Healthy Cinnamon Rolls - NO Yeast!

Name: Healthy Cinnamon Rolls - NO Yeast!
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 13 min
Total time: 18 min
Ingredients: 1 cup whole spelt flour (about 148 grams); 2 teaspoons baking powder; 1/4 teaspoon sea salt; 1/4 cup applesauce; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 5-6 Tablespoons milk of your choice; 1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar; 4 teaspoons softened butter or coconut oil; 2 Tablespoons coconut sugar; 2 teaspoons cinnamon

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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.

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.

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.

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5 from 6 votes