Sourdough Danish Buns

🍎✨ Sourdough Danish Buns with Cinnamon Cloud Cream, Caramelized Apples, Crunchy Crumble & Glaze — AKA The Pastry That Thinks It’s Royalty

Fluffy sourdough buns, swirled with cinnamon cloud cream, crowned with caramelized apples, sprinkled with a buttery crumble, and drizzled with glaze — these Danish beauties are basically dessert royalty, and yes, you’re invited to the coronation.

Let’s get one thing straight: these aren’t your average buns. These are buns with an agenda — an agenda to make you swoon, forget your to‑do list, and maybe even lick the plate when no one’s looking. They’re soft and tangy from the sourdough, dreamy with a whipped cinnamon filling (cloud cream, because we’re fancy like that), layered with caramelized apples that taste like autumn gave you a hug, and topped with a crunchy crumble that says, “I’m not here to play.”

And then — because we’re extra — we drizzle them with glaze. Because if you’re going to commit to carbs, you might as well go all in.

Why this recipe is a keeper:

Bakery‑level gorgeousness — without the bakery price tag.
Flavor layers — tangy, sweet, spiced, crunchy, creamy.
Show‑stopping centerpiece — brunch, holidays, or “just because” Tuesdays.
Make‑ahead friendly — sourdough loves a slow rise.
Crowd‑pleasing — picky eaters, foodies, and Instagram all approve.

💬 Reader prompt: Are you team “eat it warm and gooey” or team “wait until it cools so the glaze sets perfectly”?

📜 Recipe — Sourdough Danish Buns with Cinnamon Cloud Cream, Caramelized Apples, Crumble & Glaze

For the Dough

1 cup active sourdough starter
¾ cup warm milk
¼ cup sugar
1 egg
4 Tbsp butter, softened
3 ½ cups all‑purpose flour
1 tsp salt

For the Cinnamon Cloud Cream

8 oz cream cheese, softened
½ cup powdered sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ cup heavy cream, whipped

For the Caramelized Apples

3 apples, peeled and diced
2 Tbsp butter
¼ cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon

For the Crumble

½ cup flour
¼ cup brown sugar
¼ cup butter, cold and cubed
Pinch of salt

For the Glaze

1 cup powdered sugar
2 Tbsp milk
½ tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

In a large bowl, mix sourdough starter, warm milk, sugar, egg, butter, flour, and salt. Knead until smooth and elastic. Cover and let rise 3–4 hours, or overnight in the fridge.
While dough rises, make the cinnamon cloud cream: beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla until smooth. Fold in whipped cream. Chill.
For apples: melt butter in skillet, add apples, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Cook until soft and caramelized. Cool.
For crumble: mix flour, sugar, butter, and salt until crumbly.
Roll dough into rectangle. Spread with cinnamon cloud cream, sprinkle with apples, roll up tightly, and slice into 12 buns.
Place buns in greased pan. Sprinkle with crumble. Cover and rise 1 hour.
Bake at 350°F for 25–30 minutes, until golden.
Drizzle with glaze while warm. Serve immediately.

🔢 Calorie Count (Per Bun, Makes 12)

Calories: ~360
Protein: 6g
Carbs: 52g
Fat: 15g
Fiber: 2g
Sugar: 24g

🥕 Nutritional Facts & Fun

Sourdough: Easier to digest + tangy flavor.
Apples: Fiber + natural sweetness.
Cinnamon: Antioxidants + cozy vibes.
Cream Cheese: Creamy richness.
Butter: Flavor, darling. Always flavor.

💬 Reader prompt: Do you prefer your pastries fruity, chocolatey, or straight‑up cinnamon sugar?

👩‍🍳 Cooking Tips

Starter Strength: Make sure your sourdough starter is bubbly and active.
Apple Hack: Use tart apples (like Granny Smith) for balance.
Crumble Trick: Keep butter cold for the best texture.
Cloud Cream: Don’t over‑whip once you fold in the cream — we want fluffy, not soup.
Serving Suggestion: Best eaten warm, with glaze dripping down your fingers.

🔄 Recipe Variations

Pear Danish Buns: Swap apples for pears.
Pumpkin Spice Buns: Add pumpkin puree + pumpkin spice to the filling.
Nutty Crunch: Add chopped pecans or walnuts to the crumble.
Chocolate Drizzle: Replace glaze with melted chocolate.
Savory Twist: Skip the sugar, add cheese + herbs for a sourdough roll.

💬 Reader prompt: Which version would your family devour first — pear, pumpkin spice, or chocolate drizzle?

🧒 Kid Tips

Let kids sprinkle the crumble (messy but fun).
Serve mini versions baked in muffin tins.
Call them “cloud buns” to make them sound magical.
Tone down the cinnamon if your kids are spice‑sensitive.

🛒 Grocery Hacks

Apples: Buy in bulk, store in fridge crisper.
Flour: Bread flour gives extra chew, but all‑purpose works.
Butter: Freeze sticks and grate for crumble.
Cream Cheese: Store extra blocks in freezer for baking.
Powdered Sugar: DIY by blending granulated sugar if you run out.

💬 Reader prompt: Do you usually keep sourdough starter alive, or are you a “buy the loaf at the bakery” type?

🎯 Reader Challenge

This week, I challenge you to make Sourdough Danish Buns and serve them in a fun way. Maybe it’s topped with ice cream, maybe it’s drizzled with caramel, maybe it’s decorated with sprinkles. Post your creation with #LouLouGirlsCloudBuns so we can all drool together.

🥪 Leftover Remix

French Toast Buns: Dip slices in custard, fry, drizzle with syrup.
Bun Bread Pudding: Cube and bake with custard.
Bun Sundaes: Warm, top with ice cream + caramel.
Bun Trifles: Layer with pudding and whipped cream.
Bun Milkshake: Blend with ice cream and milk.

💬 Reader prompt: Would you rather turn leftovers into bread pudding or sundaes?

💭 Final Thoughts

These Sourdough Danish Buns are proof that baking can be both indulgent and magical. They’re soft, gooey, crunchy, and versatile enough to be brunch, dessert, or a midnight snack. Plus, they’re the kind of recipe that makes everyone smile — and isn’t that the best kind of baking?

Here’s the thing about pastries — they’re never just pastries. They’re the smell of dough rising, the joy of spreading cinnamon cream, the comfort of pulling apart a gooey swirl.

And these Sourdough Danish Buns? They’re keepers. They’re soft, they’re golden, they’re gooey, they’re fun. They’re the kind of recipe that makes you feel like you’ve turned everyday ingredients into something bakery‑worthy.

But what I love most is how recipes like this bring us together. Food has that magic — it’s not just about eating, because at the end of the day, recipes like these Sourdough Danish Buns with Cinnamon Cloud Cream, Caramelized Apples, Crumble, and Glaze aren’t just about flour and sugar. They’re about the ritual of slowing down, the joy of pulling something golden and gorgeous from the oven, and the laughter that happens when everyone leans in for “just one more bite.”

Food like this has a way of turning ordinary mornings into memory‑making moments. It’s not just breakfast, it’s an event. It’s not just dessert, it’s a declaration: I came to slay, and I brought carbs.

So here’s my final nudge: make these buns, share them with your people, and then tell me your twist. Did you go heavy on the crumble? Did you sneak in pecans? Did you drizzle extra glaze because moderation is overrated? (If so, welcome to the club — we have sticky fingers and zero regrets.)

💬 Reader prompt: Should we do a “Pastry Party Series” next? I’m dreaming up almond croissants, lemon curd danishes, and maybe even a chocolate‑hazelnut braid.

Until then, may your starters stay bubbly, your apples caramelize perfectly, your glaze drip dramatically, and your kitchen be filled with the kind of laughter that makes flour on the floor worth it. Because these buns aren’t just food — they’re a celebration of the little joys that make life delicious.