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Freshly baked sourdough cinnamon buns in a pan, some with cream cheese frosting and some without, styled with a spoon on the side, mid-frosting.

Sourdough Cinnamon Buns

These sourdough cinnamon buns bring together the comforting sweetness of classic cinnamon rolls with the added depth of flavor and health benefits of a sourdough starter. Soft, naturally leavened, and topped with optional cream cheese frosting, they’re perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a cozy dessert. A delicious treat that everyone will love, with a wholesome twist.
Cook Time 40 minutes
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Servings

9 buns

Ingredients

For the Dough:

  • 200 g active sourdough starter
  • 500 g all-purpose flour
  • 50 g honey
  • 80 g coconut oil or oil of your choice
  • 185 g warm milk or any milk alternative
  • 3 eggs
  • 5 g salt

For the Filling:

  • 200 g brown sugar
  • 35 g melted butter
  • 1 Tbsp cinnamon

For the Cream Cheese Frosting (optional)

  • 4 oz cream cheese
  • 3/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 Tbsp milk

Instructions

  • In a stand mixer with a dough hook, combine all the ingredients for the dough. Knead the dough on medium speed for 5-8 minutes until smooth and elastic.
  • Transfer the dough to a bowl, cover it, and let it rise at room temperature for 8-10 hours or in the fridge overnight.
    If you refrigerated the dough, let it sit at room temperature for about 2 hours before rolling.
  • On a well-floured surface, roll out the risen dough into a 14x9 inch rectangle.
  • Spread softened butter over the dough, leaving a ¼ inch margin at the far end.
  • Mix together brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl and sprinkle over the buttered dough.
  • Roll up the dough tightly, starting from the 9-inch side, and place seam-side down, seal the edges.
  • Cut the roll into 1 inch slices using a floss or sharp knife.
  • Place the cinnamon buns in a greased 9x13 inch baking pan lined with parchment paper and let the buns rise for another 30-45 minutes
  • Preheat oven to 350°F and bake for 20-25 minutes or until slightly golden brown at the edges.
  • Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes before frosting.

Optional Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • Mix together the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and milk until smooth. Spread the frosting over the warm buns

Notes

Sticky Dough: If the dough feels sticky after mixing, don't worry. transfer it to a bowl and allow it to rise it will transform into a smooth and manageable dough.
 
Rolling the Dough: Be sure to flour your work surface generously. Lightly flour the top of the dough as well to prevent it from sticking to the rolling pin.
 
Handling Butter: If working with soft butter is challenging, feel free to melt the butter completely before spreading it on the dough.
 
Baking Time: Remove the cinnamon buns from the oven after 35 minutes. They may appear slightly underbaked, but leaving them in longer can cause them to overbake and become too crispy