Sourdough Discard Cinnamon Roll Recipe

This cinnamon roll recipe no yeast needed is amazing! Using a sourdough starter these overnight rolls turn out fluffy and baked to perfection. A fun new way to make a sweet rolls treat for breakfast or dessert!

No Yeast Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

Ready for the best no yeast cinnamon rolls you’ve ever tasted. When you make homemade baked or slow cooker cinnamon rolls without yeast you have to have some way to get them to rise. That is where sourdough starter comes into play.

If you have never made this we have instructions below, AND where you can just buy it if you’re not in the mood to do it yourself.

Sourdough Discard Cinnamon Rolls

It’s so easy even my friend’s daughter has figured it out…watch her video and make a batch yourself to get started. If you don’t have yeast this is a great thing to know how to make. Once it is done you can use it to make pizza dough, waffles, pancakes, no yeast rolls, the list goes on and on……

Can you buy a sourdough starter?

Yes I have a link for that below!! King Arthur Flour makes it and can have it shipped right to your door if you don’t want to go through the trouble of making it yourself. A ready made sourdough starter will set you back about nine bucks which isn’t bad really.

• THIS is how to make sourdough starter from scratch though yourself for a whole lot less? 
• Especially if you want to make a larger batch, or make them often, I would learn how to make your own.

Once you get the hang of it it isn’t too hard.

When should I feed my sourdough starter?

Feed starter daily.  If you aren’t going to use your starter on a regular basis, you can refrigerate it for 3 to 4 days at a time. You should “feed it” at least twice a week for best results.

It MUST be super active or you won’t get the dough to rise properly. I’ve done this with our Pumpkin Sourdough Bread and I was super sad when it wasn’t as fluffy as I wanted.

Ok now once you have that done and ready, you can proceed to the next steps. Here’s a printable step by step guide on How to Make Sourdough Starter printable as well to keep on hand.

• Once you have it done, make sure to keep it “healthy” in case you don’t use it that day, or want to use some later next week.

Now the most time will come when allowing the cinnamon roll dough to rise, and then rise again. Make sure you prepare for these several days before you want to eat them. If you already have an active starter then you just need to prep them the day before. 

Ingredients

1. 1/2 c. of active sourdough starter <—– can be bought here, or make it yourself)
2. Milk or dairy free alternative
3. Butter or plant based alternative
4. Egg is best added at room temperature
5. Sugar to sweeten
6. All purpose flour for your dry ingredients
7. Salt
8. Cinnamon of course
9. Cast iron pan or baking dish

A stand mixer is extremely helpful to have for this, pretty much a necessity. Use a paddle and dough hook attachments.

What is sourdough starter made of?

1. 1/2 cup of flour (any type of flour will work)
2. 1/4 cup warm water
3. 1/2 teaspoon of granulated sugar

How to prep your overnight cinnamon rolls

The dough needs to rise overnight so keep that in mind if you’re making this as a Christmas morning dessert, or for a Sunday morning treat.

1. Ensure your sourdough starter is active and bubbly
2. Heat milk and butter until it melts on the stovetop, set aside to cool
3. In your mixer bowl combine your starter, egg, and 2 tbsp. sugar and mix
4. Slowly add in your warm milk mixture

Then slowly incorporate the flour, salt and cinnamon for your dough. Reading thru this and realize you need something quicker? Try our cinnamon roll muffins instead.

Now your dough should be well incorporated. Leave it in your bowl, cover with a warm towel and allow to sit for 30 minutes undisturbed. Then put it back on your mixer stand and using a dough hook mix on low for about 5 minutes.

Knead 4-5 times on a lightly floured work surface and then place it into a dutch oven that has been lightly coated with oil. If you don’t have one of these you could use a bowl. Cover and let this sit overnight for 8-12 hours so dough can double in size.

Remove dough that has been sitting and rising all night long. Place on lightly floured surface and “punch” down in the middle to remove the air bubbles. Then let it rest for 15 minutes.

Small Batch Cinnamon Rolls No Yeast

• Now it is time to roll these sweet rolls out!
• Use a rolling pin and make it into the shape of a rectangle, about 1.5″ thick all the way across so it bakes evenly.
• Use a spatula (or your hands) to spread the room temperature butter on top.
• Mix the cinnamon and sugar used for your topping together in a bowl, then sprinkle this on top of your butter layer.
• Roll that baby up in a long log and use a serrated knife (so it doesn’t smash) to cut the dough about 1.5″ wide.
  • remember they’re going to rise and expand again so they’ll get bigger
• Lightly grease a large cast iron pan pan and place them inside with a bit of space in between them.

Again, place a warm towel over the top of the pan and allow them to rise and expand again for 60-90 minutes.

Then preheat your oven to 350 degrees and bake for 35-40 minutes or until the tops are golden brown and cooked thru. Allow to cool in the pan a bit before removing and spreading frosting over the top.

I just warm cream cheese frosting in a small bowl while rolls are baking. Then pour some over the top of each one for ultimate YUM of the century!

• Want to make the best sticky buns air fryer cinnamon buns too? They’re done in no time and great if you’re pressed for time.
• You can try our no yeast easy Irish soda bread recipe, no yeast rolls and this easy bread recipe no yeast next too.
• There are more bread yeast recipes here to try as well.