Name: Air Fryer Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: ½ cup active sourdough starter; ½ cup water; 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon baking powder; ½ teaspoon salt; ½ cup melted butter; ½ cup maple syrup; 2 eggs; ½ cup butter (softened); 1 cup brown sugar; 2 tablespoons cinnamon; 6 ounces cream cheese; ½ cup heavy cream; 1 cup confectioner’s sugar; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

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Air Fryer Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls are my favorite weekend baking project, the kind where the effort actually shows up in the flavor. The dough is soft and fluffy with a subtle sourdough tang, the filling is sweet and warm, and the cream cheese frosting is thick, creamy, and covers every roll like it should.

An overhead shot of one frosted air fryer sourdough cinnamon roll dusted with cinnamon on a rustic plate, served with two silver spoons and a second partial serving, with a sifter, a bowl of ground cinnamon, and the corner of a black air fryer in the background. — Air Fryer Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls. Photo Credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

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It’s my go-to for holiday mornings and weekend brunches when I want a from-scratch baked treat that genuinely impresses. The dough rests overnight, so the morning of is mostly just rolling, filling, and letting the air fryer do its thing. Store covered at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to 4 days.

Ingredients You’ll Need

You’ll need all the ingredients shown in the photograph below.

Gemini said
An overhead, flat-lay shot of pre-measured ingredients for Air Fryer Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls, including a large bowl of all-purpose flour, a jar of active sourdough starter, brown sugar, two eggs, sticks of butter, and small bowls of maple syrup, cream cheese, heavy cream, confectioner's sugar, cinnamon, vanilla extract, water, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, all arranged on a white tiled background. — Air Fryer Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls Ingredients. Photo Credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

How to Make Air Fryer Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls with Step-By-Step Instructions

Scroll down for the full recipe card containing a full printable recipe and measurements in both US customary and metric units.

Making these from scratch is genuinely rewarding, and once you’ve done it, you’ll have it down. Here’s how to bring it all together.

Mix and Develop the Dough

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine the active sourdough starter, water, flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, butter, maple syrup, and eggs. Mix together until smooth and glossy, about 10 minutes at low speed.

Sourdough cinnamon roll dough being kneaded in a stand mixer bowl with a dough hook attachment — Combine sourdough starter, water, flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, butter, maple syrup, and eggs. Mix on low speed for 10 minutes until smooth and glossy.

You’ll know it’s ready when the dough is translucent and elastic; when you hold a small ball up to the light and gently pull it, light should pass through before it breaks.

Rest the Dough Overnight

Place the dough in a greased bowl and cover. Allow it to rest in a warm place overnight.

This long rest is what gives the rolls their depth of flavor and that subtle sourdough tang that sets them apart from regular cinnamon rolls.

Make the Cinnamon Sugar Filling

In a separate bowl, combine the softened butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Mix until it forms a thick, spreadable paste.

Roll Out and Fill the Dough

On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into a rectangle about ¼ inch thick. I always reach for my wooden rolling pin here; it gives you smooth, even pressure across the whole surface.

Add the butter and cinnamon sugar mixture to the top of the dough, then spread it evenly. Roll the dough up as tightly as you can, then slice it into 12 even rolls.

Hands rolling sourdough cinnamon roll dough spread with cinnamon sugar filling into a log on a floured wooden board — Roll dough into a ¼-inch thick rectangle using a rolling pin. Spread with butter and cinnamon sugar, roll tightly, then slice into 12 even rolls.

Place in Air Fryer Basket

Arrange the rolls in the air fryer basket lined with parchment paper, leaving space between each roll to allow for rising and even cooking.

Five unbaked sourdough cinnamon rolls with cinnamon sugar swirls arranged on parchment paper inside a black air fryer basket — Place the rolls in the air fryer basket lined with parchment paper.

Air Fry the Rolls

Bake in the air fryer at 160ºC (320°F) for 12–15 minutes, or until the rolls are lightly browned and the dough is cooked through. Allow them to cool on a rack. I like setting mine on a wire cooling rack to let air circulate underneath and keep the bottoms from going soggy.

Add the Cream Cheese Topping

Mix all the cream cheese frosting ingredients together, including the cream cheese, heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract, until smooth and pourable. Spread the frosting generously over the rolls.

Serve and Enjoy

Sprinkle a bit of cinnamon just before serving and dig in while they’re warm. Enjoy!

If you’re bringing these to a gathering, keep them in the 9×13 baking dish and cover tightly with a stretchable silicone lid to lock in freshness. Tuck the dish into an insulated casserole carrier to keep it warm on the way. Hold off on the cream cheese frosting until you arrive and spread it on fresh bread for the best presentation.

A single air fryer sourdough cinnamon roll covered in dripping cream cheese frosting and dusted with ground cinnamon, served on a rustic beige plate with a small bowl of cinnamon, a sifter, and silver forks in the background.

Air Fryer Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls

What I love about Air Fryer Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls is that the overnight rest builds all the flavor while I sleep, so the morning of is actually easy. The dough comes out soft and fluffy with that subtle sourdough tang, the cinnamon brown sugar filling runs through every swirl, and the cream cheese frosting is thick, creamy, and melts right into the warm rolls. The air fryer gets them golden and cooked through faster than the oven, which makes holiday mornings so much easier. Store covered at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to 4 days.

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Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 15

Total Time: 30

Course: Air Fryer, Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Air Fryer Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls

Servings:

Calories: 521kcal

Author: Mandy Applegate

Ingredients

½ cup active sourdough starter
½ cup water
4 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup melted butter
½ cup maple syrup
2 eggs

Cinnamon Sugar Filling:

½ cup butter softened
1 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons cinnamon

Cream cheese topping:

6 ounces cream cheese
½ cup heavy cream
1 cup confectioner’s sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine active sourdough starter, water, flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, butter, maple syrup, and eggs. Mix together until smooth, glossy, about 10 minutes at low speed. You will know when it’s ready when the dough is translucent and elastic – when placing a ball in your hands you should be able to pull it and light should go through before it breaks.
½ cup active sourdough starter, ½ cup water, 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ cup melted butter, ½ cup maple syrup, 2 eggs
Place the dough in a greased bowl and cover. Allow to rest in a warm place overnight.
In a separate bowl, combine all the filling ingredients.
½ cup butter, 1 cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons cinnamon
Lightly dust the counter with flour, and roll out the dough into a ¼ inch thick rectangle.
Add butter and cinnamon-sugar filling to the top of the dough and spread evenly. Roll the dough up as tightly as you can. Slice to make 12 even rolls.
Place the rolls in the air fryer basket covered with parchment paper.
Bake in the air fryer at 160ºC (320°F) for 12-15 minutes or until the rolls are lightly browned and the dough is cooked through. Allow them to cool in a rack.
Mix all the cream cheese topping ingredients and spread over the rolls.
6 ounces cream cheese, ½ cup heavy cream, 1 cup confectioner’s sugar, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Sprinkle a bit of cinnamon just before serving.

Notes

Here are a few tips I’ve picked up from making these rolls more than once:

Check your starter is active: Use your sourdough starter at its peak, bubbly and doubled in size, for the best rise and flavor development overnight.
Don’t rush the overnight rest: The long rest is essential. It’s what gives the rolls their texture and that gentle sourdough depth. A warm spot in your kitchen works perfectly.
Roll the dough tightly: When rolling up the filled dough, go as tightly as you can without tearing it. Tight rolls hold their shape better and give you those clean, defined swirls.
Slice with unflavored floss: For clean cuts without squashing the rolls, use a length of unflavored dental floss or a sharp serrated knife instead of a regular blade.
Check for doneness carefully: Air fryer temperatures can vary by model. Start checking at the 12-minute mark; the rolls should be lightly golden, and the dough should be fully cooked through with no raw center.
Flash-freeze for neat storage: If freezing, place the cooled rolls on a baking sheet for about 1 hour before transferring them to containers or bags. This keeps them from sticking together and makes it easy to grab just one at a time.

Nutrition

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How to Store Leftovers

Once the rolls have cooled completely, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. For longer storage, transfer them to the fridge in a sealed container, and they’ll stay fresh for 4 to 5 days.

Reheat individual rolls in the microwave for 20 to 30 seconds to bring back that soft, just-baked texture. To freeze, wrap each roll individually in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe glass container or freezer bag.

The rolls will keep for up to 2 months in the freezer. Thaw overnight in the fridge or at room temperature for 1 to 2 hours before reheating.

What to Serve With Air Fryer Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls

These rolls are rich and indulgent on their own, so they pair best with something light and fresh on the side. A simple fruit salad, fresh berries, or sliced citrus cuts right through the sweetness and balances the plate beautifully. A hot cup of coffee or a frothy latte is a natural match, as the bitterness balances the sweet cream cheese glaze beautifully.

If you’re putting together a full brunch spread, scrambled eggs and a simple green salad round things out nicely without overpowering the rolls. Orange juice or a sparkling lemonade also makes a lovely pairing for a more festive feel.

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About the Author

A woman with long brown hair is smiling and standing with her arms crossed. She is wearing a sleeveless, black and white diamond-patterned dress.

Hey there! I’m Mandy

Mandy Applegate is a home cook, food blogger, and writer who believes the best meals are the ones shared with the people you love.

She’s all about easy recipes that taste amazing, the kind that make ordinary days feel a little more special and remind you why cooking at home matters.

She has been published on NBC, the Daily News, the Boston Herald, and the Chicago Sun-Times, amongst many others.

Air Fryer Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls

Ingredients You’ll Need