Fluffy Dairy Free Cinnamon Rolls.

Start your weekend with a pan of light and fluffy dairy free cinnamon rolls. These are easy to make and such a treat! Perfect for a brunch or special occasion. The swirls of cinnamon and the creamy icing make these hard to resist.

We love cinnamon rolls at our house. They are a frequent request on the weekend, or on a snow day, or really on any day.

We also love to make them on Christmas morning as a special tradition – there’s nothing better than warm cinnamon buns and vegan hot chocolate after opening presents.

Of course, anything cinnamon flavored is a big hit at our house. Cookies, apple crisp, pumpkin coffee cake, or this gluten free vegan apple spice cake – those will disappear right away around here. But cinnamon buns are a special treat, especially since you really can’t go to a bakery to get them when you have food allergies.

These cinnamon buns are free of dairy, eggs, soy, tree nuts, and peanuts – allergens that you will likely find at any traditional bakery.

We like to use spelt flour for these vegan cinnamon rolls, because my boys can tolerate spelt flour. They can’t tolerate wheat, or all-purpose flour, so we avoid that.

Spelt flour is NOT gluten free. If you need to have a gluten free cinnamon roll recipe, you may want to check this one out.

What type of dairy free milk is best for baking?

Use whatever dairy free milk works for your diet. I like neutral tasting milks best, like unsweetened coconut milk or rice milk, but you could use oat milk, flax milk, or any other milk that works for you. You can even use water for the icing if you wish.

Is spelt flour gluten free?

No, spelt isn’t gluten free. It is an ancient grain that contains some gluten, although it does contain less gluten than regular wheat. Spelt is not safe for those with celiac disease.

Can this recipe be made with gluten free flour?

I haven’t tried that, so I’m not sure. If you try it, please let me know!

Is yeast vegan?

Yes, yeast is vegan. It’s a member of the fungus family. You can read more about it here.

Do these cinnamon rolls need to rise twice?

No, the dough only needs to rise one time. These rolls are perfectly fluffy with just one rise. You do need to use instant yeast – we prefer Fleischmann’s Rapid Rise Instant Yeast.

Make sure you allow the dough to rise in a warm room. If your kitchen is too chilly, you can use your oven as a proofing box – that’s what I have to do at my house in the winter.

When you mix the dough, it will come together into a ball, like this:

Then you’ll need to cover the bowl and keep it in a warm place for at least 45 minutes. If your house is cold, it may take a little longer.

After the dough has risen, it will look like this (very puffy and light):

How to make dairy free cinnamon rolls from scratch:

• Up above you can see what the dough looks like when it’s first mixed up, and how it puffs up once it’s risen for an hour.
• Then after rolling it out, you just add the vegan buttery spread, sugar, and cinnamon, and roll the dough up.
• Then you’ll slice the dough log into rolls, and bake. It’s very easy!

I have eliminated some steps over the years as I have experimented with this recipe. For example, I use the microwave to heat the water, I add the sugar, yeast, salt, and vegan buttery spread all at once, and I don’t oil the bowl before the dough rises.

These vegan cinnamon rolls still turn out perfectly even with those few steps simplified. We food allergy moms have enough on our plates! Anytime I can simplify my cooking or baking routine, I do so.

These are so super easy, and your family will love them!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

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Fluffy Dairy Free Cinnamon Rolls.

These frosted dairy free cinnamon rolls are perfect for a weekend treat! The dough is airy and fluffy, rivaling any cinnamon bun you get at a bakery.

Course Breakfast

Cuisine Dairy Free, vegan.

Keyword easy cinnamon roll recipe, vegan cinnamon rolls

Prep Time 1 hour 10 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes

Servings 9

Calories 352 kcal

Author Kelly Roenicke

Ingredients

For the dough:

• 1 packet instant yeast 2 1/4 teaspoons
• 1 cup water
• 3 Tablespoons vegan buttery spread I use Earth Balance Soy Free
• 1 Tablespoons organic cane sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 1/2 cups white spelt flour or all-purpose flour

For the filling:

• 3 Tablespoons vegan buttery spread
• 1/4 cup organic cane sugar
• 1 Tablespoon cinnamon

For the icing:

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 3 Tablespoons vegan buttery spread
• 2 Tablespoons non-dairy milk or water

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

1. Place the water and vegan buttery spread in a large microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds. The water should be warm, but not too hot - about 110 degrees.
   

2. Once the water is warm, add the sugar and the yeast packet. Let it sit for about 10 minutes so the yeast can activate - it will look a little foamy.
   

3. Add the flour and stir gently until it forms a ball of dough. If it seems dry, add a little bit more water. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and set it in a warm place.
   

4. Allow the dough to rise for 45-60 minutes. It should double in size.
   

5. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Melt the 3 tablespoons of vegan buttery spread.
   

6. Sprinkle a little flour on a rolling pin and the rolling surface. Roll out the dough into a long rectangle.
   

7. Pour the melted vegan buttery spread on the dough and smooth it out. Sprinkle the sugar and cinnamon on it.
   

8. Roll the dough up, starting from a long side. You should have a long log of dough. Use a sharp knife to cut the dough into 9 sections.
   

9. Place the cinnamon rolls swirl side up, into an 9x9 baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes, or until golden brown.
   

10. Make the icing - in a mixing bowl, beat the vegan buttery spread, powdered sugar, and non-dairy milk.

11. Once the cinnamon rolls are done, allow them to cool for a little bit. Spread the icing on top before serving.
    

Recipe Notes

Nutrition facts are for one cinnamon roll with glaze.

Store leftover cinnamon rolls at room temperature in an airtight container.

You can use all-purpose flour for this recipe.

If you aren't dairy free, feel free to use regular butter.

Adapted from this recipe.

Nutrition Facts

Fluffy Dairy Free Cinnamon Rolls.

Amount Per Serving

Calories 352 Calories from Fat 90

% Daily Value*

Fat 10g15%

Saturated Fat 2g13%

Sodium 160mg7%

Potassium 12mg0%

Carbohydrates 59g20%

Fiber 5g21%

Sugar 33g37%

Protein 5g10%

Vitamin A 548IU11%

Vitamin C 1mg1%

Calcium 14mg1%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.