It’s the post you’ve all been waiting for — Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls!
If you have to eat gluten free then you know how badly it stinks (pardon my French) to miss out on special treats like warm, sweet cinnamon rolls, especially around the holidays. I love cinnamon rolls so much that I once paid a small fortune to overnight a pan of them from a gluten free bakery in San Francisco and they were horrrrible. Like bricks! These babies are not like bricks!
These homemade gluten free cinnamon rolls are tender, heavily spiced, and dripping with the most insane yet easy icing. They are SUCH a treat — I can’t wait for you to sink your teeth into one/half the pan.
Watch How to Make Them!
Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls Made from Pantry Staples
I can’t decide what I love most — the classic, sweet and cinnamon-y taste of these rolls, or the fact that I can eat them any time I want. It’s a win all around! PLUS, for my dairy-free friends, this recipe can easily be made dairy free by using vegan butter instead of regular butter, and unsweetened almond milk instead of cow’s milk.
Best of all, these cinnamon rolls require zero speciality ingredients like milk powder or xanthan gum, etc. to make. All you need is a high-quality gluten free flour blend (I’ll share my favorite below), plus fridge and pantry staples including egg, sugar, butter, and milk.
Is making gluten free cinnamon rolls a labor of love? Sure. Are the results TOTALLY worth it? Absolutely! There is no better feeling than being able to enjoy something you loved in your pre-gluten-free life in the here and now.
Ingredients Needed
For the Dough:
- Butter: Feel free to use the dairy-free / vegan butter of your choice instead of regular butter.
- Milk: I’ve used everything from whole milk to unsweetened almond milk in the dough with great results.
- Quick rise instant yeast: for that classic cinnamon roll flavor and texture. I like Red Star, which is gluten free.
- Sugar: feeds the yeast in the dough.
- Egg: to help bind the dough together. I’ve used Bob’s Red Mill Powdered Egg Replacer and, while the dough is more on the biscuit side, it works.
- Gluten free baking flour blend: I highly recommend Schar MixIt Universal gluten free flour blend for this recipe. I’ve successfully used Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free 1:1 Baking Flour in this recipe for years, though the dough is softer and not as easy to work with compared to Schar. Whatever blend you use, be sure that it already contains a binder like xanthan gum.
- Baking powder: to help get that nice tall fluffy rise.
- Salt: to balance the flavors in the dough.
For the Filling:
- Sugar: granulated sugar sweetens up the swirly centers of the rolls.
- Cinnamon: can’t have cinnamon rolls without it!
- Butter: again, this can be regular or plant-based butter. No matter what kind you use, it’s important that it’s very, very soft.
For the Icing:
- Butter: some may say cream cheese is the key to the best cinnamon roll icing, but a butter-based icing is my favorite.
- Powdered sugar: to sweeten the icing.
- Vanilla extract: for cozy flavor.
- Hot water: to mix everything together.
No Knead Yeast Dough
YES, these cinnamon rolls contain yeast but, before you start sweating, just know that if you can pour something into something else then you can bake with yeast. There is literally nothing more to it then sprinkling yeast into warm milk. No kneading, no nothing. Plus that yeasty scent, flavor, and rise is a MUST for homemade cinnamon rolls — gluten free or not.
Best Tips for Making Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls
Now, baking regular cinnamon rolls from scratch can be intimidating. Baking gluten free cinnamon rolls can be even more so. That said, after making countless batches of these cinnamon rolls, here are my best notes and tips. Be sure to read the post text for additional helpful tips:
- Fresh ingredients: Make sure your yeast AND baking powder are fresh and not expired, which will affect the successful rise of the rolls.
- Soft texture: Don’t be surprised by the texture of the cinnamon roll dough. It’s like a very soft play dough vs pliable and stretchy like regular cinnamon roll dough. Watch the video to see the texture before you get started.
- Don’t roll too thin: Otherwise the rolls will fall apart. This is the #1 thing to keep in mind to successfully getting the rolls in the pan.
- Don’t stress: If your unbaked rolls look hideous, it’s fine! They’ll taste delicious and are going to be slathered in icing anyway. You should have seen my first few batches.
- Want to prep ahead? You can prep these gluten free cinnamon rolls a day ahead of time. Please see the recipe card for timing instructions.’
- Use our recommendations: Your results may vary if you use a different gluten free flour blend than the ones recommended here.
Alrighty – ready to do this?!
Step 1: Combine the Wet Ingredients
Start by microwaving butter or vegan butter in a large glass bowl until melted. Add milk and sugar then microwave for 45-50 seconds. Stir the mixture then take a temperature using an instant-read thermometer — we’re looking for 110 degrees.
TIP: Be sure to stir the milk mixture before taking a temperature to avoid hot or cold spots and get an accurate reading.
Sprinkle in 1 packet quick rise instant yeast then let the mixture sit until foamy, 8 minutes.
TIP: if your mixture does not foam, likely your yeast was old and/or your milk mixture was too hot or not hot enough.
Next add a whisked egg plus more sugar then stir with a spatula to combine.
Step 2: Combine the Dry Ingredients
Add the dry ingredients — gluten free baking flour blend, baking powder, and salt — to a medium-size mixing bowl then whisk to combine. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in two batches, stirring until the flour is just combined before adding the next batch.
TIP: The dough will be soft like cookie dough but shouldn’t be incredibly sticky.
Scrape down the sides of the bowl then cover loosely with a tea towel and place it somewhere warm to let the dough double in size, about 1 hour. I use my oven’s “bread proof” setting, though in the past I’ve placed the bowl on top of a heating pad set to low. A warm sunny spot works too.
Step 3: Spread the Dough Out
Once the dough has doubled in size, scrape it onto a sheet of parchment paper that’s been sprayed with nonstick spray. Spray the dough and your hands with nonstick spray then spread the dough into a rectangle approximately 1/4″ thick — roughly 10×14″.
TIP: the dough will be the consistency of soft play dough, versus stretchy like traditional cinnamon/bread dough.
TIP: don’t spread the dough any thinner than 1/4″ thick or it will fall apart when slicing the cinnamon rolls.
Next, use your fingers or the back of a spoon to spread very soft butter or vegan butter over the dough, leaving 1″ clear on the bottom. Be sure the butter is very soft otherwise you’ll tear through the dough.
Mix together granulated sugar and cinnamon then sprinkle it evenly on top of the butter, again leaving 1″ of the dough clear at the bottom. This will feel like an excessive amount of cinnamon-sugar, but every drop is necessary!
Step 4: Roll then Slice the Dough
Time to roll. Starting at the top, pull the parchment paper down towards you to make the first roll. Continue rolling the dough using the parchment paper instead of your hands until you have one roll left.
At that point, lift the bottom of the parchment paper up so the log sits in the center(ish) of the parchment paper versus the bottom.
Then, gently pinch the seams together to close.
Using a sharp knife, slice the log in half using one confident slice versus a sawing motion. Slice each half in half, then each quarter into thirds to make 12 slices total. Wipe off the knife as necessary with a paper towel. If the dough seems super wet it might be helpful to dip your knife in the flour blend in between slices.
Transfer the rolls into a nonstick sprayed 9″ pie pan — I use the knife as a scraper/support for each slice.
Again, this dough is much softer then traditional cinnamon roll dough so be gentle. If the slices get misshapen, that’s ok. They’ll puff up during the second rise, plus they’ll be covered in icing anyway!
Place the pie pan in the same warm spot to let the cinnamon rolls rise a second time. Mine usually take 30-40 minutes.
Step 5: Bake then Ice the Rolls
Bake the rolls for 16-20 minutes at 350 degrees or until the tops are golden brown, rotating the pan 180 degrees halfway through.
Let the cinnamon rolls cool for at least 15 minutes before slathering in icing, otherwise they’ll absorb it all. The icing is just room temperature butter or vegan butter stirred together with with powdered sugar, hot water, and vanilla extract.
I’ve tried topping these rolls with cream cheese frosting and this simple butter + powdered sugar version knocks it out of the park. It tastes like Cinnabon — or at least, what I remember Cinnabon tasting like!
Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls FAQ
What’s the best gluten free flour blend to use?
- I highly recommend Schar MixIt Universal gluten free flour blend for these gluten free cinnamon rolls. Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free 1 to 1 Baking Flour Blend also works well, though the dough is very soft. Your results may vary if you use a different gluten free flour blend.
Can you reheat gluten free cinnamon rolls?
- These rolls reheat fabulously. Just microwave a roll on a plate for 20 seconds or so.
Can I make these rolls ahead of time?
- You can prep these rolls up to a day ahead of time. Follow the directions through step 6 then cover the pie pan with saran wrap and refrigerate. The following day, remove the saran wrap then place the rolls somewhere warm to rise — mine can sometimes take up to an hour and a half, though yours may take more or less time. Bake then frost according to recipe directions.
Can you freeze the baked gluten free cinnamon rolls?
- Yes! Cool the cinnamon rolls completely (do not ice) then cover with saran wrap and then a piece of foil and freeze. Thaw fully in the refrigerator on the counter then cover with foil only and bake for 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees or until warmed through. Ice according to recipe instructions.
Can I make these gluten free AND vegan?
- 100%! Swap the butter and milk with your favorite plant-based butter and milk. I Country Crock plant-based butter sticks and unsweetened almond milk, respectively. Replace the egg with Bob’s Powdered Egg Replacer. The texture of the baked rolls will be more biscuit-like, but still very delicious.
My dough didn’t rise — can you tell me why?
- If you’re dough did not rise, likely your yeast and/or baking powder were expired. Also be sure to place your dough and rolls in a warm enough spot to rise.
Can I add chopped nuts?
- Sure! Add finely chopped nuts on top of the cinnamon sugar layer before rolling.
I hope this recipe brings you and yours as much joy as it brings to my family and me. Enjoy every last sweet and cinnamon-y crumb!
More Gluten Free Brunch Favorites
- Gluten Free Pancakes
- Gluten Free Zucchini Bread
- Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread
- Crockpot Breakfast Casserole
- Gluten Free Classic Breakfast Casserole
- Baked Oatmeal Cups
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Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls (With Video)
Description
Yes, you can be gluten-free and have your cinnamon rolls too! Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls are sweet, fluffy, and made from pantry staples.
Ingredients
- For the rolls:
- 1/4 cup butter or vegan butter
- 1 cup milk (see notes)
- 1/3 cup + 1 Tablespoon sugar, divided
- 1 packet quick rise instant yeast
- 1 large egg, whisked
- 2-1/2 cups gluten free flour blend WITH binder (Schar MixIt Universal recommend, see notes)
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- For the filling:
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 Tablespoons cinnamon
- 1/3 cup extremely soft butter or vegan butter
- For the icing:
- 2 Tablespoons butter or vegan butter
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1-1/2 Tablespoons hot water
Directions
- Read post in its entirety before making.
- Add butter to a large glass bowl then melt in the microwave. Add milk and 1 Tablespoon sugar then microwave for an additional 45-50 seconds, stir with a spatula, and take a temperature using an instant read thermometer - we’re looking for 110 degrees. Sprinkle in yeast then stir gently and let sit until foamy, 8 minutes. (If your mixture does not foam, likely your yeast was old and/or the temperature of the milk mixture was too cool or too warm.) Add whisked egg and remaining 1/3 cup sugar then stir gently to combine.
- Meanwhile, in another bowl add gluten-free flour blend, baking powder, and salt then stir with a fork to combine. Add to wet ingredients in two batches, stirring until flour is just incorporated (small lumps remaining are fine) before adding the next batch. Dough should be very soft but not overly sticky - kind of like sugar cookie dough. Cover with a tea towel then set somewhere warm to double in volume, 1 hour. I use my oven’s “bread proof” setting, though placing the pan on a heating pad set to warm, or placing in a warm sunny spot will also work. Your dough may not rise if it's not in a warm enough spot.
- Combine sugar and cinnamon from filling recipe in a small bowl then set aside. Spray a 9” pie plate with nonstick spray then set aside.
- Scrape the dough onto a large sheet of parchment paper that’s been lightly sprayed with nonstick spray then, with lightly oiled hands, spread dough into a 1/4” thick rectangle, roughly 10x14”. THE KEY TO SUCCESSFULLY SLICING THIS DOUGH IS TO NOT PRESS IT TOO THIN.
- Using your fingers, gently spread softened butter over the dough, leaving 1” clear on the bottom. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture evenly on top, avoiding the clear strip of dough then, using the parchment paper, gently roll the dough from the top down towards you. Continue to roll the dough into a log using the parchment paper instead of your hands until you reach the bottom. Lightly pinch the seams of the dough together then slice the log into quarters using a sharp knife in one slicing motion vs sawing at the dough. Wipe off knife in between cuts as necessary and/or dip knife in flour blend to prevent sticking. Slice each quarter into thirds for 12 slices total then arrange the slices in the prepared pie plate. Since the dough will be very soft, it helps to use the knife to re-slice and scrape each roll off the parchment paper and into the pan.
- Place rolls somewhere warm to rise until puffy, 30-40 minutes. Again, I use my oven’s “bread proof” setting. During the last 10 minutes of rising time, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake rolls for 16-20 minutes, or until golden brown on top, rotating the pan 180 degrees halfway through.
- Let rolls cool for 15 minutes then make the icing. (If you ice them while they’re too hot they’ll absorb all the icing.) Add ingredients for the icing in a bowl then whisk vigorously until smooth. Spoon icing on top of the rolls then serve. Rolls are best the day they're made but leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator and microwaved for 20-25 seconds uncovered to warm back up.
- Leave a comment and star rating if you loved the recipe! Thank you for considering!
Notes
- Be sure to read the post text for photos and tips!
- I highly recommend Schar MixIt Universal gluten free flour blend for this recipe. I’ve successfully used Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free 1:1 Baking Flour in this recipe for years, though the dough is softer and not as easy to work with compared to Schar. Whatever blend you use, be sure that it already contains a binder like xanthan gum.
- I have tested this recipe using whole milk, 2% milk, and unsweetened almond milk.
- Make sure your yeast AND baking powder are fresh and not expired, which will affect the successful rise of the rolls.
- The consistency of the cinnamon roll dough is like very soft play dough so don't be surprised or discouraged when it doesn't look or feel like traditional cinnamon roll dough.
- Don't roll the dough too thin otherwise it will fall apart. This is the #1 thing to keep in mind to successfully get the rolls into the pan.
- Don't panic if your rolls don't slice up perfectly - they'll rise and shape up nicely, plus they'll eventually be covered in icing. Again, my biggest tip for successfully slicing the rolls is to make sure the dough isn't rolled too thin.
- You may prepare the rolls a day ahead of time - prepare through step 6 then cover pie pan tightly with saran wrap and refrigerate. The following day, remove saran wrap and place rolls somewhere warm to rise - mine take 1-1/2 hours though yours may take more or less time. Bake and frost according to recipe instructions.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
claire 12.24.2020
amazing! best gf cinnamon rolls i’ve ever had or made!!
Andrew 12.24.2020
Thank you for the recipe. I made these but they came out really dense :( Still good though!I live at altitude, do you have any tips for those of us in the Rockies?
Kelly 12.24.2020
This recipe was incredibly easy to follow and delicious. Even better than the gluten free cinnamon rolls I get from a bakery when I visit my in-laws. Will definitely be saving this recipe to make regularly. Just for reference, I used Earth Balance butter, almond milk, instant yeast (because that’s what I had in the cupboard), and added toasted chopped pecans… followed the directions as written, using the bread proof setting on my oven. Trying to refrain from eating the entire pan in one sitting.
Wendeth 12.24.2020
I cook, but sweets/baking is not my thing. I don’t know what gave me the confidence to roll gf flour up ?. I did it though! My gf daughter loved these. I did use a different frosting recipe bc i wanted cream cheese, but the rolls were great!
Jessica 12.24.2020
Hi! When I made these they came out with a grainy texture. Has anyone had this issue before? The flavors were great though! It still tastes amazing- I just feel like it has potential to be better!
Alaine 12.24.2020
I followed the recipe, read all the notes multiple times, used the ingredients suggested, and these are almost raw in about 1/3 of the plate of rolls after baking 22 minutes. Any ideas on how to fix this issue? Thanks!
Melissa 12.22.2020
Hi,
When you say to spread out the dough with your hands, does that mean you don’t use a rolling pin? I’m concerned that I won’t be able to get it to an even surface with just my hands.
Kristin 12.22.2020
Your hands, not a rolling pin. You’ll be able to do it! :)
Ss 12.20.2020
Have you tried these with buttermilk?
Jenny 12.19.2020
So really delicious – mine didn’t rise enough and I only used fresh ingredients, got the foam from the yeast, etc. I used a hot pad under a metal bowl. Maybe it wasn’t warm enough?
SUSAN M ARBUTHNOT 12.19.2020
I want to make caramel pecan cinnamon rolls-can I use this recipe? I melt butter in the 9×13″ pan I’m using, adding 2 T sour cream/plain Greek yogurt, brown sugar & pecans-mix well, spreading out over the entire bottom of the pan. Place cut cinnamon rolls on top of this mixture, let rise, bake as for regular cinnamon rolls. Shortly after baking, invert onto a larger pan-being very careful as the caramel sauce is hot liquid. Do you think this will work with this recipe?
Maggie 12.17.2020
Just made (and tasted) first batch and love them! Thanks for the step by step instructions with photos.
Kristin 12.16.2020
Have you tried freezing these?
Kristin 12.17.2020
Hi Kristin! I haven’t though I assume it could work. :)
Holly 12.13.2020
These are very good! I used applesauce instead of the egg but otherwise followed the recipe exactly and they turned out great! I appreciate that your recipes use normal ingredients so I already had everything on hand. Will definitely make these again!
Megan 12.13.2020
Hi,
I made the GF cinnamon rolls and the dough was so soft I couldn’t even transfer it after cutting it. I followed all the steps to a T. It’s not my first time baking Gf. What did I do wrong with your recipe? It was basically a big pile of dough and cinnamon sugar at the end. Thank you!
Holly 12.13.2020
We made these as a test run for Christmas since my husband is GF, and they were delicious! We did a spiced cream cheese frosting, and my whole family thought they were delicious. Hands down the best GF cinnamon roll we’ve ever had.
Marco 12.13.2020
Thank you for this recipe and instructions! I’m a NOVICE baker and was able to successfully bake this recipe! The most tricky part was transferring the dough rolls to the pan. Man that was a disaster but the rose and baked so nicely! You were right, the icing covers the mess and it turned out great!
Thank you!
Amy 12.12.2020
Have you ever added any orange zest or orange juice in the icing to make “orange rolls”?
Kristin 12.15.2020
I haven’t, but that sounds delicious!!
Jordan 12.12.2020
I had two bumps in road:
1) the dough barely rose. I set it next to our space heater in the hopes it would be a warm enough spot for it
2) When I attempted to spread the dough out, it was really sticky.
This was my first attempt at homemade cinnamon rolls, so I had low expectations for myself ? but any tips would be nice for the next time!
Kristin 12.15.2020
Hi Jordan! For the rise issue – was your yeast fresh (ie did it foam in the first step?) For the stickiness issue, did you use Bob’s Red Mill brand flour? Was your egg larger than a large-size egg? Is it possible the flour was maybe mis-measured?
Amanda 12.07.2020
Can you freeze them after step 6?
Kristin 12.07.2020
Hi Amanda! I haven’t tried freezing this recipe though I imagine it would be just fine!
Patty 11.29.2020
Thank you for the recipe ☺️ Just made the recipe, allowing the cut rolls to rise. Similar to previous commenters, I had more liquid than flour. I ended up using just enough liquid to make the dough come together. I think the recipe would be easier to follow if measurements are given in metrics as well. Take care!
Louise 07.08.2021
I totally agree about the metric measurements. It’s too easy to get it wrong with cup measures. So much more accurate with a scale!
Kristin 07.23.2021
Hi Louise! The reason I don’t weigh the flour in particular is because different GF flours weigh different amounts. Try it! 1 cup of one blend does not necessarily weigh the same as 1 cup of another blend because starches and flours don’t weigh the same, even though the volume might come out to the same amount.