These Keto Cinnamon Rolls are big, soft, gooey, and totally irresistible! They have no cheese, meaning they're not made with fathead dough. Instead, these are classic, bakery-style yeast-raised cinnamon rolls made with almond and coconut flour. Plus, they can be fully prepped ahead of time and are perfect for any special occasion.
I'm so excited to finally share my Keto Cinnamon Rolls with you! While I love my original paleo cinnamon roll recipe, I really wanted a Keto version to share.
Instead of using fathead dough (a cheese-based dough), though, these have no cheese and are made with a combination of almond and coconut flour and taste just like classic bakery-style cinnamon rolls.
They're big, soft, and have a gooey center with that classic "yeast-raised" taste. They rise beautifully and are surprisingly easy to make too!
Watch the YouTube video!
See how easy this recipe is to make on my YouTube channel and let me know what you think!
Find the link to the full video in the recipe card below or here: Cinnamon Roll YouTube Video
The sweetener
To make keto cinnamon rolls, you'll need to use a low-carb sweetener. I prefer to use allulose or a monk fruit/allulose blend, but any keto granulated sweetener will work!
For the frosting, I prefer to use powdered monk fruit with allulose. It tastes just like powdered sugar and results in a super-smooth texture.
While technically, powdered erythritol can be used, I prefer not to use erythritol-based sweeteners in glazes and frostings.
Erythritol can leave a slight cooling-like aftertaste and it's doesn't usually result in a super-smooth texture.
For more information on the pros and cons of the different low-carb sweeteners, you may want to check out this Ultimate Guide To Keto Sweeteners!
*Note-As a gift to my readers, I've teamed up with BESTI to give you guys 10% off! Simply use the code "CRAVEABLE" at checkout.
For dairy-free
These low-carb cinnamon rolls are super easy to make dairy-free!
Simply replace the butter with non-dairy butter or ghee and replace the sour cream with coconut cream.
For coconut cream, place a can of full-fat canned coconut milk in the fridge for 24 hours, then scoop out the coagulated cream.
I prefer Thai Kitchen, Native Forest, or Sprouts brand because others may not separate well or leave an aftertaste. If the cream is too hard to stir, place in microwave for just a few seconds, or until softened but not melted.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, they can! Fully prepare the rolls and allow them to rise. Then, cover tightly and place in the fridge until you're ready to bake them, or up to 2 days. Allow them to set on the countertop while the oven is pre-heating to slightly warm up before baking.
Leftovers can be stored, unfrosted, covered at room temperature 2 to 3 days, or frozen up to 3 months. To freeze, individually wrap the unfrosted rolls in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer-safe baggie. To reheat: Unwrap the rolls and place them in a lined baking dish. Then, loosely tent with foil and heat in a 350-degree oven for 10-15 minutes, or until hot.
You sure can! Prepare the dough through step 3, then cover with plastic wrap and store in the fridge for up to 2 days or in the freezer for 2 - 3 weeks. If stored in the freezer, let the dough rest on the counter until it's soft enough to be rolled out. Then, continue with the recipe.
The yeast
Start by proofing the yeast.
In a small bowl, combine very warm but not scalding water with a Tablespoon of dry active yeast and a Tablespoon of honey, maple syrup, sugar, or coconut palm sugar. The yeast will eat the sugar so it will not affect the carb count.
Then, very lightly whisk the yeast and set it aside for 10-15 minutes or until it starts to foam. If your yeast doesn't foam either the water was the wrong temp or the yeast was bad and you'll need to start over.
The dough
Now, whisk together finely ground almond flour, flaxseed meal, sea salt, baking powder, sweetener, and xanthan gum or psyllium husk powder.
I prefer and recommend the xanthan gum, but the psyllium husk powder will work. However, it results in more of a whole-wheat tasting cinnamon roll and the dough is a bit harder to roll and doesn't hold together as well.
A word of caution: all coconut flour isn’t the same! Some coconut flours are much more absorbent than others.
I recommend using either Bob’s Red Mill or Arrowhead Mills because these are 2 brands I know will work. If you need to use another brand, make sure it has a soft and fluffy texture, not gritty or grainy.
Stir in some melted butter (can use non-dairy), coconut cream, eggs, apple cider vinegar, and the proofed yeast. The batter will be very thick and sticky, but be persistent and get it all mixed really well.
Rolling out the dough
To roll out the dough: Tear off a long piece of parchment paper and lightly dust it with coconut flour. Then, put the dough on the parchment paper and cover it with plastic wrap.
*Note- If the dough is too sticky to work with, pop it in the freezer for around 15 minutes, or until slightly firmed up.
Using your hands or a rolling pin, spread the dough into a rectangle that's approximately 10 x 12 inches.
Brush on some softened/melted butter (again, non-dairy is fine), sweetener, and cinnamon - leaving the bottom inch dry.
Start rolling the dough as tightly as possible toward the dry end. I lift up the parchment paper as I go, using it as an aid. Go slowly and patch up any cracks as needed. Seal the edge with your fingertips.
Using a sharp, greased knife cut into 8 equal-sized rolls.
Transfer the rolls to a lightly greased pie pan or 9 x 9-inch baking pan, cut side up. Slightly press down on each roll with your palm and slightly reshape as needed.
How to proof the dough
Tightly cover the rolls and allow to rise undisturbed in a warm place for approximately 60-90 minutes, or until about doubled in size.
To rise: Preheat the oven to 150 degrees. When ready to rise, turn off the oven, add the rolls, and leave the door cracked. After 30 minutes, close the door to finish rising.
When done rising, remove rolls from the oven and place them on top of the oven while still covered. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Baking
Once preheated, bake for 5 minutes. Then, reduce the heat to 350 and bake an additional 15 - 20 minutes, or until nicely browned.
Top with Keto Cream Cheese Frosting or a Simple Keto Glaze (recipes below) while rolls are still hot. Only frost the ones you plan on eating the same day and enjoy!
💭 Top tips
- If your yeast doesn't foam either the water was the wrong temp or the yeast was bad and you'll need to start over.
- The sweetener: I prefer to use allulose or a monk fruit/allulose blend, but any keto granulated sweetener will work! Allulose and monk fruit will result in a softer cinnamon roll while erythritol-based sweeteners will give the edge of the rolls a slight crust. For the frosting, I prefer to use powdered monk fruit with allulose. It tastes just like powdered sugar and results in a super-smooth texture. While technically, powdered erythritol can be used, I prefer not to use erythritol-based sweeteners in glazes and frostings. Erythritol can leave a slight cooling-like aftertaste and it's doesn't usually result in a super-smooth texture.
- As a gift to my readers, I've teamed up with BESTI KETO SWEETENERS to give you guys 10% off! Simply use the code "CRAVEABLE" at checkout.
- A word of caution: all coconut flour isn’t the same! Some coconut flours are much more absorbent than others. I recommend using either Bob’s Red Mill or Arrowhead Mills because these are 2 brands I know will work. If you need to use another brand, make sure it has a soft and fluffy texture, not gritty or grainy.
- I prefer and recommend the xanthan gum, but the psyllium husk powder will work. However, it results in more of a whole-wheat tasting cinnamon roll and the dough is harder to roll and doesn't hold together as well. Also, be sure to use psyllium husk POWDER, not whole psyllium husks as they will not work in this recipe.
- If the dough is too wet and sticky to roll up, pop it in the freezer for around 15 minutes, or until firmed up enough to roll.
- For the coconut cream: Place full-fat canned coconut milk in the fridge for 24 hours. Then, scoop out the coagulated cream. I prefer Thai Kitchen, Native Forest, or Sprouts brand because others may not separate well or leave an aftertaste. If the cream is too hard to stir, place in microwave for just a few seconds, or until softened but not melted.
Looking for more keto recipes?
Or check out this yummy Keto Granola recipe from Four Score Living!
Not dairy-free? You may also like these Fathead Keto Cinnamon Rolls!
If you’ve tried these Keto Cinnamon Rolls or any other recipe on the blog please let me know in the comments below!
Craving more? FOLLOW ME on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, or E-Mail to find more delicious food!
📖 Recipe
Keto Cinnamon Rolls {No Cheese & Gluten-Free!}
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ Cups Blanched Almond Flour - very finely ground
- 3 Tbsp Ground Flax Seeds - I prefer golden for a lighter colored roll
- ¼ Cup Coconut Flour
- ¼ Cup Granulated Monk Fruit/Allulose Sweetener - or preferred granulated sweetener, see notes below
- ½ tsp. Sea Salt
- 2 ¼ tsp. Baking Powder
- 1 tsp. Xanthan Gum (preferred and recommended) - or 2 Tbsp. psyllium husk POWDER
- ¼ Cup Warm Water - very warm but not scalding, 105-110 degrees
- 1 Tbsp. Dry Active Yeast
- 1 Tbsp. Maple Syrup, Honey, coconut palm sugar, or Sugar - this does not affect the carb count because the yeast eats the sugar
- 2 Tbsp. Butter, can use non-dairy - melted and slightly cooled
- ¼ Cup Sour Cream - or coconut cream for dairy-free, see notes below
- 3 Large Eggs - room temperature
- 2 tsp. Apple Cider Vinegar
Filling:
- ⅓ Cup Butter, can use non-dairy - softened, almost melted
- 2 Tbsp. Ground Cinnamon
- ¼ Cup Granulated Monk Fruit/Allulose Sweetener - or preferred granulated sweetener, see notes below
- 2 tsp. Xanthan Gum - optional, keeps the filling from seeping out
Keto Icing:
- 1 ½ Cups Keto Powdered Sweetener - see notes below, or powdered sweetener of choice
- 2 Tbsp. Butter, can use non-dairy - melted
- ½ tsp. Pure Vanilla
- 1 Tbsp Strong Brewed Coffee - optional
- 3-5 Tbsp. Non-Dairy Milk - or as needed to thin icing
Keto Cream Cheese Frosting:
- ¼ Cup Butter (can use non-dairy) - softened to room temperature
- 4 oz. Block Cream Cheese
- ½ Cup Keto Powdered Sweetener - or powdered sweetener of choice
- ½ tsp. Pure Vanilla
- Non-Dairy Milk, Heavy Cream, or Coconut Cream - optional, as needed to thin
Instructions
- Start by proofing the yeast. In a small bowl, combine very warm but not scalding water (105-110 degrees) with the yeast and sugar of choice. The yeast will eat the sugar so it will not affect the carb count. Slightly whisk together and set aside for around 10 minutes or until foamy.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the finely ground almond flour, flaxseed meal, coconut flour, sweetener, sea salt, baking powder, and xanthan gum or psyllium husk powder.
- Stir in the melted and slightly cooled butter (you don't want to scramble the eggs or kill the yeast!), sour cream or coconut cream, eggs, apple cider vinegar, and the proofed yeast. The batter will be very thick and sticky (it's not like traditional dough), but be persistent and get it all mixed really well. *Note- If it's too wet and sticky to work with, you can add almond flour, a few tablespoons at a time, until the dough comes together. However, it should still be fairly soft and sticky.
- To roll out: Tear off a long piece of parchment paper and lightly dust it with coconut flour. Then, put the dough on the parchment paper and cover it with plastic wrap. Using your hands or a rolling pin, spread the dough into a rectangle that's approximately 10 x 12 inches.
- In a small bowl, mix together the filling ingredients. Then, spread the filling over the dough, leaving the bottom inch dry.
- Remove the plastic wrap and start rolling the dough as tightly as possible towards the dry end. Lift up the parchment paper as you go, using it as an aid if needed. Go slowly and patch up any cracks as needed. Seal the edge with your fingertips. *Note- If the dough is too sticky to roll up, pop it in the freezer for around 15 minutes, or until firm enough to work with.
- Using a sharp, greased knife cut into 8 equal-sized rolls.
- Transfer the rolls to a lightly greased pie pan or 9x9-inch baking dish, cut side up. Slightly press down on each roll with your palm and reshape as needed.
- To rise: Tightly cover the rolls with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and preheat the oven to 150 degrees. When the oven is preheated, turn the oven off, add the rolls, and leave the door cracked. After 30 minutes, close the door to finish rising. Allow to rise for 60 to 90 minutes.
- Remove the rolls and preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Once heated, bake uncovered for 5 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake an additional 15 - 20 minutes or until centers look set and tops are a deep golden brown.
- Top with either the Keto Icing or Keto Cream Cheese Frosting while rolls are still hot.
Keto Icing:
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together all ingredients. Thin with non-dairy milk as needed. Pour over hot rolls. Unused frosting can be stored covered in fridge for 2-3 days. Slightly warm before using.
Keto Cream Cheese Frosting:
- Add the room temperature butter and cream cheese to a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer until combined, about 2 minutes.
- Slowly beat in the powdered sweetener until thick and creamy, scraping down the bowl as necessary.
- Beat in the vanilla until incorporated. Thin with non-dairy milk and thicken with additional powdered sweetener if needed.
- Frosting is best eaten the same day, However, leftover frosting can be stored, tightly covered, in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.
Video
Notes
- See the link to the full video here: Cinnamon Roll YouTube Video!
- The dough can be made ahead of time (following instructions through step 3) then stored in the fridge for up to 2 days or in the freezer for 2 - 3 weeks. If stored in the freezer, let the dough rest on the counter until it's soft enough to be rolled out. Then, continue with the recipe.
- If your yeast doesn't foam either the water was the wrong temp or the yeast was bad and you'll need to start over.
- The sweetener: For the rolls, any low-carb granulated sweetener will work! I prefer to use allulose or a monk fruit/allulose blend which makes super-soft cinnamon rolls. If you use erythritol or an erythritol blend, the rolls will have a slight crust around the edges. For the frosting, I prefer to use powdered monk fruit with allulose. It tastes just like powdered sugar and results in a super-smooth texture. While technically, powdered erythritol can be used, I prefer not to use erythritol-based sweeteners in glazes and frostings. Erythritol can leave a slight cooling-like aftertaste and it's doesn't usually result in a super-smooth texture.
- As a gift to my readers, I've teamed up with BESTI KETO SWEETENERS to give you guys 10% off! Simply use the code "CRAVEABLE" at checkout.
- A word of caution: all coconut flour isn’t the same! Some coconut flours are much more absorbent than others. I recommend using either Bob’s Red Mill or Arrowhead Mills because these are 2 brands I know will work. If you need to use another brand, make sure it has a soft and fluffy texture, not gritty or grainy.
- I prefer and recommend the xanthan gum, but the psyllium husk powder will work. However, it results in more of a whole-wheat tasting cinnamon roll and the dough is harder to roll and doesn't hold together as well. Also, be sure to use psyllium husk POWDER, not whole psyllium husks as they will not work in this recipe.
- For the coconut cream: Place full-fat canned coconut milk in the fridge for 24 hours. Then, scoop out the coagulated cream. I prefer Thai Kitchen, Native Forest, or Sprouts brand because others may not separate well or leave an aftertaste. If the cream is too hard to stir, place in microwave for just a few seconds, or until softened but not melted.
- For the keto cream cheese frosting, be sure that you use a block of cream cheese and not cream cheese spread or the frosting will turn out runny. It’s also important that the butter is softened to room temperature. If you don’t have time to allow the butter to soften, though, check out this tutorial on How To Soften Butter Quickly from Sally’s Baking Addiction.
- For grain-free baking powder, combine 1 part baking soda with 2 parts cream of tartar and 2 parts starch (such as potato, tapioca, or arrowroot).
- To prepare ahead of time: Fully assemble the rolls and allow them to rise. Then, tightly cover and place in the fridge until ready to bake, up to 2 days. Allow them to set on the countertop while the oven is pre-heating to slightly warm up before baking.
- Leftovers can be stored, unfrosted, covered at room temperature for 2 to 3 days, or frozen. To freeze, wrap each cinnamon roll in plastic wrap then place in a large freezer-safe baggie. To reheat: Unwrap the rolls, place them in a lined baking dish. Then, lightly tent with foil and heat in a 350-degree oven for 10 - 15 minutes, or until hot.
- To prepare the dough ahead of time: Follow the instructions through step 3, then cover with plastic wrap and store in the fridge for up to 2 days or in the freezer for 2 - 3 weeks. If stored in the freezer, let the dough rest on the counter until it's soft enough to be rolled out. Then, continue with the recipe.
- Prefer Paleo? Check out my Paleo Cinnamon Rolls!
Nutrition
Nutritional information is approximate and may vary.
Looking for more information on the keto diet? Check out these resources:
Also, be sure to check out my cinnamon roll web story!
My husband LOVES these, Cassidy, and I love what the yeast does to make them so soft and fluffy - almost the same as those made with wheat flour. Thank you for the detailed instructions, too, which made it so easy to get them right on the first try - this can be really tricky, especially with keto doughs.
As Passover approaches, I'm trying to develop a list of recipes I can make for hubby to eat at a Seder we will be attending at a friend's home next week. My idea was to use this dough to create savory swirled buns, which I thought I would fill with herbed butter or pesto before rolling and cutting. I realize that I would have to greatly reduce the sweetener amount to almost none - how do you think this would affect the final product? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
I'll be making the original recipe again and again! Thank you so much - May God continue to bless you with creativity.
Thank you SO much Lisa, I'm excited you and your husband like them!!! I think your idea to make savory swirled buns sounds awesome!! I don't think leaving out the sweetener shouldn't really affect the texture, but I can't say for sure without trying it - sorry! Just be sure to still add the sweetener to the yeast mixture 🙂 Please let me know how they turn out!
Have fun baking!
-Cassidy
FINALLY!! A gluten free cinnamon roll recipie without loads of starch. We LOVED every bite. For our family of 8 I made 2 9x13 pans. (this recipie × 4) Huge hit. Thank you Cassidy😊😊
YAAAYYYY! This makes my day, I'm so excited you like them 🙂
-Cassidy
Hi, what kind of cream cheese do you recommend? I have always avoided it all together because I'm allergic to milk and assume this one recommended above is non-milk right?
For dairy-free you can use the Keto Icing, or if you want to make a dairy-free cream cheese frosting, I have a faux cream cheese frosting on my Paleo Cinnamon Roll Recipe you could try. I haven't experimented much with using a block of store-bought dairy-free cream cheese to make traditional cream cheese frosting, but I plan on testing it out this month so I'll come back and let you know the results!
XO,
Cassidy
If I don’t have ground flaxseed will the recipe still turn out ok? Thank you & Merry Christmas!
Hi Hillary,
I've never tried this recipe without flaxseed so I can't say for sure - sorry! The flaxseeds act as a binder (so it's not crumbly) and absorb liquid. You might could try adding just a tad more coconut flour, maybe an additional 1 Tbsp??? Coconut flour is really absorbent though so be sure not to add too much (if you do, add a touch of water). The dough should be fairly soft and sticky.
Again, I can't say for sure how it will turn out with the flax, but this is my best guess. Please let me know how it goes!
-Cassidy
Thank you Cassidy. What if I used tapioca starch? Will that work instead of ground flaxseed possibly?
Actually yes, that would probably be a good sub! When you're making them, as long as the texture seems good I think they'll turn out well with the tapioca starch. If you watch the youtube video, you should get a pretty good idea of what the texture should be. You can add tapioca flour to thicken and water to thin as needed. I'm excited for you to make these, let me know how they turn out!
-Cassidy
I halved the recipe and it was too sticky. Kept adding almond flour and it helped a little but they didn’t form right. Then they didn’t rise but I still baked them anyway. Didn’t taste very good. Nothing wrong with your recipe! I’m sure it was my error. I’m glad I tried it! Merry Christmas!
Hi Hillary, thanks for letting me know! It could also be that you halved the recipe. Something things just don't work well when halved. Especially since it called for 3 eggs and a few other measurements that are hard to half... that might have gotten tricky!
XO,
Cassidy
I love cinnamon rolls, and have had trouble finding a healthy recipe for them. These did the trick! I will be making them again Christmas morning.❤
Oh, thank you!!! I'm excited you liked them and will be making them again 🙂
-Cassidy
Love this recipe (cinnamon rolls are one of my favorite things to make)! I also feel a little healthier just reading it 😉
Pinning for later!
OMG YUM! I've been craving cinnamon rolls for weeks now. These look absolutely amazing and healthier than most. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thank you Jenna! I was craving cinnamon rolls too and made 3 or 4 batches - that should hold me for awhile, lol 🙂
-Cassidy