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Easy Vegan Cinnamon Rolls

Learn how to make homemade vegan friendly cinnamon rolls! Simple ingredients, easy-to-follow directions and the perfect recipe. Whether you're making these for a baking day, family brunch or a holiday morning you will love these!

Prep Time
1 hr 20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
1 hr 45 mins
Servings: 12
Calories: 323 kcal
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Dough
  • 1 ¼ cups non-dairy milk cashew, oat milk, soy, etc.
  • 1 packet instant yeast rapid rise yeast, equal to 2 1/4 tsp
  • 1 tablespoon organic brown sugar
  • 5 tablespoons plant based vegan butter melted & cooled
  • 3 ½ - 4 cups bread flour or unbleached all-purpose flour
  • ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil for greasing
Filling
  • ¼ cup plant-based vegan butter softened
  • ¼ cup organic brown sugar
  • 1 ½ tablespoons ground cinnamon
Frosting
  • 5 ounces plant based cream cheese room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup organic confectioners sugar or more to taste
  • 2-4 tablespoons non-dairy milk

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. In a microwave safe bowl or glass measuring cup, heat milk for about 20-30 seconds. Allow temperature of mixture to reach 110ºF (or lukewarm). If it’s too hot it will kill the yeast. Add yeast and sugar into large mixing bowl of stand mixer and slowly add milk. Stir until combined and allow to sit for 10 minutes, until top is foamy. If your mixture doesn’t get foamy, the yeast did not activate and you'll need a fresh yeast packet to start over.
  2. Once the milk and yeast mixture is foamy, add melted butter mixing on low speed until combined. Add 1 cup flour and salt and start to mix on low speed. Then begin adding more flour, about 1/2 cup at a time. You will likely need about 3 1/2 cups. Dough should be elastic and start to pull away from edge of bowl when it is ready. At this time, change the attachment to the dough hook, and allow the hook to knead the dough on low speed for about 5 minutes. Dough should remain soft but not overly sticky – this is typically where I add another 1/4 cup of flour with the mixer running, then stop the mixer once the flour has mixed in slightly, reposition the dough and start the mixer again to continue kneading the dough.
  3. Lightly oil large bowl and shape dough into ball, place dough in bowl and cover with towel and let rise in warm environment until dough has doubled in size, about 45 minutes. TIP: set oven to warm or preheated to 170ºF then turn off. Place bowl in the warmed oven and allow to rise.
  4. Grease a 9×13″ baking dish with butter or coconut oil, set aside. Once the dough has about doubled in size, lightly cover rolling pin and flat surface with flour. Roll out dough into a 15×9 inch rectangle. Be patient, and roll gently. Don’t use too much flour or your dough will be stiff. Spread on softened butter, sprinkle sugar and cinnamon; gently pat to let sugar absorb into butter slightly. Using the heels of your hands and thumbs, gently roll dough into a long roll, placing seam side down. Use floss method to slice rolls (helps for a visual) or a serrated knife to gently cut into about 1 1/2″ width. Discard the ends. You should get about 12 rolls for a 9×13 pan. Place rolls in greased pan, leaving room to rise, and put pan in draft-free environment. You can use the warm oven tip above. See notes below for overnight adaptation. 
  5. Once the rolls have risen again slightly (about 15 minutes), preheat oven to 350ºF (take rolls out and wait for oven to get up to 350ºF). Bake cinnamon rolls for 20-25 minutes, until lightly browned. Then, if necessary, cover top of rolls with foil and bake for an additional 5 minutes. Covering the rolls for the last 5-10 minutes will prevent them from getting too brown on the top.
  6. Make the frosting: In medium bowl using electric hand mixer (or stand mixer with paddle attachment) beat softened cream cheese until light and fluffy. Add in vanilla extract, powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons milk; mix on low speed until combined. (Add more milk for thinner frosting.)Spread on slightly cooled cinnamon rolls. Best served warm – enjoy!

Notes

  • OVERNIGHT METHOD - prepare cinnamon rolls through step 4. Instead of letting the rolls rise again, you'll cover them and place them in the fridge overnight. Allow rolls to come to room temperature for 45 minutes before baking in a preheated oven at 350ºF.
  • SIMPLE CINNAMON ROLL ICING RECIPE - use 1 cup powdered sugar with 1 tsp vanilla extract and 2 tablespoons of orange juice or lemon juice for a citrus glaze, or use milk of choice.

Nutrition Information

Calories 323kcal (16%) Carbohydrates 45g (15%) Protein 6g (12%) Fat 14g (22%) Saturated Fat 4g (20%) Polyunsaturated Fat 3g Monounsaturated Fat 4g Trans Fat 2g Sodium 183mg (8%) Potassium 72mg (2%) Fiber 3g (12%) Sugar 16g (32%) Vitamin A 4IU (0%) Vitamin C 0.05mg (0%) Calcium 29mg (3%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 323

% Daily Value*

Calories 323kcal 16%
Carbohydrates 45g 15%
Protein 6g 12%
Fat 14g 22%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Polyunsaturated Fat 3g 18%
Monounsaturated Fat 4g 20%
Trans Fat 2g 100%
Sodium 183mg 8%
Potassium 72mg 2%
Fiber 3g 12%
Sugar 16g 32%
Vitamin A 4IU 0%
Vitamin C 0.05mg 0%
Calcium 29mg 3%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.