Sourdough Apple Cinnamon Roll Roses Recipe
Perfect for fall mornings, holiday brunches, or when you want a dessert that's as beautiful as it is delicious - these sourdough apple cinnamon roll roses are soft, cozy, and comforting! Each bite has layers of the slight tang of sourdough, the tender baked apples, a buttery cinnamon-sugar swirl, and a gorgeous golden finish.
They're not just cinnamon rolls - they're little edible roses that will wow your family and guests and are perfect for a special occasion like Mother's Day or Christmas morning - just like my sourdough cinnamon Babka!
I love baking these rose-shaped sweet rolls in the summer when my garden roses display their first flush of blooms, but of course, they're 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!
Recipe Quick Look
- Prep time: 30 mins.
- Cook time: 35 mins.
- Servings: 5.
- Main ingredients: Flour, butter, sourdough starter, sugar, apples, cinnamon.
- Cooking method: Prepare dough 🡢 rest and proof 🡢 slice and microwave apples 🡢 prepare filling 🡢 roll dough 🡢 spread filling and arrange apples 🡢 slice and make roses 🡢 bake in a muffin tray.
- Difficulty: Medium.
- Serving ideas: Pair with bite-sized treats like walnut crescent cookies, jam-filled sourdough hand pies or sourdough discard crackers.
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Important Ingredients
- Active sourdough starter ensures a bubbly and lively base to give the dough the best lift
- Warm water in the right ratio with flour creates a soft and pliable dough
- Sugar adds sweetness to balance the flavors
- Coconut oil acts as a healthy fat that lets the other ingredients shine
- Ground cinnamon of the highest quality becomes one of the hero ingredients
- All-purpose flour provides the perfect texture
- Softened unsalted butter gives rich flavor and creates a paste-like filling
See recipe card for quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
- Oil swap: You can swap out the coconut oil for your preferred neutral-flavored oil. Vegetable or avocado oil will work well.
- Richer rolls: Try substituting milk or buttermilk instead of water for a richer result.
- Flavor switch: You can try my pecan and maple cinnamon rolls for a variation on the classic cinnamon flavor.
- Topping tweak: I also like to add a traditional sweet glaze with a basic cream cheese icing. I make this by mixing 4 ounces of cream cheese with 1 cup of sugar, ½ teaspoon vanilla and a tablespoon of milk.
How to Make Sourdough Cinnamon Roll Apple Rose
Start by combining all the ingredients except flour in a stand mixer on high speed using a dough hook. Slowly add in the flour, starting with 135 grams, and mix on low speed for 5 minutes until the dough pulls from the sides of the bowl.
Transfer to a large greased bowl, cover tightly and let it rise for about 6 hours or until its volume increases by 75%. Transfer to a clean working area and let it rest for 10 minutes. In the meantime, thinly slice the apples, microwave them for a minute to soften them, and set aside. Combine the filling ingredients in a small bowl and have it ready.
Step 1: Roll out the dough using a rolling pin into a rough rectangle shape about 14x8 inches (36x20 cm) on your work surface.
Step 2: Trim the edges to make it even shaped.
Step 3: 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 4: Sprinkle generously with cinnamon, and then fold the dough over the apples and roll up the pastry to form a rose shape.
Step 5: 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 6: Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 35 minutes or until golden brown. Cool slightly and enjoy!
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.
💭Crucial Success Tips
- Make sure to use softened butter. You should have a paste-like consistency - I realized this when I made my Brioche sourdough cinnamon rolls.
- A generous layer of cinnamon-sugar filling is the key to any good cinnamon roll. Don't hold back!
Recipe FAQs
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!
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.
Other Fall Sourdough Recipes
If you tried this sourdough apple cinnamon roll roses or any other recipe on my blog please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below! Happy Baking!
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.
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Notes
- Make sure to generously grease the muffin pan so the rolls don't stick. I sometimes like to sprinkle a light dusting of flour over the butter, too.
- This recipe makes 5 apple cinnamon rolls.
- If you don't have a microwave, you can soften the apple slices by baking them for a few minutes in the oven.
- If you do not have a stand mixer, you can make this recipe by hand; it just takes a little extra elbow grease.
