If you are looking for that perfect, springy gluten free cinnamon roll recipe to make, this is it! You get delicious spirals of soft-baked dough and brown sugar cinnamon flavors! These cinnamon buns are seriously the real deal! I tested three different gluten free flour blends so you know which are the best to use to make cinnamon rolls!
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I will probably rave about these gluten free cinnamon rolls for a long time. They are that good. I am making it easy for you because I tested three different gluten free flour blends in this recipe, including one gum-free blend. I wanted you to know what to use so you could get the best results!
The three blends I tested all performed really well in making super soft and fluffy gluten free cinnamon rolls! One was my favorite, and I will tell you all about the three blends below.
These gluten free cinnamon buns are pure comfort food. If you have missed cinnamon rolls since going gluten free you MUST try this easy recipe! If breakfast pastries are your favorite too, give my Gluten Free Flaky Pastry or Gluten Free Cheese Danish recipes a try too!
Why These Cinnamon Rolls Are Amazing:
- I did the hard work testing different gluten free flour blends so your rolls turn out perfect the first time!
- My new cinnamon rolls bake with so much cinnamon brown sugar flavor in every swirl!
- They rise up to make really big rolls. Top them with regular or cream cheese icing!
- The directions are easy to follow and you can freeze the extra rolls to enjoy any time!
- They don't taste gluten free. They were taste tested by all of my neighbors...nobody thought they were gluten free.
If you love peanut butter, you will want to also make my gluten free peanut butter cinnamon rolls.
What Gluten Free Flour Blend Is Best For Cinammon Rolls?
I tested three premium gluten free flour blends in making my homemade gluten free cinnamon buns. Here are the flour blends I tested and notes on each:
- Authentic Foods Steve's Bread Gluten Free Blend - This seriously was my favorite flour blend. It rose an incredible amount (see photos below) and the cinnamon rolls were so fluffy, my neighbors didn't know they were gluten free. This flour blend has become my favorite for any yeast recipes. In addition, this flour blend is the easiest to work into shapes. I use this blend exclusively for my braided gluten free challah recipe because you can braid it like real dough! It is the same for these cinnamon rolls. It held its shape as I rolled the dough up around the cinnamon sugar blend.
- Cup4Cup - This gluten free flour blend worked really well, but not quite as well as the Steve's blend. I found the Cup4Cup a little harder to roll because the dough had to be softer so that the rolls weren't dry. This blend has dry milk powder so it is not okay for those with a dairy allergy.
- Better Batter Artisinal Blend Rice/Gum Free - This was a great blend and the only gum free blend that rises really well. The downside of gum free is the psyllium husk makes the rolls turn out beige in color, not white. I have not tested their regular flour blend but I imagine it should work really well.
Ingredient Notes:
- Gluten free flour blend - See my notes on the flour blends above. Note King Arthur Measure for Measure is not recommended for yeast recipes.
- Active Dry Yeast - Be sure your yeast is gluten free! Red Star Platinum is NOT gluten free!
- Salt - I used sea salt, but kosher salt will work as well.
- Eggs - Use size large room temperature eggs.
- Milk - I used unsweetened almond milk but you can use dairy or non-dairy milk in this recipe.
- Oil - I used avocado oil because it has a very mild flavor. Canola oil is another nice light oil I like to use. I do NOT recommend olive oil.
- Butter - You can use regular unsalted butter or vegan butter.
- Brown sugar - Just a note that I do not recommend coconut sugar as it has a different melting point.
If you are a dessert person, I have tons of delicious gluten free desserts on the blog to try!
Recipe Step By Step Directions:
Step 1: In a small bowl, add the yeast, warm water, and one tablespoon of granulated sugar. Let it sit for about 5 minutes until the yeast mixture gets frothy. Pour the yeast mixture into the bowl of a standing mixer. Add the eggs, oil, and milk.
Put a paddle attachment onto the mixer arm. (A bread hook attachment will also work.) Turn the stand mixer on low speed and quickly blend the wet ingredients.
Step 2: Add the gluten free flour, remaining sugar, and salt to the mixer bowl. Lower the mixing arm and lock it in place.
Step 3: Mix the wet and dry ingredients on low speed. Gradually increase the speed to medium until the flour is mixed in. You will get a nice soft workable gluten free cinnamon roll dough.
Step 4: Place the dough on a piece of wax paper or on a silicone mat. If you are using Steve's blend, you do not have to sprinkle additional flour on the rolls. This gluten free flour blend is so good for working with your hands!
HINT: Gluten free flour typically only has one good rise so you need to quickly work and shape the dough before rising! If you rise the dough then roll it flat, it will not rise a second time and your rolls will not turn out fluffy.
Step 5: Use a rolling pin to roll the dough into a ¼ inch flat oval. You can make this dough thinner or thicker depending on your personal preference.
Step 6: In a small bowl, add the cinnamon, unsalted butter, and brown sugar. Cut the cold butter into the brown sugar-cinnamon mixture until it resembles crumbs.
Step 7: Pour the cinnamon-sugar mixture over the dough.
Step 8: Spread out the cinnamon roll brown sugar mixture with your fingers to evenly spread it over the dough. Gently press it into the dough so it will stay in the rolls better while.
Step 9: Tightly roll the cinnamon roll dough into a roll. Tuck the dough in to keep the roll tight so you don't lose any of the filling. Roll the long side around, not the shorter side. If you are using a different flour blend, you may need to dust with gluten free flour as needed to keep the dough from sticking.
Step 10: Take a piece of sewing thread. I use sewing thread because it makes nice sharp cuts so you don't have oddly shaped rolls. Place the thread under the roll towards the end. Grab both ends and twist and pull.
This will cut the long dough roll into single serving rolls. Repeat this string cutting process down the entire line of the dough to make your cinnamon rolls. You can make your rolls any thickness you like!
Place the rolls into a prepared 9x13 baking pan. To prepare your pan, you can spray coconut oil on the pan, or line it with parchment paper. I like to use parchment paper because it makes clean up so much easier!
Step 11: Getting gluten free dough to rise can be tricky. Here is my best tip for getting gluten free dough to rise.
Top Tip: Turn your oven on to 200º F. Turn it off keeping the door closed. Place the baking tray with the cinnamon rolls into the oven. I always rise my dough in a warm oven. Let the rolls rise until they double in size, about 45 minutes.
*Note, the one thing that stands out about the premium flour blends I tested is the airiness. Just look how much these cinnamon rolls with the Steve's GF Bread Blend rose.
Step 12: Bake the cinnamon rolls at 350º F for 25 minutes until done. Note the actual bake time can vary depending on how thick and large your cinnamon rolls are.
Step 11: In a medium bowl or standing mixer with a whisk attachment, combine the room temperature cream cheese, butter, and powdered sugar.
This homemade cream cheese icing has the creamiest texture and it is absolutely delicious with these cinnamon buns.
You can also use my popular gluten free vanilla frosting on these rolls. The butter vanilla buttercream is the perfect flavor with cinnamon. You can also use a handheld electric mixer.
Look how incredibly fluffy these are! For best results, I recommend using one of the three gluten free flour blends I tested. You just can't beat homemade gluten free cinnamon rolls and this is such an easy recipe to make.
Step 12: Allow the rolls to cool slightly, for about 5 minutes. Use a spatula to spread the icing over the baked gluten free cinnamon rolls while they are in the pan.
I spread the icing while the rolls are warm, but not hot from the oven. This lets the icing melt into the swirls of cinnamon sugar and dough.
If you love drizzling icing, check out the icing on my Gluten Free Lemon Sweet Rolls or my Gluten Free Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls!
Storage:
Store these gluten free cinnamon rolls in an air-tight container on the counter for up to 2 days. If it is summer, I recommend storing in the refrigerator. To re-heat the rolls, just pop them into the microwave for 35 seconds.
You can easily freeze these rolls in a freezer zipper bag. To thaw, just place them into the refrigerator overnight.
Tips and Recipe FAQ:
Most yeast is gluten free but do be careful and read the labels. Red Star Platinum Yeast is NOT gluten free. Use this list to help you choose a safe gluten free yeast.
Yes, just use non-dairy milk and cold vegan butter.
If your cinnamon roll dough didn't rise, there are a few potential reasons. First, was the water too hot when you added the yeast? You want the water temperature to be 110º F.
Second, what gluten free flour blend did you use? I list some great blends to use with yeast in my post. Lastly, did you let the dough rise in a warm place? This is critical, especially if your house is cold.
If your rolls turned out dense, you may not have used enough liquid ingredients. Some starchy gluten free flour blends need more water than others.
You will know the rolls are finished baking when you can press with your fingers and the rolls are not doughy. The cinnamon-sugar mixture will be melted and cooked inside.
Variations:
There are so many delicious ways to vary this recipe! Here are some of my favorite additions:
- Add a chocolate drizzle over the rolls.
- Add mini chocolate chips to the cinnamon sugar swirl mixture.
- Mix thinly chopped apple bits into the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
This post was updated from an older June 2021 post with information on all of the flour blends I tested, and better photos.
More Gluten Free Dessert Recipes:
- Gluten Free Apple Bundt Cake
- Incredible Gluten Free Banana Bars
- Easy Gluten Free Vanilla Donuts
- The ultimate Gluten Free Skillet Cookie
Recipe
Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients
- 4 cups gluten free flour blend * see note
- 2 teaspoons yeast * see note
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 2 eggs size large
- 1 cups milk * see note
- 1 ¼ cup water warm
- 3 tablespoons oil light oil
Cinnamon Sugar Swirl
- 4 tablespoons butter cold unsalted
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
Cream Cheese Icing
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- 2 tablespoons butter softened
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Add warm water, yeast, and sugar to the bowl of a standing mixer. Allow the mixture to sit for 5 minutes. (Make sure the water temperature is no hotter than 110º F.) Add the rest of the wet ingredients to the bowl.
- Add the dry ingredients to the stand mixer bowl. Turn the mixer on low speed to mix. Gradually increase the speed until you have a nice dough.
- You only get one good rise so it is important to rise the dough after you shape the cinnamon rolls.
- Press the dough into a rectangle shape on a silicone mat or wax paper. Try for a ¼-inch thickness. (Feel free to dust with a small amount of additional flour if needed.)
- In a small bowl, add the cinnamon filling ingredients. Cut the cold butter into the brown sugar-cinnamon mixture until it resembles crumbs.
- Pour the cinnamon-sugar mixture over the dough. Spread out the cinnamon roll brown sugar mixture and then gently press it into the dough so it will stay in the rolls better while.
- Tightly roll the dough into a roll. Roll the long side around, not the shorter side.
- Take a piece of string. I used sewing thread. Place the thread under the roll towards the end. Grab both ends and twist and pull. This will cut the long dough roll into single serving rolls. Repeat down the entire line of the dough to make your cinnamon rolls.
- Preheat the oven to 200º F and then turn it off. Place the cinnamon rolls into a greased 9x13 pan. Place the baking pan into the oven and let the cinnamon rolls rise until they double in size, about 45 minutes.
- Remove the rolls and preheat the oven to 350º F. Bake the cinnamon rolls for 25 minutes until done. Let them sit for 5 minutes on a cooling rack while you mix the icing.
- Add the icing ingredients to a standing mixer, or use an electric handheld mixer. Mix until the icing is creamy. Spread the icing on the warm cinnamon rolls.
Notes
- Gluten free flour blend - For this recipe, I tested three premium gluten free flour blends. Authentic Foods Steve's GF Bread Blend, Cup4Cup, and Better Batter Gum-Free Artisinal Blend Flour (gum and rice-free.) You can use other flour blends, but note King Arthur Measure for Measure and Bob's 1 to 1 do not rise well. Steve's blend was my all-time favorite flour blend.
- To make this recipe dairy-free, substitute the butter for vegan butter and use non-dairy milk.
- Not all yeast is gluten free. I know Red Star Platinum is NOT gluten free so avoid that one.
- These rolls will keep up to 4 days in the refrigerator.
- You can freeze these rolls in a freezer-safe zipper bag.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.
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Vanessa Ceballos
Another amazing recipe! Seriously impressed with the texture using the recommended flour. Made them in two pans so I have one for now and one frozen for later.
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad you love the recipe, Vanessa. I love you froze some for later. My family tends to gobble them up quickly.