🍂 A little moment of simple living
RECIPES • BAKING
Soft, fluffy & perfect for a slow morning.
There’s something about fall that makes me want to slow down.
The mornings feel a little quieter, the kitchen feels a little cozier, and turning on the oven suddenly sounds like a very good idea.
For me, simple living isn’t about making everything from scratch or filling the day with projects. It’s about choosing a few things that make an ordinary day feel special — brewing a warm cup of coffee, opening the windows, spending some time in the garden, or baking something the whole family can enjoy.
These sourdough discard cinnamon rolls are one of those things.
They’re soft, buttery and filled with cinnamon and brown sugar, with a simple cream cheese frosting on top. And because this recipe uses sourdough discard and instant yeast, you don’t have to wait all day for sourdough to do its work.
It’s the kind of recipe I love for a slow weekend morning — especially when the house starts smelling like cinnamon.
🌿 Little Z’s Simple Living Note
Simple living doesn’t have to mean doing less of everything. Sometimes it means making time for the things you enjoy.
Cozy Baking
Why You’ll Love These Cinnamon Rolls
These rolls are comforting without being overly complicated. They’re soft and fluffy, put sourdough discard to good use, and don’t require an overnight rise.
The filling is simple — butter, brown sugar and cinnamon — and the cream cheese frosting is intentionally less sweet, so you still get that lovely tanginess from the cream cheese.
And pouring a little heavy cream over the rolls before they go into the oven makes them especially soft and rich.
What You’ll Need
Ingredients
For the Dough
- 4 cups all-purpose flour, divided
- 1 cup warm water
- 150 g sourdough discard
- 1 tablespoon instant yeast
- ¼ cup (½ stick) butter, melted
- ⅛ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ cup heavy cream, for pouring over before baking
Cinnamon Filling
- ½ cup butter, melted or very soft
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 4 tablespoons butter, softened
- 3–4 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1–2 tablespoons heavy cream or milk, optional
Step by Step
How to Make Sourdough Discard Cinnamon Rolls
01
Make the Dough
In a large bowl, whisk together the warm water, instant yeast, honey, brown sugar and sourdough discard.
Stir in the melted butter, egg, salt and 2 cups of flour.
Gradually add the remaining flour and mix until a soft, cohesive dough forms.
02
Knead & Let It Rise
Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 6–8 minutes, until it becomes smooth and elastic.
Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover, and leave it somewhere warm for about 1–1½ hours, or until noticeably risen.
This is a good time to make some tea or coffee and leave the dough alone to do its thing. ☕
03
Make the Filling & Shape the Rolls
Mix the softened or melted butter and brown sugar together until combined.
Roll the dough on a lightly floured surface into a large rectangle, approximately 12 × 18 inches.
Spread the butter-and-brown-sugar mixture evenly over the dough, then sprinkle the cinnamon across the top.
I like mixing the butter and sugar first rather than spreading the butter and adding the sugar separately. It’s simple and gives me a nice, even layer of filling.
04
Roll & Slice
Starting from one of the long sides, roll the dough tightly into a log.
Cut into approximately 10–12 rolls using a sharp knife or unflavored dental floss.
Arrange the rolls in a greased 9 × 13-inch baking dish.
05
Second Rise + The Cream Trick
Cover the rolls and let them rise for another 30–45 minutes, until they’re soft and puffy.
Just before baking, gently pour ½ cup warm heavy cream over and between the rolls.
Little Z’s Baking Tip
Don’t worry if it looks like there’s liquid sitting in the pan. The rolls will absorb much of the cream as they bake, helping them become wonderfully soft.
06
Bake
Bake at 350°F (175°C) for approximately 25–30 minutes, until the tops are golden and the centers are cooked through.
And enjoy the cinnamon smell taking over your kitchen. 🍂
07
Make the Cream Cheese Frosting
Beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth and fluffy.
Add the powdered sugar and vanilla.
If you’d like a thinner frosting, mix in 1–2 tablespoons of heavy cream or milk.
Spread generously over the cinnamon rolls while they’re still slightly warm.
🍂 Slow Morning
Make It a Cozy Fall Morning
One of my favorite things about recipes like this is that the baking itself can become part of the morning rather than another task to finish.
Put on some music. Make coffee or tea. Open a window if the weather is cool. Let the cinnamon rolls rise while you read, spend some time outside, or simply enjoy a slower morning.
You don’t need a perfectly styled kitchen or an elaborate weekend routine.
Sometimes warm cinnamon rolls, a quiet morning and nowhere you need to rush to are enough.
A Few Helpful Notes
Tips for Soft, Fluffy Cinnamon Rolls
How to Store Them
These cinnamon rolls are best enjoyed warm, but leftovers can be stored covered in the refrigerator for about 3–4 days because of the cream cheese frosting.
Warm an individual roll briefly in the microwave before serving.
If you know you won’t eat all of them immediately, you can also keep some unfrosted and add the frosting after reheating.
A Little Joy From the Kitchen
Baking is one of the ways I like to slow down and make home feel a little warmer.
These cinnamon rolls aren’t about making the fanciest breakfast. They’re simply something delicious to make, share and enjoy.
And that is really what I want Little Z’s Corner to be about — finding simple ways to make ordinary days feel a little more special.
Simple days. Creative moments. Little joys.
Little Z’s Corner
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