Vegan Cinnamon Rolls Recipe: (Almost) Guilt-Free Indulgence

cinnamon rolls recipe

Cinnamon rolls are really all they’re cracked up to be: a bit crisp on the outside, moist and soft on the inside, piping hot, oozing with cream, and layers of dough accented with just the right amount of aromatic cinnamon.

It’s an experience, and a welcome one at that. Cinnamon rolls are delicious, but their nutrition stats are nothing to write home about. The following recipe for cinnamon rolls is totally vegan and light, so you can indulge a little more often. Enjoy!

Vegan Cinnamon Rolls

Makes 8-10

Ingredients
For the dough:
  • 2 cups whole-wheat flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 2 tablespoons vegan butter, chilled
  • 3/4 cup vegan milk (almond, soy, rice)
For dough filling:
  • 2 teaspoons vegan butter, melted
  • 3/4 cup coconut palm sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon

For the pan:

  • 1/2 cup vegan butter, melted
  • 1/3 cup coconut palm sugar

Cream “cheese” frosting:

  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons vegan milk (almond, soy, rice)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

For the dough, in a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Add the vegan butter and use clean hands to massage it into the flour mixture. Add the milk and continue to massage until it forms a dough. Roll out the dough on a floured surface to form a 1/2-inch thick rectangle.

For the filling, in a small bowl mix together the cinnamon and coconut palm sugar. Brush the top of the dough evenly with the melted vegan butter and sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture evenly across the buttered dough. Roll the dough up, jelly roll style, starting from a long end, to form a log. Cut into about 8-10 rolls.

For the pan, melt the vegan butter and pour it into a 9-inch round (or of similar size) pan. Sprinkle the buttered pan evenly with the coconut palm sugar. Place the rolls, cut-side up, in the pan. Place in the oven and bake for 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown. Repeatedly check on the cinnamon rolls while they are cooking during the last five minutes to make sure they down get too brown.

For the frosting, let the cinnamon rolls cool down a bit, as to not burn your tongue. Meanwhile, whisk together the powdered sugar and milk. Use it as a frosting before serving each roll. Enjoy!

Photo Credit: tvol

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Aylin Erman