These Best Paleo Cinnamon Rolls are sweet, soft, and so delicious! Quick to make and they make the perfect morning treat. Gluten free, dairy free, and naturally sweetened.
Every year, along with a breakfast casserole, my husbands family makes cinnamon roll for Christmas morning. They aren't homemade, but they are the "good" kind that are huge and of course topped with lots of frosting. Remaking them to be healthy has been a mission of mine and I finally succeeded!
Making paleo cinnamon rolls has always been something I didn't think was possible. Almond flour just isn't the same as all purpose flour. It doesn't have the same elasticity so rolling it up can be an issue. There is a trick I learned recently though and that's adding some grass-fed gelatin to the dough. It helps the dough roll without cracking and gives the rolls that signature chewiness. After a few attempts I got them perfect.
Are these the prettiest cinnamon rolls in the world? No. But what they lack in appearance, they make up for in taste. These are actually much easier than traditional cinnamon rolls. There is no waiting for them to rise and the mixture mixes together quickly. They bake for 20 minutes are are ready to be frosted. So simple!
The frosting is the same that I used for my Paleo Sugar Cookie Bars. It's a combination of coconut butter, maple syrup, ghee, and vanilla. It's incredible delicious and is the best topping for the rolls. One important tip is the ghee is room temperature, not melted, or the mixture will separate. If this happens, just let it cool and stir until combined.
Oh course these are good for Christmas, but they are too easy and delicious for once a year. They would be great for any special occasion or just a fun weekend treat. I hope you try them and love them!
Here are a couple cinnamon roll-inspired recipes before I got brave enough to attempt these: Paleo Cinnamon Roll Coffee Cake and Paleo Cinnamon Roll Pancakes
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Paleo Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients
Cinnamon Roll Dough
- 2 cups almond flour
- ½ cup tapioca flour
- 2 tablespoons grass-fed gelatin
- ¼ cup coconut sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 tablespoons melted ghee
- 3 large eggs
Filling
- ¼ cup ghee, room temperature
- ¼ cup coconut sugar
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Frosting
- 6 tablespoons coconut butter
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons ghee, room temperature not melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350° and grease a pie plate or 8x11 pan with ghee or coconut oil. Set aside.
- In a large bowl combine almond flour, tapioca flour, gelatin, coconut sugar, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda. Stir until well mixed. Add in the eggs and melted ghee and stir until combined. The dough should be able to be formed into a ball. It may be a little sticky, but workable.
- Lay a piece or parchment or wax paper out on a clean counter and place the dough on it. Roll out to a 10x14 inch rectangle, making it as even thickness as possible.
- Make the filling. In a small bowl, combine the ghee, coconut sugar, cinnamon and vanilla. Mix until smooth and gently spread it on the rolled out dough leaving ½ inch from each side plain.
- Carefully roll the dough the long way (so the roll is 14 inches long) and use the parchment paper to help pull it up and roll it tight. Once rolled, but ½ off each end and discard. Cut the roll into 8ths. I do this by cutting it in half, and then cutting each half in fourths.
- Place them in the prepared pan and gently press down so they aren't so tall. Bake for 20 minutes. They should be golden brown.
- While they bake, make the frosting. In a small bowl, combine the coconut butter, maple syrup, ghee and vanilla.(It's important that the ghee is room temperate and not melted or the mixture will separate.) Mix until smooth and spread on warm cinnamon rolls.
- Store leftovers covered in the fridge.
Nutrition Information
jACqUIE says
Great buttery taste and really good texture. I've been waiting for a yeast and grain free cinnamon bun for so long! Appreciating the thoughtful attention in creating this recipe ...
Jaimee Poe says
Am I able to leave the gelatin out? Will it effect the recipe a lot?
Jessica DeMay says
Hi Jaimee- it helps keep the dough from breaking as it's rolled. You can try to leave it out but they make just crack when rolled.
Jaimee Poe says
Can I make this dairy free? If so, how?
Jessica DeMay says
Hi Jaimee- You can use coconut oil. Hope you love them!
Jaimee Poe says
Thank you! And can I leave the gelatin out? Will it affect the recipe a lot?
cate says
This recipe sounds amazing and going to try it this weekend!
Can you use the regular boxes of the Knox gelatin from the grocery store? Your link was to a larger container for gelatin from Amazon and hoping I can grab the smaller regular gelatin that is sold in stores so make these asap. Thank you!
Jessica DeMay says
Hi Cate- the know gelatin would work, but it's not good quality. It comes from animals that are raised in a factory and given antibiotics and hormones. So it wouldn't be my first choice. I understand needing it soon. So yes that will work and you can make that choice. They do sell Vital Proteins and Great Lakes at health food stores. Hope that helps!
Mk says
Could coconut oil be used as a substitute for ghee?
Jessica DeMay says
Yes, definitely!
Melissa says
Is there a substitution for the gelatin? Maybe another egg? Or perhaps collagen?
Jessica DeMay says
Hi Melissa- not really. The gelatin gives the dough the ability to roll without backing. Kind of like gluten for traditional flour. Collagen doesn't "gel" like gelatin so that won't work. I haven't tried it without the gelatin. You can, but they may not roll as well. Hope that helps.
Patricia Shillinger says
Have you tried Bob's Red Mill's Gluten Free Baking Flour or his Gluten Free One to One flour.
I just made banana bread, it was perfect. I am going to try your recipie with one of Bob Red Mills flour. Made cookies with Almond and coconut flour and I know the One to One will be even better.
Jessica DeMay says
Hi Patricia- I haven't, but I've heard good things. I think that should work great. Hope you love them!
Maike says
This Recipe sounds so good!
I wouldn’t mind having these around this weekend!
Can you substitute the tapioca and almond flour with an all-purpose gluten free wheat flour (like the one from Trader Joe's)?
Jessica DeMay says
Hi Maike- I can't say for sure since I haven't tried it, but there's a good change it should work. Let me know if you try and I hope you love them!