Every time I walk past a Cinnabon and smell that insane sweet doughy scent, I go crazy! But sadly, they aren't vegan. That's why I decided the people (meaning YOU) deserved a killer vegan cinnamon roll recipe. This version really brings things to a whole 'nother LEVEL, so grab some napkins!
They're everything you want them to be: warm, delicious, and covered in creamy icing. But wait, there's more! They're also stuffed with a ridiculously sweet and spicy peach mixture that'll probably have you doing a happy dance in the kitchen. Don't worry if spiced whiskey peaches sounds like extra labor on top of making homemade rolls. You only need three ingredients, and it's as easy as combining 'em on the stove and letting 'em simmer!
If peaches aren't in season as you're browsing this blog post, you could really use any fruit. How about vegan cinnamon rolls stuffed with spice whisky apples? Or pears? What about apricots?! That all sounds epically delicious, personally.
You might say I've become a bit of a vegan cinnamon roll master now! I have a perfect recipe for classic ones in my cookbook, Vegan Comfort Classics: 101 Recipes to Feed Your Face. And no the blog I've got even more varying versions of vegan cinnamon rolls like caramel and pecan rolls and strawberry caramel glazed rolls.
Whichever recipe you go for, they're best eaten fresh out of the oven (after letting them cool a bit!), so invite over some friends or family members to help you polish that skillet off.
vegan cinnamon rolls with spiced whiskey peaches
Ingredients
dough
- 2 teaspoons active dry yeast or quick rise yeast (different mixing methods for each)
- 1 ½ C warm water (see instructions for exact temperatures depending on yeast used)
- 1 tablespoon organic cane sugar or granulated sugar
- 3 C all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon vegetable oil (or melted vegan butter or coconut oil)
- ¼ C all-purpose flour, for rolling out dough
spiced whiskey peaches
- 3 ripe peaches, peeled and diced (approximately 3 cups)
- 1 C Spicebox Canadian Spiced Whiskey (or bourbon)
- ¼ C maple syrup
filling
- 2 tablespoon vegan butter or coconut oil, melted
- ¼ C organic cane sugar or granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
frosting
- 1 C powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon softened vegan butter
- 1 tablespoon nondairy milk or water
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Combine active dry yeast with warm water and sugar. You can also use quick rise yeast. See different instructions after. The water needs to be at a temperature of around 100°F for the yeast to activate so it’s best to use a thermometer. Allow the mixture to sit for 10 minutes. It should double in size and be foamy at the top.
- Meanwhile, melt your coconut oil over low heat. Ensure the coconut oil is also not heated above 100°F.
- Combine flour with sea salt in a large mixing bowl. Create a well in the middle of the flour and pour the yeast mixture and coconut oil into it.
- If you're using quick rise yeast, add the yeast and sugar in with the flour and sea salt and stir to combine. In this instance, you will need water between 120°F and 130°F. Create a well in the middle of the dry ingredients and add 1 tablespoon of oil and the water.
- In both instances, once everything is in the bowl, fold the dough gently to combine it with a spatula until it comes together to form a ball that is slightly sticky. Lightly flour your surface and hands and place the dough on the surface. Press with your fingers and fold onto itself, kneading 10 to 15 times until the dough is slightly sticky. If it starts sticking to your hands, lightly flour them and your surface as you knead.
- If you've used a different flour and your dough is too sticky, you might need to add up to 1 cup of extra flour. However, only add a small amount at a time as you don't want to add too much flour or it will make the dough tough.
- Lightly oil the mixing bowl with 1 teaspoon of oil or melted butter or coconut oil. It's fine if there are remnants in the bowl from mixing. Lightly flour the outside of the ball of dough and place it in the bowl. If you used active yeast, you will need to proof it for 1 to 2 hours in a warm, dark place. Cover it with a damp towel and place somewhere like the top of the fridge or in the oven or microwave, away from any cool drafts. The dough will double in size.
- If you used quick rise yeast, let the dough rest for 10 to 20 minutes with a damp towel over the bowl. Then proceed with making the filling and shaping the rolls.
- While the dough is rising, you can prepare the spiced peaches. In a sauce pan, heat spiced whiskey, maple syrup, and diced peaches over medium heat. Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, and then remove from the heat and cool completely.
- Combine sugar and cinnamon for the filling and set aside.
- Melt 2 tablespoons of vegan butter in the pan you want to bake the cinnamon rolls in, then use the residue to grease all sides of the pan.
- Once dough has proofed, lightly flour a clean dry surface/countertop and roll out the dough to approximately a 16” x 16” square.
- Leave a 1” edge on one side of the dough free from melted butter and any fillings. That will be the outside edge when you roll the dough up.
- Brush melted butter on the surface of the dough. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture evenly on top. Then take the spiced peaches and spread them out on top of the cinnamon sugar.
- Start at the opposite side of the clean edge and roll the dough into a log shape. Take a sharp knife and cut 12 equal rolls.
- Place the rolls in the pan, leaving space between the rolls and the edge of the pan. Cover the pan in plastic wrap and a damp tea towel, and allow the rolls to proof in a warm dark place for another 1 to 2 hours or until doubled in size.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake the rolls for 25 to 30 minutes until just golden brown on the tops and the filling is slightly bubbling.
- Allow the cinnamon rolls to cool for 10 to 15 minutes. Make the icing by combining all the icing ingredients in a small bowl with a hand mixer until smooth.
- Spread the icing on top of warm cinnamon rolls and serve immediately.
Izzy
I just made these and they are amazing! Thanks guys!
Lauren Toyota
yay! Thank you so much 🙂
Emelia
Do you think you could some how convert this to a make ahead dish? This seems like something I'd want to make the night before and bake in the morning.
Lauren Toyota
yes you can get it to the point of having the full buns in the pan. After you let them rise the 2nd time just pop them in the fridge and then bake in the morning
Angela
Omg these are so good. This was my first attempt at making cinnamon rolls and they were amazing. The only downside is I made them the night before and stuck them in the fridge and the next morning they had deflated and merged into a cinnamon roll cake but it still tasted amazing.
Susan H
I'm pretty sure I read the ingredients correctly but I ended up with peach bourbon goo all over the place. Over half the mixture squished out the top and sides before I got half way through rolling it up.
Nicole
These are amazing! I made a batch for my (very carnivorous) guy friends and they could not get enough. Another one out of the park Lauren!
Laura
I made this but I'm not sure about the texture of the dough after I've mixed the ingredients together. I hope it gets more airy as it rises. Right now the dough seems really dense.
Lauren Toyota
the dough should rise as specified in the instructions!
Sam
Hello! Any way to substitute GF flour for the regular flour? 🙂
Ashley Abbuhl
Lauren!! I am actually your biggest fan haha. I made these and brought them to school with me for some christmas festivities and let me tell you, they were a big hit! A lot of questions along the lines of "wait, these are vegan?" "how are these vegan?" "you have to send me the recipe!". Can't wait to make these for Christmas morning 🙂
Lauren Toyota
that's amazing!!!! Thank you <3
Sara L
Making these for Christmas morning breakfast 🙂 so excited
Lindsey
Could Captain Morgan spiced work instead of whisky?
Emily
Hey Lauren! This are so dang good! But my dough is always suuuuuuuuper sticky. I live in a humid environment, is it okay to knead it more to get a smoother texture on the dough? I don’t want them to be tough, but rolling and cutting the dough log is always kind of a mess. A delicious mess, but a mess none the less!
Talia
I made this recipe for a second time. Each time I had to use at least 3/4 more flour than the recipe called for (excluding the flour for rolling/ dusting). But, that’s not uncommon. The cinnamon rolls are excellent. Great recipe, Lauren!
Lauren Toyota
yes with baking not all flours are created equal plus not factoring in the temperature of the kitchen you're in!