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These gluten free cinnamon rolls are soft, gooey, and full of cinnamon-sugar flavor—just like the kind you thought you couldn’t have anymore.
The dough is easy to work with, they rise beautifully, and you can even make them ahead.
“OMG! These were incredible. Light, fluffy and the perfect sweet I have been missing. Will definitely make these again.”
my take
Why You'll Love These Rolls
Soft and tender: They rise beautifully and have that classic pillowy texture.
Easy to handle: The dough is simple to shape, especially after a quick chill.
Make-ahead friendly: Parbake and freeze so they’re ready when you are.
Balanced sweetness: Just enough sugar to satisfy without overpowering the cinnamon.
Tastes like the original: No one will guess they’re made without gluten.
Recipe ingredients
For the rolls
- Gluten free flour blend: Use one of my recommended gluten free flour blends. Add xanthan gum only if your mix doesn’t include it.
- Tapioca starch: Adds extra stretch and softness.
- Milk powder: Adds richness and helps with browning.
- Instant yeast: For rise and flavor. Active dry yeast also works—see FAQs.
- Cream of tartar + baking soda: Work together to help the rolls rise and brown.
- Brown sugar + salt: For balanced flavor and tenderness.
- Apple cider vinegar: Adds a slight tang and helps with lift.
- Butter + egg + milk: Enrich the dough and keep it soft. Use full-fat milk.
For the filling
- Butter: Softened so it spreads easily.
- Brown sugar + cinnamon: Classic flavor and gooey center.
For the optional glaze or frosting
- Confectioners’ sugar + milk: For a simple pourable glaze.
- Butter + heavy cream: For a thicker, rich frosting. Use at room temp for best texture.
How to make gluten free cinnamon rolls
Make the dough
Whisk together the dry ingredients, then mix in the wet. Beat the dough in a stand mixer until smooth and pulling away from the sides. Chill it for 30 minutes so it’s easier to handle.
Roll it out
Divide the dough in half. Roll each half into a 9×12-inch rectangle about ½-inch thick on a lightly floured surface.
Add the filling
Spread with softened butter, then sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon. Pat the filling down gently to help it stick.
Shape the rolls
Roll the dough tightly from a short side into a coil. Slice into 6 even pieces using dental floss or a very sharp knife. Repeat with the other half.
Let them rise
Place the rolls cut side up in a greased baking dish, cover, and let rise until puffy—about 50% larger, not doubled.
Bake and frost
Bake at 350°F until risen and lightly golden. While still warm, top with glaze or frosting, if using.
My Pro Tip
Expert tips
Chill the dough before shaping: Cold dough is easier to handle and less likely to absorb too much flour, which can lead to dense rolls.
Don’t let them overproof: They should rise to about 50% bigger—not double. Overproofed rolls lose structure and bake up flat.
Roll evenly and not too thin: A ½-inch thickness gives the best swirl without tearing the dough or losing filling.
Use dental floss to cut cleanly: It slices without compressing the rolls. If using a knife, saw gently with a very sharp blade.
substitutions
Ingredient substitutions
Dairy-free: Use powdered coconut milk in place of milk powder. Substitute vegan butter for dairy butter, and choose a nondairy milk with fat (like almond milk, not fat-free).
Egg-free: Replace the egg with a chia egg (1 tablespoon ground white chia seeds + 1 tablespoon lukewarm water, mixed and gelled).
No apple cider vinegar or cream of tartar: Use white wine vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar, and lemon juice (½ teaspoon) in place of cream of tartar.
make ahead tip
Parbake and freeze
To make fresh cinnamon rolls in the morning without overproofing:
- Shape the rolls and let them rise as usual.
- Bake at 300°F for 15 minutes—until puffed but very pale.
- Let cool completely, then wrap tightly and freeze.
- When ready to serve, defrost at room temp.
- Bake at 350°F for about 10 minutes, until browned and bubbling.
Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls Recipe
Equipment
- Stand mixer with paddle attachment
Ingredients
For the rolls
- 3 cups (420 g) all purpose gluten free flour blend, (See Recipe Notes), plus more for sprinkling
- 2 teaspoons xanthan gum, omit if your blend already contains it
- ¼ cup (36) tapioca starch/flour
- ½ cup (43 g) dry milk powder, or buttermilk powder; make sure it's powder, not liquid!
- 3 teaspoons (6 g) instant yeast
- ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- 2 tablespoons (26 g) packed light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 4 tablespoons (56 g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 (50 g (weighed out of shell)) egg, at room temperature, beaten
- 1 ¼ cups (10 ounces) warm milk, about 95°F (plus a bit more, only as necessary)
For the filling
- 4 tablespoons (56 g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- ¾ cup (164 g) packed light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
For an optional glaze
- 1 cup (115 g) confectioners' sugar, sifted
- 1 tablespoon milk, any kind, plus more by the 1/4 teaspoonful
For an optional frosting
- 6 tablespoons (84 g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 2 cups (230 g) confectioners' sugar, sifted
- 3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream, at room temperature, plus more as necessary
Instructions
- Grease a 9-inch x 13-inch casserole dish and set it aside.
Make the dough
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle, whisk together the flour, xanthan gum, tapioca starch, milk powder, yeast, cream of tartar, baking soda, and sugar. Add the salt and whisk again.
- Add the vinegar, butter, egg, and milk, and mix to combine.
- Increase the mixer speed to high and beat for about 3 minutes, until the dough is smooth and pulling away from the sides.
- Transfer the dough to a sealed container and refrigerate for 30 minutes to make it easier to handle.
Roll out the dough
- Turn the chilled dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead gently to smooth.
- Divide in half, keeping one half covered. Roll the other into a 9×12-inch rectangle about ½ inch thick, dusting with flour as needed.
Add the filling and shape
- Spread half the softened butter over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border. Sprinkle with half the brown sugar, pat it down, then sprinkle with cinnamon.
- Starting from a short side, roll the dough tightly into a coil. Slice into 6 rolls using floss or a sharp knife.
- Place in a greased 9×13-inch pan, 1 inch apart. Press each roll down about ⅓ of the way to flatten slightly.
- Repeat with the second half of the dough and filling.
Let rise
- Cover the pan with lightly oiled plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm spot until the rolls are about 50% larger—about 45 minutes.
Bake
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Remove plastic wrap and bake for 20 minutes, until risen, lightly golden, and baked through.
- Let cool for 5 to 10 minutes before icing or frosting, but no longer.
Optional glaze.
- Whisk together confectioners’ sugar and milk until thick but pourable. Add more milk ¼ teaspoon at a time if needed.
- Drizzle over warm rolls.
Optional frosting
- Beat butter and confectioners’ sugar until smooth. Add cream gradually to reach a spreadable consistency.
- Spread generously over warm rolls.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
leftovers
Storage instructions
Let the rolls cool completely before storing. Wrap tightly and freeze in a single layer before adding glaze.
To reheat, defrost at room temp, sprinkle with a bit of water, and warm in a 275°F oven until soft and heated through.
FAQs
Be patient. Gluten free yeast dough takes time to rise and usually won’t double. If they seem stalled, the environment may be too cold.
Most likely causes: too much flour during shaping or not enough proofing time. Make sure to let the dough rise until noticeably puffy.
Check that you used the correct flour blend, measured by weight, and used dry milk powder—not liquid. Sticky dough often means it’s overhydrated.
They may have overbaked, or the flour blend may have absorbed too much moisture. Avoid adding extra flour while shaping.
Yes. Use 25% more (about 8g total) and dissolve it in some of the milk before adding it to the dough.
OMG! These were incredible. Light, fluffy and the perfect sweet I have been missing. Will definitely make these again.
So glad you loved the cinnamon rolls, Vicky! Thank you for sharing your experience!
Hi, do you think the recipe would work with a dairy free milk? Or coconut milk powder? I unfortunately am gluten and dairy free 😒
Please see the text of the post under the heading “How to replace the dairy” for that info, Meaghan!
This recipe is perfection!! Every Christmas, since going gluten free 9 years ago, I’ve tried a different gf cinnamon roll recipe as an attempt to keep our Christmas morning tradition alive. They all promised delicious rolls and every year I got mediocre to inedible results. Needless to say I had great hope when I discovered Nicole’s recipe. The results were outstanding! These rolls are fantastic!! Thank you Nicole…our tradition of warm delicious cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning is back.
I’m so happy to hear that, Dianne! You’re so welcome, and I’m really thrilled that you were able to recapture that Christmas tradition. I know that there are an increasing number of sources for gluten free recipes and the precision I require in my recipes is frustrating to some. But your experience of not being satisfied with other recipes illustrates why I will keep doing it the way I always have: carefully constructed, well-tested recipes that are specific, but produce results like you remember from before you were gluten free. Thank you for reminding me why I do this!
Can I half this recipe? If so, wouXld I use an 8″X 8″ pan?
Hi, Betty, sure you can definitely halve the recipe. Just cut the yield from 12 rolls to 6. Keep in mind that the instructions will not change to reflect the change, only the ingredient list, so you’ll have to remember that you are only making 6 rolls as you work through the instructions. And yes, I think an 8-inch round or square pan would work well.
How strong of a dough is this to work with? I want to use it for a German stollen for my gluten free daughter. I would add candied fruit, lemon peel, raisins that have been soaked in rum and slivered almonds. Do you think the dough would work or be too moist and fall apart? Otherwise I will make my daughter cinnamon rolls but the stollen is such a tradition I wanted to surprise her.
Thank you for sharing your recipes.
This is not the sort of dough that I would attempt to repurpose into a loaf, Cheryl. I would go with one of my loaf breads, like maybe the brioche bread.
Even though mine didn’t turn out perfect this is the best recipe I’ve found yet for GF cinnamon rolls! I couldn’t find the right kind of flour so I just used Bobs GF 1:1 and I also poured 1/2 cup of heavy cream over the rolls before baking and I think this helped keep them from being dry. I was wondering if you had any tips to make them less flaky, I’m not sure if I over proofed, if they dried out a bit during proofing, or if it was the flour mix but they ended up a little flaky mostly on the top, not crumbly just flaky is the best way I can describe it.
Hi, Kianna, I’m afraid the flour blend that you used just doesn’t really provide the right kind of structure, especially for gluten free yeast baking. I’m glad that you recognized the difficulty of the blend and tried to compensate for it so you were still overall pleased with the results.
Good Morning, Nicole, I am new to gf baking and so grateful I have found your website. I did make your pecan pie for Thanksgiving and it was very good. I do not have a kitchen scale , never bake by weight and I only have a hand mixer. Can I be successful with your cinnamon roll recipe with what I have?
Hi, Sue, I’m afraid I really don’t recommend starting here if you’re new to GF baking, particularly without the best tools. You can’t make this dough with a hand mixer, no. You might be able to use a food processor carefully, but without a scale to weigh your ingredients and the right flour blend, it’s very difficult to be successful in this recipe.
I have found every recipe that I’ve tried here is excellent. Two grandkids and son-in-law thank you-all celiac.
I’m so happy to hear that, Ruth. Thank you so much for sharing your experience and for the kind words. It means so much to me! They’re lucky to have you looking out for them.
Hi!
I was wanting to try your recipe but can only have natural sugars like coconut sugar or maple syrup. Would I be able to substitute the normal sugar with these using the same measurements?
Thanks a million!
Hi, Paris, the roll dough itself is actually pretty low in sugar, and I think you should be fine replacing the light brown sugar with coconut sugar gram for gram. Just make sure the coconut sugar isn’t very coarse or dry as coconut sugar tends to be. The frosting or icing will harder with unrefined sugars, but you might actually want to try using Lankato brand monkfruit sugar alternatives, since they come in all different varieties, including a powdered sugar alternative. I can’t promise results, but I like your odds!
Can I substitute for dairy for powered coconut milk?
Hi, Leigh, yes! that should work. For details, please see the text of the post under the heading “How to replace the dairy”