Golden cinnamon sourdough bagels on a wire rack at 45-degree angle

Cinnamon Sourdough Bagels Recipe

When cozy meets chewy — you get Cinnamon Sourdough Bagels. With their warm, sweet spice and that classic sourdough depth, these bagels are perfect for mornings that need a little comfort.

Made with sourdough starter or discard, these bagels are ideal for families, snacks for kids, or even a unique birthday treat. Whether you’re baking for a sourdough Superbowl party, making sourdough snacks for kids, or just craving something with a touch of cinnamon, this recipe is here for it.

Let’s turn your sourdough into something sweet, spiced, and seriously satisfying.

🛒 Ingredients for Cinnamon Sourdough Bagels

For the Dough

1 cup (240g) sourdough starter or discard
3 ½ cups (420g) bread flour
1 cup (240ml) warm water
2 tbsp sugar or honey
1 tbsp ground cinnamon
1 ¼ tsp sea salt

For Boiling

2 quarts water
1 tbsp baking soda

Optional Cinnamon Sugar Coating

2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon

👩‍🍳 How to Make Cinnamon Sourdough Bagels

Step 1: Mix the Dough

In a large bowl, mix the sourdough starter, warm water, and sugar or honey until mostly smooth. Add flour, cinnamon, and salt. Mix until a rough dough forms. Cover and let rest for 30 minutes.

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Step 2: Knead

Knead the dough on a floured surface for 6–8 minutes until smooth and elastic. You can also use a stand mixer with a dough hook for 5 minutes.

Step 3: Bulk Fermentation

Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl. Cover and ferment at room temperature for 6–8 hours, or refrigerate overnight for deeper flavor.

Step 4: Shape the Bagels

Divide the dough into 8 pieces. Roll each into a ball, poke a hole through the center with your finger, and gently stretch into a ring. Place on a parchment-lined tray. Let rest 30–60 minutes.

Step 5: Boil

Bring water and baking soda to a boil. Boil bagels 2–3 at a time, 30 seconds per side. Remove and place back on the tray.

Step 6: Add Topping and Bake

Mix cinnamon and sugar. While bagels are still damp, sprinkle generously. Bake at 425°F (218°C) for 20–22 minutes until golden and fragrant. Cool for 20 minutes before slicing.

✨ Why You’ll Love These Bagels

💡 Benefit	Why It Matters
🍯 Naturally Sweet	Uses real cinnamon and honey or sugar — no artificial flavor.
♻️ Uses Discard	A smart way to use extra starter without waste.
🍞 Chewy Texture	Boiled before baking for that authentic bagel bite.
🎉 Kid-Friendly	Great for school snacks, birthdays, or brunch boards.
🧁 Sweet or Savory Base	Pairs well with nut butters, cream cheese, or fruit.

🧁 Fun Topping Ideas for Cinnamon Bagels

These cinnamon sourdough bagels are delicious on their own, but if you’re prepping for a birthday brunch, game day spread, or snack board — try adding fun toppings:

🍌 Banana + Almond Butter
🍎 Apple Slices + Honey
🧀 Cream Cheese + Crushed Walnuts
🍫 Nutella + Strawberries
🍦 Vanilla Greek Yogurt + Granola (kid-friendly snack hack!)

Use them as a base for a sweet bagel bar or a playful twist on sourdough Superbowl snacks.

❓ FAQs

Can I use sourdough discard instead of active starter?
Yes! This recipe works beautifully with either. Discard creates more tang, active starter gives a lighter rise.

Can I make these ahead and freeze them?
Definitely. Slice and freeze bagels in a zip-top bag. Reheat in the toaster when ready.

Can I make them more cinnamon-y?
Try adding ½ tsp cinnamon to the cinnamon sugar topping or fold cinnamon chips into the dough!

Do they taste sour?
Not strongly — the cinnamon balances it. You’ll get a mild tang depending on your starter strength.

Can I make mini versions for kids?
Yes! Divide dough into 12 small bagels and reduce bake time by 3–4 minutes.

🍽️ Try These Reader-Favorite Recipes

Planning a cozy breakfast or snack lineup? These go great with cinnamon bagels:

🫐 Sourdough Blueberry Bagels Recipe
A fruity, chewy way to use sourdough starter or discard — with juicy blueberries and a long ferment.
🥯 Sourdough Discard Bagel Recipe
Waste-free, chewy classic bagels made using unfed sourdough starter — perfect for batch prep and freezing.
🧁 Egg Free Muffins
Soft and fluffy muffins that work for egg allergies or ingredient shortages — no one will know they’re eggless.
🥓 Keto Sausage Egg & Cheese Muffins
Low-carb, high-protein muffins for fast, filling breakfasts. Great for freezer prep and keto-friendly plans.

🤝 Why This Recipe Works (And Why You’ll Love It)

Close-up of sliced cinnamon sourdough bagel with cream cheese — Cinnamon Sourdough Bagels Recipe 6

We know sourdough can feel intimidating. That’s why this recipe was designed for real-life kitchens, with real starter — even discard from the back of the fridge.

We’ve baked this recipe using discard, bubbly starter, cinnamon chips, and even tested it with different flours. You don’t need fancy equipment or a perfect starter — just basic ingredients, time, and cinnamon.

These bagels are easy enough for weekdays and special enough for birthdays. Whether you’re making sourdough snacks for kids or prepping for a Sunday brunch, this is a go-to you can trust.

🫶 Final Thoughts

Cinnamon has a way of making everything feel just a little more comforting. Add that to the process of baking with sourdough — from mixing to shaping to that moment when the bagels come out warm and golden — and you’ve got something really special.

These Cinnamon Sourdough Bagels are sweet, chewy, and totally customizable. Bake them once, and you’ll come back to them again and again — for holidays, school snacks, or just slow Sunday mornings.

📌 “Bake what you love, and let cinnamon do the rest.” 🤎

Follow us on Pinterest for more cozy sourdough bakes and snack ideas!