Start your morning right with these sweet Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls! Easy to make and totally delicious!
These Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls are…
- Sweet
- Gluten-free
- Vegan-friendly
- A delectable dessert!
Cinnamon-y Goodness!
One of our family traditions is to make cinnamon rolls on holiday mornings, topped with fresh berries. They are just sweet enough to feel like a decadent breakfast! The ingredients are so simple which makes the recipe easy to whip up. They are a must have for any special morning – or just to brighten up a typical one!
We have tweaked our favorite cinnamon roll recipe to be completely gluten-free! The cake-like texture, rich cinnamon taste, and gooey frosting are identical to the original version. Gluten-free flour is free from the proteins in wheat that can be indigestible to some people. It takes a bit more finesse to bake with, but still yields delightful bakes!
These Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls use yeast to rise, rather than baking powder or soda, so the dough needs to rest 1 hour after it is mixed together. Baking powders and soda are activated during the baking process, but yeast works with maple syrup to fluff the dough prior to going into the oven.
One note: check your brand of gluten-free flour to see if it contains xanthan gum! Xanthan gum is a natural additive that is needed when baking with gluten-free flour as it thickens and stabilizes the batter. If the gluten-free flour brand you’re using already contains it, (like ours does), there’s no need to add more. If it doesn’t, follow the instructions on the bag to add the correct measurement.
Ingredients for the Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls
Warm Water – Yeast works its best in warm – not hot! – water. It activates in the water and then uses a sugar to ferment and begin to produce CO2 which will help the bake to rise.
Maple Syrup – Almost any kind of sugar will do for the yeast, but we like either granulated sugar or maple syrup, as those are the ingredients most commonly found in pantries.
Active Dry Yeast – Yeast is what puffs up your cinnamon rolls! If you don’t have active dry yeast, you can use instant yeast instead, but the steps are slightly different. Mix the ingredients for Yeast Prep directly into the recipe and let it rise about 30-45 minutes.
Gluten-free Flour – Gluten-free flour is a mixture of powdered grains, nuts, or seeds that do not contain gluten. It is an excellent baking ingredient for those with gluten intolerance and makes amazing Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls!
Granulated Sugar – We used granulated sugar to sweeten the dough, but maple syrup or brown sugar would also work. The flavor profile could change slightly, though still be delicious!
Butter – Butter is used in the dough, filling, and to prep the pan. Either dairy or non-dairy versions can be used. Butter provides both moisture and flavor.
Milk – Milk is a necessary liquid to fuse the other ingredients together. Similar to the butter mentioned above, both dairy and non-dairy varieties can be used and substituted 1:1.
Salt – Salt acts as the equilibrium between the sweet and savory flavors of the cinnamon rolls. Just a pinch will do!
Brown Sugar – Brown sugar gives such a deeper flavor than granulated sugar and pairs perfectly with the cinnamon in the filling! If you don’t have any, you can mix the same amount of granulated sugar with a tablespoon of molasses as an excellent substitute.
Cinnamon – It’s literally in the title! We use two tablespoons in the filling, but don’t be afraid to add a bit to the dough itself for even more of a kick!
Diet compatibility and allergens
Diet | Recipe compatible as written? | Recommended substitutions |
Keto | No. | N/A |
Paleo | No. | N/A |
Whole30 | No. | N/A |
Gluten-free | Yes. | N/A |
Vegetarian | Yes. | N/A |
Vegan | Yes. | N/A |
Low sodium | No. | Eliminate salt. |
Dairy-free | No. | Use dairy-free alternatives. |
Mediterranean | No. | N/A |
Low FODMAP | Yes (in moderation) | N/A |
Atkins | No. | N/A |
Allergen | Present in recipe? | Recommended substitutions |
Milk | Yes. | Use non-dairy alternative. |
Eggs | No. | N/A |
Fish | No. | N/A |
Shellfish | No. | N/A |
Tree nuts | No. | N/A |
Peanuts | No. | N/A |
Wheat (Gluten) | No. | N/A |
Soy | No. | N/A |
Sesame | No. | N/A |
How to Make Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls
Step One: Add all yeast ingredients into a stand mixer bowl. Let sit for 5 minutes until yeast is bubbling.
Step Two: Attach the bowl to the stand mixer. Add in 2 cups of gluten-free flour, sugar, butter, milk, and salt. Attach a dough hook and mix on medium speed until all ingredients are incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
Step Three: Slowly add in the remaining flour 1/4 cup at a time – you may not need all of it! Stop adding when the dough is smooth and tacky, but not sticky, usually after about 5 minutes of mixing.
Step Four: Using a small amount of butter or non-flavored oil, prep a separate bowl. Transfer the dough to the new bowl and cover with a plate or plastic wrap. Let sit in a warm area to rise for 1 hour.
Step Five: While the dough is rising, mix together the brown sugar and cinnamon for the filling. Set aside.
Step Six: Once the dough has risen and doubled in size, flour a working surface and transfer dough.
Step Seven: Turn the oven to 350 degrees and prep your baking dish.
Step Eight: Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough into a long rectangle, approximately 20” by 12”.
Step Nine: Spread the filling onto the dough from edge to edge, then (beginning on a long side) roll the dough from one side to the other. Slice into 10-12 rolls and place into the prepped baking dish.
Step Ten: Bake in oven for 20-25 minutes, then remove and let cool slightly.
Step Eleven: While the rolls are cooling, add all frosting ingredients into a bowl and whip! Cover and set aside.
Step Twelve: When still slightly warm, frost the rolls and serve with fresh berries. Enjoy!
Watch the video version…
FAQ
Yes! Gluten-free flour works well with yeast to puff up dough for baking.
The trick for baking with gluten free flour is to use xanthan gum and add additional wet ingredients to ensure the bake stays moist.
Homemade cinnamon rolls may come out hard because of too much flour or over baking.
Homemade cinnamon rolls are done when they are lightly golden on the tops and the dough is no longer sticky.
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PrintGluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls (Cinnamon-y Goodness!)
Start your morning right with these sweet rolls of cinnamon-y goodness! Completely gluten-free and totally delicious!
- Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
- Yield: 10–12 rolls 1x
Ingredients
Yeast Prep
3/4 cup warm water
1 tsp maple syrup
2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
Dough Ingredients
2 1/4 – 3 cups gluten-free flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup milk, dairy or non-dairy
1/4 tsp salt
Filling Ingredients
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons cinnamon
1/4 cup butter, melted
Pan Prep
~2 tbsp cup butter
~1 tbsp sugar, granulated or brown
Frosting
8oz cream cheese
2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
Add all yeast ingredients into a stand mixer bowl. Let sit for 5 minutes until yeast is bubbling.
Attach the bowl to the stand mixer. Add in 2 cups of gluten-free flour, sugar, butter, milk, and salt. Attach a dough hook and mix on medium speed until all ingredients are incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
Slowly add in the remaining flour 1/4 cup at a time – you may not need all of it! Stop adding when the dough is smooth and tacky, but not sticky, usually after about 5 minutes of mixing.
Using a small amount of butter or non-flavored oil, prep a separate bowl. Transfer the dough to the new bowl and cover with a plate or plastic wrap. Let sit in a warm area to rise for 1 hour.
While the dough is rising, mix together the brown sugar and cinnamon for the filling. Set aside.
Once the dough has risen and doubled in size, flour a working surface and transfer dough.
Before the next step, turn the oven to 350 degrees and prep your baking dish with butter and sugar.
Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough into a long rectangle, approximately 20” by 12’.
Spread the filling onto the dough from edge to edge, then (beginning on a long side) roll the dough from one side to the other. Slice into 10-12 rolls and place into the prepped baking dish.
Bake in oven for 20-25 minutes until tops are golden, then remove and let cool slightly.
While the rolls are cooling, add all frosting ingredients into a bowl and whip! Cover and set aside.
When still slightly warm, frost the rolls and serve with fresh berries. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 477
- Sugar: 42.1g
- Sodium: 114mg
- Fat: 22.6g
- Saturated Fat: 13.9g
- Carbohydrates: 66.5g
- Fiber: 3.6g
- Protein: 4.8g
- Cholesterol: 62mg