Healthy Cinnamon Rolls Recipe (Refined Sugar Free, Easy) (2024)

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Delightfully soft and fluffy healthy cinnamon rolls with a flavourful cinnamon swirl and topped with a wicked maple cream cheese glaze! Perfect for a lazy Sunday brunch, these refined sugar free cinnamon rolls taste just like ones from the bakery. This recipe requires just 10 simple ingredients and is easy to make – perfect for beginner yeast bakers.

Fluffy healthy cinnamon rolls with no sugar

This is it. The one you’ve been waiting for. This right here is the only healthy cinnamon roll recipe you will EVER need. Period.

Anyone who knows me will say that cinnamon rolls are my kryptonite. Chris makes them for my birthday breakfast every year and my colleagues once bought a platter of them for me as a birthday cake.

One of my favourite places to go with my mom when I visit home is this little cafe called Adrienne’s. They make these size-of-your-head cinnamon rolls topped with a gooey cream cheese frosting that drips more down your hand and arm than actually makes it to your mouth. But they are GLORIOUS.

I’ve been sitting on this recipe for months, because I wanted to be sure it was absolute perfection. And I’m pleased to say that that is exactly what it is. Fluffy, sweet, cinnamony, perfection. To say I’m addicted to them would be an understatement.

What makes these cinnamon rolls healthier?

While no cinnamon roll is completely healthy (it’s a treat, after all, and should be enjoyed in moderation!), this recipe does feature a few little swaps to make them better for you, while retaining the texture and flavour you expect from a normal bakery-style roll.

• They’re refined sugar free. The biggest change we’re making is swapping out the refined white and brown sugars for natural sweeteners. We’re using honey to sweeten the dough, coconut sugar for a slightly caramelly flavour in the filling, and maple syrup in the luscious maple cream cheese glaze!
• No weird ingredients. Every ingredient in this recipe is unprocessed, additive-free, and completely natural. There’s nothing here that you wouldn’t already have on hand in your own kitchen.
• They use full-fat dairy. I know, this might sound counter-intuitive, but by using unsalted butter instead of a spread and full-fat cream cheese, you’re ensuring that no sneaky sugars or other weirdo ingredients are getting into your rolls.

Main ingredients in healthier cinnamon rolls

Never made homemade rolls before? You’ll be pleased to know that these healthy cinnamon rolls only contain 10 ingredients! Here’s what you’ll need:

• Milk: Lukewarm milk helps to activate the yeast and the extra fat lends a lovely texture. You can use plant milk for this; however, I find the extra fat in cow’s milk gives the rolls a softer, fluffier texture.
• Unsalted butter: Butter helps keep the rolls moist and makes the dough extra soft and slightly crisp on top.
• Honey: A little sugar is needed to feed the yeast in the dough, so we’re using a couple of tablespoons of honey to keep it happy.
• Yeast: Our leavening agent for this dough! Don’t be nervous – it’s very easy to use.
• Bread flour: If you want the fluffiest, softest healthy cinnamon rolls, you need to be using bread flour. They will work with all-purpose, but they won’t be as fluffy.
• Sea salt: Essential for seasoning the dough.
• Coconut sugar: For the filling, we’re using coconut sugar instead of brown sugar to keep the same flavour profile we know and love.
• Ground cinnamon: Kind of obvious, but we’re going to need some cinnamon to make cinnamon rolls! Ensure your ground cinnamon is fresh for the best flavour.
• Cream cheese: For the delicious glaze, we’re using full-fat cream cheese as the base.
• Maple syrup: The flavour of maple syrup mixed with cream cheese in the glaze is just chef’s kiss perfection. If you don’t have maple syrup, you can use honey.

How to make healthy cinnamon rolls

Don’t be intimidated by making yeasted bakes – they’re actually simple to do! This healthy cinnamon roll recipe is a great place to start if you’re a beginner because it’s very easy:

1. Make the dough by stirring together the warm wet ingredients and then adding the yeast and letting it bubble for 5-10 minutes.
2. Whisk together the dry ingredients and then add the liquid ingredients. Stir everything together with a wooden spoon until a soft, slightly sticky dough forms.
3. Knead the dough for 5-6 minutes on a lightly floured surface until smooth and no longer sticky. Pop the dough ball back into a lightly greased bowl, cover, and place in a warm spot to prove until doubled in size.
4. Make the filling by adding the filling ingredients to a small bowl and mixing together to form a smooth paste.
5. Once the dough has doubled in size, tip it onto a work surface and then roll the dough out into a 27 x 15 cm rectangle. Smear the cinnamon filling evenly all over the top of the dough.
6. Tightly roll up the dough and then cut the log into 9 equal pieces. Flip each piece over so the spiral faces up and place them in a greased tin evenly spaced apart. Cover the rolls and allow to rest until doubled in size.
7. Make the glaze by adding the glaze ingredients to a small bowl. Whisk together until smooth.
8. Once the rolls have doubled, uncover, and bake for 20-23 minutes at 180°C until golden brown on top. Allow the rolls to cool slightly before drizzling over the glaze and serving warm.

Full details are in the recipe card at the end of this post.

FAQ’s

Why are my cinnamon rolls not fluffy?

There are a few reasons why your cinnamon rolls might have turned out hard, tough, or crumbly instead of fluffy:

• You used too much flour. If you add too much flour to your dough, the yeast can really struggle to lift the dough and you’ll end up with dense, tough buns. For this healthy cinnamon roll recipe, I recommend starting out with 200 grams of flour and only adding more if you really need it. Use minimal flour on your work surface as well or you can even use an oil spray on the counter to keep it from sticking instead.
• You kneaded the dough too much. Over-kneading can over-activate the gluten strands in the flour, which results in crumbly, dry buns. Only knead until the dough is soft, pliable, and no longer sticky, then stop!
• You over-proofed your dough. Over-proofing means there are too many air bubbles in your dough and the dough has nowhere to expand once it’s in the oven. Oftentimes, this will result in your rolls collapsing. Keep an eye on it and only proof until the dough has doubled in size. I usually start checking my dough at the 75-minute mark.

Can I make these cinnamon rolls the night before?

You can! Make the recipe as stated up until Step 8. Once they’re rolled and placed in the pan, cover them tightly with foil or clingfilm and pop them in the fridge. In the morning, continue the recipe with the rising process. Since they’ll be cold, it might take closer to 1 hour for them to rise.

How do I store these healthy cinnamon rolls?

To keep these cinnamon rolls from getting hard, you want to keep them at room temperature. Storing them in the fridge will make them hard and crumbly. Leave any uneaten rolls in the pan, cover them tightly with a layer of foil, and store the pan on the counter. They should keep relatively well for about 2-3 days.

For healthy safety reasons, only glaze the rolls you’re going to eat and store the rest unglazed.

Can I freeze these cinnamon rolls?

Yes. To freeze, you want to pop any unglazed rolls into an airtight, freezer-safe container and tightly secure the lid. They’ll keep for up to 1 month.

Tips for making this recipe perfectly

• Make sure your milk is lukewarm. It should be warm to the touch, but not boiling hot (ideally between 48–54°C). If you have a thermometer, make sure it doesn’t exceed 60ºC (140ºF) or it will kill the yeast.
• Only knead the dough until it’s no longer sticky. Over-kneading the dough can result in very tough, crumbly buns, so use as little flour as possible on your work surface and only knead until it’s soft and no longer sticking to your fingers or the counter.
• I love the flavour of maple in the cream cheese glaze, but if you don’t have maple syrup, honey is also delicious. (Similarly, you can use maple syrup in the dough if you don’t have honey!)
• If you aren’t going to eat all of these healthy cinnamon rolls in one sitting, only glaze the ones you will eat. The rolls should be stored at room temperature and the glaze should be refrigerated.

More refined sugar free brunch recipes:

Pesto Chicken RollsLemon Poppyseed PancakesChocolate Chip Banana BreadEasy Hot Cross BunsBlueberry Scones with Cardamom GlazePecan Pumpkin RollsChai Spiced French Toast Bake

Maple Bacon Twists

If you make this recipe, let me know by snapping a picture and tagging me on Instagram @naturallysweet_kitchen. I love seeing your creations and sharing them in my Stories. Or let me know you love this Healthy Cinnamon Rolls by leaving a comment and rating below!