The aroma of cinnamon rolls wafting through the air is enough to wake even Rip Van Winkle from the deepest slumber. It’s also quite tempting in malls and rest stops in the form of Cinnabon. Their cinnamon rolls lure countless people to their kiosks and storefronts everywhere. The combination of the light fluffy consistency of the roll, the spicy sweetness of the cinnamon, and the sweet icing, is irresistible.
For many, making cinnamon rolls is a holiday morning treat to enjoy when everyone is at home and happily lounging in their pajamas. However, this recipe can be made the night before. All you need to do is allow it to rise for an hour while you get on with your morning, then bake them for about twenty-five minutes, and you are golden.
This is a great recipe to get your day and week off to a sweet start.
This recipe is by Natasha’s Kitchen and we’ve adapted it for:
- Vegan/Vegetarian
- Gluten-Sensitivities- Celiac
- Low-Sugar
Overnight Cinnamon Rolls Recipe by Natasha’s Kitchen adapted by Still A Chick Lit
Prep Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Cook Time: 23 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 53 minutes
1 cup warm milk (98 to 110-degrees) ((dairy: whole, 2 %, or fat-free milk) (non-dairy: almond, rice, soy, or light coconut milk)
1/2 Tbsp active dry yeast (not quick rise)
4 Tbsp granulated sugar divided (Swerve sweetener, Splenda granulated, monk fruit sweetener granulated, coconut, raw cane, or turbinado sugar, pulsed fine)
3 cups all-purpose flour divided* (plus 2 to 4 Tbsp) (gluten-free all-purpose flour, 1 to 1 gluten-free baking blend, sweet rice, brown rice, or sorghum flour)
1 large egg room temp (egg substitute) (2 tablespoons Aquafaba, ¼ cup silken tofu pureed with 1/8 teaspoon baking soda,1 flaxseed or chia seed egg, or vegan egg replacer)
2 Tbsp unsalted butter melted divided (unsalted vegan butter)
1/2 tsp salt
For the Cinnamon Roll Filling:
7 Tbsp unsalted butter softened, divided (vegan unsalted butter)
1/4 cup granulated sugar (Swerve sweetener, Splenda granulated, monk fruit sweetener granulated, coconut, raw cane, or turbinado sugar, pulsed fine)
1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
For the Cream Cheese Icing:
4 Tbsp unsalted butter softened (vegan unsalted butter)
4 oz cream cheese softened (dairy: light cream cheese, Neufchatel ) (non-dairy: vegan cream cheese)
1/2 Tbsp vanilla
1 cup confectioners powdered sugar (Swerve confectioner’s sugar substitute, organic confectioner’s sugar)
Instructions
How to Make Overnight Cinnamon Rolls:
In the bowl of an electric stand mixer, add 1 cup warm milk and sprinkle with 1/2 Tbsp yeast. Let sit uncovered for 7 minutes at room temp. Add 1/2 cup flour, 2 Tbsp sugar and whisk until blended. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature for 35-45 min (or in a 100˚ oven** for 25 min). It will look puffy.
Whisk in 1 egg, remaining 2 Tbsp sugar, 1 Tbsp melted butter, and 1/2 tsp salt.
Using the dough hook on speed 2, add the remaining 2 1/2 cups flour (1/2 cup at a time) letting it blend with each addition. Add more flour 1 Tbsp at a time just until dough is no longer sticking to fingertips or the walls of the bowl as it mixes then knead/mix for 10 min. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise at room temp 2 hours (or in a 100˚ oven for 1 hr). The dough should double in size.
Generously dust flour over a clean work surface and place dough in the center. Sprinkle dough with flour (just enough to keep the rolling pin from sticking) and roll into an even 17″x10″ rectangle. Dot the top of the dough with 6 Tbsp softened butter and spread it out gently with a spatula.
Stir together 1/4 cup sugar and 1 Tbsp cinnamon and sprinkle ALL OF IT evenly over buttered dough. Roll the dough up starting with one of the longer sides, keeping a tight roll. Once it’s rolled up, push ends in slightly to make them a little more uniform then slice into 12 equal-sized cinnamon rolls.***
Butter sides and bottom of a 9×13 baking pan with 1 Tbsp butter and evenly space cinnamon rolls in pan, cut-side down. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight (up to 18 hours). The following day, remove from refrigerator and keeping them covered, let cinnamon rolls rise at room temp 1 to 1 1/2 hours (or in a 100˚F oven for 35 min) or until puffy.
Brush tops with 1 Tbsp melted butter and bake at 350˚F for 22-24 mins or until tops are light golden brown. Let cool in pan 15 minutes then frost warm buns generously with the cream cheese glaze (instructions below).
How to Make Cream Cheese Icing:
Using an electric mixer, cream together 4 Tbsp softened butter, 4 oz soft cream cheese, and beat on medium speed until creamy and smooth. Beat in 1/2 Tbsp vanilla then add 1 cup powdered sugar and continue mixing until fluffy (3-4 min), scraping down the bowl as needed.
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