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Healthy Cinnamon Rolls

Healthy Cinnamon Rolls

Kayla
These Healthy Cinnamon Rolls are light, fluffy and soft with a classic cinnamon roll taste that will leave you feeling full, happy and satisfied. They are made with simple and clean ingredients that you can feel good about!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Rising Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Course Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine Swedish
Servings 10 rolls
Calories 263 kcal

Ingredients
  

The Dough

  • 1 cup whole wheat flour sifted
  • 2 cups white all-purpose flour sifted
  • cup pure maple syrup
  • 1 cup warm unsweetened almond milk about 105-110 degrees Fahrenheit
  • 1 packet active dry yeast
  • 4 tablespoons melted vegan butter
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

The Filling

  • 6 medjool dates pitted
  • ¾ cup boiling water
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

The Frosting

  • ¼ cup unsweetened plain coconut yogurt see notes
  • ¼ cup tapioca starch or corn starch
  • 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup

Instructions
 

Making the Dough

  • Heat up the almond milk so that it is warm (about 100-110 degrees Fahrenheit) if it's too hot it will kill the yeast.
  • Pour the milk into a large mixing bowl and add in the yeast and pure maple syrup. Then give it a good mix. Let the yeast proof for 8-10 minutes. You can tell it's working when the yeast gets foamy at the surface.
  • While that's proofing, in a separate bowl sift the flours together, mix and set aside.
  • After the yeast has proofed, add in the melted vegan butter and salt to the yeast mixture.
  • Add ½ cup of flour at a time while whisking (you likely will not need all of it, but save what's left for dusting), making sure the mixture is smooth. Once it gets too thick to continue with a whisk, I like to switch to a wooden spoon. When it begins to get too difficult to mix in the bowl, lightly dust your surface with some left over flour and begin to lightly knead it on the counter for a couple of minutes.
    The dough will be pretty sticky! This will help make them soft and fluffy. It will stick to your hands a bit, but kneading quickly is key! If it's too sticky just add more flour by dusting some over the dough as needed.
  • Clean the bowl you were mixing it in and oil it. Place the dough ball in the bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 1 hour, until doubled in size.

The Filling

  • While the dough is rising, place the pitted dates in a small bowl and pour boiling water over them. Let them soak while the dough is rising for about an hour.
  • After an hour, take the dates and put them in a blender. Add half of the date water and add more water in between blending. You may use all of the water depending on the size of the dates. The mixture should be smooth.
  • Add the cinnamon into the date paste and blend again to mix.

Back to the Dough

  • On a lightly floured surface (as well as a dusted rolling pin), roll the dough into a rectangle making the dough roughly ¼ inch thick.
  • Spread the cinnamon date paste on the dough, leaving about an inch of space on all the sides so that filling doesn't seep out.
  • Roll it up on the long edge side.
  • With a piece of plain floss or thread, slice off into about 10 rolls.
  • Place them in a greased cast iron skillet, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and let them sit on the warm oven to rise some more, about 10-15 minutes.
  • Pop them in the oven four about 25 minutes.
  • Enjoy warm, topped with frosting!

Notes

IMPORTANT NOTE:  because the frosting has tapioca starch (or corn starch if you use it instead), it can gel up in the microwave, making it no longer frosting-like. You can drizzle it on a roll and briefly microwave it that way. The part that is on the roll shouldn't gel up, as long as it doesn't get overheated. But the drippings on the plate will turn to a rubbery gel. Its best to serve it on a warm roll without heating it! 
  • Because the frosting contains unsweetened plain coconut yogurt, it needs to stay refrigerated in an airtight container.
  • The rolls can be stored covered, airtight, at room temperature for 1-2 days, then can be transferred to an airtight container and placed in the refrigerator to last longer. Since the frosting needs to be refrigerated, I would frost one warm roll at a time.

Nutrition

Serving: 1rollCalories: 263kcalCarbohydrates: 50gProtein: 5gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gSodium: 131mgPotassium: 209mgFiber: 3gSugar: 17gVitamin A: 24IUVitamin C: 0.02mgCalcium: 66mgIron: 2mg
Keyword cinnamon rolls, healthy cinnamon rolls, vegan cinnamon rolls
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