Easy No-Yeast Cinnamon Rolls Recipe (2024)

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Rachel

Since these didn’t require a rise, I decided to try making a gluten free version using cup-for-cup gf flour. The dough was (as expected) a bit more crumbly than regular dough but with a little care still rolled out, and up, pretty well. They turned out great!Thanks NYT…my celiac husband hasn’t had cinnamon buns in a looooong time. I used Bobs Red Mill 1to1 baking flour—my go-to brand for a while now.

J Titus

Good recipe. Next time, I’d leave out the pecans and add them in later by sprinkling them on the rolled out dough after spreading the cinnamon and butter mixture. Having the pecans in beforehand made it harder to spread.

Nick

Instead of a serrated knife I use a medium length piece of dental floss or sewing thread to slice the rolled up dough.

T. Hunt

Stop what you are doing and MAKE THIS. They are outstanding! Followed recipe exactly. Only thing, I used a cast iron skillet and I rubbed softened butter in the pan instead of oil. The crunch from the butter and the cinnamon that oozes out of the bottom was insanely good. Definitely use butter instead of oil. We ate them all within the hour. So good.

Emily

This looks good but I think the suggestion to refrigerate the dough for baking later is bad advice. This dough rises from a combination of acid in the buttermilk and baking powder. That means it needs to go in the oven as quickly as possible after mixing, while the chemical reaction is still happening. Just a tip I learned from vegan baking.

Jessica Zeldner

Kwibbles- you can make buttermilk from any non-dairy milk, just add one tablespoon of white vinegar to one cup of whatever milk you have and give it a good whisk. Good luck! :)

Caitlin

This turned out better than what I thought it was going to taste like. I did cut down sugar in the filling and added more spices. I also recommend adding 1-2 tsp vanilla to the dough so when you bite into it it doesn’t scream “there’s a hecking lot of baking powder in here.” Found that to make the dough a little less abrasive.

sf

Made this for the first time, my first ever cinnamon rolls, this morning. Substituted yogurt/milk mixture for buttermilk. Came out great. Cut the glaze recipe in half, and still didn't need it all--the filling is already plenty sweet and flavorful, and a little gooey glaze goes a long way. Tried orange zest in half the glaze, might try lemon next time.

Anne

Substituted yogart for buttermilk and added i cup raisins and ground clove and nutmeg (1/2 tsp each) to the dough rather than pecans to the filling - all worked well. Also sliced into 12 pieces and baked individually in greased muffin tin - which added nice crispy outsides.

Sarah

Made these this morning when my yeasted rolls didn’t rise - saved the day! The texture is a little more like cinnamon rolls from a can than ones with yeast but with a much more delicious from-scratch taste. I added about a Tbs of maple syrup to the icing and it was fab.

Mickey

Christmas Day, 2021. I doubled the recipe and made it in a 10 inch cake pan. Didn’t have buttermilk so used sour cream instead. Cut into 12 rolls. Made while waiting for the family to wake up and open presents. Came out lovely. They are very biscuit like and if you don’t want to use the frosting, suggest adding a tablespoon or two of sugar to the dough. Will definitely make again, very easy.

Francesca

These were a very present help when we realized at the last minute that we wouldn’t be able to maintain (for various reasons) our annual tradition of yeast cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning. As advertised, they take less than an hour to make, though I had to bake them for ten more minutes than called for. I thought they were remarkably good for a quick version of cinnamon rolls, like plush, cinnamon-y buttermilk biscuits, with a soft interior and slightly crunchy exterior.

Marta

I'm not sure I'm reading this correctly. Once you roll and cut the dough do you end up with 8 buns each 1" high (8" log divided into 8 pieces) or almost 2" high (15" log cut into 8 pieces)? I would think they should be 1" high but that's not what the recipe says (to me, anyway).

Chris

Step 4 says that you start with one of the long sides. You should end up with a roll the length of the long side or 15 inches.

Kyra

Liz— that is a great idea to bake in a cast iron oven. I looked up c.roll recipes baked in them and they all turn out great …. They said oven temp 350, bake 20-25 mins. Trying this out this week and will report after I make these .

Kelly L

Nah, it’s worth it to make the yeast version and put your patience to the test. I had high hopes for these, but they just weren’t worth the effort, even though they were easier.

Ariel

Loved this recipe, tasted delicious. Made one upgrade; brushed the hot rolls with melted marmalade, then applied the icing. It sealed in the moisture, and the rolls weren’t dry the next day.

Comaboy K

More of a cinnamon biscuit than a cinnamon roll. They are ok.

witloof

I was served one of these at a friend's home and it was wonderful.

Jeanie

As someone who really struggles to be successful with yeasted dough...these are a game changer!!I couldn't be happier or more proud of how perfect they turned out. I did not use pecans, and I did not put vanilla in the icing- I opted for lemon zest, and it was delightful!!Suffice it to say, everyone was pleased and I'll happily make them again! Thank you for such a wonderfully easy and delicious recipe!

Kristen

So easy and delicious! I cooked it in a well buttered 10-inch cast-iron frying pan, so the presentation was great and the sides were super crispy.

emma

Because of what I had on hand, used avocado oil in the dough and salted butter in the filling. Because I’ve been to Magnolia Bakery, halved the sugar in the icing. Rolls were a hit, with a lovely texture. And YES— pecans on after spreading next time!

jj

In mammoth. 1.5 teaspoons baking powder. Milk instead of buttermilk. 415 oven for about 20m. Next time put some salt in filling.

BarbaraP

Rich! Make half the frosting. Doug is surprisingly tender

Lynne

Per the note from Emily a year ago, refrigerating these rolls overnight was a mistake! They were basically rocks.

Emily E.

Perfection! Without yeast, the final product is a bit biscuit-like. It is SO good!!! Easy cinnamon rolls with plenty of frosting.

Caitlin

For those who want to make the dough less biscuity/harsh tasting (as some have said here):Skip the salt (there’s enough in baking soda, baking powder, and buttermilk anyway).Reduce the buttermilk to 1/2 cup.Add 1/4 cup yogurt. No one has guessed that there’s no yeast when I make these rolls. And I just had 8 different people ask me for the recipe.

Heather Jackson

The pecans in the middle are what really makes these worth eating. The cream cheese frosting is another bonus, but it didn't stop the rolls from being on the dry side. Might be because I used regular milk and vinegar instead of buttermilk.

Ashley

Made as directed, turned out great! A perfect option for a holiday morning - make in advance and throw in the oven while unwrapping gifts or getting other breakfast items ready. Loved the icing, as the tanginess of the cream cheese cut the sweetness.

K Johnson

Made this vegan with vegan butter, cream cheese, and oat milk. Easy and delicious!

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Easy No-Yeast Cinnamon Rolls Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why pour milk on cinnamon rolls before baking? ›

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ This ensures to getting ULTRA MOIST rolls. This should be used at room temperature and is poured over the rolls after they have risen for the second time, just before baking.

Can I still use my dough for cinnamon rolls if it didn t rise? ›

If your dough didn't rise, the yeast is probably dead. This could be because the yeast was old, or because the water you bloomed it in was too hot. You can still bake the dough but don't expect the same flavor. But you can bake it.

Why are my cinnamon rolls not fluffy? ›

There are a lot of variables that go into the consistency of dough, even down to the weather and humidity. But the most common reason cinnamon rolls don't turn out fluffy is because the dough didn't have enough time to rise.

Is heavy cream and heavy whipping cream the same thing? ›

Is Heavy Cream the Same as Heavy Whipping Cream? Yes, heavy cream and heavy whipping cream are the exact same thing. The confusion lies in the fact that they're sold by different brands under two different names.

What is a substitute for heavy cream in cinnamon rolls? ›

The 10 Best Substitutes for Heavy Cream
  • Milk and butter.
  • Soy milk and olive oil.
  • Milk and cornstarch.
  • Half-and-half.
  • Tofu and soy.
  • Yogurt and milk.
  • Evaporated milk.
  • Cottage cheese and milk.

Why do you put milk in cinnamon rolls? ›

Milk: Milk is a popular choice for cinnamon roll dough as it adds richness and tenderness to the texture. Whole milk, in particular, can provide a creamy and soft crumb. If you prefer a lighter texture, you can use low-fat or non-fat milk.

Why are my homemade cinnamon rolls tough? ›

Don't Overmix the Dough

When making cinnamon rolls, mix the dough just until the ingredients are incorporated and the dough is smooth and soft. Overmixed dough leads to tough cinnamon rolls. The dough is ready when it pulls away from the sides of the mixing bowl and feels tacky but doesn't stick to your fingers.

Should cinnamon rolls be touching when baking? ›

Place the cinnamon rolls into your prepared pan, with little room between each roll and ½ inch from the edge of the pan. Lightly press down on each roll so that the edges of each roll barely touch each other, and improve their round form if needed.

What happens if you let cinnamon rolls rise too long? ›

Can cinnamon rolls rise for too long? Yes definitely! If you let your cinnamon rolls rise for too long you can over-proof them. This can lead to dense rolls or rolls that collapse after baking.

What happens if you add too much flour to cinnamon rolls? ›

ONLY add as much flour as needed to handle the dough. It's better for the dough to be sticky at the start than to add too much flour and wind up with dense rolls, instead of light and fluffy ones.

Why didn't my homemade cinnamon rolls rise? ›

Add more yeast, blend in the starter, or knead in more flour to help initiate rising. Dough that has expired yeast, too much salt, all-purpose or cake flour, or antifungal spices like cinnamon might have trouble rising.

Is melted butter or softened butter better for cinnamon rolls? ›

It can definitely be tempting to just stick that butter in the microwave if you've been storing it in the fridge, which can easily lead to accidentally melting it, but ensuring that your butter is softened will make all the difference: It will make it easier to evenly spread the filling on top of the dough.

What is the secret ingredient in Cinnabon? ›

Cinnabon's Secret Ingredient

This special Indonesian cinnamon, called Makara, is trademarked by Cinnabon. And because of that trademark, you won't find this product in your local grocery store spice aisle.

What does heavy cream do in baking? ›

Heavy cream is thicker and has a higher fat content than milk, which can make the baked goods more rich, moist, and tender but also heavier.

How do you keep filling from leaking out of cinnamon rolls? ›

A little cornstarch will help, but if you're dead set on the perfect cinnamon roll filling, Instant ClearJel is the way to go. Made from modified food starches, Instant ClearJel is similar to cornstarch but gets better results in terms of texture.

How do you moisten cinnamon rolls? ›

Place the rolls in a baking dish. Add a little dribble of water (1 teaspoon per roll) over each roll to rehydrate the rolls as they are reheated. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil. This will create steam as they warm and will rehydrate the rolls.

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