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Adding cinnamon to sourdough recipes can be a tricky feat. Cinnamon can be used to flavor a recipe and bring an element of sweetness to a dish. However in sourdough, the impact can be detrimental to a dish if not included at the correct time. Learn how to add cinnamon to sourdough recipes the right way.
We have our fair share of adding a variety of inclusions to sourdough recipes (we even have a list of over 130 different inclusion options!). Some of our favorite inclusions are herbs and spices. Cinnamon is one of our favorites!
The roots of cinnamon trace far back in history – as far back as 2000 BC. When reading in the Bible, cinnamon is sacred. It is mentioned multiple times, though two specific references stick out to me including the holy anointing oil (Exodus) and that cinnamon it is a strong fragrance found in a collection of spices (Proverbs).
Cinnamon is one spice which can make or break a recipe. Because of its natural microbial state and antibacterial qualities, it can impact how food ferments.
In the world of sourdough, this can make things complicated! Despite the impact of cinnamon in sourdough recipes, we continue to use it regularly. These tips and tricks will help you to include cinnamon in your baked goods while having the result you expect (a good recipe you can share with family and friends).
The impact of cinnamon in sourdough recipes
There are both positive and negative impacts of adding cinnamon to sourdough recipes. Cinnamon is often added to recipes to flavor it and bring sweetness. However, it can be complicated on what stage to add cinnamon to sourdough baked goods in order to ensure they rise.
Negative Impacts:
- If added too early, it can impact the amount a baked good rises.
- It can also slow or stop fermentation from occurring. Which in the world of sourdough, is not what we want!
- This can result in a hard and dense loaf.
- The slow or stop of fermentation can be from the microbial effects of the cinnamon. These can impact the yeast found within sourdough.
Positive Impacts:
- Cinnamon can bring the sweetness we are looking in a recipe for without the need for extra sugar.
- It can also bring warmth to a recipe.
- Cinnamon is microbial, adding even more health benefits to a sourdough loaf.
How to add cinnamon to sourdough recipes
Sourdough inclusions can be tricky! Knowing when to add them to a recipe and how to add them can impact the overall recipe result in both flavor and texture. Here are a few tips on how to add it correctly.
- Consider adding it after the bulk fermentation / lamination period
- Sprinkle it into the dough and knead it (or stretch and fold it) in. This works really well in sourdough bagel recipes which need to rise a second time prior to baking.
- Make a stir and go recipe. If you can mix it in without having to long ferment it, you will not need to worry about the baked good rising
- Adjust your timeline. Consider allowing for more time for the baked good to rise. Sometimes, sourdough recipes can take longer to rise than those without.
- Mix it in with a carrier – like coconut oil, butter or avocado oil.
- If you mix the cinnamon in with a carrier (a fat), there is less chance for it to spread out within the recipe and the fat almost acts as a ‘coating’ to reduce the impacts on rise time.
Sourdough Recipes with Cinnamon
If you want to see examples of how we add cinnamon to recipes, check out these sourdough recipes. These are some of my favorite sourdough recipes with cinnamon!
- Sourdough Cinnamon Crunch Bagels | Sourdough Apple Cinnamon Bagels
- Sourdough Fudge Bars | Sourdough Smores Bars
- Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls | Sourdough Pull Apart Bread
- Sourdough Apple Dutch Baby
- Sourdough Pumpkin Donuts
- Sourdough French Toast Casserole
Have you added cinnamon to a sourdough recipe and had an unsuccessful baked good? Let us know in the comments below when you add cinnamon to your recipes!
