Vegan Carrot Cake Cinnamon Rolls

Vegan carrot cake cinnamon rolls featuring a carrot cake dough, buttery brown sugar cinnamon filling adorned with walnuts and raisins, topped with a creamy vegan cream cheese frosting. This recipe is about to score you some major cool points for your next brunch or breakfast!

overhead shot of vegan cinnamon rolls in pink baking dish

I may have just broken the internet with this one right here! Just imagine…

  • Soft pillowy dough with carrots and warm spices
  • Buttery cinnamon and brown sugar filling
  • Vegan cream cheese frosting

In. Every. Single. Bite.

Like holy crap, I think this is my new favorite thing EVER.

Carrot cake is my favorite cake, always has been. And as a child, Cinnabon had my heart. I think I would have been FB official with Cinnabon if that were a thing in the 90s.

Naturally, I had to combine my two favorite loves to make these super delicious carrot cake cinnamon rolls.

ingredients for vegan carrot cake cinnamon rolls

Believe it or not, cinnamon rolls are super easy to veganize because the core ingredients are already vegan! Luckily, there are some pretty great substitutes out there for butter and cream cheese to make these vegan cinnamon rolls taste like the real deal.

If you head for the hills when you see a recipe with yeast, just know you are not alone! I researched and tested the heck outta this recipe to provide you with the most intuitive recipe!

Ingredients for Vegan Carrot Cake Cinnamon Rolls

For the Carrot Cake Dough:

  • Instant yeast
  • Unsweetened vanilla almond milk
  • Shredded carrots
  • Vegan butter (I use Earth Balance baking sticks)
  • All-purpose flour
  • Cane sugar
  • Salt
  • Cinnamon
  • Nutmeg

For the Cinnamon Filling:

  • Light brown sugar
  • Vegan butter
  • Cinnamon
  • Nutmeg
  • Salt
  • Raisins and chopped walnuts – optional

For the Dairy-Free Icing:

  • Vegan cream cheese (I like Daiya or Kite Hill brands)
  • Vegan butter
  • Powdered sugar
  • Vanilla extract
yeast and dairy-free milk in measuring up

How to Make Vegan Carrot Cake Cinnamon Rolls

Step #1: Activate the Yeast

Not going to lie, cinnamon rolls require some steps, but they are easy to make!

With a little patience, we got this! I mean, the rewards speak for itself 😉

First, let’s wake up the yeast in 3 easy steps:

  1. Microwave almond milk for about 40 seconds. It should be lukewarm. Not hot! Too hot will kill your yeast.
  2. Add a pinch of sugar as this helps to wake up the yeast. Not required, but helps the process.
  3. Add one yeast packet and give it a mix. Now let sit for 10 minutes. The end results should be bubbly and frothy like the image above.

If it is not, give it some more time. If it still looks like nothing. The yeast is probably dead and you need to try again.

Do not move on with the recipe if you have inactive yeast!

Step #2: Make the Dough

Add the carrots, melted butter, vanilla, and yeast bath into a mixing bowl and give it a good stir.

In a separate bowl, add all the dry ingredients and add the dry to wet. Mix with a rubber spatula until just stirred.

hands stirring vegan cinnamon roll dough

The mixture might look pretty floury but that’s okay! Dump it on a lightly floured surface and knead the dough for 10-15 minutes!

Don’t skimp on the kneading time. It’s pretty therapeutic anyways!

yeast dough rising in bowl before and after

Once your kneaded dough is a nice ball, place in a clean bowl that is coated with a bit of oil. Place plastic wrap over the top and let rise for at least an hour. It should double in size.

Extra tips for yeast dough making:

  • Make sure the yeast is alive and active before moving on with the recipe. Inactive yeast will not make your cinnamon buns rise!
  • Mix the wet ingredients generously and whisk the dry ones thoroughly as well. But when the dry gets added to the wet, don’t over mix! My dough looked pretty floury, but I dumped it onto the table and with a little kneading, it looked great.
  • When kneading the dough, only add more flour if the dough begins sticking to the surface or your hands. You want the dough to be slightly sticky to the touch, but not so sticky that it’s all over your hands!
  • You know the dough is kneaded enough when you press it and the dough slightly bounces back.
filling for vegan cinnamon rolls

Step #3: Prepare and Add the Filling

When the dough is rising, this is the perfect time to make the cinnamon filling!

I use to brush melted butter on with a pastry brush and sprinkle the sugar and cinnamon on top. But after watching a Tasty cinnamon roll video, mixing softened butter with cinnamon is GENIUS.

This technique ensures every nook and cranny have the same amount of cinnamon, sugar, and butter.

instructions on how to assemble vegan carrot cake cinnamon rolls

Once the dough has risen, punch it and roll out on a floured surface. Use a straight edge to make it as close to a rectangle as possible (mine was 9×13″)

Add the filling and spread with a rubber spatula. You can also add raisins and chopped walnuts (optional of course).

Step #4: Roll and Slice

Roll it up! At this step, you can add chopped walnuts and raisins (optional but recommended!)

Be sure to roll it tightly as this will create that beautiful swirl (fig. 3). You can push in the ends as you roll to make sure you have a uniformly sized log.

Now here we use dental floss (fig. 4) to cut the dough. This works far better than a knife as it doesn’t squish the dough. You should have about 12 rolls.

(And I won’t tell your dentist if you use more dental floss for cinnamon roll making than on your teeth!)

vegan cinnamon rolls proofing

Step #5: Second Rise and Bake

Okay, THIS STEP RIGHT HERE is an important one! It’s called the second rise. The photo on the left is right after cutting, the image on the right is 45 minutes later. Those are still uncooked but they had a second proof. If you skimp on this step, your rolls will not be big and fluffy.

We like big and fluffy. We want big and fluffy. So proof your rolls, girl!

If you want to make these vegan cinnamon rolls in advance, nows a good time to cover and let sit in the fridge overnight or even put in the freezer for when you’re ready to bake!

When ready to make, bake the rolls – right in the pan! – for 30-35 minutes in a preheated 350 degree oven.

how to make vegan cream cheese frosting

How to Make Vegan Cream Cheese Icing

Simply whisk all vegan cream cheese ( I like Daiya or Kite Hill), powdered sugar, vanilla, and melted butter together. Add a small about of almond milk until a nice icing consistency is reached.

Adjust the powdered sugar or butter if you want it thicker, add more almond milk to thin out.

spreading icing on vegan cinnamon rolls in baking dish

Assemble, Frost, and Serve!

Once the rolls are out of the oven and cooled, add some frosting and DEVOUR!

Carrot cake is not for just cake no more! These cinnamon rolls are here to stay! And I’m totally okay with that.

These vegan carrot cake cinnamon rolls are perfect for Easter, Mother’s Day, birthdays, baby showers, brunch, or just any ol’ breakfast! Heck, breakfast, lunch, and dinner if you ask me!

vegan carrot cake cinnamon roll on plate with gold fork

How do you make overnight cinnamon rolls?

Roll, slice, and transfer the 12 rolls to a greased baking dish. Cover the dish and keep in the fridge overnight. Then let the pan sit out for a few minutes at room temperature before baking.

You can prepare the icing ahead, too! Once you whisk it up, transfer to an airtight container and keep in the fridge for a day or so. Then let come to room temperature and give it a good stir before slathering on the baked rolls.

Can you freeze vegan cinnamon rolls?

Yesss! These are fabulous to make ahead and freeze for up to 6 months. I recommend placing the unbaked rolls in an aluminum pan and covering with a layer of tin foil. Then bake thawed or from frozen right in the same pan. (You’ll just need to add a few extra minutes if baking from frozen.)

spatula lifting vegan cinnamon roll from pan

Storage and Reheating Suggestions

Once the rolls are baked and iced, they keep well for about 1 week in the fridge. Store the cinnamon rolls in an airtight container to keep them from drying out.

(Speaking of drying out…I don’t recommend that you freeze once they’ve been baked. Baked, frozen, and reheated carrot cake cinnamon rolls just don’t have the same great texture and flavor.)

To reheat, microwave each roll individually at 50% power in short 10-second bursts.

You can also warm them up in a 350 degree oven for 5-10 minutes. Give them a check after 5 minutes to make sure the frosting doesn’t ooze everywhere.

vegan carrot cake cinnamon roll with cream cheese icing

If you tried this vegan cinnamon roll recipe, let me know in the comments below and share a photo using #mindfulavocado. I’d love to hear from you! Want to see more recipes? Let’s get social! CONNECT WITH ME on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Pinterest to see what I’m currently cooking up!

overhead shot of vegan cinnamon rolls in pink baking dish

Vegan Carrot Cake Cinnamon Rolls

Homemade cinnamon rolls featuring a carrot cake dough, buttery brown sugar cinnamon filling adorned with walnuts and raisins, topped with a creamy vegan cream cheese frosting. Let them rise overnight for an easy breakfast the next morning. Perfect for and special occasion or brunch!
5 from 12 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Breakfast, Brunch
Cuisine: American, Vegan
Keyword: easter brunch recipes, easy vegan cinnamon rolls, vegan cinnamon rolls
Prep Time: 40 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Resting Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 12 rolls
Calories: 223kcal
Author: Amanda

Ingredients

Dough:

  • 1/4 ounce package instant yeast
  • 3/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
  • 3/4 cup carrots shredded
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup vegan butter melted and cooled slightly
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour plus more for kneading
  • 1/4 cup cane sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

Filling:

  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar packed (can substitute with coconut sugar or cane sugar)
  • 1/4 cup vegan butter softened
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • pinch of salt
  • raisins and chopped walnuts optional

Icing:

  • 4 ounces vegan cream cheese I like Daiya or Kite Hill brands
  • 2 Tablespoons vegan butter melted
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1-2 Tablespoons dairy-free milk of choice if needed

Tools:

Instructions

Make the Dough:

  • Wake up yeast: Microwave almond milk for about 40 seconds. Should be lukewarm. Add a pinch of sugar and one yeast package. Mix until combined and let sit for 10 minutes. Yeast will be bubbly and frothy when ready.
  • In a large mixing bowl, add carrots, vanilla, butter, and active yeast bath. Stir to combine.
  • In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Add half of the flour mixture to wet mixture and stir with rubber spatula. Add the remaining flour and stir until just combined. The dough might look floury and that is okay!
  • Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and knead for 10-15 minutes. Only add more flour if the dough begins to stick to the surface or your hands. When the dough is ready, it will be slightly sticky and spring back when you press it.
  • Add a small amount of oil to a clean bowl to coat the bottom and sides. Add dough and give it a swirl around the bowl so all sides are covered in oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let rise for 1 hour. The dough should double in size.

Make Filling:

  • In a small bowl, mix softened butter, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Mixture should be smooth and spreadable.

Assemble Rolls:

  • Remove plastic wrap and punch dough to release the air. Transfer to a floured surface and roll into a 9×13″ rectangle. The dough will be about 1/2 inch thick.
  • Add filling and smooth out with a rubber spatula. Add walnuts and raisins (optional). Roll tightly starting from the shorter side. Push in the sides as you roll so it stays uniform.
  • Using dental floss, cut the dough into 12 even pieces. Place in greased pan. I grease my pan with the empty butter wrapper! Cover with a towel and let sit for 45 minutes. If you want to make these rolls in advance, now is a good step to stop. You can keep unbaked rolls covered in the fridge overnight or in the freezer for 6 weeks.

Bake Rolls:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Bake for 30-35 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool before adding icing.

Make Icing:

  • Whisk together all the ingredients for icing in a bowl. Add more powdered sugar or butter for a thicker frosting and more almond milk for a thinner icing.
  • Add icing to cinnamon rolls. Serve warm. Leftovers keep in the fridge for about 1 week.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1roll (without icing) | Calories: 223kcal | Carbohydrates: 33.6g | Protein: 3.7g | Fat: 8.2g | Saturated Fat: 4.9g | Sodium: 344mg | Potassium: 200mg | Fiber: 1.3g | Sugar: 8.9g | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 1.6mg

Please note this post may contain affiliate links which does not impact the cost to you, but gives me a small commission. Thank you for your support!

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33 thoughts on “Vegan Carrot Cake Cinnamon Rolls”

  1. 5 stars
    I’m a fan of carrot cake and cinnamon rolls (who isn’t?!), and I love that you’re combining them together in this recipe! These wouldn’t last long in my house. Yum!

    Reply
  2. 5 stars
    This sounds like my dream dessert! Or dream breakfast? Or both!!!! I’m def making these soon!!!!

    Reply
  3. 5 stars
    These sound ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS! It’s not often that I have the patience to make cinnamon rolls for breakfast, but when they’re an amazing combination of carrot cake and cinnamon rolls… That can definitely have me convinced to give them a try. Plus, your step by step photographs are so handy!

    Reply
  4. 5 stars
    These rolls looks amazing! I’ve always done the dental-floss-cut with my rolls as well, and when my kids were toddlers, they would watch me cut them and laugh their heads off every time a roll magically fell off the long roll.

    Reply
  5. These look amazing! I am going to try to substitute gluten free one for one, but was wondering if you had tried to make them gluten free. If so what worked best?

    Thanks

    Reply
    • I have not Karen! But I do love Bob’s Red Mill 1-1 GF flour! If you try, I’d love to hear how it turns out!

      Reply
  6. Hi Karen! I am hoping to make a gluten free version of these too. How did yours turn out? And what brand of gf flour did you use? Thanks in advance!!

    Reply
  7. 5 stars
    Amazing that someone also came up with an idea of combining carrot cake and cinnamon rolls ^^ I couldn’t decide what I want more and searched internet for rolls with carrot and voi la! 🙂 I made a smaller portion and added more carrot (I think like twice more!) and as well I used spelt flour and for filling instead of butter I used a date spread with cinnamon. All worked awesome ! Thank you 🙂

    Reply
  8. Hey!
    Tried making your recipe today. And the dough was falling apart almost like a sand. They looking pretty ugly, will see if at least turned out tasty. Do u have any idea why it turned out like this?

    Reply
    • Hey Kristine! A few things could’ve gone on here. There wasn’t enough flour or liquid is one possibility. Or what I’m suspecting what happened is the dough wasn’t kneaded enough! If you watch the video, the dough is very floury and falling apart before I knead it. It takes about 10 minutes of kneading before it gets to a nice dough consistency! I hope you were able to salvage and eat the batch you made because the recipe is truly worth it!

      Reply
    • Hi! You can try replacing the flour with oat flour (ground oats) but the texture may be different. I’ve never experimented with this before!

      Reply
  9. 5 stars
    This is my go to dessert to share with others. My family loves carrot cake so it was always a perfect choice. Really love the flavours!

    Reply

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