Sourdough Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls
Sourdough pumpkin cinnamon rolls are soft, buttery and full of warm fall flavors. It is an easy, overnight cinnamon roll recipe with the addition of pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice.
We've taken our sourdough cinnamon rolls and transformed them into a delicious fall treat! Sourdough pumpkin cinnamon rolls have pumpkin puree in the dough and the filling is made with light brown sugar and pumpkin pie spice.
Recipe highlights
- easy overnight dough: The dough is quickly mixed by hand and allowed to rise overnight, which will give you the benefits of fermented sourdough with minimal effort.
- canned pumpkin: As home bakers, don't we all have a few cans of pumpkin on the shelf? Just like our sourdough pumpkin bread, now you've got another delicious fall recipe to use it in!
- sourdough discard: We love to use our discard instead of wasting it. This recipe calls for baking soda and baking powder as leavening agents. The salt, baking soda and baking powder are mixed into the dough after it has risen and right before it is rolled out.
What you'll need
- 10-12" cast iron skillet: If you don't have a cast iron skillet, you can use a spring-form pan or a baking dish. Make sure to grease them lightly before you add the cut out rolls.
- canned pumpkin/pumpkin pie spice: Do not use canned pumpkin pie filling as it is highly sweetened and has spices in it. Ground cinnamon can be used in place of pumpkin pie spice.
- butter/milk: Dairy or plant based options both work well.
- flour: All-purpose flour works best but feel free to sub out part of it with wheat flour. You will need to adjust the liquid amount as wheat flour absorbs more liquid than all-purpose flour. Note that using wheat flour will produce a much denser cinnamon roll.
- powdered sugar/vanilla extract: These two ingredients are for the glaze which will also need milk and a tablespoon of melted butter.
How to shape cinnamon rolls
Once you are ready to bake, follow these simple steps to get the dough rolled out, cut and in the oven!
Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface and flour the surface of the dough and the rolling pin. Roll the dough out into a rectangular shape, about 22" x 12".
Brush the top of the dough with melted butter and sprinkle the sugar/pumpkin pie spice mixture evenly over the top. Make sure to leave a 1" border around the perimeter of the dough.
Starting on one end, roll the dough into a log shape. If the dough is sticking to the work surface, use a bench scraper to gently separate the dough from the surface, using more flour as needed.
Use the bench scraper or a knife to cut the log into 1-1 ½" pieces. Place the pieces into a buttered cast iron skillet and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 35-40 minutes.
After the rolls have baked, mix the cinnamon roll glaze and pour it over the top. Serve the rolls warm.
How to store and freeze
- To Store: Keep the baked and glazed sourdough pumpkin cinnamon rolls at room temperature in a closed container for up to 3 days.
- To Freeze: Wrap the baked, unglazed rolls in plastic wrap and insert them into a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
- To Reheat: Allow rolls to thaw, if frozen. Heat in the microwave for 15-20 seconds.
Easy sourdough discard recipes to make for breakfast
There are so many possibilities for using your sourdough discard. Try one of these easy and delicious recipes!
- sourdough pancakes or waffles
- sourdough coffee cake
- sourdough blueberry muffins
- sourdough banana nut muffins
Sourdough Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls Recipe
INGREDIENTS
Dough
- ½ cup (113 g) butter (cold)
- 2 ½ cups (300 g) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (125 g) sourdough starter discard
- ½ cup (122 g) pumpkin puree
- ½ cup (120 g) milk (dairy or plant based)
- 2 tablespoons (40 g) honey
- 1 teaspoon (5 g) salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
Filling
- ¾ cup (165 g) light brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- 2 tablespoons (28 g) butter (melted)
Glaze
- 1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon (14 g) butter (melted)
- 2 tablespoons (30 g) milk (dairy or plant based)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
INSTRUCTIONS
8 PM on Day 1
- Grate the cold butter using the large holes of a cheese grater into a large mixing bowl. Add the flour to the bowl and use a fork to toss and coat the butter with flour to separate the pieces. Cut the flour into the butter using a pastry cutter or bench scraper until it has a coarse consistency.
- Add the sourdough starter, honey, pumpkin and milk to the bowl. Use a spatula to get the mixture started and then switch to your hands to incorporate the ingredients until there are no dry bits left in the bowl. Cover the bowl and let the dough sit at room temperature for 8-10 hours. (Do not add the baking soda, baking powder or salt until the next day.)
6 AM on Day 2
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly butter the cast iron skillet or baking dish.
- Mix the light brown sugar and pumpkin pie spice in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Add the salt, baking powder and baking soda to the dough and use your hands to incorporate it evenly. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface. Use a rolling pin to roll the dough out into a rectangular shape. Flour the work surface and rolling pin as necessary to prevent sticking.
- Brush the top of the dough with the melted butter and sprinkle the sugar mixture evenly over the top, leaving a one inch border around the perimeter. Starting at one end, roll the dough into a log shape. Use a bench scraper or a sharp knife to cut the log into 1-1 ½ inch pieces. Arrange the rolls in the baking dish leaving a little space between each one.
- Bake the cinnamon rolls for 35-40 minutes or until they are golden brown.
- In a small bowl mix the powdered sugar, melted butter, vanilla extract and milk. Add milk as necessary to thin the glaze to the desired consistency. Pour the glaze over the warm rolls and use a spatula to spread evenly.
NOTES
- To Store: Keep the baked and glazed sourdough pumpkin cinnamon rolls at room temperature in a closed container for up to 3 days.
- To Freeze: Wrap individual rolls in plastic wrap and insert them into a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
- To Reheat: Allow rolls to thaw, if frozen. Heat in the microwave for 15-20 seconds.
THE best sourdough discard (and cinnamon roll) recipe out there. I’ve been making the regular recipe for years, had pumpkin thawing in fridge, and came across this version in your site. I switch things up a bit, add oil (3/4 ratio) for half of butter (or vegan marg) in dough, use maple syrup in dough (a bit less than 1:1), use less sugar and add apple butter to filling. Even have made filling refined sugar free with soaked chopped dates. All delicious, very forgiving recipe. My dough this time also doubled overnight with unfed fridge starter, maybe from holding back salt as per this recipe, or a bit more starter than original? No matter. I added the leavening agents in morning anyway. So amazing, pillowy tender and still flaky, eating off the cooling rack haha. Thank you for this recipe, note to others, always make a double batch 😉 they freeze well.
Additional note, I also use up to 50% whole wheat in this recipe and turns out great every time, for those who are wondering if that works. I prefer the flavour of baked goods with whole wheat added.
Hi I am so excited to test this recipe out for my family. I would like to ask if I can switch out the honey for maple syrup? Would it be the same amount for maple syrup or less because it’s thinner than honey? Thank you. 🙏🏽
Hello, you can use the same amount.
I left my dough out over night so it got huge and fermented too much and I thought oh no too sour. I used alot of flour to be able to roll them out and I added 1/2 cup pumpkin puree to the filling and it tasted just like pumpkin pie in the middle. poured heavy cream over the rolls before baking and these are so delicious.
Can I freeze the rolls before baking?
Yes, you can.
Made this recipe and it was so good! You really don’t even need the glaze. I brushed a little melted butter on half and glazed the other half.
The reminder to add the leavener in the morning, after bulk rise, helps make them so pillowy.
I made this recipe a few years ago and thought it was great so I saved the recipe. I made it again with my sour dough discard last night and backed them this morning. The results were disappointing. The rolls did not rise very much at all. Any thoughts why? I have yet to frost them or taste them. I was planning to take them to work but they do not have much appeal. I will probably just stop by the store. 🙁
Hi Mary, Im so sorry to hear your experience with this recipe. You will not see very much rise with the sourdough discard during the bulk rise, that is normal. Did you make sure to add the leavening agents after the bulk rise before you baked them? The baking powder and baking soda are needed so that they will rise and puff up in the oven while they are baking.
So very delicious straight. from. the oven. I need to leave the house so I don't eat the entire skillet all by myself.
10/10 fantastic flavor and baked up perfectly. After rolling the dough out and spreading the cin-sugar, I sliced it all into long strips with a pizza cutter so little hands could help roll up individually. A little messy but a lot of fun. We love little spoon farm recipes!
These were a favorite in my family. Everyone gobbled them up and leftover they are delicious. Really straightforward and easy to put together! The fall vibe was a perfect cozy add on. Very happy with the turnout
Loved this! Reduced butter to a little more than half in the dough, and only made half the filling and the glaze. Still decadent! Thanks for the egg-free recipe, my allergic toddler loved it.