Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls: Enjoy the Guilty Pleasure Without Feeling Guilty

There are many ways you could jazz up your day: hang out with your besties, walk your dog in the park, go to the movies, or try out delectable gluten-free rolls. The last point in this list is likely your priority as food hasn a special place in your life. 

Heading to the cafe to enjoy another tasteful dessert sounds enticing, but making it on your own is more adventurous, fun, and healthy. 

If you adore cooking meals every day, or at least experiment with new dishes from time to time you will love these gluten-free cinnamon rolls recipes. These buns will melt in your mouth, leaving you with a tender sugary feel. Many variations of the following dessert are available, for both vegans and people following a sugar-free diet. 

Sit comfortably and prepare yourself for the engaging discovery of gooey and pillowy gluten-free cinnamon rolls. Gluten-free cinnamon rolls: Enjoy the guilty pleasure without feeling guilty.  

What is a substitute for flour in cinnamon rolls?

Preparation of gluten-free cinnamon buns takes about one hour and some people have a hard time finding the right flour. Full substitution for flour is not a good idea since this ingredient adds softness to your sweet rolls. However, there are two options to help you reach gluten-free results. 

You can substitute flour with arrowroot starch. Arrowroot is a starchy vegetable people use as a thickener for their desserts and baked goods. It may benefit people who follow a gluten-free diet or those managing their blood sugar levels and weight (5).

The resistant starch in arrowroot might improve gluten-free products’ texture, mouthfeel, and flavor (4).

Arrowroot is extracted in more traditional simpler methods without the high heat usage or harsh chemicals. Arrowroot starch is simply a white powdery flour, but it’s gluten-free, grain-free, vegan, and paleo-friendly. 

When baking, you can blend arrowroot starch with other types of flour or use it on its own, but in smaller quantities. 

The second, more efficient option is simply to use a gluten-free flour blend from the store. Remember to check whether this gluten-free flour is recommended for yeast baking (in case you’re making cinnamon buns with yeast). It’s possible to find this information on the brand’s website or some brand’s packaging. 

You may also use bread flour instead of all-purpose flour as it creates a fluffier and softer cinnamon bun. 

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How to make gluten-free cinnamon rolls?

You’ve been waiting for this moment and now it’s high time you discovered one of the best recipes with gluten-free flour. And yes, it may take some time to fully get the hang of it but once you implement this recipe into your homemade soft cinnamon rolls, you’ll understand it was completely worth it. 

Besides, cinnamon buns are your door to winter spirit. The rich taste and mouthwatering smell of cinnamon bring you back to Christmas Eve markets with fairy lights and invigorating songs. 

Easy gluten-free cinnamon rolls recipe

Let’s start with the ingredients. There may be some dairy-free and vegan substitutions but you’ll unravel them at the end of this section. 

Ingredients:

• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup milk, warmed to 110°-115°F 
• ¼ cup cooled and melted unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon instant yeast/rapid yeast
• 2 large eggs, room temperature (Bring whole eggs to room temperature by placing the eggs in a bowl with warm water for a few minutes.)
• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
• 2 teaspoons gluten-free baking powder
• 3 ¼ cups all-purpose gluten-free flour with xanthan gum
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup heavy warmed whipping cream

Cinnamon Filling

• ¼ cup unsalted softened butter
• ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 ½ tablespoons ground cinnamon

Cream Cheese Frosting

• 6 ounces softened cream cheese
• ⅓ cup softened unsalted butter 
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• ⅛ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Vanilla Icing

• 5 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups powdered sugar

Instructions:

To make the dough:

1. Warm the eggs to room temperature: Leave the whole eggs in a small bowl with warm water for 5 minutes.
2. Warm the milk to 115°F. You can microwave the milk for 1 minute in the microwave. Check the temperature with a thermometer. Your milk shouldn’t be too hot, as it will kill the yeast. Then pour the warm milk into a large mixing bowl.
3. Add the granulated sugar to the warm milk and stir them together. 
4. Pour the instant yeast over the milk mixture, then cover a kitchen towel on it, and allow it to bubble up for 1-2 minutes.
5. Melt the butter in a small bowl. Allow the butter to cool.
6. Whisk the eggs in a small bowl. Mix the whisked eggs and the apple cider vinegar into the mixing bowl. 
7. Add the gluten-free baking powder, gluten-free flour, and salt to the mixing bowl.
8. Then add the melted butter to the flour mixture and mix for 1-2 minutes with a paddle. 
9. Mix the ingredients with the dough hook on medium speed for 3-5 minutes. The dough will be soft, so don’t add more flour! Gluten-free yeast dough must be softer than the traditional yeast dough.
10. Place the dough in a greased bowl. Rub the dough ball with wet hands and cover the bowl with plastic wrap.
11. Put the bowl with the dough inside a larger bowl. At the same time, heat 2 cups of water in the microwave for 2 minutes and carefully pour the hot water into the larger bowl. Don’t pour water into the covered dough bowl. Cover the bowls with a kitchen towel and let the dough rise for up to 20 minutes. 
12. Mix together the softened ¼ cup of butter and the pure vanilla extract.
13. Combine the brown sugar and cinnamon in another small bowl.
14. Grease the piece of parchment paper with oil/butter or spray gluten-free cooking spray on it. Put the dough on top of the greased parchment paper, and sprinkle gluten-free flour on top of it. Create rectangular shapes with your dough. Dust your rolling pin with flour and roll out the dough to about ½-inch thick and a 12×14-inch rectangle.
15. Using a spatula, spread the butter mixture on top of the rolled-out dough.
16. Sprinkle the brown sugar mixture over the butter and pat it with your hands.
17. Roll the dough using the edge of the parchment paper and form a log shape.
18. Cut the dough in half. Then using dental floss cut each half into 6 equal rolls.
19. Place the rolls in a baking dish sprayed with gluten-free coconut oil spray.
20. Heat the cream in the microwave for 30 seconds and pour it over the cinnamon rolls.
21. Put the cinnamon rolls in your oven heated to 375°F. Bake the rolls for 15-20 minutes until they get a light golden brown color. 
22. While cinnamon buns are baking, make the cream cheese or vanilla frosting.
23. Allow the cinnamon rolls to cool for a few minutes before frosting them (1).

Your rolls are ready. Enjoy! 

For the cream cheese frosting:

Beat together cream cheese, salt, butter, and pure vanilla extract until smooth in a medium-sized bowl. Add one cup of the powdered sugar and mix until smooth. Do not cool the frosting. Keep the frosting at room temperature until the cinnamon rolls are prepared. When cinnamon rolls are ready, spread the cream cheese frosting on them.

For the vanilla icing:

Stir together all of the ingredients in a medium-sized bowl. Spread the icing over the warm cinnamon rolls.

Read more: Gluten Free Brownies: Recipes And Tips To Make The Ultimate Snack

Ingredient Substitutions for Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls

There are versatile ingredient substitutions making your cinnamon buns taste a tad differently but not less delicious. If you’re following a dairy-free diet, you can incorporate such substitutions: 

• Substitute milk with unsweetened almond milk or unsweetened coconut milk.
• Use dairy-free or vegan butter. 
• Use canned full-fat coconut milk, canned coconut cream, or unsweetened almond milk for heavy whipping cream. 
• Use dairy-free cream cheese  (1).

Recipe makes 12 cinnamon rolls. Check out the nutrition per one serving (one roll):

How to make fluffy gluten-free cinnamon rolls?

Fluffiness is the best part about cinnamon rolls, no matter whether we’re talking about traditional recipes or dairy-free, gluten-free cinnamon rolls vegan. There are two common reasons why your gluten-free cinnamon rolls are not fluffy: 

1. You’re using expired or old yeast
2. You’ve added too much flour

Real tender cinnamon rolls require special attention to these two ingredients. If you desire to boast fluffy rolls, ensure you are adding only fresh yeast. Don’t burden your dough with too much flour since it’s going to make your rolls dense and dry. 

Look into a gluten-free sugar-free cinnamon rolls recipe. They taste so delicious you won’t believe they’re sugar and gluten-free. 

Plus, this fluffy warm duvet is going to fill your house with an enticing smell of Christmas atmosphere. 

Besides, no one likes feeling guilty after taking a bite of the gooey dessert. This is the case where your guilt will vanish as this recipe includes no sugar, plus it’s low carb and nutritious. 

Eager to try out this badass dessert? Note this quick recipe.

Ingredients for fluffy sugar-free rolls 

• 175g shredded mozzarella cheese
• 2 tablespoons cream cheese
• 1 room-temperature egg
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• 80g almond flour

For the filling: 

• 2 tablespoons water
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons granulated sweetener

For the frosting: 

• 2 tablespoon cream cheese
• 2 drops vanilla stevia
• 1 tablespoon Greek/ full-fat yogurt

Instructions: 

1. Pre-heat oven to 180 Celsius/360 Fahrenheit.
2. Melt the cream and mozzarella cheese in a non-stick pot. Your cheese should melt, and not bubble.
3. Stir in the egg.
4. Add the almond flour and baking powder. Combine all of them with a fork, then use your hands to make a ball of dough. Before making balls lightly oil your hands.
5. Divide the dough into 6 balls of 50g each.
6. Form long rolls (40cm), then flatten them out with your hands. Make the dough as thin as you can.
7. Prepare your cinnamon filling by boiling water, and stirring in the sweetener and cinnamon. Then spread some cinnamon paste over the flattened dough rolls.
8. Roll each into a bun and cut it in half. Place 12 buns on a non-stick baking sheet.
9. Bake for 20 minutes or until they become golden brown.
10. Prepare the frosting while the rolls are in the oven: Mix cream cheese, yogurt, and stevia. Spread over the prepared warm rolls and serve.

 The recipe makes 12 rolls. Nutrition per one roll

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Can you freeze gluten-free cinnamon rolls?

Yes, you can freeze gluten-free cinnamon rolls before or after preparing them. Let’s look at both options separately. 

Freeze before baking: Free the dough after it is rolled up with the filling and the rolls are cut. Cover the pan with foil, then place in the freezer. Before baking, let the dough thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then bring to room temperature. 

Place the cinnamon rolls on the middle rack of your oven. Turn your oven to 375°F. Once your oven comes to temperature (375°F), bake rolls for 15-20 minutes. Don’t forget to check your rolls at the 15-minute mark.

Freeze after baking: Cool the cinnamon rolls completely. Wrap the rolls with foil and then place them in a plastic freezer bag and put them in a freezer. Defrost the cinnamon rolls to room temperature before eating. Warm the rolls in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes or in the microwave for 20-30 seconds.

Do cinnamon rolls contain yeast? 

A typical cinnamon roll recipe does include yeast. But can you make the goddess-like dessert without yeast and still receive fluffy results? In fact, you can. Yes, yeast is the central ingredient allowing your buns to rise. 

Yet, we all know that versatile combinations and substitutions create “magic” and your yeast-free cinnamon bun is not dense or dry but soft and fluffy. 

To your attention, I’m presenting you with a quick recipe for gluten-free cinnamon rolls with no yeast. They are also vegan. Cooking time will take you not more than 25 minutes, and the result will leave you satisfied for hours, or more (since you can freeze the luscious treat and warm it up to enjoy it again). 

Yeast-free Gluten-free cinnamon buns

Ingrevdients: 

• ¾ cup unsweetened almond or oat milk
• 2 cups gluten-free flour. Please don’t substitute any other flour such as almond flour, baking flour, etc.
• ½ cup melted vegan butter
• 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
• 1 tablespoon nondairy yogurt if using gluten-free flour

Vegan Cinnamon Roll Filling

• ¼ cup softened vegan butter
• 3 teaspoons cinnamon
• ⅓ cup sugar

Vegan Cream Cheese Icing

• 1 ½ cup powdered sugar
• 4 oz vegan cream cheese
• 4 tablespoons softened vegan butter

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400
2. Mix the melted vegan butter, almond milk, and baking powder together. Then, add the flour to form a thick dough.
3. Add the nondairy yogurt to the dough and mix the ingredients with your hands. Your gluten-free dough will become more elastic and hold together better while rolling. Omit this step, if using regular flour.
4. Roll the dough with a floured rolling pin. Spread some softened vegan butter on it and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar.
5. Carefully roll the dough into a log and slice it into 10-12 pinwheels. Place the pinwheels into a greased round dish. Bake the cinnamon rolls for about 20 minutes. 
6. While your rolls are baking, with an electric mixer mix the vegan cream cheese, softened butter, and powdered sugar to prepare the icing. 
7. Allow the rolls to cool before frosting. Enjoy!

The recipe makes 12 rolls. Nutrition per one serving: 1 roll

What is the best yeast for gluten-free baking?

Both active dry and instant yeast are good for gluten-free baking. Still, in most cases, people use instant yeast for cinnamon rolls. It is also known as quick-rise yeast. You don’t need proofing when baking with instant yeast. 

By using active dry yeast you need to proof it first by dissolving it in warm liquid and sugar before adding it to the rest of the dough ingredients. Active yeast is proofed when you notice little bubbles in the liquid after you dissolve it. Please note that active yeast dough needs more time to rise compared to dough made with instant yeast. 

Active dry and instant yeast are perfect for this type of baking as they are gluten-free. 

Read more: Gluten Free Mediterranean Diet: The Combo No One Knew We Needed

FAQs

Can gluten-free flour be used with yeast?

Yes, it’s possible to use gluten-free flour with yeast. Yeast is an essential ingredient during baking making your cinnamon rolls fluffier. Nonetheless, not every gluten-free flour works perfectly with this ingredient. Hence, you need to check whether gluten-free flour is recommended for yeast baking. 

Does xanthan gum have gluten?

Xanthan gum is a very important ingredient for baking. Plus, it’s naturally gluten-free and used to make the dough elastic and sticky. It acts as a binder holding the bakes together from being crumbly. Plus, it improves their texture. 

The Bottom Line

Are you craving delectable cinnamon buns? Want to feel the smell of Christmas in the air? Then try out the recipes above. In the following article, you have discovered the top 3 versatile cinnamon rolls gluten-free recipes. 

If you’re aiming to relish the sugar-free option then use the second recipe. If you want to experiment with a no-yeast version, pay attention to the last recipe. Amazingly though, all the recipes require about 1 hour or less. 

You may also freeze your cinnamon rolls before or after baking. In addition to this, you can substitute flour with arrowroot starch which acts as a gluten-free version of flour. Overall, experiments with ingredients help you reach different textures, tastes, and most importantly, impressions. 

Gluten-free cinnamon rolls: Enjoy the guilty pleasure without feeling guilty.