🥨 Sourdough Discard Cinnamon Sugar Twist (Soft, Sweet & Swirled)
This Sourdough Discard Cinnamon Sugar Twist is a warm, bakery-style treat that turns leftover sourdough discard into something truly special. It’s soft inside, lightly crisp outside, and filled with a rich cinnamon-brown sugar swirl that melts into every bite.
Think of it as a cross between cinnamon rolls and a braided pastry—simple, beautiful, and perfect for breakfast or dessert.
⭐ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- ♻️ Perfect use for sourdough discard
- 🍯 Soft, fluffy, and slightly tangy dough
- 🍂 Warm cinnamon sugar filling
- 🥨 Beautiful twisted presentation
- ☕ Perfect with coffee or tea
- ⚡ Easy—no advanced baking skills needed
🕒 Time & Yield
- ⏱ Prep: 15 minutes
- ⏳ Rise: 1 hour
- 🔥 Bake: 25–28 minutes
- 🍽 Yield: 1 large twist (6–8 slices)
- 🧁 Total: ~1 hour 40 minutes
🧾 Ingredients
🥖 Dough
- 1 cup (240 g) sourdough discard (room temp, unfed)
- 1 cup (120 g) all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp sugar
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp instant yeast (optional, for faster rise)
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter (softened)
- 1–2 tbsp milk (only if needed)
🍯 Cinnamon Filling
- 2 tbsp melted butter
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
✨ Optional Topping
- Powdered sugar
- OR glaze: ½ cup powdered sugar + 1–2 tsp milk
👨🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions
1. 🥣 Make the Dough
In a bowl, combine:
- sourdough discard
- flour
- sugar
- salt
- butter
Mix until a rough dough forms.
👉 Add milk only if dough feels dry.
Knead for 5–6 minutes until:
- smooth
- soft
- slightly elastic
Cover and let rise for about 1 hour until puffy.
2. 🍯 Prepare Filling
Mix:
- melted butter
- brown sugar
- cinnamon
Stir until it becomes a smooth, spreadable paste.
3. 🥨 Roll & Shape
Roll dough into a 12×8 inch rectangle.
Spread cinnamon filling evenly.
Now:
- Roll tightly into a log
- Slice log lengthwise
- Twist both halves together (cut sides up)
- Shape into a round swirl or long twist
👉 This creates that bakery-style spiral look.
4. 🔥 Bake
Preheat oven to 175°C (350°F).
Bake for 25–28 minutes, until:
- golden brown
- fragrant
- slightly crisp on edges
5. ❄️ Finish & Serve
Let cool slightly, then:
- dust with powdered sugar
or - drizzle with glaze
Serve warm for best flavor.
💡 Tips for Best Results
- Older discard = stronger sourdough flavor
- Don’t over-flour dough (keeps it soft)
- Roll tightly for better swirl layers
- Add nuts or raisins for extra texture
- Serve warm for gooey cinnamon flavor
🔄 Variations
- 🌰 Add chopped pecans or walnuts
- 🍫 Add mini chocolate chips
- 🍇 Add raisins or dried cranberries
- 🌿 Add cardamom for warm spice flavor
- 🍯 Drizzle honey instead of glaze
🧊 Storage
- Room temp: 2 days
- Fridge: up to 5 days
- Freezer: up to 1 month (slice before freezing)
👉 Reheat for 10–15 seconds for soft texture.
🏁 Final Thoughts
This Sourdough Discard Cinnamon Sugar Twist is the perfect balance of sweet, soft, and slightly tangy. It transforms simple pantry ingredients into a stunning braided pastry that feels bakery-level but is easy enough for home baking.
It’s the kind of recipe that disappears quickly—slice after slice, warm and irresistible. 🥨✨
