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Home » Sourdough Bread Recipes

Soft Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls

Sourdough Bread Recipes

4.9 from 588 reviews
1,541 comments
By Emilie Raffa — Updated November 22, 2025 — This post may contain affiliate links.
Jump to Recipe

Looking for THE BEST soft sourdough cinnamon roll recipe from scratch? These easy, overnight rolls are it! Made with bubbly, active sourdough starter & tips shared for make-ahead options. Makes 8 rolls.

Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls
Sourdough cinnamon rolls

Sourdough cinnamon rolls: soft, feathery scrolls of luscious sweet dough filled with gooey swirls of warm cinnamon-sugar. Can you think of anything more cozy for breakfast besides a slice of toasted sourdough bread?!

I must confess however, I wasn’t always a fan. Traditional cinnamon rolls were too sweet for my taste and the heavy, sugary glaze was a bit much. And with all the recipes out there (and there are tons) I wondered: does the world really need another cinnamon roll recipe? Yes! It does, especially when it solves the problems most cinnamon rolls have.

Why My Recipe Works

  • Softer, taller rolls. Baking in a 9-inch springform pan is my secret. The higher sides traps in more moisture, making the rolls light and luxurious, with a squishy high rise.
  • Subtle tangy flavor. Bubbly, active sourdough starter naturally leavens the dough and lends a lovely taste that will make you weak in the knees!
  • Rolls can be made in advance. I’m sharing my fool-proof methods to fit any baker’s schedule.
Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls
Sourdough cinnamon rolls
Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls
Sourdough cinnamon roll dough

How To Make The Best Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls {Step-By-Step Recipe}

Before your begin: check out my Baker’s Schedule. You’ll have a better idea of when to start the dough and how to prep ahead.

Step 1: Mix The Dough

To Start: Make the dough in the evening. I suggest using a stand mixer (the dough is sticky). If you don’t have one, mixing and kneading can be done by hand. The goal is a soft, supply, buttery dough.

Step 2: Bulk Rise

Cover the bowl with lightly oiled plastic wrap. Let the dough rise overnight at a cool room temperature (68 F) until double in size. The dough will look domed, puffy and airy when it’s done rising.

How long will it take to rise? Temperature controls time. For example, my dough took ~12 hrs. @ 67 F. Your room temperature may differ from mine which will effect the rise time. This is normal. Watch the dough and not the clock!

Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls
Sourdough cinnamon roll dough

Step 3: Roll the Dough

The following morning, lightly oil and flour your countertop. This is THE BEST tip by the way. The dough won’t stick! I use an all natural olive oil spray from Trader Joe’s. Works like a charm.

Ok, so now: remove the dough from the bowl. Gently pat into a rough rectangle and let rest to relax the gluten. It will be easier to roll out.

Lightly dust the dough and your rolling pin with flour. Roll the dough in a 16 x 12-ish rectangle. When first testing recipes, I never thought the above dimensions were that important. But it’s actually crucial: you’ll get ~8 rolls to fit a 9-inch springform pan.

Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls
Sourdough cinnamon roll dough with cinnamon-sugar filling

Step 4: Make The Cinnamon-Sugar Filling

Melt 2 tbsp. of butter in a shallow pan or microwave; set aside. Combine the cinnamon, sugar and flour in a small separate bowl. Once the butter has cooled, brush the entire surface of the dough.

Sprinkle with the cinnamon-sugar mixture leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edges. Smooth it out with your hands. The texture will go from dry and sandy to almost wet-looking.

Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls
Rolled sourdough cinnamon roll dough

Step 5: Roll & Cut The Dough

Working with the long side, roll the dough into a log pressing down as you go. Take your time with this step. You want the log to be tight to the swirls stay in tact when baked. Once you get to the end, face the dough seam side down.

Cut the log into (8) 2-inch sections using an oiled knife or bench scraper. I’ve found that gently “marking” the dough first ensures each piece is roughly the same size before cutting. I’m the worst at eyeballing this stuff.

Tip: If at any point the dough sticks (it tends to get warm from the heat of your hands), lightly oil or flour your finger tips and try working with it again.

Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls
Cut sourdough cinnamon roll dough

Step 6: Second Rise

Place the rolls into a parchment-lined springform pan and let rest for about 1-2 hours, or until the dough puffs us.

Run out of time? After resting for 1 hour, cover the dough and chill in the fridge until ready to use. Before baking, give the rolls more time to plump up at room temperature. Alternatively, freeze the dough: skip the resting step, cover the pan in two layers of plastic wrap and freeze (see recipe below for defrosting instructions).

Here’s what the dough looked like before resting…

Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls

After resting…

Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls
Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls
Baked sourdough cinnamon rolls

Step 7: Bake The Cinnamon Rolls

Bake @ 350 F for 30-40 minutes, or until light golden brown. You can make the glaze while the rolls are in the oven. Once finished cool the cinnamon rolls in the pan for 15 minutes and then remove to a wire rack. The warm cinnamon will smell incredible!

Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls

Step 8: Make The Glaze

Combine softened butter, whipped cream cheese, and sifted powdered sugar in the stand mixer. Beat until smooth, thinning out the consistency with a little milk as needed. You could also skip the glaze and dust with powdered sugar instead!

Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls
Soft Sourdough cinnamon rolls

Time To Eat!

Close your eyes and take a bite… the warm, caramelized cinnamon sugar is absolutely out-of-this-world! And all that fluffy dough? You won’t be able to eat just one! And if you like this recipe, be sure to try my other homemade breakfast favorites: sourdough pancakes, waffles, crêpes and scones.

Sample Baker’s Schedule

Overnight Option: Make the dough in the evening and let rise overnight. The following morning, roll, cut and shape the dough. Rest for 1-2 hours (second rise) before baking.

Alternatively, after resting for 1 hour, cover the dough and chill until ready to use. Rest at room temperature before baking. The dough should be plump and puffy before baking.

Make-Ahead Option (Freeze): Place the cut & shaped cinnamon rolls into a parchment lined 9-inch springform pan. Cover with two layers of plastic wrap. Freeze until ready to use. The night before baking, remove the old plastic wrap and replace with fresh wrap (this will prevent any condensation from dripping onto the rolls). Defrost overnight, about 10-12 hrs. at room temperature, approximately 67 F. Bake the following morning as directed.

Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls | theclevercarrot.com

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Soft & Gooey Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.9 from 588 reviews
  • Author: Emilie Raffa
  • Prep Time: 15 hours
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 15 hours 30 minutes
  • Yield: 8 rolls 1x
  • Category: Sourdough Bread Recipes
  • Method: Oven-Baked
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian
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Description

These soft, overnight sourdough cinnamon rolls are perfect for breakfast, brunch, or holiday treat! Made with a luscious sweet dough and a not-too-sweet cinnamon filing, they are guaranteed to be a huge hit.


Ingredients

Sweet Dough

  • 160 g (2/3 cup) milk, whole or 2%
  • 28 g (2 tbsp) unsalted butter, melted (see notes below for variation)
  • 1 large egg
  • 100 g (1/2 cup) bubbly, active sourdough starter
  • 24 g (2 tbsp) granulated sugar
  • 300 g (2½ cups) King Arthur all-purpose flour 
  • 5 g (1 tsp) fine sea salt
  • cooking spray or oil, for coating

Cinnamon-Sugar Filling

  • 28 g (2 tbsp) unsalted butter (see notes below for variation)
  • 100 g (1/2 cup) granulated sugar
  • 3 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1 level tbsp. flour

Glaze

  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
  • ⅓ cup whipped cream cheese, room temperature
  • ¼– 1/2 cup powdered sugar, sifted (add more if you like it sweet!)
  • 1–2 tbsp milk

Notes, Tips & Variations

  • For a richer dough, increase the butter to 115 (8 tbsp) and use 360 g (3 cups) flour total. The texture is incredible. 
  • Make sure the melted butter and milk mixture has cooled slightly before making the dough. If it’s too hot, the dough will become incredibly sticky like cake batter (I’ve experienced this many times). If this happens to you, don’t worry- wait for the dough to cool down before adding more flour, if needed.
  • Recent recipe update: to prevent the cinnamon sugar filling from leaking while the rolls bake, instead of using 28g (2 tbsp) of melted butter, combine 84 g (6 tbsp) softened butter with the rest of the cinnamon-sugar filling ingredients listed above.


Instructions

Baker’s Schedule 

Overnight Option: Make the dough in the evening and let rise overnight. The following morning, roll, cut and shape the dough. Rest for 1-2 hours (second rise) before baking.

As an alternative, after resting for 1 hour, cover the dough and chill until ready to use. Rest at room temperature before baking. The dough should be plump and puffy before baking.

Make-Ahead Option (Freeze): Place the cut & shaped cinnamon rolls into a parchment lined 9-inch springform pan. Cover with two layers of plastic wrap. Freeze until ready to use. The night before baking, remove the old plastic wrap and replace with fresh wrap (this prevents any condensation from dripping onto the rolls). Defrost overnight, about 10-12 hrs. at room temperature, approximately 67 F. Bake the following morning as directed.

Make the Dough 

In the evening: Combine the melted butter and milk in a small bowl. Cool slightly before using. 

Add the egg, sourdough starter, and sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix to combine. With the machine running, slowly pour in the milk mixture. Add the flour and salt. Continue mixing until a rough, sticky dough forms, about 1 minute. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Cover with a damp towel and let rest for 30 minutes.

After the dough has rested, switch to the dough hook. Knead on medium-low speed for 6-8 minutes (I use #2 or #3 on my stand mixer). The dough should feel soft, supple and pull away from the sides of the bowl when ready. If it’s too sticky add a small bit of flour.

Bulk Rise

Transfer the dough to a medium-size bowl coated in butter. Cover with plastic wrap. Let rise overnight until double in size, about 8-12 + hrs. @ 67-68 F, depending on temperature.

Stretch and Fold the Dough (optional step): about 30 minutes- 1 hr. into the bulk rise stretch and fold the dough: grab a portion of the dough and stretch it upward. Fold it over toward the center of the bowl. Give the bowl a 1/4 turn; stretch and fold the dough again. Continue this technique until you’ve come full circle around the bowl (4 folds total). For video guidance, click here. This optional step will increase the overall volume of the rolls and aerate the dough.

Roll the Dough

In the morning: Line a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper. I like to scrunch the paper into a ball first, open it up, and then line the inside with enough excess to hang over the sides for easy removal. It tends to fit better this way.

Lightly oil and flour your countertop to prevent sticking. Coax the dough out of the bowl. Gently pat into a rough rectangle. Let rest for 10 minutes for easier rolling.

Dust the dough (and your rolling pin) with flour. Roll the dough into a 16 x 12-ish rectangle using a tape measure for accuracy. If the dough resists, let rest for 5-10 minutes and try again. 

Make the Cinnamon-Sugar Filling

If using the softened butter variation (listed in the notes above): add 84 g (6 tbsp) softened butter to a small bowl. Mix with the sugar, cinnamon and flour. With an offset spatula, spread onto the dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edges.

If using the melted butter version: brush the entire surface of the dough, including the top, bottom and sides with 28 g (2 tbsp) melted butter. Use all of it. Combine the sugar, cinnamon and flour in a bowl. Sprinkle the mixture onto the dough leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edges. Smooth it out with your hands until it looks wet and sandy.

Shape & Cut the Dough

Starting on the long side of the dough (16-inch), roll it into a log pressing down gently as you go. Take your time with this step. The log needs to be tight so the swirls stay in tact. You should end up seam side down. TIP: if the dough starts to get sticky from the heat of your hands, lightly oil or flour your fingertips, take a deep breath and try again.

Cut the dough into 2-inch sections using a oiled knife or bench scraper. I lightly “mark” the dough first to make sure  each piece is roughly the same size.

Second Rise

Place the rolls into the lined pan and let rest for 1- 2 hours, or until the dough puffs up. Alternatively, if you’d like to chill or freeze the rolls, please refer to the “Make-Ahead” option in the Baker’s Schedule at the top of this recipe. 

Bake the Cinnamon Rolls

Preheat oven to 350 F. Bake the dough onto the center rack and bake for 35-40 minutes (check at the 30 minute mark). The tops should turn light golden brown when ready.

Remove from the oven and cool in the pan for 15 minutes. This helps the butter to absorb back into the dough. Then lift up the rolls, while still on the parchment paper, and transfer to a wire rack. 

Make the Glaze

While the rolls are baking or cooling make the glaze. Add softened butter, whipped cream cheese and sifted powdered sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer. Beat until smooth, thinning out the consistency with a little milk as needed. The ingredients must be soft and at room temperature for best results.

To serve, top the rolls with some of the glaze or lightly dust with powdered sugar. These rolls are best enjoyed slightly warm on the same day they are baked.


Did you make this recipe?

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Filed Under: Sourdough Bread Recipes

1,541 Comments

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    Comments

  1. Lauren says

    May 12, 2026 at 12:25 pm

    Will this recipe work using bread flour? I don’t have any all purpose flour on hand.

    💖 Emilie loved this comment!

    Reply
    • Emilie Raffa says

      May 12, 2026 at 2:49 pm

      Hi Lauren! Yes, you can use bread flour. The texture will change slightly (more chewy/less tender) but it all depends on the brand you’re using.

      Reply
  2. Caroline says

    May 11, 2026 at 6:46 pm

    I live in Cancun Mexico and the heat here is 80*and humid. Can the overnight bulk rise take place in the fridge? If I leave it out it will overproof for sure.

    💖 Emilie loved this comment!

    Reply
    • Emilie Raffa says

      May 11, 2026 at 9:14 pm

      Great question. The dough will definitely over proof @ 80 F overnight. In your case, you can bulk rise for an hour or two at room temperature to give it a boost, cover the bowl, then chill overnight. The following day, give it more time to rise if needed, at room temperature.

      Reply
      • Caroline says

        May 12, 2026 at 5:16 pm

        Thanks for replying ☺️
        I ended up leaving the dough out because it didn’t do much before I went to bed. Up at 6 am and I rolled and. Shaped the rolls and placed them in the fridge for about 3 hours. I let them continue to rise at room temp for a couple hours and then baked. They make a pretty picture so far🤩I hope they taste as good as they look.

        💖 Emilie loved this comment!

        Reply
  3. Kaitlyn Janzen says

    May 5, 2026 at 12:24 pm

    Can I double or triple the recipe? Just wondering if that’d work the same as other recipes, this one being sourdough.

    Reply
  4. Fitina says

    May 5, 2026 at 2:37 am

    Made these twice in a month and they were gone by the next day.

    Making them again as I write this and I had to double the recipe so they didn’t disappear into thin air. I started the recipe at 10:00PM (w/an active starter in hand) and was in bed an hour later. It somehow feels like I’m cheating because it shouldn’t be this easy to have such a delicious dessert.

    Easily the best cinnamon rolls I’ve ever made! My grandkids (non-existent, I’m childless) will get this passed on their will.

    Reply
  5. Erica says

    May 3, 2026 at 7:31 pm

    I made the mistake of doing the first rise during the day and now the dough has doubled in size at 8pm. Can I put it in the fridge and bake them 18 hours later??

    Reply
  6. Barb B says

    May 2, 2026 at 12:25 pm

    I made this recipe yesterday and I have to say, these are the best cinnamon rolls I’ve ever tasted, hands down. I found the recipe very easy to follow and appreciated the visuals. I chose the option of adding more butter and flour to the dough and I’m glad I did. The dough was silky smooth and rolled out easily. The finished rolls were soft and fluffy and almost melted in my mouth. The only thing I would do differently next time would be to double it because they disappeared immediately. Definitely my go to cinnamon roll recipe, for life!

    💖 Emilie loved this comment!

    Reply
  7. Jenn says

    May 2, 2026 at 10:30 am

    It’s the perfect recipe. I made it today and the family loved it. Just replaced the glaze with whipping cream glaze just since I needed to use it for something. The rolls are so soft and fluffy! Chef’s kiss ☺️. Thank you.

    💖 Emilie loved this comment!

    Reply
  8. Rebecca Preston says

    April 25, 2026 at 9:33 pm

    These are outstanding! The dough is perfect. Mine was very wet but I didn’t ad more flour until rolling out, happy I made that call (I made the extra rich version. Perfect amount of icing. I’d add a bit more filling next time, but otherwise perfect. Oh, and did pour over cream before baking at my daughter’s request (a thing on TikTok apparently).

    💖 Emilie loved this comment!

    Reply
  9. Dawn Christiansen says

    April 25, 2026 at 8:33 am

    I have made these rolls 3 times with the richer/fluffier ingredient levels. They are scrumptious every time.
    1st time I kneaded by hand, I used the kitchenaid the other times because I was feeling lazy. Thank you for a perfect recipe and instructions

    💖 Emilie loved this comment!

    Reply
  10. Meghan says

    April 24, 2026 at 12:20 pm

    Hi! Curious if you’ve done brown sugar for the filling instead of granulated or if that would be too rich and sweet.

    Reply
    • Emilie Raffa says

      May 12, 2026 at 7:51 am

      Hi Meghan! I’ve done brown sugar before and it’s really good. I didn’t find it too rich at all.🥰

      Reply
  11. Bianca says

    April 24, 2026 at 4:44 am

    I don’t have a stand mixer and was wondering if I can knead by hand?

    💖 Emilie loved this comment!

    Reply
    • Emilie Raffa says

      April 24, 2026 at 7:55 am

      Hi Bianca, yes you can knead the dough by hand. It might be a little bit sticky (a lightly oiled counter top helps), but it will eventually come together with sprinkles of extra flour here and there.

      Reply
  12. Kylee says

    April 22, 2026 at 2:53 pm

    Does anyone have a good ratio for excluding the egg. Just found out that any type of egg upsets my kids stomach. I tried other recipes for cinnamon rolls but this one is really the best dough!

    💖 Emilie loved this comment!

    Reply
    • Emilie Raffa says

      April 22, 2026 at 3:37 pm

      Hi Kylee! Have you tried doing a flax egg? Many bakers who’ve made this recipe (and tried it) had great results. Just a thought to get you started! 🥰

      Reply
  13. Hannah says

    April 17, 2026 at 10:46 pm

    Hello Emilie, I was wondering if you’ve tried this recipe with discard/unfed starter, and how old it was. I have a few cinnamon roll recipes that have alreations noted for using unfed starter (such as using yeast) but I also wanted to try using this recipe. So if you have any recommendations for how to follow this recipe or alter it a little, I’d love to hear it! Thanks!

    Reply
  14. Mellany says

    April 13, 2026 at 8:11 pm

    I pretty much followed the recipe exactly. My cinnamon rolls came out so good. They were perfect sweetness and nice texture.

    Reply
  15. Juni says

    April 12, 2026 at 10:12 pm

    Having a good time with this recipe and heaps of wonderful feedback from family and friends. I followed some of the comments and added generous amount of Cardamon with the Cinnamon.
    I substituted cows milk for Bon Soy milk. Thank you Emilie your recipes, skill and enthusiasm have been inspiring me since 2020.

    Reply
  16. Attia says

    April 12, 2026 at 11:22 am

    I just made these and let me say oh my God they taste fantastic!!! I followed your recipe exactly (for richer more fluffier roll) and it’s soooo delicious!! Thank you for sharing it with us!!

    Reply
  17. Heather says

    April 11, 2026 at 11:22 am

    Everything I have made from this website has been amazing. I’m a fan of yeast cinnamon rolls but I’m more a fan of the Clever Carrot so thought I would try these. I was tired and put a cup of milk (too much) into the dough and rather than start again I added flour until it felt right (still sticky but workable). I then forgot brown sugar when rolling the rolls. But you know what? My family said these were the best cinnamon rolls ever. Soft, pillowy, delicious. And if you ever forget the brown sugar, bake anyway. The frosting makes it work. I can’t wait to try again and actually follow the recipe correctly :)

    Reply
  18. Rebecca says

    April 5, 2026 at 11:59 am

    Love, love, love this recipe. However double the amount of cinnamon sugar filling. You will not regret it.

    Reply
  19. Gerda says

    April 5, 2026 at 11:16 am

    Good morning,

    I’ve tried these 3 times. The second one I made was absolutely delicious and perfect texture. Two of them would not rise and I tried baking them anyways and they turned out very stiff and hard to eat. I used newly fed and bubbly starter. Please help, what does it sound like I’m doing wrong. I appreciate your input.

    Reply
  20. Sofie says

    April 2, 2026 at 7:22 pm

    Seriously the BEST cinnamon rolls I’ve ever had.

    Reply
  21. Carla says

    April 2, 2026 at 12:00 am

    Love this recipe! Have you tried making it into a mini version?

    Reply
  22. Cindy says

    March 26, 2026 at 12:55 am

    Extra butter + extra flour for sure! If I refrigerate these after 1 hr rest will it make it taste more tangy? I notice that if I let it rest for too long on the counter the sourdough taste really comes through – which I don’t love. But otherwise, amazinggggg recipe!

    Reply
    • Emilie Raffa says

      March 26, 2026 at 10:30 am

      Hi Cindy! So, it depends on timing, temperature, and the personal make-up of your starter. Which means, the answer will be different for everyone. For example, your rolls taste more sour after a long counter rest. What is your current room temperature? Is it warm by you? Take note! Additionally, sometimes when a starter is slightly acidic, which is normal, it will impart a more sour taste as well. If you refrigerate the rolls overnight, up to 12+ hours, the rolls might taste more tangy too.

      My sense for you, is to go back to your starter to rebalance the acidity levels. Feed it several times until the smell is more fruity and less vinegary. Then experiment again! Hope this helps.

      Reply
  23. Cherith R says

    March 23, 2026 at 6:55 pm

    Hey does this recipe need to be altered if I’m going to triple or quadruple it for a bake sale?

    Reply
    • Emilie Raffa says

      March 24, 2026 at 1:23 pm

      Hi Cherith! You don’t need to make alterations; however, just keep your eye on the dough during the bulk fermentation to gauge your rise time (temperature is key here). Also, off the top of my head: make sure you have a large bowl or dough tub to accommodate a tripled or quadrupled dough. Or use separate vessels.

      Reply
      • Cherith says

        March 24, 2026 at 7:40 pm

        Thank you, it worked great. Just marked my recipe to use quite a bit less flour.

        Reply
  24. Ally says

    March 23, 2026 at 9:00 am

    These are a staple for birthday breakfasts & Sunday brunch. I always use the extra butter option for the dough & softened butter for the filling. I usually use brown sugar instead of white sugar for the filling. Add a drizzle with heavy cream before baking and top with cream cheese frosting— they turn out better than Cinnabon every time. However, I usually have to bake for closer to 55 minutes total. 5/5 for sure!

    Reply
    • Emilie Raffa says

      March 24, 2026 at 1:24 pm

      Hi Ally! This sounds so awesome. Thank you for sharing! 🥰

      Reply
  25. Josie says

    March 22, 2026 at 2:42 pm

    Yum! I made these with the richer dough ingredient variations and they were SO GOOD! So fluffy and delicious and none of the filling leaked out. And so easy! I don’t have a stand mixer so I just kneaded by hand and they turned out perfect. Also I added vanilla and cardamom to the glaze for a little spice. MAKE THESE NOW!

    Reply
    • Emilie Raffa says

      March 24, 2026 at 1:26 pm

      Hi Josie! I love that you did this by hand 💪🏻 Cardamom sounds amazing in the glaze- how much did you use? Noting that for next time!

      Reply
    • Lindsay says

      March 27, 2026 at 3:31 pm

      I love these cinnamon buns, they come out incredible every time. I’ve made this recipe dozens of times over the last year with some flavour variations (espresso and salted caramel). I only get compliments and raves about them!

      BUT….
      I decided to freeze a bunch after filling and forming them so I could have them ready to go anytime. I brought 4 out last night to bake this morning. I let them sit in a pan on the counter for 12 hours, they did not rise at all. I even put the pan on a heating pad for 2 hours, and nothing. So I decided to just bake them and cross my fingers that they would rise while baking, the bottom of them puffed up slightly, but not the tops. They came out like pretty much like they were just rolled .

      Should I let them rise before freezing them? They definitely don’t rise after the fact.

      Reply
      • Emilie Raffa says

        March 27, 2026 at 4:05 pm

        Hi Lindsay! You have to tell me about your espresso and salted caramel variations because they both sound absolutely incredible, I’m having coffee right now, and I’m pretty sure I’ll be thinking about it for the rest of the day.🤣

        In the meantime, I have a few questions: when you left the frozen rolls out overnight, what was your room temperature? How did you cover the tray of rolls? Plastic wrap? Lid? Nothing? And, before freezing the rolls, did you leave them out at room temp. first or freeze right away? With a little more info, I can troubleshoot more specifically. Thank you!

        Reply
  26. Sue says

    March 20, 2026 at 9:21 am

    We top with browned butter cream cheese frosting and it’s soooo good. Sometimes do half cinnamon and half cardamom. Love love love ❤️

    Reply
    • Emilie Raffa says

      March 24, 2026 at 1:27 pm

      Hi Sue! You have to share your brown butter cream cheese recipe with me. I’ve never tried that before! You’re also the second person here to add cardamom. I need to try it too! 🥰

      Reply
  27. Kara says

    March 16, 2026 at 1:13 pm

    Delicious! I used the extra butter and flour as recommended. I didn’t knead, just mixed it all up into a shaggy dough, did a few stretch and folds after an hour or so, then let it sit at room temp all night. It rolled out beautifully the next morning. I made 9 rolls in a 9×9 tin. Worked out perfectly. Your sourdough recipes never disappoint!

    Reply
    • Emilie Raffa says

      March 24, 2026 at 1:30 pm

      Hi Kara! So interesting. It’s good to know you can do this, especially if you forget about the dough or run out of time. This is how you discover new things 😉. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
  28. Barb says

    March 12, 2026 at 12:05 pm

    This was my first attempt at sourdough cinnamon rolls and they turned out great! I used the overnight option and the extra butter/flour. Thank you for the very good instructions!!
    It’s a keeper!!

    Reply
    • Emilie Raffa says

      March 24, 2026 at 1:34 pm

      Hi Barb! So glad this was a success for you! 🥰

      Reply
  29. Janice says

    March 10, 2026 at 4:34 pm

    Hi Emilie
    Going to make these for the weekend….can they be pre-made and frozen ? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Emilie Raffa says

      March 24, 2026 at 1:40 pm

      Hi Janice! Yes, you can do both. The instructions are listed under “Baker’s Schedule” in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

      Reply
  30. Michele says

    March 7, 2026 at 6:17 pm

    I made these sourdough cinnamon rolls twice. The first time they were good, the second time using the KitchenAid and more butter as in your variations, they were absolutely phenomenal. The best cinnamon buns we’ve ever eaten. I made 1.5 times the recipe as I wanted a dozen and I made them in a 13 x 9 x 2 pan. I will make these again and agsin. So that we could have them for breakfast, I let the buns rise for about an hour in the pan last night, then stuck them in the fridge. I took them out early this morning. They were nearly totally risen and by the time the oven heated up, they were good to go. Your tip to spray the counter with baking spray and then dust with flour before rolling out the dough was genius!

    Reply
    • Emilie Raffa says

      March 24, 2026 at 1:44 pm

      Hi Michele! This is such great feedback. Thank you for sharing. I’m particularly grateful that you mentioned increasing the recipe to 1.5x to fit a 9×13 inch pan. Brilliant! 🥰

      Reply
  31. Gloria says

    March 6, 2026 at 11:04 pm

    I made these are they didn’t really turn out. They were thin, all of the cinnamon butter ran out of the middle onto the bottom of the pan and burned, and the cream cheese frosting was too cream cheese forward. Won’t repeat this recipe.

    Reply
    • Emilie Raffa says

      March 24, 2026 at 1:55 pm

      Hi Gloria! Sorry to hear that. If it helps, when this happens (thin rolls/ filling leakage) the dough is usually over proofed. Double check your rise time and/or additional variables such as pan size, temperature etc.

      Reply
  32. Lisa G says

    March 5, 2026 at 11:07 am

    I just made these for the second time. This recipe is excellent! The dough is unbelievable! I used the author’s suggestion and increased the butter and I’ll be doing them this way from now on. Thank you for sharing the recipe.

    Reply
    • Emilie Raffa says

      March 24, 2026 at 1:56 pm

      Hi Lisa! More better is always better 🥰

      Reply
  33. Sourdough Newbie says

    February 23, 2026 at 3:44 pm

    Help! I skipped the kneading step for 6-8 minutes and went straight to the stretch and fold, should I just trash it or is it savable?

    P.S. I have made this twice before and it is such a wonderful recipe, it’s just this time, I forgot that step 🥺

    Reply
    • Emilie Raffa says

      February 24, 2026 at 2:29 pm

      It’s ok! This happens to the best of us. How did it come out?

      Reply
      • Sourdough Newbie says

        February 24, 2026 at 6:27 pm

        So, I’ve done 2 stretch and folds when I realized I skipped the kneading process, so I put it in the mixer and knead for 6 minutes, then continue the rest of the stretch and folds. Still turned out amazing!

        Reply
        • Emilie Raffa says

          February 25, 2026 at 10:25 am

          This is so great to hear! 🥰

          Reply
  34. ali says

    February 22, 2026 at 12:12 pm

    I made these today- first time ever! They are delicious and the texture is perfect.

    My only problem was much of the sugar filling came out during the bake. Still delicious (we just scraped it), but would love to perfect this step. Should I roll tighter? I didn’t want to jeopardize the integrity of the dough. Cannot wait to make these again!

    Reply
    • Emilie Raffa says

      March 24, 2026 at 2:03 pm

      Hi Ali! Yay! So glad you liked them. Ok, so for the sugar filling, this can be quite common and there are many variables to consider. For example, over/under proofed dough, too much spacing in between the rolls when baked, not rolling the dough tight enough, oven temp. not accurate, pan type etc. and any changes made to the recipe (if applicable). Do you remember your process? Thanks! 🥰

      Reply
      • Ali says

        March 24, 2026 at 4:27 pm

        Thanks for the reply. I don’t remember, but we made them again this past weekend and they were PERFECT :-)

        Reply
  35. Sami Rose says

    February 21, 2026 at 3:51 pm

    I have made these more than a dozen times and they are fantastic! Decided to make a large batch to freeze a few pans and have on hand for weekend mornings. Last night I took them out, put new plastic over them and left at room temp until morning. Baked them around the 11 hour mark even though they didnt look puffy yet like they usually do when I bake fresh. They turned out gummy and not fluffy at all like usual…what did I do wrong?? Should I have just left them until they were puffy? Could it take longer than 12 hrs at room temp from frozen?

    Reply
  36. Debra says

    February 21, 2026 at 2:48 pm

    Great recipe! Easy to follow instructions and great tips.
    They turned out really well!

    Reply
  37. KitS says

    February 21, 2026 at 1:11 pm

    I just finished the eating-warm-rolls part of this adventure. They are so good, moist, and tasty. Can’t say as I’ll make them every week, because they’re so labor intensive, but will definitely make again..maybe Christmas morning. I added raisins before I rolled them up to make them extra special. Thanks for this great recipe and tutorials!

    Reply
  38. Aubrey Scognamillo says

    February 21, 2026 at 10:50 am

    Hi Emilie, I’d love to try this recipe, however I’m a bit confused as to the overnight bulk ferment. Is this done covered in fridge for 8-12+ hrs or left out on counter at 67-68F ? Would you please clarify, thanks very much!
    :) Aubrey

    Reply
  39. Elena says

    February 18, 2026 at 8:34 pm

    Best recipe! What’s best way to store them with the cream cheese glaze??

    Reply
  40. Hal says

    February 15, 2026 at 2:18 pm

    I made these. They’re fantastic.

    I’m old school, 45 years offshore oilfield. We have a mixer but I do it by hand.

    I added a pinch of nutmeg to the filling, and mixed the filling sugar half and half granulated / light brown. I also used light brown sugar for the dough sweetener.

    I also added a dash (about 1/4 tsp) of vanilla to the glaze.

    I’m fine tuning my bake time in our oven, but these became a family favorite right away.

    Reply
  41. Shantel says

    February 13, 2026 at 9:01 pm

    Do you need the mixer or can you knead by hand?

    Reply
    • Novella Williams says

      February 20, 2026 at 12:22 pm

      I actually just made mine by hand!! They turned out great! I would recommend needing for the higher end of the recommended time since the stand mixer mixes so thoroughly if you do it by hand but yes it worked great!

      Reply
  42. Kaitlyn says

    February 11, 2026 at 9:58 pm

    I’m disappointed my dough is not turning out as I would have expected. While I am new to the sourdough game, I have had several successful loaves. I just can’t get it to the expected consistency that is conducive to folds. It’s much tense/tougher than I think it should be.🙁

    I am going to let rest overnight to see if it settles into anything/is able to be rolled out. Any thoughts on where I might have gone wrong? Otherwise, it sounds delicious.

    Reply
    • Mikki says

      February 13, 2026 at 4:50 am

      Perhaps you just needed to add a little more liquid. Our house is very low humidity right now, and I also needed a little more milk than the recipe said to get the dough smooth and supple. Dough is always affected by external factors such as humidity, temperature, even altitude, so it’s always possible you might need to adjust a recipe a little to get the right result. Did the rolls turn out okay?

      Reply
  43. Mackenzie zilenas says

    February 11, 2026 at 9:15 pm

    Loved it!! Want to try with all purpose flour instead of bread flour that I had. But super yummy & in love with the icing. Not super sweet icing, but the perfect sweetness!

    Reply
  44. Wendy says

    February 10, 2026 at 10:00 pm

    1. Thanks for sharing your knowledge! I give you all credit for any success I have with anything sourdough. Love your book too.
    2. My husband and I really enjoy your cinnamon roll recipe.
    3. I poured a half cup of heavy cream over the rolls right before putting them to bake and oh my heavens they were even more amazing.
    Thanks again!

    Reply
    • Emilie Raffa says

      February 11, 2026 at 9:52 am

      This is such lovely feedback, Wendy, thank you! You’re the second person today to mention adding cream to the rolls; I’m going to adjust the recipe notes here to include it. 🥰

      Reply
  45. Maureen says

    February 10, 2026 at 2:42 pm

    I love this recipe. I pour a couple of tablespoons or cream on top of each roll before baking. Makes the rolls moist and tender.

    Reply
    • Emilie Raffa says

      February 11, 2026 at 9:45 am

      Maureen, this sounds absolutely divine! Thank you for sharing! 🥰

      Reply
  46. Johnna D says

    February 5, 2026 at 7:47 pm

    Hi,

    Could I cut these smaller and make more?

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Tara says

      February 9, 2026 at 5:44 pm

      I did and it worked beautifully. I made 12.

      Reply
      • Alyssa says

        April 4, 2026 at 8:50 pm

        Hi Tara! What size pan did you use to bake this recipe as 12 rolls?

        Reply
  47. Bernadette Dickson says

    February 3, 2026 at 1:52 pm

    First off this recipe is excellent, so delicious. It was a bit complex and timely but so worth it. I would suggest reading the whole page, recipe and Notes before making because I did adjust according to the updates. Thank you so much for sharing. I will be making this again.

    Reply
  48. Haley says

    February 2, 2026 at 9:49 pm

    Omg, perfect!! If I’m honest, I was a bit overwhelmed by the instructions before I started. But it was soo easy to follow along!
    They turned out absolutely delicious!

    Reply
  49. Chelsea says

    February 2, 2026 at 2:30 pm

    Could I use half and half if I dont have milk?

    Reply
  50. Cate Bellafiore says

    February 2, 2026 at 12:06 am

    This is my fifth time making them, they are unbelievable every time! This time I used all the butter in the alternative suggestions, used brown sugar in place of white, and added a little lemon zest to the glaze. I added chopped walnuts and a little extra filling to the top of a few of them, and they are better than those at my husband’s favorite bakery. All the tips and tricks are so helpful. I live in Hawai’i, and my kitchen is more like 78 degrees in the winter, and it only takes 7 to 8 hours for the bulk rise if my starter is nice and bubbly to begin with.

    Reply
    • Alicja Ciastoch says

      February 14, 2026 at 10:01 am

      So amazing taste amazing thank you!

      Reply
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