No Yeast Required Cinnamon Rolls are pillowy, sweet, and require no yeast to make them! Easy, tender, and so satisfying.
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!
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?
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.
Mix it up with s whisk until combined.
In a larger bowl, combine flour, more sugar, and salt, plus the leavening agents that let us ditch that pesky yeast.
Baking powder and baking soda.
Whisk together more butter with buttermilk, then pour the mixture into the dry ingredients.
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.
Gently knead the dough into a ball, then divide into two halves.
Turn each half onto a flat, floured surface, then press on half the filling mixture.
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.
Slice, slice, baby!
Oh yeah!
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.
In the quick 15 minutes they take to bake, whip up some cream cheese icing.
Mash together powdered sugar and cream cheese with a fork, then drizzle in buttermilk and whisk until smooth.
Next take those GORGEOUS, bubbly, golden-brown rolls out of the oven, (ahhh!)
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…
Then breeeeeathe in the Heavenly, sweet aroma that’s swirling around your kitchen.
Now spread the cream cheese icing over the top and spread into an even layer.
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!
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!
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.
BUT, if you get a craving for warm, fresh cinnamon rolls that needs to be squashed NOW, then you need to make these!
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
- From In Jennie's Kitchen
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.
I just made these and am eating one now! Delicious! I love this recipe. I had told my fiancée that for Valentine’s Day I was going to make him cinnamon rolls but the never did cause all the recipes took forever. So I was finally able to make them!
So glad you liked the recipe. I love yeast based doughs too, but this is one case where I don’t feel there’s any sacrificing flavor for time. Thanks for the link and such a lovely write up!
xo-Jennie
After reading your blog yesterday, I HAD to try these! I made them last night and I used whole wheat flour instead of white and added in some unsalted sunflower seeds, poppy seeds and walnuts – just to change things up! The recipe was super easy, thanks, and your amazingly delicious step by step pictures got my taste buds roaring!
I’m going to have to try those – they look fabulous! In this household, I’m the baker and my husband is the cook (with the exception of bread which he LOVES baking). Speaking of, I have some brownies to whip up to celebrate his birthday. :)
I’ve never made rolls without yeast…these look awesome! I love to cook and bake equally, depending on my mood. Today is rainy and cold, definitely a baking day!
Ohmygoooooodness! Those cinnamon rolls look delicious!
I’ve had more experience cooking, but I enjoy both :)
Totally bookmarking these!!!
I just finished a box of that kind too, and I have to agree! I am partial to anything hazelnut though…
No Strings Attached was so funny! Loved it!
I love baking and cooking but I usually bake for others so cooking might win since I get to enjoy it more often.
And cinnamons buns – my biggest weakness!
I love the Keurig and all the flavors of coffee – I have one at work (Tassimo at home – which isn’t near as good!) and just ordered Pecan Praline, Cinnamon Pastry and German Chocolate Cake.
I’m currently watching Love and Other Drugs as we speak and I am loving it! I’m also wishing I had some cinnamon rolls for the morning to eat…thinking about making them for next weekend! I enjoy cooking and eating..but am trying to enjoy baking as well.
I am drooling…………
Question! :) I’m making cinnamon rolls for a wedding shower in a few weeks. We’re having a brunch menu. I was thinking about trying Pioneer Woman’s Maple Glazed Rolls… which I hear TONS of rave reviews on. But, soooo time consuming and more room for error. I know you’ve made those before too. How do they compare? Which would you recommend ??
Hmmm… Pioneer woman’s rolls are INCREDIBLE, but my first attempt at them failed. These cinnamon rolls are also soooo so so delicious. Honestly, I think if I were making them for an event, and not just myself/family – I’d go with the non-yeast kind. Less room for error, and just as delish!
Oh my goshhh, I need to make these! Your pictures are making my mouth water, even after I just finished eating ice cream!
boy…i want to reach into the computor screen and help myself to a cinnamon roll!! i like to cook…..and eat! baking would come in last.