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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AMAZING!!! I tried them with my friends and they were SO good! The recipe is incredibly easy and stress free. They are so good, especially since there is no yeast, the flavor and texture was still so so good! Thank you for this recipe!
I am so glad that you found the recipe easy to follow and enjoyable, Julia! Thank you for trying it and for commenting. 🙂
My dough looks like pie crust. Any suggestions for next time? They smell good baking, though. Thanks!
Hi Lisa! I’m not quite sure what you mean, how did the cinnamon rolls turn out?
Made these for my son this morning and they came out more crispy than fluffy, but still very good! I may need to adjust my baking time and temp since I use a toaster oven. I baked at 375 for about 25 minutes. May go for 20 minutes at 350 next time and see what that does. Thanks so much!
I am sorry that they were crisper than expected, Shannon. Yes, I recommend adjusting the bake time and temperature if you plan to use the toaster oven again. Regardless, I am glad that the cinnamon rolls tasted delicious! Thanks for trying my recipe! 🙂
I found that you need to put the rolls close together on the pan otherwise they spread out everywhere. Grrr…
These cinnamon rolls are fabulous my daughter made them for us this morning. I can’t wait until she makes them again. Mmm so good!!!!
Thank you so much, Catherine! I am so glad that you enjoyed them. 🙂
These were pretty good for a no yeast cinnamon roll. I did 1/4 batch to be sure I would like the recipe. My kids and I made “baby” size rolls and they baked them in their mini toaster ovens. The rolls have great texture and flavor. They need absolutely no icing! My kids ate them with no topping. I have always made overnight cinnamon rolls but with three kids and a husband now, traditional rolls take WAY TOO LONG to make. I will be making these again for my daughter’s 6th birthday breakfast at her request! Yum!
I am so glad that the cinnamon rolls were such a hit, Krysta! Thank you so much for trying my recipe and for commenting. 🙂
These are delicious and so easy to make ! I’m making them again today !
I’m so happy you enjoyed the cinnamon rolls, Margaret! Thank you so much for commenting and letting me know how they turned out for you 🙂
Hubby gave a 10 will make them again soon
I am so glad that you both enjoyed the cinnamon rolls, Laney! Thank you for the 10-star review. 😉
These are amazing!!!!!!!!!! They taste better than store bought! 5/5!
So happy to hear you enjoyed, Imani!! Thank you so much for commenting, I appreciate it 🙂
I’ve been making these cinnamon rolls every Christmas morning for the last several years. We add orange oil to the icing since my hubby likes orange rolls, but these rolls are seriously amazing! They are definitely a special tradition in our home <3 .
I am so happy to hear that this recipe has become part of your Christmas tradition, Karen! Thank you so much for commenting, I appreciate it. Merry Christmas! 🙂
Do you think I could use the roll recipe to make dinner rolls?
Hi Lynda! I basically did this for you! My dinner roll recipe is based off of my cinnamon rolls. 🙂
Have you tried making them the night before and refrigerating them? Wondering if they would hold up and then bake in morning?
Hi, Annetre! I would wrap them tightly with plastic wrap and they should be fine to bake in the morning. I hope that you enjoy the cinnamon rolls! 🙂
My dough came out more like cake than like cinnamon rolls.. I’m not sure what I did wrong
Hi Makayla! That’s really weird. I have never had that happen. You may have needed to add a little more flour. Check out the video to see what the texture is supposed to look like. I hope they turn out better next time. 🙂
Mine did as well! They still came out fine but not the texture I was expecting!
So did mine…I added 1/2 c more flour then used slot of the flour I spread on the table to roll them…
Amazing! The time estimate to make them was spot on!
I made them this morning for my kids and they LOVED them!
Following you now on Instagram and I can’t wait to try your other recipes!
I am so glad that the cinnamon rolls were such a hit, Cara! Thanks for following me on Instagram. I can’t wait to see what you make next! Thanks for commenting. 🙂
Follow this recipe to the T-easpoon! This is my new go-to, my son and I couldn’t put our forks down. 🙂 🙂 🙂
These are perfect on a cold Sunday morning with coffee and a favorite book to read. Thank you for another delicious recipe, Sam!
My husband and I to eat these straight out of the pan, fork in hand. lol. I am glad we are not alone and you both enjoyed them! Thanks for much for trying my recipe. I hope that you have a relaxing afternoon. 🙂
I really liked the recipe, especially since anything with yeast I ever try never works. It’s delicious! I LOVE sweet things, but I think the filling has too much sugar. I cut it in half. Same with the frosting – I cut it in half or leave it off. But everything else is perfect! It’s a recipe my daughter loves to make with me. Thanks, Sam!!
I am so glad that you and your daughter enjoy making the cinnamon rolls together, Connie! Thanks for commenting, I am glad you enjoyed the recipe! 🙂
DELICIOUS! Do you think I can freeze some unfrosted??
Hello, Victoria! I am so happy that you enjoyed the cinnamon rolls. I personally have never frozen them but they should be fine. Enjoy! 🙂