Kick up your cinnamon roll game by using a sourdough starter and making these Sourdough Walnut Cinnamon Rolls from scratch!
There are some things that you just cannot say no to. Seriously, no matter the day, time, or star alignment, it is impossible to say no to a fresh out of the oven cinnamon roll. How hard is it to walk by the Cinnabon in the mall? It’s torture. But these Sourdough Walnut Cinnamon Rolls, they’re not only homemade and from scratch, but they’re made with our sourdough starter, Herman, and they’re topped with candied walnuts and a delicious sweet frosting. Dare I say, significantly better than any cinnamon roll you’ll find in a mall. ‘Cause really, isn’t homemade always better?
These guys do take a little extra time, don’t be worried about the 8 hr prep time- that’s just because after you mix the dough you pop it in the fridge over night for them to develop that delicious sourdough flavor. 
The dough itself is an easy roll and fill with a cinnamon sugar mixture then sliced and placed in a sweet walnut mixture to bake for about 20-25 minutes.
Flop those bad boys over so the sweet candied walnuts are on top,
then drizzle the final bit of cinnamon roll crack frosting on top, and then invite some friends over to help save you from devouring these Sourdough Walnut Cinnamon Rolls all in one sitting. Trust me, it’s a legitimate struggle. 😉
Other Sweet Brunch Treats
Easy Homemade Apple Fritters Butterscotch Snickerdoodle Bread Glazed Chocolate Munchkins Ricotta Pancakes Banana Waffles Classic Banana Walnut Bread
Sourdough Walnut Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients
Dough
- 1 C Herman or sourdough starter
- 3/4 C milk heated approximately 1 minute in microwave
- 2 tablespoons butter room temperature
- 1 egg room temperature
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3 1/4 cups bread flour or unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon instant active dry yeast
Cinnamon Filling
- 1 tablespoon butter melted
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Walnut Topping
- 1/4 C melted butter
- 1/2 C walnuts roughly chopped
- 1 C brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- Frosting
- 2 C powdered confectioners' sugar
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 4 tablespoons hot water
Instructions
- Mix all of the dough ingredients together in a bowl, cover, and let rest overnight.
- Pre-heat oven to 350°. Prep a 9 X 13 baking dish. Mix together the walnut topping and then line the bottom of the baking dish with the mixture.
- In the morning, roll and stretch the dough into a 15 X 24 rectangle. Mix the cinnamon mixture together. Brush melted butter (as a part of the cinnamon filling) over the dough, the sprinkle the cinnamon mixture on top of the butter. The starting at the long edge, roll up the dough, but don't roll too tightly, otherwise the cinnamon roll centers will rise above the rest of the roll while they bake.
- Bake in oven for 20-25 minutes, until golden brown. Remove from oven, let cool for a couple of minutes, then turn pan upside down on to a parchment paper lined baking pan and 'plop' rolls onto the pan so that the walnut mixture is now on top.
- Mix the water and vanilla for the frosting, and whisk into the powdered sugar for the frosting and drizzle onto rolls as desired.
- Enjoy!
Hi, maybe I’m missing something, but you don’t state how to prepare the topping with the walnuts. I improvised when I got to that part of the recipe but can you clarify what to do there? Thanks so much.
Hi Diane,
I’m so sorry!!! Step two, after pre-heating the oven it says, “Mix together the walnut topping and then line the bottom of the baking dish with the mixture.” But because it’s in that instruction, I can totally see how it would be missed!
They look so dreamy, delicious n I literally want to lick them off the screen – Absolutely YUM!
Thanks, Molly!!
Cinnamon rolls are my kryptonite! I NEED to try a dairy-free version of this because my mouth is legit watering right now 😀
😀 Dairy free will be just as delicious! Thanks for stopping by!
I love cinnamon rolls. I like that you added walnuts, my favorite nuts. Looks delicious!
Thank you! 😀
Hey Tracy, these cinnamon rolls look phenomenal! I LOVE cinnamon rolls and I love sourdough bread, but I’ve never heard of a sourdough cinnamon roll before. It sounds amazing! Can’t wait to try it 🙂
Thanks so much, Mary! 😀
Hey did you know that sourdough is actually healthy for you! Sourdough contains probiotic enzymes from it’s yeasty reaction. Therefore these rolls are a health food!
Matthew, I LOVE your logic! More Cinnamon rolls, for your health!! 😀
What a unique idea using sourdough for cinnamon rolls. I bet the flavour compliments the filling really well.
I have a crazy confession to make. . .I have never had a Cinnabon cinnamon roll. Gasp! I know I am probably committing the greatest of sins looking away the minute that divine scent tickles my nose. . .but those rolls are so huge and I alway think about all the meals I would have to forgo if I indulged in one of these temptress.
That said, I couldn’t agree with you more that homemade is always better. And I have to believe that Cinnabon has nothing on these beauties. That ooey, gooey topping looks impossible to resist. . .and those candied walnuts. . .my heart beats a little faster for those.
Hahaha! Not that crazy at all! And you’re SO right – they ARE huge and a good way to use up all your calories in one roll! Homemade though- that means they’re low cal, low fat, and guilt free, though right? 😉
Oh my Tracy! These look heavenly. That ooey gooey frosting! Just perfect for tomorrow morning. Pinning!! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much, Felesha! 😀
I love the earthy flavors of sourdough and I bet it will taste good with cinnamon!
Thanks, Christine! You’re so right, the sourdough flavor adds a great taste to the sweet cinnamon, for sure!
Invite friends? HA – let them get their own!! Seriously, these sound wonderful – I bet the sourdough flavor went beautifully with the rest!
Hahaha- I like your style! 😉
Yuuum!