These Quick & Easy No Yeast Cinnamon Rolls require very little work, yet still yield the tastiest, gooiest, sweetest, doughiest, finger-lickinist rolls you could make from scratch and still seem like you spent all day on them.
Don’t forget to top them with the BEST CINNAMON ROLL ICING, and then try these Super Soft Cinnamon Rolls with Brown Sugar Frosting, or One Hour Cream Cheese Cinnamon Rolls.
Like with cinnamon rolls. I really love cinnamon rolls. I do! All that gooey cinnamon-sugary stuff in the middle and that thick frosting smeared all over the top. I love it all.
But I really don’t love the idea of using yeast, rising times, and the looooong process that making cinnamon rolls can require. I know, I know — sounds lazy right?
Normally I might try to talk myself into pulling on my adult pants and making a batch of “regular” yeast-y cinnamon rolls, but today I’m going against the baker inside of my and ditching the yeast.
Why? Well, because these ones required no yeast or rising time and were so so SO good. So why go for the longer process when the shorter one is just as good if not (dare I say it?) BETTER!
However, I also have to say something about this frosting. Holy heavens! I think we can all agree that the frosting is the best part, yes?
Except the problem with a lot of cinnamon roll frostings is that they are delicious for one or two bites but then makes you sick and you can’t even finish the roll because the frosting is so rich.
Good news! This frosting does not have that problem. I could eat it for days and days and never get that sick feeling. Just a please-make-another-batch-quick feeling.
So, all in all, all parts of these rolls are pretty much perfect!
I’ve already thought of a few ways I want to use this frosting in the future.
And one of them includes only a bowl and a spoon.
But the others are a little less obsessive.
I know I said I made these for a thank-you gift but obviously I kept a few for the Hubby and myself. Mine didn’t survive til he got home from work but when he got to try his last night he couldn’t get it in his mouth fast enough. And he seriously had no complaints. No critiques. Nothin.
Except he did say he wished I hadn’t given them all away. So I guess I’ll have to make them again pretty soon.
Hey, I’m not complaining. These babies were delish.
Here’s What you’ll Need
Filling
- Light brown sugar
- Sugar
- Cinnamon
- Vanilla
- Salt
- Butter
- Raisins (optional)
Dough
- Flour
- Sugar
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Buttermilk
- Milk
- Butter
Frosting
- Butter
- Cream cheese
- Powdered sugar
- Milk
- Vanilla extract
Here’s How You Make it
You know there’s no waiting for the yeast so let’s get right to it, shall we?
- Preheat the oven to 425. Use about 1 tablespoon of melted butter to grease the bottom of a 9-inch cake pan. Set that aside and get to work on the filling.
- In a medium bowl combine sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add in the vanilla and cut in the butter with a fork or your hands until well combined. Set that aside as well.
- Then, get out another larger bowl and whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Using a liquid measuring cup, measure out 1 cup of buttermilk and add to that 1/4 cup of another milk (I used 1%). Whisk 2 tablespoons of melted butter into the milk mixture. Then, mix the buttermilk mixture into the dry ingredients until just combined, and knead the dough with your hands for about 30 seconds. (I recommend flouring hands first as the dough will be quite sticky.)
4. Lightly flour a clean work surface. Using your hands, press dough into a 12×10-inch rectangle. (It does not have to be exact or perfectly rectangular.) Brush 2 tablespoons of softened butter onto the entire surface of the dough. Spread the filling evenly onto the dough, coming to within about 1/2 inch of edges.
5. Press the filling into the dough. (Add the raisins now if you are including them.) Starting with the long end of the rectangle, roll the dough all the way to the opposite end. Roll the dough back and forth (while it’s together) to shape it evenly into a log shape. Pinch the ends together and cut off the excess, should be about 1/2 inch. The, cut the dough log into 8 equal sections, otherwise known as your rolls.
6. Place one roll in the middle of the buttered cake pan and then place the remaining seven rolls evenly around the first. Brush the tops of them with the remaining 2 tablespoons of melted butter. Put the rolls into the oven and allow them to bake at 425 degrees for about 15 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 350 and allow them to bake about 10 more minutes, or until edges begin to lightly brown. (I like mine a little more doughy so I pull them out a little early, but it’s up to you!)
7. While rolls are baking it is the perfect time to prepare the frosting. Using a hand mixer, beat the softened butter and cream cheese until the mixture is light and creamy. Add in the powdered sugar, vanilla, and half-n-half. Mix all of this together until well combined.
8. When the rolls are finished baking, allow them to cool for 5-10 minutes before spreading the frosting on. You can store the cinnamon rolls in an airtight container for 2 days or serve immediately. Enjoy!
What Can be Used Instead of Yeast
Although these rolls require no yeast, there are times you need yeast and you don’t have it and you’re midway through the recipe so what can you do? Substitute it, that’s what. Full disclosure, I’ve not tried it myself but I have heard that you can use baking soda instead of yeast, but you have to add an acid like lemon juice to it. So, equal parts of both should do the trick. Or you could use buttermilk and baking soda (since that’s acidic too).
Did you make this Quick and Easy No Yeast Cinnamon Rolls recipe? YAY! Please rate the recipe below!
Quick & Easy No Yeast Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients
- ¾ cup light brown sugar
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons butter - softened
- optional: 1/2 cup raisins
Dough
- 2 ½ cups flour
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 ¼ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup buttermilk
- ¼ cup milk
- 4 tablespoons melted butter - divided
- 2 tablespoons butter - softened
Frosting
- 3 tablespoons butter - softened
- 3 ounces cream cheese
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- ¼ cup milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla or almond extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425. Use 1 tablespoon softened butter to grease the bottom and sides of a 9 inch cake pan. Set aide.
- In a medium bowl combine sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt and add in the vanilla and cut in the butter with a fork or your hands until well combined. Set that aside as well.
- In a large bowl whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Using a liquid measuring cup, measure 1 cup of buttermilk, add 1/4 cup other milk (I used 1%) and then whisk in 2 Tbs melted butter. Mix buttermilk mixture into dry ingredients until just combined, then knead with well-floured hands for about 30 seconds, sprinkling in a little extra flour as needed if dough is too sticky to work with.
- Generously flour a clean work surface. Roll (or press with fingertips) dough into a 12×10 inch rectangle. (does not have to be exact). Brush 2 tablespoons softened butter onto the entire surface of the dough. Sprinkle brown sugar filling evenly onto dough coming to about 1/2 inch of edges.
- Lightly press filling into dough. If including optional raisins, now sprinkle them on top of the dough. Starting with the long end of the rectangle, roll the dough to the opposite end. Pinch to seal along the length of the rolls to seal the filling in. Pinch the ends together and cut off the excess, about 1/2 inch. Cut the dough into 8 equal sections.
- Place one roll in the middle of the buttered cake pan and then place the remaining seven rolls evenly around the first. Brush the tops with remaining 2 Tbs melted butter.
- Place rolls in the oven and allow to bake at 425 for about 15 minutes, then reduce temperature to 350 and allow to bake about 10 more minutes, until edges begin to lightly brown. (I like mine a little more doughy so I pulled them out a little early.)
- While rolls are baking, prepare the frosting. Using a hand mixer, beat softened butter and cream cheese until light and creamy. Add in powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk. Mix until well combined. When rolls are finished baking, allow to cool 5-10 minutes before spreading the frosting on. Store in airtight container for 2 days or serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Recipe originally posted July 2013, updated April 2020 with new photos, new post wording, and some clarification in directions.
More Tasty Recipes Like This
- Vanilla Cinnamon Caramels
- Salted Caramel Shortbread
- Peppermint Meltaway Cookies
- Christmas Fudge
- One Hour Buttermilk Dinner Rolls
- Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls
- Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls
I have made these twice and even though I cut the sugar down last time it was STILL too much. Next time I will cut it by 1/3. Also have enough frosting left from the first batch for 4 more batches so don’t understand how anyone
can use all the sugar without the rolls DROWNING in SYRUP? The sweet bread flavor is wonderful on it’S owN (this comes from a sugar fiend)
Can theSe be preppEd the night beFore and baked fresh and iced the next morning?
yes!
This was also the second recipe I tried – the first one had some hard-as-rock dough!
I did tweak the frosting – caramel sauce poured onto the bottom of the pan (equal portion melted butter and brown sugar). Makes for super gooey rolls when inverted!
My mother made rolls like that and called them “caramel rolls” they were my favorite all growing up! So glad you loved this – I’m trying it with your trick next time!
If I don’t have buttermilk, can I substitute heavy cream?
Not sure heavy cream is a good sub for buttermilk- you can easily make your own buttermilk sub! There are a number of substitutes for buttermilk in baking. For each cup of buttermilk, you can use 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice plus enough milk to measure 1 cup. Stir, then let stand for 5 minutes. You can also use 1 cup of plain yogurt or 1-3/4 teaspoons cream of tartar plus 1 cup milk.
Just made it, best thing I ever tasted! You can also make the icing with heavy cream(whipping cream) and it works just as well, it just makes it a bit thicker.
I am so happy to hear that! Thanks for the great feedback!