Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls

There’s nothing quite like a soft, tender cinnamon roll filled with gooey cinnamon sugar and topped with cream cheese frosting. This gluten-free version uses both yeast and baking powder to create a roll everyone will love.

By
Kalisa Marie Martin
Kalisa Marie Martin
Kalisa Marie Martin
Kalisa Marie Martin a is classically trained chef, content creator, and travel entrepreneur of Jamaican heritage.
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Updated September 07, 2022
Kalisa Marie Martin
The best gluten free cinnamon rolls topped with frosting and in a pan.
Kalisa Marie Martin

Gluten-free cinnamon rolls are hard to come by. In my more than 15 years of being gluten-free, I’ve rarely come across bakery cinnamon rolls I can eat. So, I decided to make my own!

This recipe is sure to satisfy your craving for this classic treat. Just as indulgent as what you’d find at a bakery, these cinnamon rolls are buttery and jam-packed with cinnamon flavor. Though they will not rise as much as a conventional roll, they’re still super tender—especially the pillowy edges where the rolls have snuggled up with their neighbors. They’re a perfect breakfast for the holidays or any weekend when you want a little something special.

Loads of cinnamon, vanilla, and a thick layer of cream cheese frosting smeared on top ensure these rolls will please everyone, gluten-free or not!

How to Make Tender Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls

Cinnamon rolls are not the kind of recipe where you simply swap your favorite GF flour blend in a standard gluten-filled recipe and expect good results. You have to add a little something extra.

For extra lift and to lighten the texture, I add both yeast and baking powder, along with generous amounts of butter and an extra egg yolk for richness.

In conventional recipes, gluten helps trap the air bubbles produced by the yeast, giving it rise. Since our dough doesn’t have gluten, it needs extra help, and that’s where baking powder comes in. It increases the volume and lightens the texture of our rolls in a way that yeast can’t achieve on its own.

Yeast is common in traditional cinnamon roll recipes, and I use it here, but it’s important to keep a few tips in mind when working with yeast, because it’s a living product.

  • Bloom yeast in a mixture of warm milk and sugar to ensure it’s alive. After five to eight minutes, it should be foamy, which practically guarantees your dough will rise.
  • Yeast is heat-sensitive. Don’t heat the milk above 110°F otherwise you could kill the yeast, preventing your dough from rising.
  • If you don’t see frothy, foamy yeast in your mixture after eight minutes, either your yeast is no longer good, or your milk was too hot and you’ll need to start again.
  • Do not knead gluten-free dough; it can make the rolls tough (more on that below).
A pan of easy gluten free cinnamon rolls being topped with icing.
Kalisa Marie Martin

No Need to Knead Gluten-Free Dough

Typically, cinnamon roll dough is kneaded to develop gluten, which gives the rolls structure, but this is a gluten-free recipe, of course, so there’s no gluten to develop!

Furthermore, overworking gluten-free dough can actually make rolls tough. I prefer to use a gluten-free flour blend with xanthan gum, which mimics the effect of gluten by providing elasticity to the dough and acts as a binding agent, giving the rolls structure, but it can make dough tough if over-mixed.

My favorite gluten free flour blend is Cup4Cup Multipurpose Gluten Free Blend, but Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour is also a good choice.

Rather than kneading gluten-free dough, mix it with a spoon or spatula just until the ingredients are combined. It won’t appear smooth and stretchy like conventional cinnamon roll dough. Instead, it will look more like cookie batter.

How to Store and Freeze

These cinnamon rolls are best enjoyed the day they’re baked—especially still warm from the oven! After that, they’ll start to dry out and harden but will still be enjoyable for a couple days if left covered at room temperature.

  • To reheat: A quick zap in the microwave (15-20 seconds) will soften leftover cinnamon rolls, bringing them back to life.
  • To freeze unbaked rolls: Rolls can be frozen after slicing and placing them in the pan, but before letting them rise. When ready to bake, defrost in the refrigerator overnight. Then, let the rolls rise in a warm place for two hours until they are softened and puffy. Bake according to the recipe.
  • To freeze baked rolls: Baked cinnamon rolls can be frozen as well, preferably unfrosted. An individual roll can go from frozen to thawed and warmed through in just 30 seconds in the microwave!
  • To freeze frosting: The cream cheese frosting can also be frozen. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and leave out at room temperature to soften a couple hours before using.
A plate with the best gluten free cinnamon rolls and a pan of the rest of the frosted rolls behind the plate.
Kalisa Marie Martin

More Gluten Free Recipes

2:06

Watch This Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls

Prep Time 30 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Chill and Rise 2 hrs 30 mins
Total Time 3 hrs 30 mins
Yield 12 rolls

This dough is quite sticky. Rather than rolling it out with a rolling pin, dust a piece of parchment with flour, spray your fingertips with non-stick spray, and press the dough out into a rectangle shape with your fingertips. Once the filling is spread on the dough, use the parchment to help roll up your log.

Ingredients

For the dough:

  • 1 cup lukewarm whole milk

  • 3 tablespoons sugar

  • 1 packet (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast

  • 1 large egg, at room temperature

  • 1 egg yolk, at room temperature

  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • 3 cups Cup4Cup gluten-free flour, plus more for dusting

  • 2 teaspoons baking powder

  • 1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt

For the filling:

  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened

  • 1/4 cup ground cinnamon

  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

For the frosting:

  • 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened

  • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened

  • 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted

  • 1 tablespoon heavy cream

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt

Method

  1. Make the dough:

    Into a large bowl, add the lukewarm milk. (Make sure the milk is only heated between 89°F to 110°F.) Add 3 tablespoons sugar and the yeast over the milk and set aside until the mixture is bubbly, about 5 to 8 minutes.

    Whisk in the whole egg, egg yolk, melted butter, and vanilla to the yeast mixture.

    In another large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the flour mixture to the wet mixture and, using a spoon or spatula, stir until combined. The dough is loose and will look like a thick batter. Resist the urge to add more flour.

    Adding vanilla to ingredients for easy gluten free cinnamon rolls.
    Kalisa Marie Martin
    Whisking ingredients to show how to make gluten free cinnamon rolls.
    Kalisa Marie Martin
    Flour mixed into dough to make easy gluten free cinnamon rolls.
    Kalisa Marie Martin
    Dough mixed in a glass bowl to show how to make gluten free cinnamon rolls.
    Kalisa Marie Martin
  2. Make the cinnamon filling:

    In a medium bowl, add the softened butter. If your kitchen is cold you might have to soften the butter in the microwave. Add the cinnamon, sugar, vanilla, and salt to the softened butter. Mix with a spoon or stiff spatula until completely smooth.

    A small glass bowl has ingredients for the filling for easy gluten free cinnamon rolls.
    Kalisa Marie Martin
    Cinnamon filling for Easy Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls is mixed in a small bowl.
    Kalisa Marie Martin
  3. Press out the dough:

    Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and dust it with flour. Scoop the dough onto parchment. This dough is very sticky. Spray your hands with non-stick spray, then use your hands to gently press and spread the dough into a 10- x 15-inch rectangle.

    Hands pressing dough into a parchment lined baking sheet to show how to make gluten free cinnamon rolls.
    Kalisa Marie Martin
    Dough being pressed into a parchment lined baking sheet to make the best gluten free cinnamon rolls.
    Kalisa Marie Martin
  4. Add the filling:

    Dollop the filling on to the dough by the spoonful and use the back of the spoon to spread it in an even layer to all four edges.

    Cinnamon mixture dolloped on the dough to make easy gluten free cinnamon rolls.
    Kalisa Marie Martin
    How to make gluten free cinnamon rolls by spreading the cinnamon mixture over the dough.
    Kalisa Marie Martin
  5. Roll and chill the rolls:

    Start with the long side closest to you and use the parchment to roll the dough into a tight log, ending with the seam at the bottom. Place the parchment-wrapped log, still on the baking sheet, in the freezer for about 20 to 30 minutes to firm up.

    Parchment paper used to help roll the best gluten free cinnamon rolls into a spiral.
    Kalisa Marie Martin
    Parchment paper beingused to roll the best gluten free cinnamon rolls.
    Kalisa Marie Martin
    Easy gluten free cinnamon rolls being rolled in parchment paper.
    Kalisa Marie Martin
  6. Cut the rolls and let them rise:

    Remove from the freezer and discard the parchment. Slice the log into 12 rolls. Arrange the rolls cut side up in a greased 9-inch square or round cake pan. Cover with plastic wrap and let them rise in a warm place for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, until the rolls have softened and expanded.

    Rolls being sliced on a cutting board to show how to make gluten free cinnamon rolls.
    Kalisa Marie Martin
    Unfrosted Easy Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls set in a baking pan.
    Kalisa Marie Martin
  7. Preheat the oven:

    Towards the end of the rise time, preheat the oven to 350°F degrees.

  8. Bake the rolls:

    Bake the rolls until they are light golden-brown and puffy, about 30 minutes.

  9. Make the frosting:

    In a medium bowl, combine the softened butter and cream cheese. Using a hand whisk or electric mixer, beat until completely smooth. Add the powdered sugar, heavy cream, vanilla, and salt and beat again until well incorporated.

  10. Serve warm:

    Allow baked rolls to cool 5 to 10 minutes before icing generously with the cream cheese frosting. Serve warm.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
5895 Calories
300g Fat
743g Carbs
73g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Amount per serving
Calories 5895
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 300g 385%
Saturated Fat 179g 897%
Cholesterol 1321mg 440%
Sodium 3679mg 160%
Total Carbohydrate 743g 270%
Dietary Fiber 27g 96%
Total Sugars 423g
Protein 73g
Vitamin C 1mg 6%
Calcium 1458mg 112%
Iron 24mg 132%
Potassium 1285mg 27%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.