Here’s how to make the softest, sweetest easy cinnamon rolls at home with just four ingredients and no yeast required!
The best easy cinnamon roll recipe
These magical cinnamon rolls take just 30 minutes to prepare, from start to finish.
And unlike many other cinnamon roll recipes, this one needs no sitting overnight or waiting hours for the dough to rise.
They turn out just as soft, gooey, and delicious as classic homemade cinnamon rolls from scratch, without all the work!
If you love the sweet taste and fluffy texture of cinnamon rolls but not the time and effort it usually takes to bake them, this is the recipe for you.
Also try this easy Chocolate Mug Cake
Quick and easy cinnamon rolls
Discover the best of both worlds with this simple cinnamon roll recipe.
The lightening fast method allows you to skip the yeast and proofing steps entirely.
And the taste and texture will make guests feel like the sticky sweet pastries came straight from your local Cinnabon!
They are great for serving to a crowd, a hungry family, or overnight guests.
While the oven is hot, make Chocolate Banana Bread
Step by step recipe video
Watch the easy cinnamon roll recipe video, above
Ingredients for easy cinnamon rolls
So what is the trick to making cinnamon rolls with just four ingredients?
It’s actually pizza dough!
You know the pizza dough they sell in the refrigerated section of stores like Whole Foods, Trader Joes, and Wegmans? This same dough can easily be used in place of homemade dough for cinnamon rolls.
Regular or whole wheat pizza dough both work here. And pizza dough is often vegan as well, although vegans should always check the ingredients to be sure.
Or you can make your own dough at home and freeze it for a rushed morning or rainy day. I like this basic Vegan Pizza Recipe.
I even had success when making the rolls with store bought Wholly Wholesome gluten free pizza dough.
This does not necessarily mean every packaged or homemade gluten free pizza dough recipe will work. But it proves it is possible to make gluten free cinnamon rolls using the easy pizza dough trick.
I have not tried the easy cinnamon bun recipe with an almond flour pizza dough and do not currently have a keto cinnamon roll recipe on the blog (maybe I should make one?). However, you can definitely add cinnamon to the batter of these Keto Muffins and ice them with cream cheese frosting for a fantastic and easy low carb cinnamon roll without yeast.
No one should be left out of the cinnamon roll fun.
All you need in addition to the pizza dough are softened butter or coconut oil, sugar or a sugar free alternative, and one tablespoon of ground cinnamon.
If you want to make them fat free, substitute the oil for applesauce, mashed banana, or canned pumpkin puree.
Still craving cinnamon? Try these Baked Apple Cider Donuts
Easy homemade icing recipes
You have many options here, so choose your favorite.
Cream Cheese Frosting: Beat room temperature 8 ounces of cream cheese or vegan cream cheese with 4 ounces of butter, 2 cups of powdered sugar, and 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract. Add a little milk of choice as needed to thin out the icing.
Basic Cinnamon Roll Glaze: Mix 1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar or sugar free powdered sugar with 2-4 tablespoons milk of choice. Whisk the ingredients to form a glaze. Drizzle generously over the rolls with a spoon.
Nutella Cinnamon Rolls: Instead of icing, top with Homemade Nutella or any chocolate hazelnut or peanut butter spread.
Other Easy Frosting Ideas: Feel free to frost the buns with store bought frosting or melted almond butter or Coconut Butter (my personal favorite).
Or leave the cinnamon pastries plain, for a healthy breakfast with a similar sweetness to that of a muffin.
Use leftover frosting on this Apple Bread
The quick cinnamon bun secret
This is my favorite baking hack for super easy cinnamon rolls:
Cut slices before rolling up the dough.
After spreading the filling on top of the rectangular pastry dough, cut it into slices before rolling up each bun. This way, you will not need to worry about all the cinnamon bun filling oozing out and getting all over the counter and your hands.
Once you try cutting traditional cinnamon rolls this way, you will never go back to the thread or floss method, because this one simple change makes the entire cinnamon roll baking process so much easier.
Plus it is much less messy and easier to clean up at the end.
How to make easy cinnamon rolls
Start by rolling the dough out on a floured surface. Any flour works here.
If it is too sticky to roll out without sticking to the rolling pin, just add more flour of choice to the dough, a few teaspoons at a time.
Roll the dough very thinly. If you wish to be exact, it should measure about just under one fourth of an inch in height.
Then spread the softened butter or applesauce, sugar, and ground cinnamon on top.
Carefully cut long strips of dough with a sharp knife. Roll each strip up as tightly as possible, and arrange the unbaked cinnamon buns in a greased baking dish.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Place the baking dish on the center rack of the preheated oven. Bake for twenty minutes, then carefully remove the pan from the oven using pot holders.
Frost the cinnamon rolls using either your favorite icing or one of the homemade cinnamon roll frosting recipes written out above.
Once they are fully cooled, cover the pan with saran wrap or aluminum foil. Or transfer the rolls to a covered container. Store in the refrigerator for up to a week, and reheat in the microwave or on the stove top before serving.
If you want to freeze leftovers for instant cinnamon rolls on a rainy day, place them in an airtight container with a sheet of parchment between layers of the rolls to prevent them from sticking together. Thaw fully before enjoying for breakfast or dessert.
Recipe adapted from my Vegan Cinnamon Rolls and Carrot Cake Cinnamon Rolls.
Easy Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients
- 16 oz pizza dough
- 2 tbsp butter or coconut oil, or applesauce for low fat
- 3 tbsp sugar or granulated sugar free substitute
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
- See the post notes above for what types of pizza dough will work. To make the easy cinnamon rolls, first roll out the dough on a floured surface (any flour works, even coconut flour). If dough is too sticky to roll, just add more flour of choice a little at a time. Roll very thinly (just under 1/4 inch is perfect). Spread remaining ingredients on top. Cut long strips, then roll each up as tightly as possible. Put in a greased baking pan. Preheat oven to 400 F. Bake 20 minutes. Frosting recipes are listed above. If you try the recipe, be sure to review or rate it below!View Nutrition Facts
Video
Notes
More Easy Breakfast Recipes
Or this popular Healthy Banana Bread
Katie,
I’m trying to understand how you are cutting your slices before putting the topping on? How is this less messy?
My brain cannot figure this out! If you had photos I think it would help!
This does sound like an easy and much quicker way to make cinnamon rolls!
Thanks for all the work you do in creating great recipes!
Me too…I’m thinking that you roll the dough out and then spread the butter, cinnamon and sugar, then cut in strips and then roll each strip up so it forms the roll then put in the pan. At least that’s how my brain is interpretting the process…i could be wrong though…but I’m going to go with it.
Sorry for the confusion! Katie just edited the post to hopefully make it more clear. Diane is correct – spread the ingredients on the dough, then cut strips and roll each. (You could of course still do the typical roll-then-cut cinnamon roll method, but this way is less messy.)
Yay! Thank you so much for the quick response!
Me too
That is how I did it. I also tried the cream cheese frosting. They came out great. Just be careful with the milk usage.
That’s what I got out of it
Katie, which gluten free pizza dough did you use that worked for you? Thanks!
It works with Wholly Wholesome, which is gluten free and vegan too. There are probably some homemade gluten free pizza dough recipes that would also work here, we just haven’t tried any others with this particular recipe yet.
Jason (media relations)
Awesome post.
Genius! This looks amazing. Love your idea to use pizza dough. Can’t wait to try this.
How do you apply the filling? Do you spread the butter onto the dough and THEN sprinkle on the cinnamon and sugar as 2 or 3 separate steps? Or do you mix all three ingredients together first and then spread the MIXTURE onto the dough?
Honestly, any of the above will work, so go with whatever is easiest for you!
Jason
LOL I got it in my email and of course had to go buy pizza dough immediately, because who can look at such decadent pictures of cinnamon rolls and not then be craving cinnamon rolls? They were as easy to make as your post says and just as delicious. These things are dangerously good!
I made these today. They were so delicious and easy.
This looks amazing and is much simpler. But I use string or dental floss to cut the cinnamon rolls and it doesn’t make any mess whatsoever. Simply roll your cinnamon rolls into the traditional log. Then slide a piece of string or floss underneath in the desired width (2”) and bring the ends together and cross over (like you’re going to tie a knot). Voila. No mess
That’s what I’ve done too and agree there’s no mess! It sounds WAY more time consuming and messy to do a strip at a time!
That’s what I thought!
So innovative and clever! I’ve never attempted cinnamon rolls before, but have always wanted to and tend to be a bit intimidated by the recipes, but this recipe is one I think I can manage and am excited and willing to try! It’s pretty incredible how easy/straightforward it seems and I can’t wait to try! Thanks for sharing!
I had been craving cinnamon rolls when I saw your recipe. Since I already had gluten free pizza dough in the freezer, I was set! Unfortunately I let the pizza dough defrost a little too long in the fridge and it had risen and deflated apparently and wasn’t as soft as I would have liked . I will definitely be making these again though…I was thinking that you could use the pizza dough to make a Mardi gras Kings cake! How about experimenting with that?
That sounds so amazing!
Am I reading the cream cheese frosting recipe correct, that you also add 4oz butter to the cream cheese? Could I use brown sugar instead of white for the actual filling?
Yes, and yes that would be fine!
Jason
Do you apply the icing once cooled? I applied mine right out of the oven and it melted and runny. Thanks.
I personally love my icing melted, but if you want it hard/firm so it doesn’t melt into the rolls, then yes you can definitely wait until cool!
Jason
I spread almond butter on the dough for a healthier roll but if you want the buttery taste and smell then go with butter. Love how quick this recipe is and nobody will know it’s pizza dough!
I made these this morning. They were so delicious and the kitchen smelled great, too. Love the idea of using the pizza dough.
Made for my daughters birthday this morning. What would help is to know how wide to cut the strips. I ended up with too big of rolls and had to cook for longer. But overall turned out well.
What dimensions does one roll the dough to?
I get the just-under-1/4″ thickness, but what size rectangle?
And should the strips be, say, 1″ wide?