Softest Keto Cinnamon Rolls

These easy Keto Cinnamon Rolls are soft, sweet, and topped with the best cream cheese icing. Our keto cinnamon roll recipe is made using a fathead dough and is completely yeast-free.

Coming in at only 3.5 NET CARBS per roll, they are a heavenly treat that your entire family will love! Enjoy!

Ok, let’s quickly talk about cinnamon rolls! When I think of cinnamon rolls, so many good memories come flooding to my memory. I guess you could say that I’ve had a real love affair with cinnamon rolls…hahaha. 

Yes, I know how that sounds but trust me I’m a sucker for a good cinnamon bun. 

A brief memory that always comes to mind when I think of a warm and gooey cinnamon bun is walking through Disney’s Animal Kingdom after getting my Starbucks and stopping at this little stand in Africa. If any of you are Disney fans like we are then you know exactly where I’m talking about. 

They had the biggest cinnamon buns…like the size of my head! They were fresh out of the oven and so gooey and delicious. It was the perfect way to start my morning in the park. The only downside was that my entire family, especially my husband, was always trying to eat it. 

That being said, cinnamon rolls have never been something I have tried to make at home. It always seemed so overwhelming to me. I wasn’t good at making things that require yeast, and dough, and letting it rise. I have always seemed to mess it up. 

However, I ended up making these keto cinnamon rolls and they came out sooooo good. 

I guess technically we should call them Fathead Dough Cinnamon Rolls because as you fellow low carb dieters know, you can make a lot with a fathead dough….pizza, dinner rolls, garlic knots, pasta, and yes low carb cinnamon rolls! 

I mean I guess you can call them a few different names like almond flour cinnamon rolls, coconut flour cinnamon rolls, or low carb copycat Cinnabon cinnamon rolls. Whatever you call them, they are seriously great!!!

Ok, I guess I’ve gotten carried away this morning as I’m just going on and on, but let’s get into the nitty-gritty about these yummy sugar-free cinnamon rolls.

What are Cinnamon Rolls?

Cinnamon rolls are sweet rolls that are commonly served in North American and Northern Europe. They consist of a rolled sheet of dough with a cinnamon-sugar and butter mixture inside. 

Once they are rolled and sliced they are put into a baking dish and topped with a cream cheese frosting. It’s gooey deliciousness! Trust me!

Is there a Difference Between Cinnamon Rolls and Cinnamon Buns?

Cinnamon rolls and cinnamon buns are the same. People call them by both names but they are the same thing.

I think the correct question is really “What is the difference between cinnamon rolls and sticky buns?”

Cinnamon rolls and sticky buns are actually different and let me break each one down for you. 

CINNAMON ROLLS: Cinnamon rolls are placed directly into a baking dish, then baked to a golden brown. After they are taken out of the oven and cooled down a bit, the cream cheese glazed is drizzled or spread all over the tops of the cinnamon rolls. 

STICKY BUNS:  Sticky buns are a bit denser than cinnamon buns. The process of making sticky buns starts with a caramel glaze. The glaze is poured into the baking dish first, then the toasted pecans. 

The buns are placed on top of the sticky mixture, then baked. After they are done baking they are flipped upside down onto a tray, so that the gooey sticky caramel glaze is now on top.

Is a Cinnamon Roll a Donut?

Well…a cinnamon roll is a cinnamon roll, and a donut is a donut. So no, they are two different things and a cinnamon roll is NOT a donut. 

Cinnamon rolls are denser and contain a swirl of a cinnamon sugar paste, baked then coated with a cream cheese icing. 

Donuts are a lighter dough and are typically deep-fried. After they are cooked they can be glazed, frosted, or even rolled in sugar.

Are Cinnamon Rolls Healthy?

I wouldn’t call cinnamon rolls the healthiest option due to the amount of sugar, butter, and flour in them. Thankfully, this new sugar-free cinnamon roll recipe is a healthier option. 

Instead of white flour we use almond and coconut flours, they are a way healthier alternative. Plus we use a sugar substitute eliminating all of the calories and bad side effects. These fathead cinnamon rolls are a great choice!

Can You Eat Cinnamon on Keto?

Cinnamon?? Yes, cinnamon is absolutely acceptable while on keto. In fact, cinnamon is great for people with diabetes or anyone on a keto diet, because it helps to lower your blood sugar level. 

So in the end, yes cinnamon is the perfect keto-friendly spice, go ahead and use it whenever you want, especially in this keto cinnamon rolls recipe.

Are Cinnamon Rolls Low Carb?

Our sugar-free cinnamon rolls are absolutely low carb! That being said, most other cinnamon rolls are not. Traditional ones are made with white flour and tons of sugar. 

Stick with our recipe for the best fathead cinnamon rolls, you won’t be sorry!

How Many Carbs in Cinnamon Rolls?

I’ve already explained how our keto cinnamon buns are made with almond and coconut flour making them the better and healthier choice. But let me show you numbers so it’s easy to compare almond flour cinnamon rolls and traditional cinnamon rolls.  

• 1 Keto Cinnamon Roll has 3.5 NET CARBS. That’s a great number guys! 
• 1 Traditional Cinnamon Roll has anywhere from 75-85 NET CARBS. Wow….that’s just crazy! 

Again, stick with these Keto-Friendly Cinnamon Rolls instead and they will help you lose weight.

What Ingredients are in Keto Cinnamon Rolls?

Dough

• Cheese – We use a combination of both shredded mozzarella cheese, and cream cheese to create a fathead dough. Hence the reason we call them fathead cinnamon rolls. 
• Flours – Use a blend of almond flour and coconut flour. It’s a great low carb and gluten-free alternative to regular flour. 
• Low Carb Sweetener – I used Lakanto granulated sweetener. Feel free to use any low carb sweetener that you prefer. 
• Baking Powder – Necessary for the dough to rise. 
• Xanthan Gum – Since there is no gluten, the xanthan gum acts as a stabilizer and thickener. 
• Salt – Gives a little flavor. 
• Apple Cider Vinegar – Reacts with the baking powder to help create fluffy cinnamon rolls. The best brand is: Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar with the “Mother.” Trust me it’s the absolute best brand. 
• Vanilla – To me, this is a must in pretty much most of my baked goods. 
• Eggs –  Helps bind all the ingredients together.

Filling

• Butter – Needs to be softened butter. Not melted, but soft. 
• Low Carb Sweetener – BROWN SUGAR SUBSTITUTE IS A MUST. I use Swerve Brown Sugar, and it’s just like regular brown sugar. 
• Cinnamon – Also another must when making keto-friendly cinnamon rolls. You can’t have a keto cinnamon roll without the cinnamon….clearly!

Frosting

• Cream Cheese – 2 tbsp softened cream cheese.
• Butter – 1 tbsp of softened butter.
• Low Carb Sweetener – For this frosting it’s better to use a powdered sweetener. Powdered Swerve blends really well with the other ingredients. Gives you a smooth texture. 
• Vanilla – 1 tsp vanilla, gives some nice extra flavor.  
• Heavy Cream – 1 tbsp heavy cream, helps thin out the texture so it’s spreadable.

Sweetener Options

If you read the ingredients list, you saw that I used 3 different sweeteners in this keto cinnamon roll recipe. I don’t recommend going too far from what I used, and let me tell you why. Here’s what I used:

Dough – Lakanto Granulated Sweetener
Fathead cinnamon rolls have several different sweeteners in it. For the dough, we need to make these grain-free cinnamon rolls can have different low carb sweeteners. You can use your sweetener of choice whether it’s granulated or powdered. 

Filling – Swerve Brown Sugar
The keto cinnamon roll filling NEEDS to have a brown sugar substitute. It’s what is in traditional cinnamon rolls and that’s what we want. The brand I use is Swerve, but if you have a different brand you want then feel free to use it. 

Frosting – Swerve Powdered Sweetener
Powdered low carb sweeteners is a must for the cream cheese frosting. In order to give you Low Carb Copycat Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls, making the frosting is key. Powdered Swerve gives you just the right smooth texture you need.

The Best Dough for Keto Cinnamon Rolls

Fathead Cinnamon Rolls are the way to go when making the best cinnamon rolls. I chose to make a fathead dough for these keto cinnamon rolls because I found the dough to be very close to real cinnamon roll dough. It raised properly, and the texture was just right. 

I know some people have made their low carb cinnamon rolls without using fathead dough. They just used almond flour or a combo of almond flour and coconut flour.  I haven’t tried it that way, but it’s an option.

Is it Better to Use Almond Flour or Coconut Flour in this Recipe?

I personally found it best using a combination of both almond flour and coconut flour. A lot of my baked desserts have both almond and coconut flour. 

The reason I like to add just a little coconut flour, is I feel like it can add some fluffiness to the texture of your cookie, cake, or low carb cinnamon rolls. 

When looking for the best keto cinnamon rolls with almond flour or the best keto cinnamon rolls with coconut flour, look no further because we used a combo to give you the perfect recipe.

What Kind of Cinnamon Should I Use?

There isn’t one special cinnamon that is best to use for this recipe and any kind will do fine.

I love buying Costco products whenever possible. They make a great cinnamon and I highly recommend it. It’s called Kirkland Saigon Cinnamon. 

It comes in at 10.7 oz. container for about $3.50. Keep in mind the price might vary a little bit depending on your location. The bottle is so big and it lasts forever!!

Can I Use Yeast in Low Carb Cinnamon Rolls?

You don’t need to use yeast in this low carb cinnamon roll recipe. I found that using Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar combined with the baking powder really helps the rolls to rise just enough, making added yeast unnecessary. 

Yeast has a lot of bad side effects, especially if it’s something that your body already struggles with, like mine. I have a problem with my body having too much yeast which can cause a lot of issues with your gut health. 

So if you are trying to eat foods that don’t have yeast in them then give these keto-friendly cinnamon rolls a try.

Do I Need to Use Eggs in Cinnamon Rolls?

Yes. Eggs act as a binder and really holds all the ingredients together in this keto cinnamon rolls recipe.

If you are a vegan or you have an egg allergy you can try using Flax Eggs. Just combine 1 tbsp of flaxseed meal with 3 tbsp of water, stir together and let sit for 5 minutes. 

One flax egg equals one regular egg. 

I have not tried using flax eggs in these keto cinnamon rolls with almond flour yet, but if you do please let me know in the comments. I love to hear feedback from all of you.

Different Variations of Low Carb Cinnamon Rolls

Add Nuts: Sprinkle in some chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds over the cinnamon-sugar mixture before rolling up the dough. 

Extra Sweet: If you like your keto cinnamon rolls to be extra sweet, you can increase the amount of sweetener you use. Start with small amounts and go from there until you have reached your desired taste. 

Chocolate: Use your favorite sugar-free chocolate and melt it. After it’s been melted drizzle it over the cooked keto cinnamon buns in place of the cream cheese frosting, or in addition to the frosting. 

You also can add some chopped sugar-free chocolate to the cinnamon-sugar mixture before rolling up the dough, it really takes these keto cinnamon rolls with coconut flour to another level.

Nutella: In place of the softened butter that is spread on top of the dough, you can use a sugar-free nutella instead. If you have never had nutella before, you’re in for a real treat. 

Orange Glaze: Instead of heavy cream in the frosting, use fresh-squeezed orange juice instead. Or add some fresh orange zest inside the keto cinnamon rolls or sprinkled on top.

Extra Gooey: The way to get an extra gooey low carb cinnamon roll is you can add some sugar-free maple syrup to the butter and sugar mixture. Drizzle it over the cinnamon sugar. Try our Homemade Keto Maple Syrup, it’s delicious.

Frosting Options

We chose to use a classic cream cheese icing for these keto cinnamon rolls. But if you don’t want a cream cheese frosting then that’s ok. Here are a few different ideas:

• Traditional Icing – Made with melted butter, vanilla, powdered swerve, and heavy cream.
• Maple Icing – Add maple extract to either the cream cheese icing or the traditional icing.  
• Brown Butter Icing – Butter, powdered swerve, vanilla, and almond milk. Heat the butter on the stove for about 5 minutes or until it’s browned and has developed a nutty aroma. Take off the stove and add in the powdered swerve, vanilla, and almond milk.

Using Ground Macadamia Nuts

If you don’t want to use almond flour you can use ground macadamia nut flour instead. Macadamia nut flour can be pricey so if you make these keto cinnamon rolls on a regular basis you might only want to use it sometimes rather than all the time. 

If you can’t find macadamia nut flour you can make your own by grinding macadamia nuts into flour using a high-processed food processor.

Can I Make Low Carb Cinnamon Rolls without Frosting?

ABSOLUTELY!!! You do not need to frost your low carb cinnamon rolls! They are delicious all on their own. So if you are not a big fan of frosting or any of your pastries being frosted then just leave it off. I promise they are still super yummy.

Tools to Use

• Measuring Bowls and Spoons.
• Stand Mixer, or Food Processor. 
• Plastic Wrap or Parchment Paper.
• Rolling Pin 
• Baking Dish

How to Make Low Carb Keto Cinnamon Rolls from Scratch

Follow our easy instructions for making low carb cinnamon rolls.

Mixing the Dough

Step 1: In a medium-sized bowl combine the almond flour, coconut flour, granulated sweetener, salt, baking powder, xanthan gum together. Set aside.

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Step 2: In a microwave-safe bowl add the mozzarella cheese and cream cheese. Place in the microwave for 90 seconds, stirring at 30-second increments until the cheeses are completely melted.

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Step 3: Add the dry ingredients to the stand mixer.

Now add the cheese mixture to the dry ingredients.

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Step 4: Add the eggs, apple cider vinegar, and vanilla.

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Step 5: Using the dough hook attachment, turn the mixer on speed 2-3. Scrape down the side and continue to mix until fully combined.

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Mixing the Filling

Step 6: In a small bowl combine the softened butter, Swerve brown sugar, and the cinnamon. Stir together.

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You may find it easier to mix it with your hands to really get the ingredients combined.

How to Roll the Dough

Step 7: Place a large piece of plastic wrap on your counter. Take the dough and place it on the plastic wrap. Make another piece of plastic wrap the same size as the bottom one and put it on top of the dough.

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Step 8: Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough. Try to get it as close as you can to a rectangle, sometimes it’s hard to do so just do your best.

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Step 9: Spread the butter-sugar mixture on top of the dough, leaving the edges free.

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Step 10: CAREFULLY roll the dough into a log.

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How Thick Should You Cut Cinnamon Rolls?

Step 11: I cut the ends off first. Then cut into evenly sized pieces. I got about 12 rolls out of my dough.

My keto cinnamon rolls were maybe about 1” thick and we find that to be the best.

Baking

Step 12: Spray the bottom of your baking dish with a cooking spray. Place each roll on the pan leaving spaces between each roll.

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Step 13: Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

How to Tell When Cinnamon Rolls are Done?

I found with my oven that 25 minutes was perfect. They were golden brown on the top but nice and soft on the inside.

Golden brown is what you want, if you let them get too dark they will be overdone.

Making Sugar-Free Cinnamon Roll Frosting

Now it’s time to make our sugar-free cream cheese frosting. 

Step 14: Make sure the cream cheese and butter are both soft.

In a small to medium mixing bowl add the cream cheese and butter. Using a hand mixer or stand mixer beat together until creamy.

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Step 15: Add the powdered swerve, heavy cream, and vanilla. Mix again.

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Icing Your Cinnamon Buns

It’s time to ice our delicious keto cinnamon buns! But before we do, you may be wondering when is the proper time to ice or frost them? 

Step 16: Use a butter knife to spread the frosting over the cinnamon rolls.

I prefer to frost my low carb cinnamon buns once they have cooled down. If you don’t wait for them to cool, then as soon as you frost them it will definitely melt.

Best Tips

• The butter for the filling needs to be softened.
• The cream cheese and butter for the icing needs to be softened. 
• Best Sweetener for the dough: Granulated Monk Fruit. 
• Best Sweetener for the filing: Swerve Brown Sugar.
• Best Sweetener for the Icing: Swerve Powdered Sweetener.
• When rolling the dough, be careful and do it slowly. The dough can be fragile. 
• Don’t cook the keto cinnamon buns at a high temperature. You don’t want to rush it. 350 degrees is perfect. 
• Let the low carb cinnamon rolls fully cool after coming out of the oven before icing.

• The dough can be made and stored in the fridge for up to 24 hours, until ready to bake.
• Space the rolls apart before baking, they will expand and rise while baking.
• Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. 
• To Freeze: Wrap each keto cinnamon roll individually in plastic wrap, then foil. Store in the freezer for 2-3 months. 
• To Thaw: Take out of the freeze and let thaw on the counter.

Why Are My Cinnamon Rolls Hard?

If your sugar-free cinnamon rolls are too hard it’s probably because you over-baked them, or they got hard while sitting out on the counter or in the microwave for too long. 

It’s ok though, all you need to do is place the cinnamon bun on a plate and put it in the microwave for 30 seconds. It will soften it right up and plus it will make it warm and gooey.

Make Sure the Temperature is Right

350 degrees seems to be the perfect temperature with these fathead dough cinnamon rolls. You could lower it to 325 degrees but it will take a bit longer. 

One word of warning: don’t raise the temperature any more than 350 degrees, you don’t want to rush the baking process and they will not come out all fluffy and chewy.

Should Cinnamon Rolls Touch While Baking?

NO! Keto-Friendly Cinnamon Rolls should not be touching when first put into the baking dish. They will rise and grow in size, and most of the time they will end up touching during the baking process.

Other Diets This Recipe is Good For

GLUTEN-FREE: Finding gluten-free cinnamon buns that are also keto cinnamon buns is a challenge. But I have it right here you. We use a combo of almond flour and coconut flour making it completely gluten-free.

How to Serve Low Carb Cinnamon Rolls?

What can you have with your low carb cinnamon roll?? Well for starters COFFEE! 

While these keto cinnamon rolls with cream cheese frosting can be eaten at any time of the day breakfast is the first thing that comes to my mind. What’s better than a delicious gooey warm sugar-free cinnamon roll first thing in the morning with your coffee?? It’s a hard thing to beat! 

What else though? You can serve it with a side of delicious BACON! Learn how to make bacon the easy way….in the oven. Check out our article on How to Bake Bacon. It’s life-changing. 

Another great option are some Breakfast Egg White Cups, or even a Keto Smoothie.

Can I Make Sugar-Free Cinnamon Rolls Ahead?

Low Carb Copycat Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls can be made ahead of time, but I recommend holding off on baking until you are ready to serve them. 

Store the unbaked keto cinnamon rolls in the fridge until you are going to bake them.

How to Store Cinnamon Rolls?

What is the best way to store these keto cinnamon rolls with cream cheese frosting? Well because of the cream cheese frosting, I always err on the side of caution and store my keto cinnamon rolls in the refrigerator. 

I place the leftovers in an airtight container and place it in the fridge. Stored properly they will last up to a week.

How to Keep Cinnamon Rolls Moist?

To keep your cinnamon rolls moist store them in an airtight container. You also could wrap them individually in foil to ensure they are airtight.

How to Reheat

The fastest and best way to reheat your leftover low carb cinnamon rolls is in the microwave. Place one on a microwave-safe plate and heat for about 30-45 seconds. 

It will be so gooey inside. This is my favorite way because it doesn’t dry them out at all. 

If you don’t have a microwave or you just don’t like using them, then you can reheat them in the oven. Reheat at 325 degrees, until warm. It should take 5-10 minutes.

Can You Freeze Keto Cinnamon Rolls?

Yes, freezing keto cinnamon rolls is a great idea actually. They will keep in the freezer for about 2-3 months.

The best way to ensure they stay fresh is to wrap each cooked cinnamon roll individually in plastic wrap, then foil for added protection. 

To Thaw: Take one out of the freezer and let sit on the counter to fully thaw.

Is It Better to Freeze Cinnamon Rolls Before or After Freezing?

In my opinion, it’s better to freeze your keto cinnamon rolls after baking. I’m not sure how the fathead dough will freeze before it’s baked. You could always try it, but I’m honestly not sure how it will do.

Other Low Carb Dessert Recipes

If you are looking for other Keto-friendly desserts then try these out: 

• Best Keto Cheesecake
• Easy Keto Peanut Butter Cookies
• Chewy Low Carb Brownies
• Sugar-Free Chocolate Fudge
• Almond Flour Keto Blueberry Muffins

All of them are Keto-friendly and low carb, and will have your friends raving!

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