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You will hardly find a time when a slow weekend morning isnโ€™t improved upon by homemade baked goods! These small-batch cinnamon rolls for two are so quick to make. Plus, they donโ€™t contain any yeast! Weโ€™re using baking soda, baking powder and a small amount of vinegar instead of yeast, and you will love it!

Small batch cinnamon rolls for two, quick and easy made without yeast!

Iโ€™ve had a lot of no yeast / quick cinnamon rolls in my day. And, um, most of them are not much different than a biscuit with cinnamon sprinkled on top.

We can surely do better than that.

But these babes? Theyโ€™re baked at a much lower temperature than most other recipes. They also have a much higher concentration of butter than most.

But, good newsโ€”I figured out the secret to marriage: sharing aย half-stick ofย butter with your partner as often as possible. We donโ€™t need no stinkinโ€™ marriage counseling. We got butter!

Small batch cinnamon rolls for two, quick and easy made without yeast!

(Can you tell Iโ€™m writing this at the end of a long day that started with a cinnamon sugar high?)

You need a regular muffin pan for this recipeโ€“this is my favorite pan. I love darker muffin pans because they encourage browning in muffins. Also, I love that it only has 6 cups, because weโ€™re into this small batch lifestyle, arenโ€™t we?

Ingredients For This Cinnamon Roll Recipe (No Yeast)

  • Flour. All-purpose, regular flour that you fluff, scoop and level with a knife to measure.
  • Sugar. Granulated sugar for the actual dough
  • Baking Powder. Weโ€™re using baking powder instead of yeast for an instant rise in the dough, caused by the heat of the oven. Baking powder reacts to heat. Technically, baking powder is double-acting, which means it reacts to acidity in the dough AND reacts to heat in the oven. This will help make our rolls super tall and fluffy.
  • Baking Soda. We need a small amount of baking soda for the perfect rise.
  • Salt. Please donโ€™t omit the salt; it flavors the dough so much, and balances the sweetness of the filling.
  • Milk. I really recommend whole milk for baking. I almost always notice inferior results when using skim milk, because it lacks fat.
  • Vinegar. It sounds strange to add vinegar, but this is extra acidity for the baking powder and baking soda to react with. Do not omit! You will not taste the vinegar.
  • Butter. You can use unsalted or salted butter here. If you use salted butter, omit the salt in the recipe.
  • Brown Sugar. You can use either dark or light brown sugar.
  • Cinnamon. Ground cinnamon is the classic flavor of cinnamon rolls, but a little cardamom would be great, too!
  • Cream Cheese. The best cinnamon rolls have a cream cheese frosting.
  • Powdered Sugar. Also known as icing sugar, powdered sugar dissolves easily into frosting without any graininess.
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How to Make Quick Cinnamon Rolls

  1. Preheat the oven to 375, and spray 4 cups in a muffin pan with cooking spray (or use extra melted butter).
  2. Combine the flour, 1 tablespoon of the sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.
  3. In a small measuring cup, combine the milk, vinegar, and 2 tablespoons of the melted butter.
  4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry, and stir until a soft dough forms.
  5. Heavily flour a work surface, and pat the dough out into a rectangle about 6โ€ณ long. Use plenty of flour as you go.
  6. Pour the remaining 2 tablespoons of melted butter on top of the dough.
  7. Combine the brown sugar, cinnamon, and remaining 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar. Press this mixture lightly into the butter on top of the dough. Carefully, roll the dough up starting with the long side. Roll away from you. When you get to the end of the dough, pinch the entire seam shut.
  8. Cut the dough into 4 equal pieces, drop into the greased muffin cups, and bake for 14-15 minutes.
  9. Meanwhile, beat together the softened cream cheese and powdered sugar. If it seems hard to spread, splash in some milk or heavy cream.
  10. Frost the cinnamon rolls when they come out of the oven, and serve.

Tips for making Homemade Cinnamon Rolls (No Yeast)

  • Ensure your baking soda and baking powder are fresh and not expired.
  • Go slowly and gently while you roll, and know that the muffin tin will help shape the rolls, so you donโ€™t have to stress. Just roll them as tightly as possible.
  • Use plenty of flour when rolling to prevent sticking.
  • The best way to cut raw dough is with a very sharp serrated knife. Itโ€™s helpful to clean the knife between cuts.

Best Frosting for this Cinnamon Rolls Recipe (Without Yeast)

Itโ€™s just not a cinnamon roll unless it has fluffy cream cheese frosting. This recipe is for a small batch, since weโ€™re only making 4 rolls. Try to find the small 3-ounce blocks of cream cheese, but if you canโ€™t, save the remaining cream cheese for myย Cheesecake Cups.

What others are saying about these No Yeast Cinnamon Rolls

-Tara G said โ€˜I just made these and shared them with my roommateโ€ฆthey were such a joy to make and SO DELICIOUS!โ€™

-Courtney said โ€˜I made these this weekendโ€ฆ(and) they were so yummy! They tasted just like rolls I buy at the grocery store.โ€™

-Beth said โ€˜Iโ€™ve just made these, and I have to say they are amazing! The dough is so soft and easy to work with, and so quick to make too!โ€™

-Jana said โ€˜Just made theseโ€ฆthey were delicious! First time making cinnamon rolls from scratch & they were so easy to make & so yummy!โ€™

Ok, Iโ€™ve officially used throngs of women to convince you how much you need small batch cinnamon rolls for two in your life.

Small batch cinnamon rolls for two, quick and easy made without yeast!

The hardest part of this recipe is remembering to take the cream cheese out of the refrigerator to soften while you bake. But just so you know, if your fridge is fresh-out of cream cheese, you can use this glaze from my potato cinnamon rolls. Other than cream cheese, you should have everything to make these cinnamon rolls for two in your pantry. Dangerous, right?

I trust you, though. You can have this recipe, and do with it as you please. Iโ€™m not here to judge your small batch cinnamon roll consumption levels.

Get ready. Your weekends will never be the same.

Yield: 4

Cinnamon Rolls Without Yeast Recipe

Cinnamon Rolls Without Yeast Recipe

Quickest and easiest cinnamon rolls for two. No yeast required!

Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoon granulated sugar, divided use
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 5 tablespoons milk
  • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
  • 4 tablespoons butter, melted, divided use
  • 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

For the glaze:

  • 3 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1/3 cup powdered sugar
  • splash of cream or milk

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375, and spray 4 cups in a muffin pan with cooking spray (or use extra melted butter).
  2. Combine the flour, 1 tablespoon of the sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.
  3. In a small measuring cup, combine the milk, vinegar, and 2 tablespoons of the melted butter.
  4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry, and stir until a soft dough forms.
  5. Heavily flour a work surface, and pat the dough out into a rectangle about 6" long. Use plenty of flour as you go.
  6. Pour the remaining 2 tablespoons of melted butter on top of the dough.
  7. Combine the brown sugar, cinnamon, and remaining 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar. Press this mixture lightly into the butter on top of the dough. Carefully, roll the dough up starting with the long side. Roll away from you. When you get to the end of the dough, pinch the entire seam shut.
  8. Cut the dough into 4 equal pieces, drop into the greased muffin cups, and bake for 14-15 minutes.
  9. Meanwhile, beat together the softened cream cheese and powdered sugar. If it seems hard to spread, splash in some milk or heavy cream.
  10. Frost the cinnamon rolls when they come out of the oven, and serve.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 408Total Fat: 22gSaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 63mgSodium: 407mgCarbohydrates: 47gFiber: 1gSugar: 24gProtein: 7g

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About Christina Lane

Christina Lane is the author of 5 cookbooks all about cooking and baking for two. She has scaled down hundreds of recipes into smaller servings so you can enjoy your favorite dishes without the leftovers! Valentine's Day is her favorite holiday.

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218 Comments

  1. Maryeileen says:

    Can white vinegar be used instead of acv?

    1. Mo says:

      I used white vinegar and they were perfect.

  2. Claire says:

    Can these be put together the night before and then baked off in the morning?

    1. Christina Lane says:

      No, Iโ€™m sorry. Because it doesnโ€™t have yeast, it shouldnโ€™t sit because the baking soda starts reacting immediately.

  3. Paul says:

    Can I premake the rolls, refrigerate, then bake later?

    1. Christina Lane says:

      No. Do not do this. The baking soda begins reacting immediately when mixed into the dough and it needs to be cooked soon after.

      1. Steve says:

        What is the size of the rectangle that we are supposed to create? โ€œSix inchesโ€ on one side is not terribly specific. What is the other dimension? How thick should this rectangle be? How big should that rectangle be? I think this is important to know.
        I am anxious to know because this is otherwise a very attractive recipe that looks very easy to make.

  4. My Panecito says:

    Just made these cinnamon rolls and they turned out absolutely perfect! The recipe is so simple and the rolls were perfectly fluffy and delicious. I love how itโ€™s designed for just two people, making it ideal for a cozy morning treat. Iโ€™ll definitely be making these again. If youโ€™re ever in need of sweet options, itโ€™s always nice to have a variety of Bakery in Gardena that are just as easy to make at home as they are to find at a bakery.

  5. Sue says:

    The instructions are so clearly and fully detailed. The photos are a bonus. I can understand each step because I see you doing them. This really helps because I am learning to use a new ingredient or use a new pan, etc. But watching you eat your roll is just cruel. And with a coffee cup near byโ€ฆ.. I am now so hungry. Adding such attractive photos of other recipes along the side teases me to find more tempting recipes. Great job ! ( It is breakfast time and I am eating cheerios. bummer)

  6. Janelle says:

    I thought the directions could have been made a little more specific for making the rectangle. It said 6 inches long but how wide and thick? I just guessed and I didnโ€™t get quite the same shape as in these pictures. I also didnโ€™t have cream cheese so I made a glaze with just powdered sugar, vanilla, and cream. Making this was really quick though!

    As for the taste, I am quite happy with it. Certainly these have a much different texture than a traditional cinnamon roll but still good. I have to say, these really reminded me of the cini-minis they used to sell at Burger King for breakfast, and I do not mean that in a bad way. Indeed, I have been craving cini-minis since they were discontinued and am overjoyed I can make them at home now with this recipe! Iโ€™m going to try making them even smaller using a mini muffin pan! Thank you for the recipe.