If not with cinnamon, what’s the best way to start your day? This is the best vegan cinnamon rolls recipe that will make you feel like having breakfast in an artisan bakery. Simple and delicious, as cinnamon rolls need to be, but also vegan, yet soft and exquisite.
Are you ready to make the vegan cinnamon rolls recipe from your kitchen? I tried this recipe 4 times now and every time is a good success; for myself and of course for my guest and friends. It is very simple, not too sweet, delicious and naturally vegan. Trusts me when I say it will be a triumph for your breakfast with others and also to delight and treat yourself the best way.
In this article, you will find not only this amazing and vegan recipe, but also you will read where the cinnamon rolls come from, what are the main ingredients you will be using and how to replace them in case you want to have a gluten-free or sugar-free recipe; don’t forget also there will be a sourdough starter (lievito madre) variant for you if you read until the end.
So sit tight and enjoy the reading and of course, the making.
Vegan Cinnamon rolls
My mother is the first biggest cinnamon lover I meet in my life. Despite the use of this sweet, woody and pungent spice in my country is not such a big deal, in my house cinnamon sticks and cinnamon powder was ingredients that always have their space in the cupboard. She would have the same request to my auntie to bring on her way from the USA to Italy: cinnamon in any form.
Sundays morning at home would smell not only fresh homemade lasagna or sourdough but also “torta di mele” (apple cake) with cinnamon. So no need to say why I fell in love with this spice.
The cinnamon rolls have their origins in Northern Europe extending then to the USA and later they get to spread all over the world. Called by different names but within the common taste (from the spice mainly), softness (from the butter and eggs) and the rolled dough, fried or baked; I dare you to resist the smell.
Ingredients
This vegan cinnamon rolls recipe won’t require a lot of ingredients, which is why it is very simple to make and so easy also to find the right ingredients. Though you will need to put as much love into the making process and foll
Plain flour: I used normal plain flour on this recipe to provide the dough structure. I find this flour to be the best for these vegan cinnamon rolls, but it can be substituted with bread flour, to give the dough higher protein levels and so a more chewy texture. If you want to make this recipe gluten-free, simply use gluten-free plain flour instead of the normal one.
Vegan butter: the fat part of the dough, this gives softness to the final results. If you don’t like to use this vegan alternative, organic coconut oil can be your best choice. I love this ingredient.
Alternative milk: my favourite choice is oat milk so this is what I used for this recipe, though if you have any other preferred alternative milk, don’t be afraid to use it.
Cinnamon powder: the tastier the better, obviously!
Sugar: cinnamon rolls are definitely known to be sweet and tasty, even though I am not a big fan of refined sugars, some recipes are better with the use of it. I find organic raw sugar works perfectly fine with this recipe. The sugar inside the dough will activate the yeast and let this rise at its best, instead for the filling I used good demerara sugar, to give the vegan cinnamon rolls more molasses and caramel taste. Sugar-free recipe? No worries just use coconut sugar or any other sugar alternative.
Active dry yeast is as simple as that, just add it following the recipe below and it will do all the hard jobs together with the right temperature and the sugar.
Have you just refreshed your Lievito madre (Italian sourdough)?
That is the perfect time to use this amazing ingredient for this vegan cinnamon rolls recipe. Replace the use of active dry yeast with 150g of active and bubbly sourdough.
If you are wondering how to make a sourdough starter, here is my recipe and process to do it and to fall in love with this alive yeast that can make your baking even more delicious and healthier.
More baked vegan recipe
Vegan Cinnamon rolls – Simple and delicious recipe
Ingredients
Dough
- 480 ml Oat milk 2 cups
- 130 g Vegan butter 1/2 cup
- 50 g Organic raw sugar 1/4 cup
- 7 g Active dry yeast 1 packet
- 690 g Plain flour 5 1/2 cups
- 1 tsp Salt
Filling
- 170 g Vegan butter 3/4 cup
- 140 g Organic raw sugar or demerara 3/4 cup
- 2 tbsp Cinnamon powder
Icing
- 160 g Icing sugar 1 cup
- 2 tbsp Oat milk
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
Instructions
- Melt the vegan butter and pour it into a large bowl together with the oat milk and the organic raw sugar. The mixture should be between 37-43°C before proceeding with the next step.
- Add the dry yeast into the bowl and leave it for 1 minute without combining the yeast. Now mix the warm ingredients.
- Keep aside around 90g of flour and add the remaining 600 g into the milk mixture. Mix them well with a wooden spoon until a smooth dough forms.
- Cover the bowl with a towel or reusable wrap paper and set it in a warm place to rise for 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 180° C (350° F).
- While you are waiting, make the cinnamon butter by stirring the cinnamon, sugar and butter with a spatula. Until come up with a soft and spreadable consistency.
- Once the dough has doubled in size, add the remaining 95 g of flour and salt.
- Knead the dough lightly on a well-floured surface, adding flour if necessary until the dough doesn't stick anymore.
- Roll out into a large rectangle, about 1cm thick, making sure you have fixed and sharp corners.
- Spread evenly over the rolled dough the cinnamon butter. Add extra cinnamon if you like a more spicy, woody and sweet taste of this spice.
- Now ready to roll it. Lengthwise start to roll, forming a cylinder and pinch the seam closed. Place seam-side down and trim the two ends.
- Rub generously the two trays you are going to use for baking the cinnamon rolls.
- Start to cut the rolled cinnamon dough by cutting the log in half first and then, using a thread or a sharp knife, slice the dough evenly sized. About 8 cm thick each will be perfect. You should get 14 cinnamon rolls in total.
- Place 7 vegan cinnamon rolls in each tray, one in the centre and the other six around the sides. Cover with a cloth and let it rise for another 30 minutes in a warm place.
- Prepare the frosting in a small bowl. Mix the icing sugar, valìnilla extract and the oat milk and whisk until smooth.
- Ready to bake? Remove the cloth from the trays and bake the vegan cinnamon rolls in a preheated oven at 180°C for 25-30 minutes, until golden brown (or until you can't resist the smell anymore).
- When ready, take it out from the oven and drizzle the frosting on top, while still warm.
- Have your coffee or orange juice ready and enjoy your delicious vegan cinnamon rolls.
