Vegan Cinnamon Rolls

Yumna Jawad
Updated

4.99 from 119 votes

Treat yourself to the most delicious breakfast! These homemade vegan cinnamon rolls are so easy to make and are wonderfully fluffy and sweet.

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These easy vegan cinnamon rolls are the perfect homemade breakfast to enjoy with family. So simple to make. They are just the right amount of sweet and so good. You can make them the night before for a delicious breakfast that everyone will love! Not to mention these vegan cinnamon rolls are perfect for large family gatherings!

Spoon glazing vegan cinnamon rolls in white pan
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“Honestly, 10/10. It was my first time doing these, and they turned out AMAZING, even better than the ones bought at any store. In love with this recipe, plus it’s so easy to follow with the thorough description and video! My friends tried them out and were literally stunned! Will do more another time for sure.” – Sabrina

Table of Contents

Recipe at a glance

Cuisine Inspiration: American
Primary Cooking Method: Baked
Dietary Info: Vegan & Vegetarian
Key Flavor: Cinnamon
Skill Level: Intermediate 

Summary

  • Perfect for special occasions: Impress your family and friends by serving these vegan cinnamon rolls for a special breakfast, brunch, or a holiday gathering. 
  • Customizable and Irresistible: Easily customize your cinnamon rolls with nuts, raisins or other dried fruits for a unique twist on a classic treat. Keep the sweet glaze simple or add a bit of spice for another level of flavor.
  • Delicious Vegan treat: Indulge in this tasty treat with little guilt while sticking to a vegan diet, as this recipe contains no dairy or animal products. Easy to follow recipe: Don’t be intimidated by the thought of making cinnamon rolls. With these step-by-step instructions and photos, you’ll go through this recipe with confidence. 

INGREDIENTS TO MAKE VEGAN CINNAMON ROLLS

  • All-Purpose Flour: This forms the base for the dough, creating a soft and fluffy texture. If you prefer a gluten-free version, you can use gluten-free flour as a substitute.
  • Dark Brown Sugar: It adds sweetness to the dough and filling, contributing to the cinnamon roll’s flavor.
  • Instant Yeast: This ingredient helps the dough rise, making it light and airy. There are no substitutions needed for yeast.
  • Salt: Salt enhances the overall flavor and balances the sweetness.
  • Coconut Oil (Melted): Coconut oil provides moisture and richness to the dough, enhancing its texture and forming the base of the cinnamon sugar filling, contributing to its gooey texture.
  • Almond Milk (Warmed): Almond milk creates a soft and pliable dough while adding a subtle nutty flavor. If you prefer a different non-dairy milk, you can substitute it with options like soy milk, oat milk, or coconut milk.
  • Cinnamon & Nutmeg: Cinnamon and nutmeg provide the iconic cinnamon roll flavor, creating a nutty warmth and depth from the nutmeg.
  • Powdered Sugar: Powdered sugar forms the sweet and creamy glaze that tops the cinnamon rolls. If you’d like to reduce the sugar content, you can use powdered sugar alternatives such as erythritol or a powdered sugar substitute.
  • Switch out the sugar: Instead of dark brown sugar, experiment with other sugars like date or coconut sugar for the dough and filling. 
  • Change up the milk: Almond milk works great in this recipe, but feel free to swap it out for your favorite plant-based milk of choice. Coconut milk or oat milk are great options.
  • Tasty fillings: In addition to the cinnamon nutmeg spice combination, adding dried fruits, chopped nuts, or even vegan chocolate shavings to the filling can add an extra surprise to every bite.
  • Vanilla extract: A touch of vanilla extract in the dough or the glaze can amplify the overall flavor. Try scrappings of a vanilla bean pod in the glaze for that rustic look and pure vanilla flavor.

Recipe video tutorial

How to make vegan cinnamon rolls

  1. Combine the flour, sugar, yeast and salt.
  2. Add the coconut oil and almond milk to the dry ingredients.
  3. Stir to combine. It will be wet and a little sticky, but that’s fine.
  4. Knead the dough until it is smooth and stretchy – my daughter’s favorite part!
  5. Place in an oiled bowl and cover with wrap.
  6. Allow to rise until the dough is doubled in size.
6 image collage to show how to make the recipe
  • Roll the dough out and sprinkle of the cinnamon filling.
  • Roll the dough up and cut into 12 equal sections.
  • Place in a greased baking dish, cover with plastic wrap and allow to double in size again.
2 image collage to show the rolls in pan after cutting and then after rising
  • Bake until golden brown.
  • Drizzle with the glaze and serve.
2 image collage to show the rolls after baking and then after glazing

“Wonderful recipe and easy to follow. The cinnamon rolls came out very nicely — and not too sweet. Thanks so much! (I used oat milk with no problems.)”- Carina

Tips for making the best vegan cinnamon rolls

  1. Make sure the kitchen is warm to help the dough rise faster. It helps to have the heat on to assist the rising time. Just make sure it’s not too hot, which can kill the yeast.
  2. Add the glaze only when you’re ready to eat them. The glaze will harden as it hits the warm cinnamon rolls and you want it to look glossy and soft instead. For best appearance, glaze just before serving.
  3. Make a pan sauce for a deeper flavor. To simplify the recipe, I like to just use melted coconut oil in the pan. However, you can whisk the coconut oil with some almond milk and brown sugar to make the sauce.
  4. Cut the rolled dough from the inside out. The first time I made cinnamon rolls, I cut like a rookie from one end to the next. But overtime, I learned that the most even cuts come when you precisely measure and cut from the inside out. The ends will always look wonky though, so don’t fret!
  5. Create a richer topping by making a thick icing. Instead of the glaze I include below, try mixing together: ¾ cup vegan cream cheese, ¼ cup softened vegan butter, ¼ cup maple syrup, 2/3 cup powdered sugar, ¼ tsp salt.

What to serve with your cinnamon rolls

Large pan of 12 cinnamon rolls at an angle and one roll served on small dessert plate nearby

How to store and reheat

How long will vegan cinnamon rolls last in the fridge? Once you have baked the rolls, let them cool to room temperature, then place them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7 days. If you are planning on storing them this way, I recommend not glazing them.

Can I freeze cinnamon rolls? Yes, these vegan cinnamon rolls freeze really well. Bake the rolls, let them cool, and don’t add the glaze. They can be frozen for up to 3 months. You can reheat them in the oven from frozen, or let them thaw in the fridge overnight. Add the glaze to the warmed rolls to serve.

How to reheat vegan cinnamon rolls: If you’re in a hurry, you can use the microwave to reheat a cinnamon roll. This result can soften the rolls even more so than if they were heated in the oven. To reheat, place one or two on a plate, and heat in 10 to 15-second increments until heated through.

To reheat a larger batch, I recommend using the oven. Preheat to 350F and place the rolls on a baking sheet, or in a baking dish. Cover loosely with foil to prevent browning and heat for 10 to 15 minutes until warmed through.

Frequently asked questions

My dough isn’t rising, what should I do?

This could be due to various factors. Expired yeast or a cold environment could prevent your dough from rising properly. Ensure your yeast is fresh, and place the dough in a warm, draft free spot for proper rising.

Can you make them the night before?

You can easily make these rolls the night before for an effortless and delicious breakfast the next morning. Make up the rolls as per the recipe, right up to cutting them and placing in the baking dish. Then, cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge to allow them to rise.

Take them out of the fridge about 30 minutes before you want to bake them, so that they come up to room temperature, and then carry on with the recipe.

Can you freeze them?

Yes, these vegan cinnamon rolls freeze really well. Bake the rolls, let them cool and don’t add the glaze. They can be frozen for up to 3 months. You can reheat them in the oven from frozen, or let them thaw in the fridge overnight. Add the glaze to the warmed rolls to serve.

How do you keep cinnamon rolls from getting hard the next day?

The best way to keep your cinnamon rolls moist is to store them airtight. I recommend two layers of plastic or foil to ensure they are airtight and all the moisture stays in the pan or container. You can heat them by wrapping in moist paper towel in microwave for extra soft rolls

Can I use active dry yeast instead of instant yeast?

Just mix with the milk and honey to activate the yeast for 10 minutes and then add in all the other ingredients.

Spatula removing one cinnamon roll from pan

These vegan cinnamon rolls are such a delicious homemade breakfast treat and they are more than ideal to serve on Christmas morning. I love that you can easily make these ahead of time, and I promise you there won’t be any leftovers!

More vegan desserts to try:

If you’ve tried this healthy-ish feel good Vegan Cinnamon Rolls recipe or any other recipe on FeelGoodFoodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots of it, share it with me on Instagram so I can repost on my stories!

Spoon glazing vegan cinnamon rolls in white pan
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Vegan Cinnamon Rolls

Treat yourself to the most delicious breakfast! These homemade vegan cinnamon rolls are so easy to make and are wonderfully fluffy and sweet.
5 from 119 votes
Author Yumna Jawad
Servings 12 rolls
Course Breakfast
Calories 263
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Resting time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 40 minutes
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Ingredients
  

Dough:

Filling:

Glaze:

Instructions

Prepare the dough:

  • In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, yeast and salt. Whisk together the melted coconut oil and warmed almond milk and pour over the flour mixture. Stir until the dough comes together and all the flour is incorporated.
  • Knead for 3-5 minutes on a lightly floured surface until the dough is smooth and stretchy.
  • Place the dough ball in an oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Place in a warm place and allow to rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

Assemble the rolls:

  • Turn out the risen dough onto a lightly floured surface. Roll into a rectangle about 14” x 20”.
  • Brush the melted coconut oil onto the dough surface. In a small bowl, combine the sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Stir until evenly distributed. Sprinkle into an even layer over the surface, getting all the way to the edges.
  • Starting at one of the short ends, roll the dough up gently but tightly. Turn the dough so the seam is underneath.
  • Cut dough into 12 even segments with a very sharp knife. Place them in a very generously greased 9×13” baking pan, so that they are evenly spaced.
  • Cover with plastic wrap, and allow to rise again until doubled (about 45 minutes).
  • During the last rise, preheat the oven to 350°F.
  • Once risen, remove the plastic and bake for 25-30 minutes until just starting to get golden on top.
  • Remove from the oven and cool for 15 to 20 minutes before adding the glaze.

Make the glaze and serve:

  • Combine powdered sugar and milk in a small mixing bowl and whisk until smooth. Drizzle the glaze on the cinnamon rolls when ready to enjoy.
  • Slide a knife around the edge of the pan. Remove the rolls one at a time, pulling them apart.

Equipment

Notes

Storage: Baked rolls can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7 days or freezer if un-iced for up to 3 months, and reheated in the oven before icing and eating.
Make Ahead Instructions: To prepare the rolls ahead of time for easy morning consumption, proceed with the instructions up until the second rise the night before. Before allowing the second rise to happen, cover the pan tightly and place in the fridge overnight. In the morning, remove the rolls from the fridge and allow them to come to room temperature before baking.

Nutrition

Calories: 263kcal, Carbohydrates: 41g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Sodium: 131mg, Potassium: 62mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 17g, Calcium: 47mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.

Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian
Cuisine American
Course: Breakfast
4.99 from 119 votes (85 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. Bianca says:

    Is it possible to use the stand mixer instead of using our hands?

    Reply

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