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Cinnamon Bun Recipe

Cinnamon Bun Recipe – This is the best and healthiest homemade cinnamon bun recipe ever! If you are looking for a healthy alternative to the traditional cinnamon roll recipe, then this is it.

The star ingredient that makes this cinnamon bun recipe gluten free (without sacrificing taste OR nutrition) is cassava flour. Cassava flour is a grain-free root vegetable flour made from yucca.

Cinnamon Bun Recipe

How to Make Healthy Cinnamon Bun Recipe

 Here at Clean Cuisine we believe in making our food healthy, nutritious, but must also be delicious. We definitely don’t forgo flavor and this cinnamon bun recipe is no different.

There are quite a few steps to making this cinnamon bun recipe as it is with any traditional recipes. Be sure to print the recipe below and have it ready when you make these cinnamon buns.

Cinnamon Bun Ingredient Swaps

To make these cinnamon buns healthy, we had to make just a few swaps. Our preferred ingredients are always gluten free, dairy free and refined sugar free. We eat this way to reduce overall inflammation and improve our gut, health and reducing aging.

Cassava Flour is a Nutritious and Bakes Like a Dream

Cassava flour

Cassava flour is a great ingredient to use as an alternative to conventional whole grain flours such as whole wheat or spelt flour.

In many recipes it can be substituted in a 1:1 ratio for whole wheat flour. It’s also a great source of vitamin C (1/4 cup has almost 20% of your Daily Value), folate, magnesium, potassium and many additional nutrients.

So whether you are gluten free / grain free or not, you may want to consider adding cassava flour to your clean food pantry staples. Our favorite brand is Otto’s. You can learn more here and buy it here.

 

Date Paste Takes the Place of Refined Sugar

Most cinnamon bun recipes call for sugar and LOTS of it! However, by combining dates, a little extra virgin coconut oil, raw honey, water and cinnamon in a food processor you get a nutrient-dense but decadently sweet cinnamon date paste.

Thanks to this homemade cinnamon date paste,  these cinnamon buns are free from refined sugar!

Cinnamon Bun Frosting

Thanks to Artisana Organics coconut butter, these even include a rich and decadent dairy free frosting to drizzle on top.

If you haven’t heard of coconut butter yet, it’s an incredibly nutrient-dense food made from the “meat” or flesh of coconuts. In fact, because it is a “whole fat”, coconut butter has the same health-promoting qualities as coconut oil, and then some. For example, coconut butter (but not coconut oil) contains both iron and fiber. We buy our coconut butter at a deep discount from Thrive Market.

 

Cinnamon Bun Recipe

I know this gluten free cinnamon bun recipe clearly won’t taste like what you might get from Cinnabon, but I promise it won’t disappoint 😉

Print

Cinnamon Bun Recipe

Our nutritious and gluten free Cinnamon Bun Recipe is ooey-gooey, sweet and 100% delicious without refined sugar and dairy ingredients.

  • Prep Time: 35
  • Cook Time: 25
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 10 1x

Ingredients

Cinnamon Bun Recipe Dough:

Cinnamon Bun Filling Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon cinnamon, like this one
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin coconut oil, melted
  • 8 organic pitted medjool dates, like these ones from Terrasoul
  • 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons raw honey
  • 2 teaspoons water
  • 3/4 cup chopped raw pecans

Cinnamon Bun Frosting Ingredients:

  • 1 cup coconut butter, softened
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Instructions

Cinnamon Bun Dough:

  1. Add yeast and sugar to warm milk in a large bowl. Stir gently to combine and allow the yeast to foam to proof. Once the yeast has proofed, stir in melted coconut oil, salt, eggs, flours and arrowroot into yeast mixture. Gently mix until well-combined.
  2. Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 10-12 minutes. Form the dough into a large ball and place into a large lightly oiled glass bowl. Cover lightly with a damp towel and set aside while you work on the filling.

Cinnamon Bun Filling:

  1. Add the cinnamon, oil, dates, honey and water to a food processor and process into a thick, smooth paste (Note: if cinnamon-date paste is a consistency that would be too thick to easily spread, simply add more water, 1 teaspoon at a time, until desired consistency.) Set cinnamon-date paste aside.
  2. Place dough on a large lightly floured surface, knead gently with hands and use a rolling pin to roll to a 1/4 inch thickness. Spread cinnamon-date paste evenly over the top of the dough.
  3. Scatter the pecans evenly over the cinnamon-date paste.
  4. Tightly roll the dough, beginning at the long edge, until a log of dough has been formed.
  5. Cut the dough into 3/4-inch to 1-inch slices and place onto a lightly oiled sheet pan.

Baking & Frosting:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Place rolls into oven and allow to cook until lightly browned and cooked through, but not overcooked, about 23 to 25 minutes.
  3. While cinnamon buns are baking, prepare frosting: in a mini food processor, add the softened coconut butter, lemon juice, maple syrup and vanilla. Mix together for 1 full minute, or until smooth, creamy and lump-free. Transfer the frosting to a zip top bag and cut a small hole from the corner (learn more about how to make a Ziploc Frosting Bag HERE.)
  4. Remove the cinnamon buns from the oven and set on a wire rack to cool to room temperature before frosting.
  5. To frost, begin piping a thin swirl on top of the cinnamon buns. Serve at once.

Note: leftovers can be stored in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 weeks.

Last Step! If you loved our recipe, leave us a review below. This helps future recipe makers and ensures continued high-quality recipes for years to come!

Notes

To avoid a watery consistency, make sure the almond milk you buy is “whole” and not excessively filtered. You can learn more about “whole” almond milk HERE. I like New Barn , Elmhurst and   Malk brands.

© 2024 clean cuisine Recipe by:

What You Need to Make Cinnamon Rolls

Can you freeze cinnamon bun dough before baking?

Yes, absolutely. You can make the cinnamon buns right up to the “baking and frosting” instructions above. Then, go ahead and place them on a pan or baking sheet and put them in the freezer for 1 hour. Once frozen, you can add them to a container for up to 1 month.

When you’re ready to bake the cinnamon buns, put the rolls in the fridge to defrost overnight. Then pull them out of the refrigerate and allow them to rest on the counter at room temperature. Then follow the “baking and frosting” instructions above.

Ivy Larson

In 2010, Clean Cuisine was launched because Ivy Larson wanted to share her anti-inflammatory lifestyle and delicious recipes using ingredients in their most natural and nutrient-rich state. In 2020, Ivy passed the website to Aimee and Madison. Since then, they have been adding new recipes and nutrition posts while updating old recipes and articles. Thanks for visiting Clean Cuisine!

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Elisha @UseHealthTips

Thursday 17th of January 2019

Thanks Ivy for sharing this recipe, it looks yummy, haven't tried it yet, but will. I remember in my class there was a guy who always used to ask for gluten-free products, this one is definitely for him. I'm gonna find him and make it for him, hehe, anyways, its really delightful i am sure

Ivy Larson

Thursday 21st of March 2019

Hi Elisha! I am so sorry for the lengthy delay getting back to you. Somehow your comment got lost in the shuffle, but I am so happy you found the recipe and I hope your gluten free friend is pleased =) Please do let me know if you give it a try!

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