Beauty and taste are delicately woven together in this delicious sourdough cinnamon roll rose recipe. These apple cinnamon rolls are a unique and stunning dessert that will not soon be forgotten. And they're great for a special occasion like Mother's Day or Christmas morning!
I love baking these rose-shaped sweet rolls in the summer when my garden roses display their first flush of blooms. They are also terrific for Fall baking. I love how they fill the house with the nostalgic Autumn aromas of cinnamon and apple.
If, like me, you love cinnamon-filled baked goods, you'll want to check out my other cinnamon roll recipes. I've got a tantalizing pecan and maple syrup cinnamon roll recipe and a pumpkin-inspired one, too!
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📖Printable Recipe
📖 Recipe
Sourdough Cinnamon Roll Apple Roses
Jump to VideoIngredients
- 30 grams Warm water
- 50 grams Active sourdough starter
- 20 grams Sugar
- 135 grams All-purpose flour
- 7 grams Coconut oil
- 1.5 grams Ground cinnamon
- 1 Egg
- ½ - 1 apple thinly sliced
Filling
- 17.5 grams Unsalted butter softened
- 25 grams Sugar
- 1.5 grams Ground cinnamon
Instructions
Make the dough
- In a stand mixer, combine all the ingredients except the flour, and mix on high speed using a dough hook until everything is thoroughly incorporated.
- Slowly add in the flour, beginning with 135 grams, and mix on low speed. After a few minutes, gradually add more flour until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl and forms into a ball. This can take about 5 to 15 minutes.
- Transfer the dough to a large greased bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and allow to rise for about 6 hours or until it has increased in volume at least 75%. Place the bowl in a warm spot to speed up the process slightly, or let it rise overnight on the counter.
- Turn the risen dough out onto a clean surface and rest for 10 minutes while preparing the filling.
For the filling:
- Halve and thinly slice the apples, then microwave them for about a minute until slightly softened.
- In a small bowl, combine the filling ingredients and mix well. It should resemble a thick paste.
Shape and assemble
- Roll out the dough into a rough rectangle shape about 14x8 inches (36x20 cm). I always just eyeball it.
- Spread the filling evenly over the dough, then place the apple slices (overlapping them slightly) along the longer edge of each pastry piece. Use a pastry cutter to slice 5 even strips for each roll.
- Sprinkle generously with cinnamon, and then fold the dough over the apples and roll up the pastry to form a rose shape.
- Grease a muffin pan with butter or oil, or line it with parchment paper. Place each rose into the prepared muffin tin and rise a second time until slightly puffy. This takes about 30 minutes to an hour.
- Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 35 minutes or until golden brown. Cool slightly and enjoy! Optional: sprinkle with powdered sugar.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Ingredients
Ground cinnamon and softened apples are the star ingredients here.
- Warm water: The right ratio of water to flour is the key to a soft and pliable dough.
- Active sourdough starter: We want a bubbly and active starter to give the dough the best lift.
- Sugar: Granulated sugar lends a sweetness to the dough.
- Coconut oil: A healthy oil like coconut pairs perfectly with the rest of the sweet pastry ingredients.
- Ground cinnamon: The best flavor on the block; cinnamon should not be used sparingly.
- All-purpose flour: A pantry staple, all-purpose flour makes the perfect texture for these rolls.
- Unsalted butter: For a richer flavor and paste-like filling, we'll use softened butter.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Sourdough Cinnamon Roll Apple Roses
Learn how to make these rose-shaped puffs of deliciousness with these simple step-by-step instructions.
Step 1. In a stand mixer, combine all the ingredients except the flour, and mix on high speed using a dough hook until everything is thoroughly incorporated.
Step 2. Slowly add in the flour, beginning with 135 grams, and mix on low speed. After a few minutes, gradually add more flour until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl and forms into a ball. This can take about 5 to 15 minutes. This is quite standard cinnamon roll dough, so if you've ever made it, it should look and feel about the same!
Step 3. Transfer the dough to a large greased bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and allow to rise for about 6 hours or until it has increased in volume at least 75%. Place the bowl in a warm spot to speed up the process slightly, or let it rise overnight on the counter.
Step 4. Turn the risen dough out onto a clean surface and rest for 10 minutes while preparing the filling.
Step 5. Halve and thinly slice the apples, then microwave them for about a minute until slightly softened.
Step 6. In a small bowl, combine the filling ingredients and mix well. It should resemble a thick paste.
Step 7. Roll out the dough using a rolling pin into a rough rectangle shape about 14x8 inches (36x20 cm) on your work surface. I always just eyeball it and trim the edges to make an even shape.
Step 8. Spread the filling evenly over the dough, then place apple slices (overlapping them slightly) along the longer edge of each pastry piece. Use a pastry cutter (or a sharp knife!) to slice 5 even strips for each roll.
Step 9. Sprinkle generously with cinnamon, and then fold the dough over the apples and roll up the pastry to form a rose shape.
Step 10. Grease a muffin pan with butter or oil, or line it with parchment paper. Place each rose into the prepared muffin tin and rise a second time until slightly puffy. This takes about 30 minutes to an hour.
Step 11. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 35 minutes or until golden brown. Cool slightly and enjoy! Optional: sprinkle with powdered sugar.
Hint: If the apples are browning too much, you can always use aluminum foil to tent the rolls to prevent over-browning.
Baking Schedule
You can follow this schedule loosely to plan out your baking day.
8 AM: Mix up your dough, cover it tightly with plastic, and allow the bulk to rise at room temperature for at least 6 hours. (You could also start this process before bed and allow the dough to rise overnight, then proceed with the next steps in the morning.)
2 PM: Shape and assemble the rose rolls. Then allow to rise again for 30 minutes to an hour.
3 PM: Bake rolls in a preheated oven for 35 minutes or until golden brown.
Substitutions & Variations
You can swap out the coconut oil for your preferred neutral-flavored oil. Vegetable or avocado oil will work well.
Try substituting milk or buttermilk instead of water for a richer result.
You can try my pecan and maple cinnamon rolls for a variation on the classic cinnamon flavor.
I also like to add a traditional sweet glaze with a basic cream cheese icing:
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
💭Crucial Success Tips
Make sure to use softened butter. A generous layer of cinnamon-sugar filling is the key to any good cinnamon roll; the butter is the base of this sweet paste concoction.
FAQ
Yes! I sometimes like to opt for the overnight version of this recipe. Simply mix up the dough in the evening before bed and then let it rise overnight on the counter. In the morning, the dough will be ready to shape and assemble. If your house is very warm, you can also pop the dough (covered) into the refrigerator to rise overnight.
My favorite way to enjoy these sweet rolls is with a steaming cup of freshly brewed coffee and a side of fresh fruit. If you are from the American Midwest, you might serve your cinnamon rolls alongside a savory bowl of chili!
More Sourdough Recipes
How To Store Apple Cinnamon Roll Roses
These cinnamon rolls keep well covered in an airtight container on the counter for 3-4 days, or they can be popped in the refrigerator and kept for up to 1 week.
I don't recommend freezing these rolls as the apples wouldn't keep their texture upon thawing.
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