Easy Dairy-Free Cinnamon Rolls

I know, it’s the time of year for healthy recipes. But I’ve been good all week – eating low in added sweeteners of any kind, exercising daily, packing in those good nutrient-dense foods – and now I feel like baking! We all deserve a little reward now and then, and for me, it’s definitely some time with my beloved oven while preparing a treat like these delightful dairy-free cinnamon rolls.

Admittedly, my go-to recipe is still these Double the Cinnamon Rolls from my kitchen, which we whip up on special occasions. They are dairy-free, and even egg-free / vegan, and can’t be beat!

But the recipe below for dairy-free cinnamon rolls offers wonderfully tender results and is a variation that I felt worth including on Go Dairy Free. The original recipe (and image) was shared with us by Red Star Yeast, and created by cookbook author Gesine Bullock-Prado – though we have slightly modified it.

To achieve bakery-quality results, Gesine says that you must use the best quality ingredients you can find. Fresh yeast, baking powder or baking soda will give a tender, airy texture to your baked goods. Dairy-free cinnamon rolls, cakes, and breads made with ingredients that are too old, will often fall flat. Great flavorings, such as pure vanilla extract, fresh eggs, and a good brand of flour are also essential.

Special Diet Notes & Options: Dairy-Free Cinnamon Rolls

This recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, peanut-free, tree nut-free, and vegetarian. I do not have a gluten-free option at this time (yeast dough can be tricky!), but the following options are completely feasible:

For Vegan / Egg-Free: I’ve included an egg-free option for this recipe, but for a naturally egg-free and vegan recipe, enjoy my time-tested and beloved Double the Cinnamon Rolls.

For Soy-Free: Remember that dairy-free margarine often contains soy, but you have a couple of options. Look for the soy-free varieties from brands such as Earth Balance, or substitute in palm shortening or coconut oil – yes, it works! If using coconut oil, you can reduce the amount in the filling by just a touch.

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Easy Dairy-Free Cinnamon Rolls

 

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Prep time

15 mins

Cook time

30 mins

Total time

45 mins

 

Author: Red Star Yeast

Serves: 11 rolls

Ingredients

Dough

• 2-3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 .25-ounce package baking yeast (such as Red Star® Platinum Superior Baking Yeast - see note below)
• ½ cup water
• ¼ cup dairy-free milk alternative
• 2-1/2 tablespoons dairy-free non-hydrogenated margarine
• 1 large egg (can sub ¼ cup applesauce or 1 Ener-G egg replacer equivalent for egg-free)

Filling

• 3 Tablespoons dairy-free non-hydrogenated margarine, softened to room temperature
• 1-1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• ¼ cup granulated sugar

Glaze

• 1 cup powdered (confectioners') sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons dairy-free milk alternative or coconut milk creamer

Instructions

Make the Dough:

1. Set aside ½ cup of flour. In a large bowl, toss 2-1/4 cups flour, the sugar, salt, and yeast together until evenly dispersed.
2. Heat the water, milk alternative, and margarine together in the microwave until the mixture is very warm, but not too hot to touch, about 125-130°F.
3. Stir the margarine mixture into the flour mixture. Add the egg and only enough of the reserved flour to make a soft dough. Dough will be ready when it gently pulls away from the side of the bowl and has an elastic consistency.
4. On a lightly floured surface, knead dough for about 3 to 5 minutes. Place it in a lightly greased bowl and let rest for 10 minutes.

Assemble with the Filling:

1. After 10 minutes, roll the dough out in a 14x8 inch rectangle.
2. Spread the softened margarine on top. Mix together the cinnamon and sugar and sprinkle it over the margarine.
3. Roll up the dough tightly and cut into 11 even pieces and place in a lightly greased 9-inch round pan or pie dish.

Rise and Bake:

1. Loosely cover the rolls with aluminum foil and allow to rise in a warm, draft-free place for 60 and 90 minutes.
2. After the rolls have doubled in size, preheat your oven to 375°F.
3. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until lightly browned. Cover the rolls with aluminum foil after 15 minutes to avoid heavy browning, if you prefer.

Make the Glaze:

1. Whisk the glaze ingredients together in a medium bowl.
2. Top the cinnamon rolls with glaze right before serving.

Notes

Any active yeast will make a good cinnamon roll, but the Red Star Platinum has dough conditioners to offer a lighter, fluffier result. I know that some dough conditioners are dairy-based, but Platinum is dairy-free, egg-free, vegan, and certified kosher parve. It does contain soy flour, though.

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