Vegan Cinnamon Rolls

Get ready to fall in love with the best cinnamon rolls you’ve ever tasted! With its soft, pillowy dough, a dreamy cinnamon-sugar filling, and that perfect, velvety frosting, these vegan cinnamon rolls are the epitome of sweet indulgence and cozy comfort.

Feel like something savory instead? Instead of sweet cinnamon, check out these scrumptious spicy vegan pinwheels! The perfect complimentary snack to pair with this recipe!

If you love these plant-based cinnamon rolls, don’t forget to check out this dairy-free crumpets recipe, too!

Why You’ll Fall in Love With These Dairy-Free Cinnamon Buns

• Light, Fluffy, and Tender. They have that classic bakery-style texture everyone loves.
• Cozy Cinnamon Flavor. Warm cinnamon and sweet brown sugar create the ultimate comfort food.
• Dairy-Free Without Compromise. You still get rich, buttery flavor without using any dairy.
• Easy to Make Ahead. You can prep the dough the night before and bake it fresh the next morning.
• Fun to Customize. Add chopped nuts, raisins, orange zest, or your favorite frosting to make them your own.

Key Ingredients and Substitutions

• Ground Flaxseed Meal – Used as a vegan egg substitute, helps hold the dough together and adds a little moisture. Chia seeds or a store-bought egg replacer can also be used.
• Dairy-Free Milk – Adds moisture and helps create a soft, tender dough. Oat, soy, almond milk, or cashew milk all work well or, in a pinch, you could even use water.
• Vegan Butter – Adds rich flavor and keeps the dough and filling soft and delicious. Use refined coconut oil for a slightly different flavor.
• Active Dry Yeast – Helps the dough rise, creating light, fluffy, bakery-style cinnamon rolls. Instant yeast can usually be used instead. You can mix it directly into the dry ingredients and skip blooming it first.
• Vegan Cream Cheese – Creates a smooth, creamy frosting. Skip the cream cheese and make a simple vanilla glaze with powdered sugar, dairy-free milk, and a splash of vanilla (or maple) extract if you prefer a lighter topping.
• All-Purpose Flour – Gives the rolls their soft, fluffy texture while still being sturdy. Bread flour makes slightly chewier rolls, while a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend can work if you need a gluten-free version.

How To Make Vegan Cinnamon Rolls

Although this looks like a lot of steps, it’s much easier and quicker than you think. Just follow one by one and then you’ll be done!

Make The Dough

Step 1: Prepare the Flax Egg and Wet Ingredients – For the dough, combine the flaxseed meal and 5 tablespoons of warm water in a small bowl, letting it rest and thicken for at least 5 minutes. In a medium pot over medium heat, warm the soy milk until small bubbles form. Remove from heat, stir in the vegan butter, and allow it to cool to room temperature.

Step 2: Activate Yeast – In a large bowl, blend the yeast, 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar, and 1⁄4 cup of warm water, letting it sit for 10 minutes to activate the yeast.

Step 3: Mix Dry and Wet Ingredients – Add the flaxseed mixture, soy milk concoction, and vanilla extract, then stir in 2 1⁄4 cups of flour, the remaining granulated sugar (1⁄4 cup minus 1 teaspoon), and salt with a fork. Gradually introduce the remaining cup of flour and knead for approximately 5 minutes until the dough is smooth. Form the dough into a ball, cover with a damp paper towel, and allow it to rise for 1 hour in a warm spot (ideally 80 to 90 degrees F).

Step 4: Prepare the Filling – For the filling, combine the vegan butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a small bowl, mashing them with a fork until the mixture is smooth and free of lumps.

Step 5: Roll Out the Dough and Add Filling – Roll out the dough into a 12 × 15-inch rectangle on a floured surface using a floured rolling pin. Evenly spread the brown sugar mixture across the dough.

Step 6: Form the Cinnamon Rolls – Roll the dough tightly from one of the shorter sides to create a 12-inch-long roll, sealing it by pinching the edge. Slice the roll into 12 equally sized pieces with a sharp knife and arrange them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat.

Step 7: Let the Dough Rise – Cover with a damp towel or paper towel and let them rise for 1 to 2 hours until they have doubled in size. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Step 8: Bake the Rolls – Bake the rolls for about 20 minutes or until they turn golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Be careful not to overbake. To prevent the filling from sticking, immediately lift the rolls off the pan using a spatula and transfer them to a cooling rack.

Step 9: Prepare the Frosting – Let the rolls cool completely before frosting. For the cream cheese frosting, use an electric hand mixer to beat together the vegan cream cheese and butter in a medium bowl. Add the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and salt, beating until the frosting is smooth and thick, and spread it evenly over each cinnamon bun.

Pro Tips

• Let the flax egg sit for 5–10 minutes before adding it to the dough so it has time to thicken.
• Spoon and level the flour instead of scooping it straight from the bag to avoid adding too much.
• Use softened butter for the filling so it’s easy to spread without tearing the dough.
• Make sure your milk is warm, not hot. If it’s too hot, it can stop the yeast from working.
• Unsweetened milk gives you the most control over the sweetness of the recipe.
• Let the dairy-free cream cheese come to room temperature before mixing for the smoothest frosting.

Variations

Here are our favorite signature vegan cinnamon roll flavors! You should also give this cinnamon challah bread a try, too!

• Nutty Delight – Sprinkle chopped nuts, such as pecans or walnuts, over the cinnamon-sugar filling.
• Zesty Citrus – Mix some citrus zest (lemon, orange, or lime) into the brown sugar filling.
• Chocolate Lovers – Sprinkle chocolate chips, cocoa powder, or vegan chocolate chunks onto the dough before rolling it up.
• Creamy Caramel – Drizzle a homemade vegan caramel sauce over the rolls before baking.
• Fruity Icing – Add fruit puree (like raspberry, strawberry, blueberry, or apple puree) to the frosting.
• Coffee-Infused – Mix finely ground coffee into the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
• Savory Surprise – Use garlic, herbs, and vegan cheese in the filling, then top with a savory vegan cream cheese or garlic-infused glaze.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Vegan Baking Recipes

Craving more baking recipes? Here are some of our favorites:

• Vegan Pop Tarts
• Vegan Scones
• Plant-based Croissants
• Fudgy Vegan Brownies
• Tender and Juicy Berry Muffins