Easy Cinnamon Rolls (no yeast required!)
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These no yeast cinnamon rolls are the easiest homemade cinnamon rolls you’ll ever make. With no dough-punching & no waiting for the dough to rise, the hardest thing about these cinnamon rolls is waiting for them to come out of the oven!
This is one of my older recipes on the blog (originally published April, 2015), and also one of my favorites. My old pictures didn’t do justice to these amazing easy cinnamon rolls, so I’m updating the pictures and re-publishing today. Originally I was going to re-write the whole post, but instead I’m leaving about 90% of the original writing, because it just didn’t feel right to change it. I left the old photos at the very bottom of the post, too, in case you wanted to have a laugh.
I present to you: The lazy girl’s cinnamon roll recipe.
No yeast. No dough-punching. No two-hour rise time followed by another hour of rise time.
Nothing but cinnamon-y, gooey, need-a-fork-to-eat-it goodness <3.
I (obviously) enjoy baking, and considering that you’re reading this I assume you don’t hate spending time doing it either. I’ve even previously posted a recipe for orange sweet rolls that require all of those heinous, time-consuming things mentioned above, taking over 3 hours from start to finish.
However… if you want cinnamon rolls for breakfast on a Saturday morning, you shouldn’t have to get up at the crack of dawn just to have them ready before it’s actually lunch time. These cinnamon rolls can be ready in less than one hour (probably faster if you spend more time actually baking and less time sampling the cinnamon filling… or is that just me…).
Since these rolls don’t use yeast they have a softer, flakier texture to them, which is perfect for those of us who love melt-in-your-mouth cinnamon rolls that require a fork to enjoy.
And wait! We haven’t even discussed the frosting yet!
That lovely, crowning cream cheese-based, sticky frosting that any cinnamon roll would just be sad and naked without. Pour this cream cheese frosting on heavy over these cinnamon rolls while they’re still warm, and enjoy!
If you try these out, I’d love to know how you like them! Please leave a comment or tag #sugarspunrun on Instagram!
Easy Cinnamon Rolls (no yeast required!)
Ingredients
Rolls
- 2 cups (240 g) all-purpose flour
- 3 Tablespoons (38 g) sugar
- 1 Tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 5 Tablespoons cold unsalted butter, + additional 2 Tbsp butter for baking
- ¾ cup (178 ml) milk
Filling
- ⅔ cup (133 g) brown sugar
- 3 Tablespoons (38 g) white sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 4 Tablespoons salted butter, melted
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Icing
- 1 oz (28 g) cream cheese, softened
- 1 Tablespoon salted butter, softened
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla
- ½ cup (63 g) powdered sugar
- ½ Tablespoon (7 ml) milk
Instructions
Rolls
- Preheat oven to 375F (190F).
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.2 cups (240 g) all-purpose flour, 3 Tablespoons (38 g) sugar, 1 Tablespoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt
- Use a box grater to grate 5 Tablespoons of butter into the dry ingredients (alternatively use a pastry cutter to cut in the butter).5 Tablespoons cold unsalted butter, + additional 2 Tbsp butter for baking
- Add milk and stir until all ingredients are just combined.¾ cup (178 ml) milk
- Transfer dough onto a very well floured surface and use your hands to work the dough together until it forms a cohesive ball. Continue to flour the surface you are working with as needed.
- Generously sprinkle flour on the top of the ball of dough and use a rolling pin to roll dough out to roughly a 10x12" rectangle. Set aside and prepare your filling.
Filling
- Prepare your filling by combining brown sugar, sugar, and cinnamon and then stirring in butter and vanilla. This mixture will be very much like a paste.⅔ cup (133 g) brown sugar, 3 Tablespoons (38 g) white sugar, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 4 Tablespoons salted butter, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Spread the filling over the rectangle of dough, leaving about ¼" of space as a perimeter around the filling.
- Carefully roll dough starting with one of the 12" ends and rolling tightly. Press the edge of the roll into the dough so that it sticks.
- Cut into 10 slices. If the log is not holding its shape well, transfer it to your freezer for about 10 minutes and then try to cut again (it should hold it's shape this way so you will have mostly round cinnamon rolls)
- Place the reserved 2 Tbsp of butter into a 9" pie pan and set it in your preheating oven for a few minutes until the butter has melted. Remove from oven.
- Place your cinnamon rolls in baking dish, they do not need to be touching, they will spread to fill their surrounding area.
- Bake on 375F for 28-30 minutes (beginning to lightly brown around edges). Prepare your icing while the rolls are baking.
Icing
- Use an electric mixer to cream together softened cream cheese, butter and vanilla extract.1 oz (28 g) cream cheese, 1 Tablespoon salted butter, ¼ teaspoon vanilla
- Gradually add sugar, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.½ cup (63 g) powdered sugar
- Add milk, stirring until combined.½ Tablespoon (7 ml) milk
- When cinnamon rolls are finished, remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes before spreading icing over rolls.
- These cinnamon rolls are nice and soft. Keep in mind that the warmer they are, the harder it will be to separate one from the other. But if you go in for one cinnamon roll and end up with one and a half, it's really not the worst thing that could happen, right?
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Like this? Leave a comment below!
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Original photos:
salty and flaky…i am wondering if i did anything wrong but i thought i followed…would not try again
Disappointed to hear this, Gris. By any chance did you use self rising flour instead of all-purpose? That would have given the result you are describing.
These are amazing! Any chance anyone’s tried baking them in a muffin pan to get individual rolls to more easily share with others? I was thinking about trying to give some to neighbors for Mother’s Day.
I am so glad that you enjoyed them, Stephanie! I love the idea of baking them individually to share them with your neighbors. I have note tried this technique before but it should work fine. Keep me posted on how they turn out. I hope everyone enjoys them. Happy Mother’s Day! 🙂
I made these for my boyfriend who loved them so much, I had to make another batch THE NEXT DAY! Then I make some for my coworkers and they were gone in about 20 minutes. Using this recipe from now on 🙂
I am so glad that everyone enjoyed them, Gabby! Thank you for trying my recipe and for making second batch to share with others. 🙂
Just made these this morning! I was nervous about not using yeast, but they honestly turned out so good! They were soft and have to be eaten with a fork, but those are the best kinds of cinnamon rolls! I personally would use less butter in the cream cheese frosting, but overall I really liked this recipe. Definitely recommend if you don’t have tune for traditional rolls or want something more gooey.
EXTRA TIP: I poured a bit of heavy cream over the rolls and filled a bit at the bottom of the pan. This made the bottoms super gooey just how I like them! ❤️
I am so glad that you enjoyed them, Katie! Thank you for trying my recipe and for sharing your extra tip. 🙂
ugh 10/10 so good. super easy and delicious.will make again.a hit with the whole family.
I am so glad that everyone loved it, Joanie! Thank you for trying my recipe and for commenting. 🙂
Recipe is soo easy and my family loves it. They’ve asked for it 2 weeks in a row.
I am so glad that your family has enjoyed this recipe and now has a new favorite! Thank you for commenting, Dana! 🙂
This recipe is so easy and sooooooo good
Thank you so much, Isabelle! I am so glad that you enjoyed them. Thanks for commenting. 🙂
This recipe is super fun to make with kids. It’s easy and you don’t need to wait for a long time to eat it (especially if you have impatient little ones). Mine turned out great and everyone loved it. The cream cheese frosting, ugh, unbelievable. Thank you for sharing this!!!
I am so glad that it was such a hit and everyone loved it, Arlene! Thank you for trying my recipe and for commenting. 🙂
I had my doubts about cinnamon rolls that don’t need to rise but OMG these are good! I cant find yeast anywhere nowadays and this recipe was perfect.
I am so happy to hear how much you have enjoyed the recipe, Kiara! Yeast has been impossible to find so I am happy this recipe worked out well in the meantime. Thanks for commenting. 🙂
Just made these and they’re delicious! I increased the filling, because I like an extra gooey roll. But they get a big thumbs up. Perfect recipe! Thank you!
I’m so glad you enjoyed! Thank you for commenting, Ann!
What is the best way to save them if you have leftovers?
They were AMAZING btw 🙂
Keep them covered in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days. They could also be stored in the fridge but that may dry them out a bit. Definitely heat up again (just pop them in the microwave) before serving leftovers for best results. I’m so glad you enjoyed!
Hi supermarkets are out of baking powder . Can you advice what is best replacement?
Serene
Unfortunately I don’t know of anything that will work as well. 🙁
This recipe was amazing!! Just made it for my momma🥰
I am so glad everyone enjoyed the cinnamon rolls so much, Maleah! 🙂
Great recipe, turned out very well. They basically taste and texturize like Pillsbury minus the aftertaste.
On a personal note I think next time I make this I will modify the recipe to be a bit less sweet. Perhaps no sugar in the dough, smearing butter and sprinkling brown sugar and cinnamon for the filling as opposed to a mixture as you’ve done (this is what I do with my yeast recipe).
I am so glad you enjoyed it so much, Mark! 🙂
Is there a good substitute for cream cheese and could I leave it out??
Hi, Mary! You can omit the frosting entirely or you can make the frosting omitting the cream cheese. If you omit the cream cheese to create a powdered sugar glaze, you may need to add more powdered sugar to achieve desired consistency. I hope that you enjoy it!