Vegan Cinnamon Rolls
These cinnamon rolls by Vegan Richa only use one tablespoon of sugar and one tablespoon of maple syrup to sweeten the rolls. They’re also egg-free and dairy-free, so vegans and people with allergies can enjoy them.
Four tablespoons of aquafaba are used as an egg substitute in this recipe. The author notes that if you don’t have canned chickpeas on hand to access the brine, you can make your own aquafaba at home by pressure cooking dried chickpeas. While this aquafaba recipe takes about an hour to make, the delicious end result is worth it.
Ingredients
Cinnamon Rolls:
- 3/4 cup warm-hot water
- 1/4 cup aquafaba chickpea brine, (or use room temp non dairy yogurt or 1/4 cup coconut milk + 1.5 tbsp flax meal. Though the rolls do best with aquafaba)
- 1 tbsp sugar or other sweetener
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 packet active yeast or 2 1/2 tsp active yeast
- 2 tbsp oil or use melted vegan butter. I usually use oil
- 1 tsp nutritional yeast optional
- 2.5 cups or more flour I use unbleached white or a combination of white and wheat flour
- 1/3 tsp salt
Filling:
- 1 to 2 tbsp Oil or melted vegan butter
- 1/3 cup or more coconut sugar or brown sugar
- 2 to 3 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp salt
- Add some cardamom or nutmeg for variation
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F / 180ºc. Line a 8 by 8 inch brownie pan or 9 inch pie pan with parchment. Mix the first 5 ingredients under rolls until the sugar is mixed in. Let sit for a minute for the yeast to activate.
- Add in the oil, nutritional yeast and mix in. Add 2 cups flour and salt and knead. Add more flour, few tbsps at a time to make a soft somewhat smooth dough. 4 to 6 mins.
- Roll the dough out using additional flour into a 10 by 14 inch rectangle
- Spray or brush oil or vegan butter on the rolled out dough. (use as much melted vegan butter as you like :)).Sprinkle sugar, cinnamon and salt evenly. Roll the dough tightly along the longer edge to make a cylinder.
- Slice using a pizza cutter or floss or a serrated knife. Place the slices in a parchment lined brownie baking pan or pie pan. Spray or brush oil on top. Cover lightly with a towel and Let the pan sit near the warm oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until just about doubled. Remove the towel.
- Bake at 350f / 180ºc for 21 to 23 minutes or until golden on some edges.(just about starting to get golden)
- Let the rolls sit for a few minutes, while you make the icing or frosting of choice. Frost and serve.