I grew up with my grandma’s cinnamon rolls and now that I unfortunately don’t live very close to her anymore, I was so happy when I found out that my favorite bakery not far from our place has vegan cinnamon rolls. It’s a regular bakery, but their cinnamon buns just happen to be dairy and egg-free. How great is that?! I’ve always thought making them at home would be quite complicated and time-consuming and I especially worried about the yeast rising component.
A couple of days ago, I was buying groceries and I was in a total cinnamon mood, but unfortunately the bakery was out of cinnamon rolls, so I decided to just make some at home as it couldn’t be this difficult. I ended up with these delicious vegan cinnamon rolls with apples that were even better and also a lot healthier than the ones I intended to buy. And I can assure you it’s so much easier than I first thought.
How to Make Vegan Cinnamon Rolls
I made a simple yeast dough with spelt flour, almond milk, brown sugar, vegan margarine, and cinnamon. Instead of the brown sugar, you can also use coconut sugar and sub the spelt flour with whole-wheat flour if you want. First, dissolve the yeast in warm almond milk with some sugar and add it to the flour. Let it sit for a couple of minutes. In the meantime, you can melt the margarine and then also add it to the flour together with the remaining almond milk, sugar, and cinnamon. Then knead the dough for about a minute or two. I used a hand mixer with dough hooks, but of course you can also use a classic stand mixer or just use your hands.
Let the dough rise in a warm place for about half an hour. Then make the filling. I used three small apples, some more margarine, sugar and cinnamon.
Roll the dough into a rectangle (about 12 by 6 inch) and spread the melted margarine. Then sprinkle with sugar, cinnamon, and equally spread the apples. Roll up the cinnamon rolls and seal the edges. I decided to make mini vegan cinnamon rolls. So I just put them into muffin cups. If you want to do this, make sure to cut them up into exactly 12 pieces. But of course you can also use any other baking form.
Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes (or until very slightly golden). In the meantime make the frosting: Combine 1/2 cup powdered sugar, with half a teaspoon vanilla extract and about 1/2 teaspoon almond milk. If it’s too thick add some more almond milk.
All in all, the vegan cinnamon rolls come together in less than an hour, the baking time being included, which is pretty quick for cinnamon rolls.
I hope you enjoy this vegan cinnamon roll recipe and have a cinnamon apple-scented weekend. As always, I love to hear from you guys. :-)
Vegan Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients
For the vegan cinnamon rolls:
- 2 1/4 cup spelt flour
- 1/3 cup almond milk
- 0,7 oz yeast
- 1/4 cup brown sugar or coconut sugar
- 1/4 cup vegan margarine
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 pinch salt
For the filling:
- 2 small apples (about 7 oz)
- 1 teaspoon vegan margarine
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon margarine
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar or coconut sugar
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
For the frosting:
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2-1 teaspoon almond milk
Instructions
- First dissolve the yeast in warm almond milk (use about 2 tablespoons from the amount named in the ingredient list) and sugar (1 tablespoon from the amount named in the ingredient list). In a bowl, combine the yeast-milk mixture with the flour. Let it sit for a couple of minutes, in which you can melt the margarine and then also add it to the flour together with the remaining almond milk, sugar, and cinnamon.
- Then knead the dough for about a minute or two. I used a hand mixer with dough hooks, but of course you can also use a classic stand mixer or just use your hands.
- Let the dough rise for about half an hour. Then make the filling: Cut the apples into small pieces. In a small pan, heat one teaspoon vegan margarine. Cook the apple for about 3 minutes and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Set aside. Then melt the remaining margarine (1 tablespoon).
- Roll the dough into a rectangle (about 12 by 6 inch) and spread the melted margarine. Then sprinkle with sugar, cinnamon, and equally spread the apples. Roll up the cinnamon rolls and seal the edges.
- With a sharp knife, cut the roll into exactly 12 pieces. Put them into muffin cups and bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes (or until very slightly golden).
- In the meantime make the frosting: Combine 1/2 cup powdered sugar, with half a teaspoon vanilla extract and about 1/2 teaspoon almond milk. If it's to thick add some more almond milk.
- Allow the cinnamon rolls to cool down a bit. Spread or pour the frosting over the cooled cinnamon rolls.
Julia (@Imagelicious)
Great idea turning these rolls vegan. And apples are perfect for this fall weather.
Sina
Thanks, Julia! :-) They really are perfect right now.
Michaell | Foodscape
These look so good! I love the individual muffin tin sizes. That would keep me from eating the whole tray at once. I haven’t worked with spelt much but your pics are so light and fluffy looking I think I may have to try it! Yum!
Sina
Thanks, Michaell! Haha! Same thought, but let me tell you they didn’t keep me from eating way too many at once. ;-) They’re just so small and delicious, so you can’t stop. :D
Kate
Umm Holy Vegan Heaven is right! These looks amazing! Great pictures too!
Sina
Thanks so much, Kate! :-) Glad you like them!
Tianna
these look amazing! I love cinnamon rolls!
stop by and chat :) http://storybookapothecary.com/
Sina
Thanks, Tianna! Glad you like them! :-)
Ilona @ Ilona's Passion
You are so clever Sina. For putting them in the muffin liners. Love it!
Sina
Thanks, Ilona! It’s so convenient. :-)
Trish
These look so yummy! I love the inclusion of apples, too.
Sina
Thanks, Trish! Yeah, cinnamon and apples is a perfect combo. :-)
Annmarie
I may have just drooled on myself a little looking at this! YUM!
Sina
Haha! Sorry about that, Annmarie! ;-)
Evi
Okay these look amazing! I love the chunks of apple!!
Sina
Thanks, Evi! :-)
Kam Kay
I love cinnamon anything. This looks like a perfect recipe to make this weekend. Thanks for sharing!
Sina
I do too, Kam Kay! Cinnamon is sooo delicious and could eat in like every dessert! :-)
Stacey @ Stacey Homemaker
I want cinnamon rolls now!!! Why do your pictures have to look so delicious?
Sina
Haha! Sorry, Stacey, for making you hungry! ;-)
Mandi
YUM! These look sooo good and perfect for the season. And your photography is beautiful!
Sina
Thanks so much for your kind words, Mandi! :-)
Chrissa - Physical Kitchness
This looks a-mazing!!! I haven’t had a cinnamon roll in forever. I love that you’ve made this with apples too – perfect for fall!!
Sina
Thanks, Chrissa! I just love cinnamon rolls, but it was the first time I made them at home. :-)
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
These look amazing! Like cinnamon roll muffins!!! Must try them GF ;)
Sina
Thanks, Rebecca! :-) I’m sure you could just sub the spelt flour with gluten-free flour. If you give them a try, let me know how they turned out. ;-)
The Southern Thing
This sounds like the perfect fall breakfast or treat! I’m going to try this recipe!
Sina
Thanks! :-) I hope you enjoy!
Natalie | Feasting on Fruit
These are a fall breakfast dream come true!!! Baking them in muffin tins is so smart, so they are all perfect little circles no weird square squashed shapes. The little appley bits, and the abundance of cinnamon, and that frosting drizzle, I could devour at least 3 right now! Love them so much <3
Sina
Thanks, Natalie! I absolutely love their smell! I wish I could make them every day, so our apartment would always smell this delicious. :D Unfortunately, they were gone waaaay too fast, but they were just too yummy! ;-)