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image of sourdough cinnamon rolls in a cast iron skillet

Vegan Sourdough Squash Cinnamon Buns

These overnight buns are 100% naturally leavened with sourdough starter, 100% vegan, and 100% tasty. They'll make your morning comfy, cozy, and cinnamon-y. The squash in the dough makes these buns moist and fluffy.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 15 hours
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 15 hours 45 minutes
Course Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American, Vegan
Servings 8 large buns
Calories 584 kcal

Equipment

  • 10-inch cast iron skillet or cake pan

Ingredients
  

for the squash

  • 1 small butternut squash (or any other sweet squash, like kabocha)
  • oil for roasting (I use avocado oil)
  • salt

for the dough

  • 310g mashed squash or squash puree
  • 310g coconut milk (canned, shake well before opening!)
  • 100g mature sourdough starter
  • 85g sugar
  • 100g whole wheat flour
  • 520g bread flour
  • 5g salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

for the cinnamon filling

  • 86g (6 Tablespoons) melted vegan butter (I use Miyoko's Creamery vegan butter)
  • 140g light brown sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions
 

  • To roast the squash, preheat the oven to 400F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Holding the squash parallel to you, cut off the stem of the squash, halve and slice the squash into 2-3 large sections. Scoop out any seeds and pulp. Prick the skin (each section about 4-5 times) with a fork or knife.
  • Place the squash pieces flesh side up on the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle the squash with oil and sprinkle lightly with salt. Turn over the squash pieces so the skin is facing up, then place the baking sheet in the oven for roasting. Bake for 35 minutes or until the flesh is soft and easily pierce-able with a fork or knife. Let cool completely, then scoop out the flesh with a spoon. Mash with a fork or the back of the spoon.
  • In a large vessel, combine the squash, coconut milk, starter, and sugar. Add the whole wheat flour and bread flour. Squeeze with your hand to combine thoroughly, then cover and let autolyze for 1 hour.
  • After autolyze, sprinkle the salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg over the dough. Squeeze and fold to combine completely into the dough, being careful not to break the dough as you combine. Allow to rise at room temperature overnight (8-10 hours).
  • In the morning, mix the cinnamon filling ingredients thoroughly in a small bowl. Thoroughly grease a 10-inch cake tin or cast-iron skillet with coconut oil or vegan butter.
  • Flour a surface and roll out the dough into a 11x14-inch rectangle. Evenly spread the filling over the dough with an offset spatula. With the wider side facing you, roll up the dough, but not too tightly so the buns have room to rise.
    step one recipe roll up of vegan cinnamon buns
  • Use a sharp serrated knife to slice the dough into 8 even parts. Place the buns face up in the pan (one in the center, and seven in the surrounding).
    image of sliced vegan cinnamon buns
  • Cover and let proof for 2 hours. 20 minutes from the end of the proof, preheat the oven to 375F.
    unproofed vegan sourdough squash cinnamon buns
  • When the proof is finished, the buns should have filled the space and no bottom of the pan should show!
    proofed vegan sourdough squash cinnamon buns
  • Uncover and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the internal temperature reads 200F. Serve warm and enjoy! Let me know what you think below in the comments or on Instagram @higheralchemybaking!
    image of vegan sourdough squash cinnamon buns in staub cast iron skillet

Notes

You can use normal butter in replacement of the vegan butter if you'd rather.
You can replace the squash puree with sweet potato puree.
The rising time will differ based on the temperature of your kitchen. 8 hours for a hotter kitchen and 10-12 hours for a colder kitchen. But I say, just have a nice sleep and don't worry too much about it.