Vegan Cinnamon Rolls

These vegan cinnamon rolls are perfectly fluffy and tender, bringing buttery, warming comfort to your table. They're also great for beginners and require just a handful of basic, accessible ingredients. Serve them for an indulgent snack or brunch with a classic sugar glaze, impressing vegans and non-vegans alike!

Ah, cinnamon rolls. Truly the key to my heart. There's nothing quite like the nostalgic smell of cinnamon rolls waking you up on a lazy weekend morning, or grabbing one off the counter before a busy weekday to enjoy with your coffee. Cinnamon rolls truly are one of those simple things that make life special!

Well, some people may disagree with the simplicity factor. Vegan cinnamon rolls, after all, have a reputation for being complicated. But fear not, because even if you're a complete beginner when it comes to baking, you definitely can't mess these up. So, if you need a last-minute treat to impress non-vegans, this may be a perfect option for you.

How to make vegan cinnamon rolls

You want to start by stirring together warm plant based milk and dry yeast, and setting that aside for 10 minutes to allow the yeast to activate.

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Then, add sugar and salt, stir until they dissolve, and then gradually start adding in the flour. Add it around ½ cup at a time, and stir continuously until all of the flour has been incorporated. Now add the olive oil and continue mixing until thoroughly combined and a dough forms.

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Knead the dough for around 5 minutes, then cover with a paper towel or cloth, and set aside for around 20 minutes. When this time is almost up, make the cinnamon roll filling by stirring together cinnamon and sugar in a small mixing bowl. Also preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (180 C).

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Transfer the dough onto a large, floured surface and roll it out into a thin rectangular sheet. The rectangle shape doesn't have to be perfect, but make sure that it's even in width throughout to make sure that the cinnamon rolls are an even size, with a consistent ratio of dough to filling.

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Transfer the dough onto a large, floured surface and roll it out into a thin rectangular sheet. The rectangle shape doesn't have to be perfect, but make sure that it's even in width throughout to make sure that the cinnamon rolls are an even size, with a consistent ratio of dough to filling.

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Now sprinkle the filling onto the dough and spread it out using a spoon. If you wish, you can make some extra and add a little bit more. Roll the rectangle up tightly, and divide it into around 12 even-sized cinnamon rolls. Transfer these to a round baking dish, cover with a paper towel or cloth, and set aside to rise for 20 minutes more.

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When done, proceed to bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. You can use this time to make the glaze, which requires just 2 ingredients: icing sugar and water. Simply add the water to the icing sugar around 1 tbsp at a time, until it reaches the desired consistency.

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Allow the cinnamon rolls to cool down for around 10 minutes before adding the icing. Serve and enjoy!

Instructions for storage and freezing

You can keep these vegan cinnamon rolls on the countertop, covered for up to 3 days. Or you can keep them in the fridge in an airtight container for up to a week.

These cinnamon rolls are also freezer-friendly. Allow them to thaw fully in the fridge before warming up in the microwave and serving.

Tips for the best vegan cinnamon rolls

• Make sure to leave the yeast to activate and the cinnamon rolls to rise in a reasonably warm place. Room temperature should be fine in the summer, or leave them on a windowsill/next to a radiator.
• Don't attempt to make these with a gluten-free flour blend, as the results will not be the same. Stay tuned as I am working on a perfect gluten-free vegan cinnamon roll recipe!
• Any sugar will work for this recipe, but don't attempt to use a liquid sweetener such as maple syrup.
• While this recipe is not the quickest, for most of it the cinnamon rolls are either rising or baking. So, you can use that time to make other additions to your brunch table, such as banana bread baked oats, or scrambled tofu.

Other vegan dessert recipes

• No-bake cookie dough bars are always a good idea!
• Start your day with chocolate granola bars.
• It's so easy to make fudgy sweet potato brownies.
• If you want something super simple, make 6-ingredient almond cookies.

If you give these vegan cinnamon rolls a go, be sure to tag me on Instagram (@ohmyveggies), and leave your feedback in the comments below together with a star rating.

Recipe