No Yeast Required Cinnamon Rolls are pillowy, sweet, and require no yeast to make them! Easy, tender, and so satisfying.

no yeast cinnamon roll on a plate

Today I spent a grey and drizzly afternoon whipping up a recipe from In Jennie’s Kitchen that’s been burning a hole in my back pocket for a few weeks now — dense, gooey, mouthwatering no yeast required cinnamon rolls!

pan of no yeast cinnamon rolls

I am obsessed over this recipe! I’ve baked with yeast several times in the past year, and the recipes have turned out well, more or less, but sometimes I just don’t have the time or patience to deal with it, ya’ know?

Homemade cinnamon rolls without the hassle of making sure the milk’s the right temperature? The yeast is activating? The dough has doubled in size?

cinnamon roll on a plte

They exists, my friends, and here’s how you make them:

Start by combining the cinnamon roll filling ingredients in a medium-size mixing bowl: brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, salt & butter.

DSC_0001 DSC_0003

DSC_0004 DSC_0006

Mix it up with s whisk until combined.

DSC_0008

In a larger bowl, combine flour, more sugar, and salt, plus the leavening agents that let us ditch that pesky yeast.

DSC_0009 DSC_0013

Baking powder and baking soda.

DSC_0014

Whisk together more butter with buttermilk, then pour the mixture into the dry ingredients.

DSC_0015 DSC_0016

Stir with a stiff spoon or spatula just until the dough comes together. If you over-mix, you will have hard cinnamon rolls, and we can’t have that.

DSC_0017

Gently knead the dough into a ball, then divide into two halves.

DSC_0020

Turn each half onto a flat, floured surface, then press on half the filling mixture.

DSC_0022 DSC_0024

Roll the dough up like a log, then pinch the top seam shut. This is the part where I noticed the biggest difference between a yeast-required vs. non-yeast-required cinnamon roll dough. This dough is MUCH easier to handle. Not as sticky, and more firm.

DSC_0026 DSC_0029

Slice, slice, baby!

DSC_0031

Oh yeah!

DSC_0032

The recipe says to place the cinnamon rolls into a greased 11×8″ pan. I seemed to have misplaced mine sometime in the last month, so I spit the rolls between 8×8″ and 6×4″ non stick sprayed pans. Now pop those puppies in a piping hot oven.

DSC_0045 DSC_0047

In the quick 15 minutes they take to bake, whip up some cream cheese icing.

DSC_0051 DSC_0053

Mash together powdered sugar and cream cheese with a fork, then drizzle in buttermilk and whisk until smooth.

DSC_0055

Next take those GORGEOUS, bubbly, golden-brown rolls out of the oven, (ahhh!)

no yeast cinnamon rolls

and pretend you live in a world where Grandmas still place hot pies on their windowsills to cool. Place yours on a wooden stool in front of the open back-porch door instead…

DSC_0058

Then breeeeeathe in the Heavenly, sweet aroma that’s swirling around your kitchen.

baked cinnamon rolls

Now spread the cream cheese icing over the top and spread into an even layer.

DSC_0074

I can’t remember the last time I was this excited about a recipe! I just can’t get over how much easier these were than cinnamon rolls made with yeast-required dough. So rich and scrumptious too!

DSC_0093

Here are the differences between yeast-required & no yeast-required cinnamon rolls, in my experience/opinion:

  • No yeast dough is much more firm and cooperative than sticky, yeast-required dough – which makes it much easier to handle, roll out and cut.
  • The texture of a baked no yeast roll is more dense than a yeast-required roll. Not better or worse, just different. Allllmost like a heavy pancake?!
  • I saved HOURS in the kitchen by ditching the yeast!

DSC_0082

Now YES, there is definitely something to be said about baking with yeast. It’s very rewarding, and I’m not giving it up for good.

DSC_0089

BUT, if you get a craving for warm, fresh cinnamon rolls that needs to be squashed NOW, then you need to make these!

DSC_0088

Save this recipe?
Get this recipe sent to your inbox, plus receive new recipes from us every week!

No Yeast Required Cinnamon Rolls

4.9 from 14 votes

by Kristin Porter

Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 35 minutes
Servings: 16 rolls
No Yeast Required Cinnamon Rolls are pillowy, sweet, and require no yeast to make them! Easy, tender, and so satisfying.

Ingredients

For the Cinnamon Filling:

  • 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 Tablespoons butter, melted

For the Cinnamon Roll Dough:

  • 2-1/2 cups all purpose flour, plus more for rolling out dough
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 5 Tablespoons butter, melted and divided

For the Icing:

  • 3 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 4 Tablespoons buttermilk
  • 1 cup powdered sugar

Directions 

  • Preheat oven to 425. Combine filling ingredients in a small bowl, then mix with a fork until well blended.
  • In a another, larger bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Whisk together buttermilk and 4 Tablespoons melted butter in a separate bowl, then pour into the middle of the dry ingredients. Stir together until dough just comes together (do not overmix.) Kneed slightly with your hands until the dough forms into a ball, then slice it in half.
  • On a lightly floured surface, roll each half into a 12x8" rectangle (think slightly longer than a sheet of paper.) Press half the filling mixture into the center, leaving 1/4" of the dough clear on all 4 sides, then roll like a sausage. Pinch together seam, trim ends and cut into 8 slices. Repeat with the other dough half, then place rolls in a non-stick sprayed 11x8" pan, or an 8x8 and 6x4" pan. Brush cinnamon rolls with remaining Tablespoon of melted butter and bake for 15 minutes, or until tops are golden brown.
  • Meanwhile, to make the icing, mash together softened cream cheese and powdered sugar with a fork until smooth. Whisk in buttermilk, 1 Tablespoon at a time, until creamy. Drizzle onto hot cinnamon rolls and spread evenly.

Notes

Nutrition

Calories: 251kcal, Carbohydrates: 44g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 21mg, Sodium: 299mg, Potassium: 71mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 28g, Vitamin A: 257IU, Vitamin C: 0.02mg, Calcium: 67mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.

Like this recipe? Leave a star rating below!

Like this recipe? Share it with friends!

Related Recipes

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




195 Comments

  1. SABLE says:

    5 stars
    I have made this recipe a few times and it’s delicious. Thank you for sharing. Are you able to make the recipe and freeze for baking later? I’m stocking my freezer for after baby comes soon and would love to have these on hand!

    1. Kristin Porter says:

      Absolutely, that would be fine, Sable! Congratulations on baby!!

  2. Mary says:

    Could I use olive oil instead on melted butter?r

    1. Kristin Porter says:

      Hi Mary! Olive oil has a very strong flavor that I think will overpower everything else, but if you don’t think you’d mind that, then it should work fine.

  3. Janice K says:

    I tried this but the dough was still extremely sticky.

  4. Joyce szoladi says:

    These were good, but a bit too sweet to my taste.

  5. Sky says:

    5 stars
    Thank you SO much for this recipe! My family loved them and kept going back for more! I had so much fun making them too! ???? definitely will make again!
    Here is some good news for you from a happy eater!????

    For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”
    ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

    “and brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”
    ‭‭Acts‬ ‭16‬:‭30‬-‭31‬ ‭KJV‬‬

  6. Kristin Auricchio says:

    Do you use the 1:1 flour or just the regular flour? Ty

  7. Paula says:

    Can these be made with einkorn flour? if so what would be the measurements?

    1. Kristin says:

      Hi Paula! Unfortunately I have not tested this recipe with gluten free flour so I can’t say for sure!

  8. Kayla Johnson says:

    5 stars
    Can you make these a day ahead and still have them taste good?

    I have always made morning of and they are awesome!!! Just want to make to take on a trip.

    1. Kristin says:

      Absolutely! You can bake them let them cool completely and then refrigerate. You can then warm in the microwave and then ice.

  9. Shayna says:

    I attempted this recipe with gluten free 1:1 flour – it did not turn out. If you’re gluten free, don’t et to short cut things- it’s worth the effort to stick with the actual gluten free recipe she’s got posted.

  10. Sarah says:

    4 stars
    I love this recipe! Only took me an hour and the icing is so good. Thank you!