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.

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Mix it up with s whisk until combined.

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

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Baking powder and baking soda.

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

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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.

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

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

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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.

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Slice, slice, baby!

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Oh yeah!

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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.

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

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

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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…

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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.

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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!

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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!

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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.

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

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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.

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196 Comments

  1. McKayla @ Green Groats says:

    Those just look divine! I’m not such a great baker because baking requires precise measurements, and I tend to use the eyeball method. This doesn’t usually bode well for baking. Oh well. I still try…things just don’t always turn out like I intend. Cooking is more my style, but I sure do appreciate baked goods….

  2. Erin says:

    It would have been great if you could have posted the Green Mountain code TWO DAYS AGO! I just ordered some K-Cups. I got Breakfast Blend and Island Coconut. I’m so excited to try the coconut one!

  3. Courtney @ Sweet Tooth, Sweet Life says:

    Oh gosh…I saw you tweet about these yesterday and have been excited to see them come to fruition. I may have to make these tomorrow morning…
    I’m definitely more of a baker, but I do enjoy cooking too.
    And we just saw No Strings Attached last night from Redbox and really liked it :)

  4. Mama L says:

    No Strings Attached was HILARIOUS!! We loved it! Love & Other Drugs was a neat story, but LOTS of adult content, just be forewarned! ;)

  5. Kaitlyn @ 7 Plates says:

    I love cooking AND baking, but maybe baking is more fun sometimes.. And yeah, eating is the best part :) Looks really good. I’m craving it now!

  6. eemusings says:

    I am SO. EXCITED. to try these. Words cannot express my joy. My two past attempts at cinnamon rolls have not worked out (I intend to try them both again, I think my yeast was old), but this now makes three recipes total!

  7. Lauren says:

    I’m drooling over these cinnamon rolls. The last time I tried to make homemade cinnamon rolls (mama P’s pumpkin cinnamon rolls to be exact) they were a complete a utter mess. Yeast scares the daylights out of me. I still think this would be a bit of a stretch for me, but much more doable.

    PS- I just found Coconut Cream K cups and they rock my world! Hazelnut used to be my favorite until I found these. I think they are a limited edition so if you see them, make sure to grab a few boxes.

  8. Karis' Kitchen says:

    I’ve heard good things about No Strings Attached but haven’t seen it yet. I really liked Love and Other Drugs, as others said it’s not what I was expecting…definitely not a movie you want to watch with your mom…as my 18 year-old sister found out recently :)

  9. Michelle (The Runner's Plate) says:

    I love the feeling of accomplishing things off my to-do list!

    I never knew there were recipes for cinnamon rolls without yeast–awesome!

  10. ashley says:

    No Strings Attached was THE best chick movie I have seen in awhile. My girlfriends and I looooved it.

  11. Julie (Food & Other Things) says:

    Cinnamon rolls are my favorite, the ones you made look delicious! I think I like baking more than cooking, it’s just more fun for me!

  12. Kate says:

    Those look perfect – and that icing!
    I like to cook and bake but baking always yields such delicious, sweet treats and makes the house smell wonderful so I have a slight preference for baking.

  13. Kim says:

    These look heavenly!