Sourdough Discard Cinnamon Roll Bites
When I make cinnamon rolls, every one wants that center bite. This recipe was created to satisfy that craving- that perfect soft gooey center smothered in brown sugar cinnamon glaze, and topped with sweet cream cheese icing. With no kneading, no rise time, and no fuss, these Sourdough Discard Cinnamon Roll Bites are fast, bite-sized, and ready in under an hour. These little bites aren't just delicious, they're dangerous.
Equipment
- Measuring cups and spoons - to measure smaller ingredients.
- Digital kitchen scale (optional) - for accurate measurements.
- Mixing bowls - to mix dough and icing, and to hold butter and cinnamon sugar coating.
- Rolling Pin - to roll out your dough.
- sharp knife or pizza wheel - to cut dough into bite sized shapes.
- 9 inch cast iron skillet or pie pan - to bake the bites.
- hand beaters - to beat icing.
Ingredients
Dough:
- 1/4 cup (57g) salted butter softened
- 1 egg yolk
- 1/2 cup (120g) sourdough discard (100% hydration)
- 1 cup (240g) milk or buttermilk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 1/4 cups (400g) all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup (50g) granulated white sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
For Dipping:
- 1/2 cup (113g) salted butter melted
Cinnamon Sugar Coating:
- 3/4 cup (150g) brown sugar
- 1/3 cup (65g) granulated white sugar
- 1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
Cream Bath:
- 1/4 cup (65g) heavy cream
Cream Cheese Glaze:
- 1 oz (28g) cream cheese, softened
- 1 Tbsp (14g) salted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup (60g) powdered sugar
- 3-4 Tablespoons milk
- 1 tsp vanilla
Instructions
Step 1: Mix the Dough
- In a bowl, add the milk. Microwave for 30 seconds to gently warm.1 cup (240g) milk or buttermilk
- Add the butter, sourdough discard, vanilla, and egg yolk to the milk. Whisk together loosely, it's okay if you have a few lumps of butter and discard. The goal is just to break up the butter and discard into bits.1/4 cup (57g) salted butter, 1 egg yolk, 1/2 cup (120g) sourdough discard (100% hydration), 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Add the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to the bowl.3 1/4 cups (400g) all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup (50g) granulated white sugar, 1 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
- Mix with your hands or a dough spatula until you bring the dough together, it should form a ball.
- Overnight Fermentation: if you want this dough to ferment overnight, simply cover the dough with plastic and allow to rest in the refrigerator overnight. When you're ready to shape the bites, remove from the refrigerator and proceed.
Step 2: Shape the Bites and Bake
- Preheat your oven to 350 F. Lightly oil your cast iron dish or pie pan to make sure the bites don't stick.
- In a microwave safe dish, melt the butter for dipping the bites. Set aside.1/2 cup (113g) salted butter
- In another bowl, mix together the brown sugar, white sugar, cinnamon, and flour to coat the bites. This melts with the butter into the most delicious gooey filling.3/4 cup (150g) brown sugar, 1/3 cup (65g) granulated white sugar, 1 Tbsp ground cinnamon, 1/2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- Flour a clean work surface, and turn the dough out onto the prepared surface.
- Roll out the dough into a rough rectangle, about 1/2 inch thickness. This doesn't need to be perfect!
- Using a sharp knife or pizza wheel, cut the dough into eight 1 inch strips vertically. Repeat this step the other way, cutting the dough into 1 inch squares cutting horizontally as pictured below. You should have roughly 50 squares.
- Roll each square in your hands to from little balls, then coat each ball in the melted butter and toss in the cinnamon sugar coating.
- Line the bites into your prepared pie pan or cast iron skillet. Squeeze them all in together!
- Pour the remaining butter on top of the bites, and sprinkle with more of the cinnamon sugar blend.
- Pour cream over the top of the bites to lock in moisture. This turns into the most lovely caramelized sauce!1/4 cup (65g) heavy cream
- Transfer the bites to the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes. Bites are done when you touch the center of the pan with your finger and the bites are firm.
Step 3: Glaze the Bites
- While the bites bake, prepare the cream cheese glaze.
- Place the cream cheese and softened butter to a bowl, and beat on high with hand mixers until smooth.1 oz (28g) cream cheese, softened, 1 Tbsp (14g) salted butter, softened
- Add the vanilla and powdered sugar to the bowl, and beat into the icing.1 tsp vanilla, 1/2 cup (60g) powdered sugar
- Drizzle in milk 1 Tablespoon at at time to the glaze, until the consistency is runny and can easily drizzle on top of the bites.3-4 Tablespoons milk
- Drizzle glaze over the warm bites and serve!