Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls {1 Hour}

Published April 8, 2014. Updated March 9, 2020

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It’s official, I am pretty sure I hate taking pictures of cinnamon rolls more than anything. They just aren’t very photogenic for me… but on the other hand I like to eat them almost more than anything :).

Since the gluten-free diet I’ve been on will soon be over, I decided I better get another one of  the baking basics posted in a gluten-free version (I also have gluten-free peanut butter cookies, chocolate chip cookies, banana muffins, and flourless chocolate cookies posted and a number of other naturally gluten-free baked goods like macaroons and macarons).

Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls | Cooking Classy

While I have many different gluten-free flours on hand I’m starting to think the white rice, potato starch and tapioca flour is my favorite blend (it’s seems to be the one that is closest to all-purpose white flour) so that’s the one I’m using again in this recipe (I’m pretty new at this gluten-free baking thing, so I could be wrong on what is the closest).

This batch was my second of the day, the first was also good but it needed some tweaking because #1, the dough was so fragile after rising that half of them began to fall apart when cutting into rolls, and #2, well that was about it :).

These cinnamon rolls taste just like the classic gluten-laden cinnamon rolls they just have a slightly different texture than the traditional.

If you’ve ever made the (gluten version) 1 hour cinnamon rolls then these will remind you quite a bit of those. I seriously couldn’t resist these!

I took them out of the oven and starting eating them without frosting – they were just that good. Of course they only got better with frosting.

Each bite just melted away in my mouth. The real test was my husband and kids. They passed with flying colors with my kids and my husband said after one bite “wow! Those are gluten free? Those are one of the best cinnamon rolls I’ve ever had!” Success.

Not the fanciest looking cinnamon rolls, but looks don’t matter here. These are amazing!

Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls | Cooking Classy

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5 from 2 votes

Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls

Cinnamon rolls without gluten that are perfectly delicious and ready in 1 hour. 
Servings: 12
Prep30 minutes
Cook25 minutes
Ready in: 1 hour

Ingredients

Filling

Cream Cheese Icing

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 13 by 9-inch baking dish. In the bowl of an electric stand mixer, whisk together yeast, 1/2 tsp of the granulated sugar (from the 1/2 cup) and the water. Let rest 5 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, in a mixing bowl, whisk together rice flour, potato starch, tapioca flour, xanthan gum, baking powder, baking soda and salt for 30 seconds, set aside.
  • To the proofed yeast mixture, add warm milk, the remainder of the 1/2 cup of sugar, 1/4 cup butter, the canola oil and eggs and blend mixture with paddle attachment to combine (mixture will be slightly lumpy but will smooth when dry ing. are added).
  • With mixer set on low speed, slowly add in dry ingredients. Once dry ingredients have been incorporated, increase mixer speed to medium-low and mix 2 minutes.
  • Spread two long sheets of plastic wrap onto countertop one slightly overlapping the other.* Dust plastic wrap lightly with rice flour then drop dough mixture onto plastic wrap. Sprinkle top of dough lightly with rice flour then spread two more long sheets of plastic wrap over dough, then roll dough out into a 16 by 13-inch rectangle.
  • For the filling: spread 6 Tbsp partially melted butter over dough, then in a bowl, whisk together brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon and 1/8 tsp salt and sprinkle evenly over melted butter (leaving a small rim uncovered along all edges).
  • Starting on the 16-inch side, roll dough snuggly to opposite side using plastic wrap to lift and roll the dough, and tucking as needed. Press end seam together with fingertips. Cut dough into 12 equal portions (don't saw back and forth with knife, just do one cut downward).
  • Carefully lift rolls to prepared baking dish, aligning them side by side.** Bake in preheated oven 22 - 25 minutes. Cool slightly then frost with cream cheese icing.
  • For the icing: In the bowl of an electric stand mixer (or using a hand mixer), whip together cream cheese and butter until smooth and fluffy. Add powdered sugar, sour cream and vanilla and whip until fluffy, about 2 minutes longer.
  • Best served day prepared. Store in an airtight container and re-warm individually in microwave 10 - 20 seconds (as they are best served warm).

Notes

  • *You will be using it to roll the dough up since it is sticky and rather fragile. You'll need the plastic wrap it to be wide enough so you'll likely have to use two sheets unless you have really wide plastic wrap because it needs to be at least 15 inches wide - for the 13-inch side since you need to leave at least a 1-inch rim on edges for rolling.
  • **You'll have a little extra space on one end which is fine, you can either tuck a rolled up piece of greased foil there or just leave it and the rolls on that end will spread a little more.
  • If on a gluten-free diet, be sure to check all of the packaging labels on ingredients to make sure they are gluten-free.
Nutrition Facts
Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls
Amount Per Serving
Calories 501 Calories from Fat 189
% Daily Value*
Fat 21g32%
Saturated Fat 11g69%
Cholesterol 76mg25%
Sodium 365mg16%
Potassium 311mg9%
Carbohydrates 75g25%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 38g42%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 619IU12%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 103mg10%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.

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55 Comments

  • Amanda

    Definitely going to try these!
    Those that are Celiac or gluten intolerant, please make sure you are buying the correct yeast! Not all yeast is gluten free, some is made from barley!

  • Iris

    Would there be any benefit or drawback to letting this dough sit and rise a bit? Using yeast AND baking powder/soda scares me a bit.

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      I don’t know that there would be any benefit in letting it sit. I haven’t tried so I can’t say for sure? I know they are perfect as they are so I wouldn’t recommend making changes.

  • Gaye

    These are very very good. Within 1 1/2 hours, we were eating them. The dough was wet for me too (as some others had said), but I just added more tapioca starch (1/2 C.). I had a terrible time getting the cut pieces over into the pan, but oh well–I know that looks aren’t everything. And actually, once it bakes, it looks pretty fine anyway.

  • Rhonda Welch

    Jacklyn, I have been gluten free for about 16 months now and my boys love the change! I am with you on the rice flour and tapioca being better. I was fortunate enough to have a friend who pass me her flour mix and I have not had a lot of trial and error. A few suggestions for you. I grind 2 lbs of brown rice with 8 oz. of tapioca pearls for my basic recipe. I keep this in air tight containers. I have also begun adding 1/4 c. of potato starch to most baked goods and no longer use xanthan, instead I use chia seeds measurement for measurement if you want I personally use 1 tbs.

    Instead of my usual 1/4 cup of potato starch I am going to give your 1 cup amount a try as my rolls where hard to roll out.

  • Brenda

    This is my second time making this and the consistency is more thin like cake batter. Not sure what this is happening. I did sub 1tbs chia seeds in 2tbs water for the gum. It bakes great and is tasty, just wish I could get rolls from it.

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      Are you scooping the ingredients from the package with the measuring cup or pouring into the measuring cup? Be sure to scoop and level instead of pour or spoon and level. Also if you are in an environment with high humidity you may need to add a little bit more of each of the flours. Sorry it didn’t work perfectly for you!

  • Amber

    I tried this today. The flavor was there but I couldn’t get the right consistency. My dough fell apart easy. I’ll try again another day. Great frosting though. Yum!

  • Kayle (The Cooking Actress)

    I think your photos of these cinnamon roll are GORGEOUS!!! And they look amazing-I cannot belieeeeve that they’re glutenfree!