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
Great recipe. Turned out great. Mine were a little too done on the bottom but I think it’s because I used a dark pan — my fault. I would’ve liked a little more explicit direction for a novice baker (spread softened butter with a knife all over… cut into 9-13 strips… roll with cinnamon on the inside…place all buns together in the pan…). But very good.
I tried making these with a can of Pillsbury Pizza Crust and it didn’t work out very well. We still ate them of course drizzled with icing. There was very little expansion of the dough in the cooking process so they were small and a little crispy. I read another person’s comment that sounded like she used the same type of dough and it worked well…but she didn’t roll her dough and I still did. Maybe I’ll try it that way again. The only way I can seem to find a ball of dough is in the freezer section and then I still have to wait for it to thaw. Love the idea of these being quick.
I love how simple this recipe is and am anxious to try it this weekend. I think my local pizza store will sell me pizza dough.
Mine turned out chewey 😭 I used the pizza dough from a can. Is that where I went wrong? Could rolling it out too much cause this?
Can I prepare cinnamon rolls and refrigerate overnight until ready to pop in the oven? If so, should the dough be room temperature before I bake it? Thanks!
I only have multigrain pizza dough at my house and want to make for NYE, will that work?
That should be fine! 🙂
Just had a try at these. Made my own pizza dough, not favoring a grocery run on an icy Sunday afternoon. The only problem I encountered was that in the oven, the buns rose up in the middle, looking like a medieval artist’s depiction of the Tower of Babel. Result was that the tower was overbaked by the time the rest was done. Next time (Oh yes, there *will* be a next time) I will add more sugar to the filling; and I may add some raisins, my own favorite. But cutting in strips, though my wife was sceptical, for me was a winner.
Next has got to be banana chocolate cookie bars. Alas, one grandson is allergic to peanuts, so I’ll hide the product–always assuming I don’t need to hide it, anyway!
Thank you so so much for making them 🙂
These were very tasty. I would have liked to have known what length and width to cut the pizza dough. My rolls ended up small and skinny and also rose up in the middle like ancient Thai monuments.
Can I prepare cinnamon rolls and refrigerate overnight until ready to pop in the oven?
want to make keto tortillas. could you show me how? Thanks.