These are honestly the best vegan cinnamon rolls you will ever eat! Even non-vegans LOVE them! They’re so soft, fluffy, sweet, and cinnamon-y, and they’re incredibly easy to make with an overnight option too. These dairy free cinnamon rolls are the perfect sweet treat for any weekend, Christmas breakfast, or holiday brunch!
Why you’ll love these AMAZING vegan cinnamon rolls
This is the only vegan cinnamon roll recipe you’ll ever need. Seriously, they’ve been fully approved by even non-vegan eaters, who have noted that they’d prefer these to the classic! This post is packed with all of the tips, tricks, and troubleshooting questions to ensure that your vegan cinnamon rolls are undetectably healthy, dairy-free, low in sugar, lower in fat, and refined sugar free!
These vegan cinnamon rolls are:
- Soft, tender, and fluffy
- Just like the classic cinnamon buns you remember as a kid! The taste and texture are identical!
- Full of gooey cinnamon sugar filling
- Super easy to make
- Stress-free using the overnight option
- Perfect for Christmas breakfast or holiday brunch
- Approved by all eaters (meaning some were vegan, some were not, some were dairy free, some were not!)
With a super gooey and sweet cinnamon filling, and the creamiest cinnamon roll icing, any vegan skeptics will be absolutely speechless when they try these cinnamon rolls!
Ingredients and substitutions:
- All Purpose Flour: I have not yet worked out a recipe using gluten free flour for this specific recipe. However, it’s come soon so be sure to check back around mid-October 🙂 If you are gluten free, please see my Paleo vegan cinnamon rolls!.
- Active dry yeast: you can also use rapid-rise yeast. Just be aware that your proofing time will be quicker. I use the active dry yeast from the packet, but I’ve provided gram measurements for anyone who has jarred yeast.
- Dairy-free milk: I like oat milk, Forager Project’s soy milk, or cashew milk, but use your favorite dairy-free milk! Almond milk and coconut milk also work great.
- Sugar: You can use granulate sugar, coconut sugar, or brown sugar (especially for the filling!). Be sure that that the granulated sugar that you’re using is vegan!
- Vegan butter: I really love Miyoko’s for this. Earth Balance or Flora Plant butter is a great option if you’re nut free. You can also use coconut oil, such as Edward & Sons!
- Unsweetened applesauce: this replaces the eggs found in traditional homemade cinnamon rolls.
- Vanilla extract
- Ground cinnamon
- Powdered sugar (for the icing)
As you can see, there are no funky ingredients in these rolls! In fact, they’re actually pretty low in sugar compared to most homemade cinnamon rolls, and are entirely refined sugar free. I personally love using coconut sugar here because it’s not as processed as regular sugar and yields a more caramelized flavor for these gooey cinnamon rolls.
In terms of equipment, you really don’t need much to make cinnamon rolls:
- A medium and a large bowl (one for mixing, one for rising) and/or a stand mixer
- Rolling pin
- Rectangle or round pan
- Spoon or pastry brush (I prefer the brush for spreading the filling because it yields a more even filling, but you can use a spoon if that’s all you have on hand!)
- Twine or floss (my secret trick for easily slicing cinnamon rolls without ruining the swirl!)
How to make easy vegan cinnamon rolls (overview)
For the full written instructions and ingredient measurements, see the bottom of this post in the recipe card. You can also hit the “jump to recipe” button at the top of this post! Here, we’ll go over a brief overview of the steps, along with providing visuals for a better understanding of the recipe.
I promise you that making gooey and soft rolls that are undetectably vegan and healthy is not as hard as you think. It just takes some patience (ever head of the saying that bread is a labor of love? It holds true for cinnamon rolls too!).
Here’s how to make vegan cinnamon rolls:
- Bloom the yeast.
Make sure that your dairy free milk is 110F. Use a food thermometer to check: you won’t be able to detect this with just your hands! Too hot, and the yeast will be deactivated, and too cold and the yeast just won’t activate at all. There is no real trick to fixing this later on in the recipe, so it’s best to get it right the first time! Then you’ll mix in a spoonful of flour and sugar, along with the yeast. Cover and set in a warm area until it smells yeast-like. Make sure to use a wooden spoon, as sometimes metal reacts with yeast and will cause it not to activate!
- Make the dough.
You can use a stand mixer with dough attachment or mix by hand! Either works! I still like to knead the dough slightly even after using a stand mixer. I think adding a bit of love helps the dough a bit 🙂 And helps to achieve that super soft texture!
- The first proof.
Place the dough into a clean and oiled bowl and cover. You can use plastic wrap or a clean kitchen dish towel, like I do. You can set this in the oven with the light on (and the oven off) or in a warm area in your kitchen. Let the dough rise until it’s doubled in size. Then we’ll roll out the dough!
- Roll out the dough and spread the cinnamon filling.
Lightly flour a clean surface and a rolling pin. This helps to prevent any stickiness the dough creates. It will be much easier to roll on a floured surface! Then roll out the dough to be a long rectangle, about 12″ by 18.” Spread the softened vegan butter to the edges, and sprinkle on the cinnamon sugar filling.
- Roll the cinnamon roll dough.
Roll the dough length wise and tightly. Then use a piece of thin twine, string, or unflavored dental floss to slice about 12 cinnamon rolls. Place the rolls into your baking dish and prepare for the next rise!
- Let the rolls rest while the oven preheats.
Preheat the oven to 375F, and make sure your vegan cinnamon rolls are covered to continue rising/resting. Make sure it’s in a warm place. Sometimes I’ll place it in the sun if it’s summer. If it’s winter, then I’ll keep the rolls close to the oven! They’ll puff up slightly, which is a good sign!
- Bake the vegan cinnamon rolls.
You only need about 20-22 minutes in the oven at 375F for these vegan cinnamon rolls!
- Spread the dairy free vegan icing on top!
I used vegan cream cheese frosting here, from my vegan pumpkin cinnamon rolls, but you can also use a regular vegan icing! I give both options in the recipe card, so be sure to check that out!
Cinnamon Roll Tips & Tricks
Making homemade vegan cinnamon rolls seems like a daunting process at first, and while these are easy, there is always a chance for error no matter what recipe you make. So I want to ensure that you go into your cinnamon roll baking process equipped with all of the right tips!
I have a comprehensive and exhaustive guide in my vegan brioche bread that goes over what to do if your bread isn’t rising! This applies to vegan cinnamon roll dough as well 🙂 And be sure to check out Fleischmann’s Yeast Guide as well!
How to make overnight vegan cinnamon rolls
If you’re like me, then you probably have zero desire to go through an hour process in the morning of making some healthy cinnamon rolls. It’s the weekend, and you just want something easy!
Not a problem at all. This recipe is easily made the night before, so you can wake up Christmas morning for the easiest holiday breakfast. All you’ll need to do is prepare the cinnamon rolls by following Steps 1-10 below in the recipe card.
After the second proof, simply keep the rolls covered and place them in the fridge overnight. The next morning, when you’re ready to make your rolls, place the vegan cinnamon rolls into the oven (the oven is turned off), and turn on the oven light. Let the rolls warm for 20-25 minutes in the oven.
Then remove the rolls from the oven, and preheat the oven to 350F, while the rolls rest near or on top of the oven (they still need to be in a warm environment). Once the oven is preheated, bake per the instructions and ice!
You are just going to love these vegan cinnamon rolls! I just know they’re going to become your new favorite cinnamon roll recipe, vegan or not.
If you make them, let me know how they turn out in the comments section below and leave a rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ so that others may find the recipe.
As always, I love to see your beautiful creations on Instagram and Pinterest, so be sure to tag me there!
Happy Baking!
More vegan holiday breakfast recipes you’ll love:
One Bowl Vegan Buttermilk Pancakes
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If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a comment and a rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ below. This helps others to find the recipes! As always, I absolutely love to see your beautiful creations on Instagram and Pinterest, so be sure to tag me there as well!
Print
Gooey Vegan Cinnamon Rolls
- Prep Time: 120
- Cook Time: 30
- Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
You won’t believe that these are vegan cinnamon rolls! Super gooey and sweet eggless and dairy free cinnamon rolls topped with the creamiest icing. Easy to make with an overnight option, they’re the perfect healthy treat for any weekend or holiday breakfast!
Ingredients
Vegan Cinnamon Rolls:
- 4 1/4 cups (540 grams) + 1 tbsp all-purpose flour, divided (plus more for flouring surface)
- 1 packet (8 grams) activated yeast
- 1/2 cup (90 grams) granulated sugar or coconut sugar, divided
- 1 1/4 cup (270 grams) dairy-free milk, unsweetened, room temperature
- 1/4 cup (57 grams) salted vegan butter, melted and room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup (87 grams) unsweetened applesauce, room temperature
Vegan Cinnamon Roll Filling:
- 1/2 cup (113 grams) vegan butter or coconut oil, softened
- 3 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 2/3 cup (65 grams) coconut sugar
Dairy Free Icing:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup (113 grams) vegan butter, room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Please read through all instructions before beginning. The overnight option and gluten free option are down below in the notes section.
- Prep: Grease a medium sized bowl with olive oil or coconut oil, and set aside. Make sure the vegan butter for the dough is melted and cooled.
- Activate the yeast: In microwave-safe bowl, heat the dairy-free milk until it reaches 110F- use a food thermometer to accurately measure the temperature. Any cooler or hotter, and the yeast won’t activate properly. Add in 1 tbsp coconut sugar and the extra 1 tbsp flour. Gently whisk together, then sprinkle yeast, mix with a spoon lightly, cover, and let activate for 10 minutes in a warm area.
- Make the dough: When activated, pour the mixture into a large bowl or a stand mixer with the dough attachment. Add in the remaining sugar, applesauce, melted vegan butter, and vanilla extract. Mix on medium speed until combine. Then add in about half of the flour and mix on medium speed until the flour starts to incorporate into the wet mixture. Add the remaining flour, and mix on medium speed until a shaggy dough forms. Lightly flour a clean surface and place the dough onto the surface, sprinkling some extra flour on top or kneading.
- First proof: Knead the dough lightly, for 2-4 minutes, until it forms a smooth dough ball that’s not sticky. Then place the dough into the greased medium bowl, cover with a cloth or wrap, and place into a warm area to let rise for 1 hour. It should be double in size. If it’s at least 80F outside, you can place the bowl outside, otherwise you can place it in the oven (which is turned off) and turn on the oven light or start preheating the oven to 350F and place the bowl near or on top of the oven.
- While the dough is rising: grease a large casserole dish with oil and set aside. In a small bowl, mix together the coconut sugar and cinnamon, and set aside.
- Make the vegan cinnamon rolls: After the dough has doubled, lightly punch down the dough. Lightly flour a clean surface, and place the dough in the middle. Sprinkle a little extra flour on top of the dough and flour the rolling pin. Roll the dough out to be a large rectangle (12 in x 18 in). Lightly spread the dough with vegan butter to the edges of the dough. Then sprinkle on the coconut sugar cinnamon mixture evenly. Roll into tight rolls and away from you. Slice the roll into 12 even cinnamon rolls. To easily slice, you can use a piece of thin twine or unflavored floss. Place into the oil-greased dish.
- Second proof: Cover again with a clean towel or wrap, and place over or by the oven while the oven preheats to 375F. Let the cinnamon rolls rise for 30 minutes while the oven is preheating.
- Bake the cinnamon rolls: Place the cinnamon rolls into the oven and bake for 20-22 minutes, or until lightly golden. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5-10 minutes while you prepare the icing.
- Make the dairy-free frosting: in a medium bowl or stand mixer, cream the vegan butter until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add in the powdered sugar and vanilla extract, and cream again until smooth, scraping down the sides as needed.
- Serve and enjoy! Spread the frosting onto the vegan cinnamon rolls and serve warm. If you have any leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container and place them in the fridge for up to 4 days. To reheat, simply warm them on a baking sheet with parchment paper at 350F for 5-7 minutes.
Notes
If making a day ahead of time, complete Step 7 through the second rise, then cover the cinnamon rolls and place them in the fridge overnight. When ready to bake, allow the rolls to sit in the oven (not started) with the light on for 20-25 minutes. Then, remove the rolls from the oven, and allow the cinnamon rolls to rest over or by the oven as it preheats.
Gluten free vegan cinnamon rolls: Please see this post for our favorite gluten free vegan cinnamon rolls!
Alternative icing: Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 1/2 cup dairy free cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- Cream the cream cheese and the powdered sugar together until smooth.
- Spread onto cinnamon rolls and enjoy!
Keywords: vegan cinnamon rolls, healthy cinnamon rolls, easy vegan cinnamon rolls
I would definitely add salt to the dough. But, otherwise they were very good
★★★★
Thank you so much! Completely understand that 🙂 So glad you tried them, and enjoy!
These are absolutely delicious. I only did an icing drizzle over the top but they were so yummy, my vegan and non-vegan guest absolutely loved them. I don’t know if it’s because I have a fan assisted oven but they were very slightly overdone on the top, (next time I would turn the temperature down a little) it didn’t stop anyone from devouring them though. Great recipe, thanks.
(Also made your chocolate & zucchini -or courgette to us English folk! – cake, that went down a treat and was utterly delicious too!)
★★★★★
Aw my goodness this is wonderful!! Thank you so much for the kind words!! For the slightly more golden tops, yes that could absolutely be because of the fan oven- you could also try placing them on the lower rack as well to see if that helps! So glad everyone loved them 🙂
These Cinnamon Rolls are incredible – the perfect balance of sweet and bread with a hint of salt. I enjoyed my roll with a cup of coffee and thought it was the best breakfast ever!
★★★★★
So happy to hear it! Thank you so much!! 🙂
AMAZING!!!!!!! Best ever cinnamon buns! Drooling for more😋😋
★★★★★
Aw thank you so so much!!! SO happy you loved them!! 🙂
Do you think I can freeze, thaw the day before and then cook them?
★★★★★
I would recommend just making the dough the day before and chilling in the fridge overnight! I haven’t experimented with this recipe frozen so I can’t say how it will turn out!
These were absolutely amazing!!! Super easy to make and turned out delicious. I had some chocolate icing leftover from another recipe so I did half vanilla icing and half chocolate and my goodness. Thanks again for another hit!
★★★★★
This is so wonderful!! Thank you so much for the review!! Good call on the chocolate icing 🙂 Yum! Happy holidays!
If I’m making the overnight recipe do I let rise a second time THEN place in the fridge? Or just place it the fridge after cutting and the second rise is in the morning? Sorry don’t quite understand what you mean by “complete through the second rise”
Hi Kate! So sorry for the confusion! So you can allow the cinnamon rolls to complete nearly a second rise (so rest for about 20-30 minutes) then cover them and place them into the fridge to chill overnight if your fridge is very cold like mine is. OR if your fridge isn’t that cold and you’ve noticed that your doughs can still rise a bit over night, then you can allow the rolls to rest for just a few minutes before covering them and placing them in the fridge to rise overnight! I hope that helps!
Thank you!! Merry Christmas / happy holidays
I made these for Christmas and they were AMAZING! I prepped them on Christmas eve and took them out of the fridge for about an hour before baking on Christmas morning. These will become a Christmas tradition!
Aw my goodness this is wonderful!! Thank you!! So happy to hear this 🙂 Merry Christmas and happy holidays!!
I’ve been meaning to make these for years, and I finally got around to it this Christmas. They were a hit! The recipe was easy to follow, and the overnight option worked beautifully. The rolls were amazingly fluffy and soft fresh out of the oven. Definitely a new holiday tradition!
★★★★★
This is so wonderful to hear!! So glad everyone loved it, and SO happy to hear about the overnight option!! Enjoy, merry Christmas, and happy New Year!