to rise. ๐Ÿ™‚

          2. If you are using inactive discard like I did, I wouldn’t recommend leaving out the leavening agents like the baking soda and powder as your rolls may not rise. If you use active starter you can leave them out.

        2. Every single time I make these the dough is crazy sticky and I have to add so much more flour to make it even slightly manageable. What am I doing wrong?

          1. It’s commmon for this recipe to need extra flour. The dough can change based on altiudie, humidity, and other factors. When i make them myself smetimes I need 3 1/2 cups of flour, and other times I need just 2 1/2. This happens with baking, so don’t worry just add what you need to give you a firmer dough.

        3. 3 stars
          Iโ€™m so disappointed! I did everything as directed and at the very end, while watching my cinnamon rolls fry is sugar, I realized you meant normal sugar and not actual BROWN sugar. You used regular sugar that is light brown. I used the actual brown sugar and it just melted all over the place. Really sad bc everything looked great until then. You should update the recipe to clarify this.

          1. I’m confused as to why it would melt, the brown sugar should be inside the rolls so it shouldn’t be melting. I used light brown sugar and not regular sugar that is a brown color in the filling. The filling should not have melted all over the place. The filling should have stayed inside the rolls like mine did. The recipe clearly states that I used light brown sugar not regular sugar for the filling. Do you happened to have any pictures that you can email me or send me on facebook so that I can figure out where went wrong? I’ve had 100’s of reviews and I’ve done at least 20 test runs on this recipe and have never had anything melt.

    3. 5 stars
      Love this recipe! It’s SO easy!! I’m making them for Christmas Day and I also wanted to make and give some as gifts. Have you ever froze them and re-heated?

      1. Hey Sonia! I’m so glad that you enjoy this recipe! I have froze them. They do change texture just a little bit, but we still enjoyed them. If you plan of freezing them freeze them without the frosting otherwise it will melt off when you reheat them. I froze mine baked, (I under baked them by a couple minutes) and then when I thawed them in the fridge overnight and then baked them in the oven for about 10 minutes or until they are completely warm.

    4. 3 stars
      They have a good flavor, but they are a little dry and have the texture like a biscuit not a cinnamon roll. But itโ€™s a great way to use up some discard.

        1. 3 stars
          I used the dough but changed up the filling to use peaches instead. Accounting for the juice from the fruit I expected them to be denser, but they did taste like tea biscuits with fruit. Still tasty though.

      1. These are basically a biscuit recipe (cutting the butter into the dry mixture) so they will not be soft and fluffy like a true cinnamon roll-totally different texture and technique.

  2. 5 stars
    These were so good! The recipe was easy to follow and very helpful, especially since Iโ€™m just starting out baking with sourdough starter! My in-laws thought these were great! Thanks!

    1. Hey Amy!

      I haven’t tried this myself, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work. Just make sure that you allow them to come to room temperature before you bake them.

    1. Honestly, I recommend the butter. You could try shortening but it is also expensive. I haven’t tried shortening. If you have an Aldi near you this week they have butter 2.49 for a lb.

  3. 3 stars
    These are delicious but the consistency came out like a biscuit, and not at all like rolls. It just may be our new thing, โ€œcinnamon biscuitsโ€.

      1. 4 stars
        I had the same issue but it’s a nice different texture. Reminds me of the Hardee’s Cinnamon Biscuits but not as overly sweet. I don’t really have a “tangy” taste but my discard is probably not mature enough. Still learning. Thanks for a “effortless” cinnamon roll recipe.

        1. Since they do not have yeast in them, they are for sure not going to have the same texture as yeast roll that we are all used to. I don’t find that mine really have that tang either, unless I’m using an older discard. The more it matures the more tang it has. My family aren’t huge fans of the tang, so I don’t let my starter get too old! You are very welcome for the recipe! I love an easy recipe!

      1. Yes, depending on the weather, how your measure your ingredients, your starter texture, and altitude, you may need to add more flour. I did mention that fact in the notes of the recipe card, so readers would know they may need to adjust it.

    1. 3 stars
      I am thankful to have a recipe call for so little sugar. As several have mentioned, the texture was that of a biscuit and not cinnamon rolls. They were OK, but I would not make again.

  4. These were so good! And easy to make! Always looking for sourdough discard recipes and this might be our new saturday morning go to. Thanks for sharing ๐Ÿ™‚

  5. I also love the size of this recipe! I just made them! I am freezing half of them in two log sizes so I can have six rolls each to make later. Unfortunately mine did not rise at all, but they still taste really great๐Ÿฅฐ. I realized my dough was too moist and just added flour by sight ๐Ÿ˜ฌ, I later read I probably should have added 1 cup and used a mixer. I also may have rolled my dough out too thin? I will have to do more research on cinnamon rolls I believe and practice๐Ÿ˜

    1. Hi Katrina! The rolls should double in size when they are baked. If they didn’t double, you might want to check the date on your baking powder as that is what gives it the rise and it can go bad quickly if it’s been in the cabinet for awhile. I’m glad that still tasted great for you!

  6. Question!
    Would you be able to make these and let them rise overnight to help with the fermentation of the grain to make them tolerable to someone who doesnโ€™t digest wheat well? Non celiac though

          1. Oh no, I’m sorry to hear that. Unfortunately, ovens can cook at different times so it’s really hard to get the perfect timing down right for every oven.

        1. You are using the “discard” which is the starter that is no longer active so you don’t want to feed it before you use it for these cinnamon rolls. It should not be in the “active”/rising phase for this recipe. So, yes straight out of the fridge and container is fine.

  7. 5 stars
    Made this last night and it was delicious! Iโ€™d make just a smidge more icing next time, but nonetheless, family approved!

    1. Hi Amelie! Thank you so much for stopping by! I’m so glad to hear that your family enjoyed these cinnamon rolls! A little more icing never hurt anyone at all! I’m a huge fan of icing also!

  8. 5 stars
    I just got my sourdough starter from my dad and am new to sourdough, this was the very first discard recipe I tried with it, it was a huge hit. They came out perfect!!! Everyone on my house loved them!!!! I did double the icing recipe as I could tell from your pictures I would want more for my house knowing how we are for sweets but everyone said I need to make them more often!!! Thanks so much for the recipe!!! I have always wanted to make cinnamon rolls but the recipes always seemed intimidating, these were a breeze!!!

    1. Hey Leslie!

      Thank you so much for stopping by to let me know how much you enjoyed these! I love helping others find delicious recipes! I don’t blame you at all for doubling the icing recipe! I have a couple more discard recipes that I’m working on, and I can’t wait to share them!

  9. So Iโ€™m trying this as I type. They are in the oven. My sour dough starter is mature either but Iโ€™m sure the baking powder helps the rise but my question ti everyone is What was your dough consistency like? Mine was very wet kept adding flour so I could handle it. What is the dough suppose to be like? Thanks in advance for your help.

    1. Because of the nature of sourdough, this recipe may need extra flour depending on your discard. It’s not uncommon for some people to need to add up to one cup of flour depending on your discard. I didn’t need to add it, but my discard was pretty thick. Your dough should be stiff enough to roll out. Yes, the baking soda, and the discard help them rise. Hope they turn out great for you.

  10. 5 stars
    These are a must make if you are a sourdough bread maker!! A great use of discard and your family will love them!!

  11. I made them! I’m a first time baker of cinnamon rolls and I did not knead it. I just rolled it out after the dough came together. I also didn’t let it rise anymore after I put them in the cast iron skillet. Was I supposed to knead it like the other cinnamon rolls recipe and let it rise? It turned out actually really well though ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. With this sourdough recipe, there is no need to knead them. You also don’t have to allow them to rise. I’m glad it turned out well for you!

  12. 5 stars
    my go to recipe! My family goes crazy over it! We have had several people drop in from our family and I have made these cinnamon rolls three times this past week. Itโ€™s been a hit! Thank you for your share!

  13. 5 stars
    I made my first sourdough cinnamon using your recipe. Itโ€™s delicious.:.:..instead of baked right a wayโ€ฆI let it sit for a few hours in the warmth places to double in size. Itโ€™s the bestโ€ฆ:I wish I can send you the picture how delicious they are.

    Thank you

    1. Hey Jessie! I am so glad that they turned out well for you and you enjoyed them! I really love this delicious recipe! Thank you for stopping by to let me know that you enjoyed them!

  14. Do you think I can prepare the dough and freeze them and cook them in a few days? We are planning to travel and wanted to take them with us.

  15. Has anyone made these in a throw away aluminum pan? Giving away and donโ€™t want to worry about getting it back. Thanks

  16. Does the discard need to be room temperate or can I use it straight out of the fridge? I want to make these! Thank you ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. I used it warm because it’s easier to mix and work with. However, you can also make it with the cold discard! It just might be a little stiff so it will take some extra mixing.

  17. 4 stars
    I haven’t eaten them yet, but they look amazing. I am wondering if I did something wrong? The dough was sooo sticky when I tried rolling it out. I had to coat it in flour or it would’ve just stuck to my pin?

    1. This dough is very sensitive to humidity and altitude changes. So, you most likely needed to add more flour to the dough. I left a note in the recipe card about that because it can vary quite a bit depending on different factors. I hope you enjoy them.

  18. I just made these and they are wonderful!! I did make a cream cheese icing. The consistency is different, but still delicious. Just the right amount of โ€œsourโ€ as well.

    My critic of a daughter ate 2!

  19. Can we switch all purpose flour for whole wheat flour? Also, my husband is a diabetic, so can we put swerve sugar and brown sugar instead of regular? This is the whole reason I am making sourdough bread. Thanks in advance.

    1. You can definitely use swerve to make these cinnamon rolls. As the whole wheat, I’ve never baked with whole wheat as it’s not a texture that my family enjoys in our baked goods. So, I’m not sure if it would work or not. I would recommend if you try the switch that you use 113 grams of whole wheat flour for every cup of white flour.

    1. I’ve never tried using self-rising flour. But, it should work. I just wouldn’t add the baking powder only the baking soda since self rising flour already has baking powder in it.

  20. Do you think I could use sprouted wheat flour or an all purpose GF flour as a swap for all purpose flour?

    Thank you so much! I’m excited to try this recipe as a sourdough newbie

    1. I’ve never tried to make them with a gluten free blend or the sprouted wheat flour. However, I think it should work. Let me know if you give it a try.

  21. 5 stars
    The cinnamon roll recipe is so simple and absolutely delicious. The only problem I have is that I want to eat them until they are gone, then I want more!

  22. 2 stars
    This is not a great or easy recipe if you are trying for cinnamon rolls, the consistency is like a cake batter even after adding multiple doses of extra flour. It is delicious as a giant cinnamon mush cake however!

    1. Thanks for the comment, and I’m sorry that it didn’t turn out for you. Due to variances in sourdough discard and climates, and measuring techniques the amount of flour you need to make it can be different. As I noted in the notes of this post, you may need to add up to an extra cup of flour to get to the correct texture.

  23. 5 stars
    These were delicious! Made per recipe. Question. Did you mix the cinnamon, butter, and brown sugar? In your pic it looks like you didnโ€™t. Just curious. These will be made again!

    1. Hey Kim! Thank you so much for stopping by to let me know that you loved these. I’m so glad that you enjoyed them. I did not mix them together, but I decided to add the mixing them to the steps because they didn’t mix as well as I wanted them too when I layered them. By mixing them they taste better and are more evenly coated. Though, sometimes when I’m in a hurry I still don’t mis them, I’m a rebel like that! ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. Since you are using sourdough discard, and you are using baking soda and baking powder there is no need for an extra rise time. If you were using yeast instead, then it would need the rise time.

  24. These turned out wonderful the first time I made these! Definitely a keeper. I have an event at 10am I was going to make them for. Could I make these the night before, put in fridge and then bake the next morning? Would they still turn out? Thanks!!

    1. I’m so glad that they turned out well for you! Yes, you can put them in the fridge overnight and then make bake them. I’ve done that before and it worked out well for me. They do require an extra few minutes in the oven this way though. So, just watch them to ensure they are done.

  25. Hey, Wendy! I love this recipe so much and have made it two or three times now. I wanted to know if you have made this with pumpkin puree added. I saw a pumpkin cinnamon roll recipe, but I just want to use this one ๐Ÿ˜

    1. Hey Michelle! I’m so glad that you love this recipe! I have not made it with pumpkin, however I don’t see why it wouldn’t work. I would start with 1/2 cup of pumpkin puree, and lowering the milk amount to 1/2 cup and see how your dough turns out that way. If it’s too stiff add a little more milk. If you decide to give it a try, I’d love for you to come back and tell me how it went!

      1. 5 stars
        This is my favorite discard recipe! I started my first sourdough starter last year and made these a couple times and loved them. Then later in the year I let my starter go and took a break. This recipe was the reason i started up again this year. ๐Ÿฅฐ I just had to make these again. Seriously so good! Love how quick and easy they are.

        1. Hi Bethany! I’m so glad that you enjoyed these cinnamon rolls, and your sourdough journey. I’ve got some additonal sourdough recipes that I’m working on!

  26. I just recently got into sourdough bread making and stumbled across this recipe looking for ways to utilize the starter discard. My family has been ecstatic! They love these and while they do have a more dense consistency than a certain name brand cinnamon roll in a tube, I think it makes you more satisfied. They are definitely more filling for just a couple rolls. I only discovered this recipe a couple weeks ago and am already on the third batch (this one went into the fridge in plastic wrap to bake in a couple days when family is visiting. The next batch I plan to freeze so I always have some on hand!
    Do you recommend slicing and storing as individual cinnamon rolls or freezing the the roll whole as a log if freezing and cooking later? Iโ€™m curious if anyone just freezes and thaws/cooks as individuals?

    1. Hey Felicia, I’m so glad that you enjoy them! I would slice them and freeze them sliced. The best way is to “flash freeze” them. Meaning put the slices on a parchment lined baking sheet and into the freezer for about an hour. Once they have hardened remove them from the pan, and place them in a freezer bag or storage container. You could certainly make a batch of them and reheat them one at a one. If you are reheating from frozen you will need to add 2-3 minutes to your cooking time. I hope this helps!

  27. These are absolutely amazing!! Thank you so much for sharing. I made on a whelm to use discard and wowzer I was so amazed at how good and easy this was. If I were to make some and freeze would you recommend freezing before baking them??

    1. Hi Ashley I’m so glad to hear that you enjoy them. Yes, I do recommend that you freeze them unbaked. The best way is to โ€œflash freezeโ€ them. Meaning put the slices on a parchment lined baking sheet and into the freezer for about an hour. Once they have hardened remove them from the pan, and place them in a freezer bag or storage container. Thaw them in the fridge overnight or if you are reheating from frozen you will need to add 2-3 minutes to your cooking time. I hope this helps!

  28. Hi! Will be making this for Christmas morning..wondering with the leftovers: 1.) how many days in the fridge will they last in a airtight container with cream cheese frosting on top? how do I reheat? Put some butter on top? And pop in microwave?

    1. You can store these cinnamon rolls for 3-4 days in the fridge. I would reheat them in the microwave for about 30 seconds and then check them. Microwaving them does change the texture of them a little. Makes them a softer. But, I still like them that way! If the frosting melts off, you can add a little butter to the top or make another batch of frosting.

  29. 5 stars
    This recipe was so easy and SO good. I made them orange cinnamon rolls by putting orange zest in the dough, and orange zest and juice in the filling and glaze. Delicious ๐Ÿ˜‹ made them this morning for Christmas!

    1. Hi Mary! Thank you so much for stopping by! I am so glad you enjoyed these cinnamon rolls. I’m going to have to try the orange rolls! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas.

  30. 4 stars
    I think the recipe was easy to follow and the outcome was pretty much spot on. In the future, I will go back to using the white sugar and cinnamon instead of the brown sugar. For me itโ€™s just a taste preference, sometimes you have to go with what you know. ๐Ÿ™‚
    Thank you for posting this recipe; Iโ€™m so glad I tried it.

    1. Hey Marcus!
      I’ve never tried the bulk fermenting process with this dough. I would think if you wanted to try it, you would need to use active starter instead of the inactive discard that this recipe calls for.

  31. 5 stars
    My family (& all friends/neighbors) are obsessed!!! I like to make them on Sundays but itโ€™s just the two of usโ€ฆcould I take this recipe & half it? Or 1/3? And just bake a few? Wondering if that would work!

    1. Hi Mariah, I am so glad that you are enjoying this cinnamon rolls. Yes, you can certainly half this recipe and only bake a few at a time if you have a smaller family.

  32. I am so sorry excited to try this. It just kills me to throw the discard out. The link to your big bowl takes me to the cookbook.

    1. I hope you enjoy them! Yes, it is so hard to throw the discard out with how expensive flour is these days! Thank you for the heads up on the link, I will switch it out.

  33. 5 stars
    Absolutely delicious!! So soft almost flaky! I put 1/3c vanilla almond milk in the baking dish before putting them in the oven. I added butterscotch syrup to the icing.

    1. Hi Barbi! Thank you for stopping by! I’m so glad to hear that you enjoyed these cinnamon rolls! I bet the butterscotch icing was amazing. I’m going to have to try that!

  34. 2 stars
    Didn’t really rise in the oven. They ended up being dense and really hard on the bottom. Flavor was good although couldn’t really taste the sourdough flavor.

    1. I’m sorry to hear these didn’t turn out well for you. Since there is no yeast in them, they are denser than a normal cinnamon roll. They should double in size while in the oven. A hard bottom usually means they were overbaked. I hope these tips help if you decide to try them again.

  35. 5 stars
    These are seriously my go-to cinnamon rolls. They aren’t extremely sweet like every other cinnamon roll recipe (I do NOT like sugar overload with cinnamon rolls), which is exactly why I love this recipe! They rise perfectly every single time, even when I can’t get my other sourdough products to rise that day!
    I’ve been experimenting with this recipe more and I’ve made them into cinnamon knots and a giant cinnamon wreath. Both were beautiful and just as tasty! Thank you so much for this recipe!! ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. Hi Kiera! Thank you so much for stopping! I’m so glad that to hear that you love this recipe! It is such a great recipe. I have some additional sourdough recipes that I’m working on the blog, and I hope they turn just as well as these!

  36. Do these need to be stored in the refrigerator or will they be OK on the counter for a few days?

    1. I prefer to store mine in the fridge because of the dairy in the icing. However, since they are a baked good, they can be stored at room temperature for a day or two.

  37. 5 stars
    These were so easy to make and turned out absolutely delicious! I followed the recipe exactly, except I did add a little extra milk to the icing to make it a tad thinner. I will definitely be making these again!!

  38. 5 stars
    This recipe turned out great! I halved the recipe, used a 7โ€ cake pan, and baked for 30 mins. I will definitely be making this again

    1. I am so glad that they turned out great for you! This is one of my favorite recipes! Thank you for stopping by to let me know that you enjoyed them.

  39. 5 stars
    First time I made it, they did turn out like biscuits. 2nd time I tried adding 7 grams of active dry yeast to the dough and they fluffed up! I highly recommend this recipe but adding some yeast to it! Yum yum!

  40. 4 stars
    Hi Wendy
    May I request that you consider putting a note in the recipe by the amount of flour that says you may need an additional cup of flour? I almost threw out all my ingredients cause I couldnโ€™t get my dough to roll out. It was so sloppy and wet. I went through scrolling several comments before I found that and it wouldโ€™ve been helpful if it was right there in the recipe otherwise theyโ€™re terrific. Maybe just a little extra filling would be good as well.

    1. Hi Lori! There is a note at the bottom of the recipe card that states that you may need up to one extra cup of flour, depending on your starter. There is also a note about this in the “tips” section of the post. I wanted to make sure it was there for anyone who needs it.

  41. Love this recipe!!
    Iโ€™ve never made cinnamon rolls before and Iโ€™ve been wanting to try new sourdough discard recipes. This one turned out amazing! I will for sure be making again!

4.15 from 270 votes (230 ratings without comment)

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