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    Home » Recipes » Low Sugar Desserts

    Healthy Cinnamon Rolls - NO Yeast!

    Published: Aug 29, 2022 · Modified: Dec 6, 2022 by Lauren · This post may contain affiliate links · 20 Comments

    Jump to Recipe  ↓
    Healthy cinnamon rolls pin image

    These healthy cinnamon rolls are made with whole grain spelt flour. Low in sugar, yeast-free, and less sugar than the classic version!

    Three rolls with icing on a small white plate.

    Oh man, I'm excited today.

    Excited to share my latest, awesome, low sugar creation with you, that is. Healthy cinnamon rolls!!!!

    I've made this recipe countless times over the years, always trying to make sure it's perfect. My husband and kids are gaga over these, and I too am thrilled with them.

    Most cinnamon roll recipes are full of sugar and/or yeast, neither of which I handle well.

    As usual, my indomitable craving turned into a full-blown, tunnel-visioned objective, which ultimately led to today's deliciousness.

    How To Make Healthy Cinnamon Rolls

    Ingredients Needed

    Ingredients laid out on a table, including spelt flour, cinnamon, and coconut sugar.

    Recipe Steps

    First, you make the dough. Stir together the dry ingredients, then add in the applesauce until mixture looks 'pebbly'. Finally, add in the remaining wet ingredients to make a dough.

    • Flour, salt, and baking powder in a large white bowl.
    • Flour, salt, baking powder, and applesauce in a large white bowl.
    • Ball of dough in a white bowl with a red spoon sticking out.

    Knead and roll out the dough.

    • Hands kneading dough on a granite countertop.
    • Hands rolling out dough into an oval shape on a granite countertop.

    Spread the dough with butter and sprinkle on the cinnamon sugar. Then, roll the dough up, jellyroll-style.

    • Hands spreading cinnamon sugar mixture onto long pieces of dough.
    • Hands rolling up cinnamon rolls on a granite countertop.
    • Unbaked cinnamon rolls in a glass pie plate.

    FAQs

    Can you make these gluten-free?

    I haven't personally tried, but the best gluten-free substitution is going to be the 1-to-1 Bob's Red Mill Baking Flour.

    Is there a substitute for the applesauce?

    I've tried plain yogurt with good results, though they can dry out easily if you don't watch them carefully. If you choose to do this, omit the vinegar. Also, you won't need to bake them as long (about 8-10 minutes instead of 12-13).
    Hand holding a cinnamon roll with a doily in the background.

    Baking tips

    The bake time is particular, so watch it carefully.

    At 12 minutes, the bread is puffed, and the insides are doughy to the point of almost being undercooked, which is not necessarily a bad thing. As they sit for a minute or two, this improves.

    At 13 minutes, they are 98% fully cooked, but still doughy. I like mine at about 12.5 minutes. 🙂

    Important Notes

    There is NO added sweetener in the dough portion of this recipe and only a modest amount of coconut sugar in the filling.

    This is a smaller batch recipe, suitable for about 3-4 people. Like I've mentioned before, small batch and single serve treats work better for us!

    For my husband, I make a glaze with organic powdered sugar and milk, but the kids and I generally eat these naked.

    Overhead shot of three rolls on a white plate with gold trim.

    Frosting Ideas

    Go the old-fashioned route with a mixture of powdered sugar and milk. See this recipe for better details.

    Grind some coconut sugar to a fine powder in a coffee grinder and mix with milk for a healthier version of the above.

    Spread some coconut butter on top.

    Skip the frosting and dunk your roll in your favorite tea or some Homemade Walnut Milk.

    Three rolls with icing on a small white plate.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 6 votes

    Healthy Cinnamon Rolls - NO Yeast!

    A smaller batch of cinnamon rolls made with spelt flour! Low in sugar and yeast-free.
    Prep Time5 mins
    Cook Time13 mins
    Total Time18 mins
    Course: Bread, Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Low sugar, Nut-free, Vegan, Whole grain
    Servings: 8 rolls
    Calories: 51kcal

    Ingredients

    FOR THE ROLL:

    • 1 cup whole spelt flour about 148 grams
    • 2 teaspoons baking powder
    • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
    • ¼ cup applesauce
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 5-6 Tablespoons milk of your choice
    • ½ teaspoon apple cider vinegar

    FOR THE CINNAMON SUGAR FILLING:

    • 4 teaspoons softened butter or coconut oil
    • 2 Tablespoons coconut sugar
    • 2 teaspoons cinnamon

    Instructions

    FOR THE ROLL:

    • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
    • In a bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, and salt.
    • Cut in the applesauce so that the mixture looks 'pebbly'.
    • Stir in four tablespoons of milk, vanilla, and vinegar, adding extra milk as needed. The dough should all be moist, but NOT sticky. If it happens to get too sticky, just add a bit more flour.
    • Knead the dough a bit until it is smooth.
    • Form a ball and cover the dough with a bowl for five minutes.
    • Meanwhile, stir together the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.
    • After the dough has rested, divide it into four.
    • Roll out each piece into an oval shape. It should be about 1/8-1/4 inch thick.
    • Spread each piece with one teaspoon of butter or coconut oil (if using).
    • Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture equally onto each piece (you can save a bit for the top if you like).
    • Carefully roll the dough, jellyroll-style.
    • Cut each roll in half.
    • Place the rolls into a small oiled baking dish (sprinkle with any remaining cinnamon sugar).
    • Bake for 12-13 minutes.

    Notes

    Nutrition facts based on using six tablespoons of unsweetened almond milk and butter.
    WW Points: 2

    Nutrition

    Sugar: 3.9g | Fiber: 0.7g | Calories: 51kcal | Fat: 2.2g | Protein: 0.7g | Carbohydrates: 8g

    If you have a chance to try this recipe, please leave a star rating and a comment below letting me know how you liked it!

    Shared with: Busy Monday, Inspire Me Monday, Full Plate Thursday, Hearth and Soul

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    Filed Under: Breads, Low Sugar Desserts

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Olivia

      January 27, 2023 at 10:22 am

      can i use all purpose flour? and if i use greek yogurt instead of applesauce then i omit the vinegar? thank you so much

      Reply
      • Lauren

        January 27, 2023 at 2:30 pm

        So, you're I've tried plain yogurt, but not Greek. Greek is thicker, which will reduce the moisture, but you may be okay, as all-purpose wouldn't need as much moisture. Does that help? And yes, you should be okay to eliminate the vinegar in that case. Let me know how it goes?

        Reply
    2. Nonurbeezwax👽

      September 02, 2022 at 4:27 pm

      I want mum, I want💖😋 and I HATE the cinny👽

      Reply
    3. Tammy

      September 02, 2022 at 12:08 pm

      Love these mini rolls! They looks so yummy and easy to make too!

      Reply
      • Lauren

        September 02, 2022 at 1:05 pm

        Thanks, Tammy! They're a favorite around here too.

        Reply
    4. Ileana

      February 28, 2021 at 9:50 pm

      Love the recipe but was wondering if there any substitute for the applesauce?

      Reply
      • Lauren

        March 01, 2021 at 1:37 pm

        You could try pumpkin or pear puree.

        Reply
    5. Priya

      November 08, 2017 at 1:28 pm

      Hi Lauren,

      These look delicious, would a 1/4 cup of oat flour and a 1/4 cup of spelt combined work? Or would you suggest sticking to spelt?

      Could I add a little sugar to the dough too?

      Thanks,

      Priya

      Reply
      • Lauren

        November 08, 2017 at 1:49 pm

        Hi Priya,

        I think the combo would work, and yes, you can add a bit of sugar to the dough if you like. I hope you like these if you try them, they're my hubby's favorite!

        Reply
    6. Celina

      June 04, 2017 at 11:52 am

      These were super tasty. I was actually able to use a combination of oat flour and unbleached, unprocessed all-purpose flour for this and it worked out just fine for me. Thank you so much for this healthy version!!

      Reply
      • Lauren

        June 04, 2017 at 1:57 pm

        That's great Celina, I'll have to try it with oat flour sometime!

        Reply
    7. Walter D.

      May 29, 2017 at 8:53 am

      Honestly, these are unbelievable. I am a lover of cinnamon rolls and these blew me away! These are the healthiest cinnamon rolls in existence and they still taste like my mom's gooey sweet decadent treats! From all the cinnamon roll addicts in the world thank you for this recipe..

      Reply
    8. Laura

      May 22, 2017 at 12:41 pm

      I love the way your excitement and joy pops off the page. Probably about about fast as these delicious looking cinnamon rolls pop into hungry mouths 🙂

      Reply
      • Lauren

        May 23, 2017 at 7:37 am

        Haha! I am excited about these. I've wanted to make a healthy cinnamon roll for so long! 🙂

        Reply
    9. Patti

      May 22, 2017 at 11:34 am

      Thank you for all your hard work on creating these AND for Sharon your recipe. They look AMAZING. Yum!! ?
      With an intolerance for spelt, is there another flour substitute that you could recommend?
      PA

      Reply
      • Lauren

        May 23, 2017 at 7:35 am

        Hi Patti,

        Whole wheat works as well. I'm not certain about any gluten-free flours though.

        Reply
    10. Ellen

      May 22, 2017 at 10:47 am

      I am definitely making these soon, maybe tomorrow for breakfast 🙂

      Reply
      • Lauren

        May 23, 2017 at 7:38 am

        I hope you like them Ellen!

        Reply
    11. Heidi Bruner

      May 22, 2017 at 9:33 am

      These look incredible and I love that it makes a small batch! Can i use GF Flour?

      Reply
      • Lauren

        May 23, 2017 at 7:34 am

        Sorry for the delay Heidi, I'm not sure on the GF flour, as I've not tried. I'd love to know if you try it and how it goes though!

        Reply

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    Hi there, I'm Lauren Goslin, and I've been a food blogger for over ten years. My goal with this blog is to show you healthy, lower sugar recipes that my family and I enjoy.

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