Healthy Cinnamon Rolls (Gooey, Moist and Flavorful!)
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If you’ve been on the hunt for Healthy Cinnamon Rolls, you have come to the right place. This is the best ever ooey-gooey cinnamon roll recipe! Made with a few healthy swaps, these cinnamon rolls are healthy and comforting, and you’ll want to use this recipe time and time again!
There is nothing more traditional or classic than a hot, freshly made batch of cinnamon rolls. The aroma of these sweet treats is hard to beat as it fills the air and makes your stomach rumble.
These rolls use a bunch of healthy swaps: whole wheat flour instead of refined flour, pumpkin puree to cut down on the amount of fat needed, and less sugar overall! While these are much healthier than the traditional version, they are fluffy, moist and super satisfying – and I guarantee your entire family will adore them.
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They turned out insanely good, and I am thrilled to be sharing them with you. These cinnamon rolls are fabulous for all occasions too – breakfast or brunch, a holiday dessert, or just a sweet treat with your afternoon tea or coffee!
Tools and Equipment You’ll Need
Recipe Ingredient and Notes
- Flour: To make these cinnamon rolls healthier, I used whole wheat pastry flour. It has a nice light consistency but is packed with whole grains. White whole wheat flour would work too!
- Pumpkin Puree: The secret ingredient to keep these rolls moist and sweet without needing a ton of butter and sugar!
- Spices: Ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin pie spice were my picks, but you can also use all spice, ground ginger, or even ground cardamom to change things up!
- Sugar: Lower glycemic coconut sugar (and less sugar overall) keeps these rolls perfectly sweet but not so sugary they’ll give you that blood sugar spike & crash most treats will.
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl combine the milk, oil, egg, pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, sugar and yeast.
Step 2: Add the flour and stir until incorporated.
Step 3: Knead for 3 minutes until you have an elastic and smooth dough. Cover with a cloth and let it rise for 45 minutes.
Step 4: Gently punch the dough and transfer to a floured surface. With the help of a rolling pin, roll out the dough until you have a 16×12 inch rectangle. Spread the melted butter on top.
Step 5: Sprinkle with sugar, cinnamon and pumpkin spice.
Step 6: Roll the dough into a log.
Step 7: Cut the log into 12 rolls using a sharp serrated knife. Transfer to a baking dish and cover again. Let them rise for 30 minutes.
Step 8: Bake for 35 minutes until the filling is bubbling and the rolls seem firm. Let cool for 10-15 minutes before serving.
What Makes These Cinnamon Rolls Healthy?
While these cinnamon rolls aren’t entirely healthy, they are MUCH healthier than classic recipes. They are made with ingredients that are okay to eat in moderation. Let’s talk about what makes them healthier.
- Less Sugar: While regular cinnamon rolls are LOADED with tons of sugar in the rolls and icing, mine is much better. They do still have some sugar, but it’s not an overwhelming amount. Each roll has only 5 grams of added sugar! We also used coconut sugar for a lower glycemic sugar option.
- Whole Grains: Instead of using regular all-purpose flour, we use whole wheat flour instead. Whole wheat flour has fiber, protein, folate, manganese, copper, and selenium in it. It’s also higher in heart healthy fiber and keeps you fuller longer.
- Low Calorie and Low Fat: Each cinnamon roll only has 186 calories and 6 grams of fat! So you can indulge without feeling guilty for eating a high-calorie treat.
Will Kids Enjoy These Cinnamon Rolls?
Of course, kids will DEVOUR these cinnamon rolls. I would much rather make these healthy cinnamon rolls for kids instead of getting them commercially prepared rolls. These are much better for them, and they will go wild for how good they taste. You can feel good about giving them a special breakfast without all that extra refined sugar.
Recipe FAQs
For best results, you will need to let the cinnamon rolls cool down completely. Once they have cooled all the way, place them inside of an airtight container. They will be okay stored at room temperature for up to two days. You can also store them in the fridge if you prefer them cold. They will last up to 4 days in the fridge.
I recommend tossing these healthy cinnamon rolls in the microwave for 10-15 seconds before serving. They will be warm and gooey just like they were when they came out of the oven.
Yes, freezing these healthy cinnamon rolls is a lovely idea, so you have them on hand whenever you want an easy breakfast on the go. Let the rolls cool completely. Then wrap each one in plastic wrap and put them in a freezer-safe bag or container. They will last up to 2 months in the freezer. Thaw before serving. You can also heat them in the microwave if you want them warm.
Recipe Variations
- Add about 1 tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice to the glaze. It will give you a zesty orange flavor that is amazing.
- Feel free to add in any mix-ins you like! You can use raisins, chopped nuts, dried cherries, cranberries, or any other dried fruits.
- Sprinkle some cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, or nutmeg in the icing. It will give you a delicious spicy option that’s especially good in the fall. Just add ¼ teaspoon or a dusting on top. Yum!
- Try adding a spread of pumpkin or apple butter to the filling before sprinkling the dough with cinnamon (so spread the butter, then pumpkin or apple butter, then the cinnamon) and then roll.
Top Tips For Making Healthy Cinnamon Rolls
- Don’t overheat the milk mixture. Once it’s lukewarm, that is sufficient; otherwise if it’s too hot, it’s not going to react well with the yeast.
- Make sure to spoon and level your flour into your measuring cup (versus scooping out the flour with your measuring cup) and don’t forget to sift it! Doing these two things will ensure you have a light and fluffy roll vs. a dense roll. Be sure not to add too much flour to the cinnamon rolls. If you add too much, they are going to be denser and not as fluffy.
- When making cinnamon rolls, it’s important not to overwork the dough. Once all the ingredients are incorporated, you don’t need to over-knead it. Overworking the dough leads to a stiff, hard roll that’s not too appealing.
- To seal the rolled up dough before cutting them into individual rolls, pinch the free end – and if you need to, you can brush the edge with water before pinching to seal.
- If you don’t have pumpkin pie spice you can use a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove for a similar result.
- You can freeze these rolls before baking them! Then once you are ready to have freshly baked rolls just take it straight from the freezer to the oven and bake for 45 minutes.
- For a vegan version, substitute your favorite non-dairy milk for the regular milk, use a flax egg or a vegan egg substitute, and use vegan butter or coconut oil for the butter.
Check Out These Other Healthy Breakfast Recipes!
- Vegan Banana Bread
- Healthy Vegan Scones with Pumpkin
- Healthy Banana Bread
- Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal with Berries
- Vegan Baked Oatmeal with Fresh Berries
- Healthy Pancakes with Oats and Sprouted Wheat
- Healthy Apple Muffins by Cookie + Cake
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Healthy Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients
For The Cinnamon Rolls
- 1/3 cup lowfat milk, warm
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
- 1/8 tsp vanilla extract
- 1.25 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/8 cup coconut sugar or brown sugar, unpacked
- 2 tsp instant yeast
- 3 cups whole wheat pastry flour sifted, divided
For The Topping
- 1/8 cup butter, melted
- 1/4 cup coconut sugar or brown sugar, unpacked
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 2 tbsp raisins, dried cherries or dried cranberries optional
Glaze (Optional)
- 3 tbsp lowfat milk
- 1 tbsp powdered sugar
Instructions
- In a bowl combine the milk, oil, egg, pumpkin puree, vanilla, spices, sugar and yeast. Add the flour and stir until incorporated.
- Knead for 3 minutes until you have an elastic and smooth dough. Cover with a cloth and let it rise for 45 minutes.
- Gently punch the dough and transfer to a floured surface. With the help of a rolling pin, roll out the dough until you have a 16×12 inch rectangle.
- Spread the melted butter on top and sprinkle with sugar, cinnamon and pumpkin spice. Roll the dough into a log and with a knife cut out 12 rolls.
- Transfer to a baking dish and cover again. Let them rise for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Take the rolls to the oven and bake for 35 minutes.
Notes
- Don’t overheat the milk mixture. Once it’s lukewarm, that is sufficient; otherwise if it’s too hot, it’s not going to react well with the yeast.
- Make sure to spoon and level your flour into your measuring cup (versus scooping out the flour with your measuring cup) and don’t forget to sift it! Doing these two things will ensure you have a light and fluffy roll vs. a dense roll. Be sure not to add too much flour to the cinnamon rolls. If you add too much, they are going to be denser and not as fluffy.
- When making cinnamon rolls, it’s important not to overwork the dough. Once all the ingredients are incorporated, you don’t need to over-knead it. Overworking the dough leads to a stiff, hard roll that’s not too appealing.
- To seal the rolled up dough before cutting them into individual rolls, pinch the free end – and if you need to, you can brush the edge with water before pinching to seal.
- If you don’t have pumpkin pie spice you can use a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove for a similar result.
- You can freeze these rolls before baking them! Then once you are ready to have freshly baked rolls just take it straight from the freezer to the oven and bake for 45 minutes.
- For a vegan version, substitute your favorite non-dairy milk for the regular milk, use a flax egg or a vegan egg substitute, and use vegan butter or coconut oil for the butter.
