These dairy-free cinnamon rolls are so soft, fluffy, and delicious that you will swear they are classic cinnamon rolls from Cinnabon! They are super easy to make for weekend brunch, special occasions, or Thanksgiving and Christmas breakfast. Even better than the best store-bought versions!
This post may contain paid links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, please read my disclaimer.
Jump to:
Is there anything better on a holiday morning than homemade cinnamon rolls? Your entire family will devour these delicious dairy-free cinnamon rolls made with simple ingredients and bursting with the traditional and classic flavors everyone loves.
Why You Should Make These Dairy-Free Cinnamon Rolls
These are the top 5 reasons why you need to make these fluffy and delicious cinnamon rolls over any other recipe:
- Super fluffy, soft, full of cinnamon flavor, and topped with a delicious dairy-free glaze frosting.
- Simple, quick, and easy-to-make homemade cinnamon rolls you can make ahead!
- They are easy to make gluten-free cinnamon rolls by using gluten-free flour.
- They are a healthy version of the classic store-bought version. Dairy-free cinnamon rolls are made with just a few simple ingredients and taste incredible!
- Perfect homemade cinnamon rolls for Christmas morning breakfast, Thanksgiving, or special occasions! Serve with other holiday brunch favorites like puff pastry quiche, healthy gingerbread loaf, and french toast!
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here are the ingredients you need to make this recipe. Reference the recipe card at the bottom for exact measurements and the notes below for substitution ideas.
- All-purpose flour: I used King Arthur's all-purpose flour for this recipe but you can use their gluten-free flour blend or Bob's Red Mill's one-to-one baking flour to make a gluten-free version.
- Oat milk: I like the creamy texture that oat milk lends to these dairy-free cinnamon rolls. Dairy-free milk works well in this recipe. I've also used almond milk and coconut milk to make these with no dairy.
- Coconut oil: Select refined coconut oil (I buy mine on Amazon!) to give these the classic flavor without a hint of coconut.
- White Sugar: White sugar or cane sugar provides the traditional sweetness you expect from the original recipe. Any of the sugars in this recipe can be swapped for Monk Fruit or Stevia for a sugar-free option.
- Powdered Sugar: Powdered monk fruit sweetener works well in place of powdered sugar for the glaze. Use coconut sugar or Lakanto brown monk fruit sweetener for brown sugar.
- Yeast: Active dry yeast, instant yeast, and fresh yeast work for this recipe. I usually use active dry yeast and activate the yeast before baking this recipe.
- Vanilla Extract: Vanilla extract adds a warm flavor to both the rolls and glaze.
How to Make These Easy Dairy-Free Cinnamon Rolls
Below are step-by-step instructions for how to cook this recipe. The recipe card at the bottom shows the exact cooking time and temperatures.
Step 1 - Activate the Yeast
Place yeast into a mixing bowl and mix with water using a wooden spoon. Cover with a kitchen towel and allow to sit at room temperature for 5 minutes.
Step 2 - Heat the Milk Mixture
Heat oat milk in a saucepan until it bubbles and then remove it from the heat. Add coconut oil and stir until mixture is incorporated. Allow mixture to cool to room temperature.
Step 3 - Mix Ingredients
In a large bowl, mix the yeast mixture with the dry ingredients - 2 ¼ cup flour, ¼ cup sugar, and salt. Add egg and oat milk/oil mixture and the remaining 1 cup flour, ½ cup at a time.
Step 4 - Knead the Dough and First Rise
Once the dough is incorporated and pulled together into a ball, place the dough ball on a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth (approximately 5 minutes).
Alternatively, use the dough hook attachment on a stand mixer and allow it to knead the dough for 5 minutes. Cover the dough with a kitchen towel or damp paper towel and allow to rest for ten minutes.
Step 5 - Mix Cinnamon Crumble Ingredients
Mix brown sugar, cinnamon, and coconut oil in a small bowl.
Step 6 - Roll Out the Cinnamon Roll Dough
Spread some flour out onto your work surface.
Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out into a long rectangular shape, about 12 inches on the long end.
Spread the coconut oil, sugar, and cinnamon mixture onto the dough and roll up the dough.
Step 7 - Roll into Cinnamon Rolls & Second Rise
Cut the ends off to create a clean line if desired. Cut 12 equal slices using either kitchen shears, a pizza cutter, a serrated knife, or dental floss.
Place rolls into a baking dish sprayed with coconut oil spray. Cover and allow to rise in a warm place for about 30 minutes (the rolls should double in size).
Step 8 - Bake Rolls and Make Glaze
Preheat oven to 375F and bake cinnamon rolls for 20 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly.
While rolls are baking, combine frosting ingredients in a bowl and whisk until smooth.
Allow dairy-free cinnamon rolls to cool for about 5 minutes before adding glaze. Add a dollop of frosting over the top of the rolls and spread using a knife.
Other Expert Tips for Success
- When adding in the final amount of flour in step 3, add flour in ½ cup increments to make sure the dough doesn't get too dry.
- To create perfectly round cinnamon rolls, press down very gently when cutting the rolls. Dental floss is a great option to use to avoid flattening the rolls.
- Making these in cold weather? Heat your oven on low and then turn off the oven. Use the warm oven as the warm spot for the dough to rise.
- Make overnight dairy-free cinnamon rolls by placing the rolls in the refrigerator overnight for the second rise.
- Place a piece of parchment paper under the cooling rack to capture the excess glaze that runs off of the top of the cinnamon rolls.
Make Ahead, Storage, and Freezing Tips
- Make Ahead: You can easily make this quick cinnamon roll recipe ahead of time. Just prep the dough through the rolling stage then cover it in plastic wrap and set it in the fridge.
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days on the countertop or up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
- Freezing: Once rolls have been baked and cooled, cover them with plastic wrap and store them in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
Recipe FAQs
You can use bread flour for this recipe if you have it on hand. However, I've had great success with using all-purpose King Arthur flour.
These dairy-free cinnamon rolls take about 25 minutes to prep, 30 minutes to rise, and 20 minutes to bake. Together the total time is about 75 minutes.
They are baked at 375 F.
These dairy-free cinnamon rolls freeze very well. Once rolls have been baked and cooled, cover them with plastic wrap and store them in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
Make the frosting once you are planning on baking them. They can be defrosted and reheated or reheated straight from frozen with added time to ensure the middle is heated through.
Traditional cinnamon rolls are made with milk and many recipes use cream cheese frosting.
This recipe for dairy-free cinnamon rolls uses non-dairy oat milk for both the rolls and the glaze and is made without cream cheese.
If there is too much flour in your recipe, the rolls may come out dry and tough.
When mixing in the remaining flour be sure to monitor the texture of the rolls to make sure that the dough is pulling into a ball with a slightly sticky touch.
The dough will need moisture to make sure the texture is fluffy and moist.
Adding milk to cinnamon rolls helps to create moist and fluffy cinnamon rolls with perfect texture. Adding milk to avoid the rolls becoming dry and dense.
Other Delicious Dairy-Free Breakfast Recipes
If you've made this recipe, would you please leave a star rating and comment below on the recipe card? If you want more simple + delicious eats, please subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for the latest updates.
Fluffy & Soft Dairy Free Cinnamon Rolls
Equipment
- coconut oil spray
- 8X8 Baking pan
Ingredients
Dough Ingredients
- 0.25 oz. yeast
- ¼ cup water
- ¾ cup oat milk
- ¼ cup refined coconut oil
- 3 ¼ cup all purpose flour divided
- ¼ cup sugar
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 large egg
Filling Ingredients
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- ½ cup refined coconut oil softened, not melted
Glaze Ingredients
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1-3 tablespoon oat milk more or less depending on how thick you want the frosting to be.
Instructions
Cinnamon Roll Instructions
- Place yeast into a mixing bowl and mix together with water. Cover with a kitchen towel and allow to sit at room temperature for 5 minutes. The yeast mixture should be bubbly.0.25 oz. yeast, ¼ cup water
- Heat oat milk in a saucepan until it bubbles and then remove it from the heat. Add coconut oil and stir until mixture is incorporated. Allow mixture to cool to room temperature.¾ cup oat milk, ¼ cup refined coconut oil
- Use a stand mixer to mix the yeast mixture with 2 ¼ cup flour, ¼ cup sugar, and salt. Add the egg and oat milk/oil mixture and the remaining 1 cup flour, ½ cup at a time. Once the dough is incorporated and pulled together into a ball, place it on a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth (approximately 5 minutes).3 ¼ cup all purpose flour, ¼ cup sugar, ½ teaspoon sea salt, 1 large egg
- Cover the dough with a kitchen towel or damp paper towel and allow to rest for ten minutes. Mix brown sugar, cinnamon, and coconut oil in a small bowl.½ cup brown sugar, 1 tablespoon cinnamon, ½ cup refined coconut oil
- Roll the dough out into a long rectangular shape, about 12 inches on the long side. Spread the coconut oil, sugar, and cinnamon mixture onto the dough and roll up the dough. Cut the ends off to create a clean line if desired. Cut 12 equal slices using either kitchen shears or dental floss. Place rolls into a baking dish sprayed with coconut oil spray. Cover and allow to rise for about 30 minutes (cinnamon rolls should double in size).
- Preheat oven to 375F and bake rolls for 20 minutes or until brown and bubbly. Allow to cool for about 5 minutes before adding glaze.
Cinnamon Roll Glaze Instructions
- Combine ingredients in a bowl and whisk until smooth. Add a dollop over cinnamon rolls and spread using a knife.1 cup powdered sugar, 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1-3 tablespoon oat milk
Notes
- When adding in final amount of flour in step 3, add flour in ½ cup increments to make sure the dough doesn't get too dry.
- Make Ahead: To make ahead, prep the dough through the rolling stage and then cover in plastic wrap and set in the fridge.
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days on the countertop or up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
- Freezing: Once rolls have baked and cooled, cover them with plastic wrap and store them in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
Leave a Reply