Banana Cinnamon Rolls (No Dehydrator!) | 3-Ingredient Vegan Recipe (2024)

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These sticky swirly sweet banana cinnamon rolls are healthier, simpler, and sweeter than any ordinary cinnamon roll, and made in the oven with only fruit!

Banana Cinnamon Rolls (No Dehydrator!) | 3-Ingredient Vegan Recipe (1)There are a lot of fruits I miss from my week at the Woodstock Fruit Festival.The sweetjuice-drippy mangoes. The perfectly petite strawberry papayas. The hot pink pitayas that I suspect willnever show up in any grocery store around here (especially sincespell check doesn’t even believe ‘pitaya’ is a word). But there is onefruity sweet snack I miss most of all…

Banana Cinnamon Rolls!And when I mentioned them many of you seemed pretty eager to try them too, so I am finallysharing that recipe. Although I must say I will miss the delicious job ofrecipe testing these.

Fortunately dates, bananas, and cinnamon are neither exotic nor elusive ingredients. However, thesebread-lessbuns are typically a raw recipe made in the dehydrator. But I don’t have a dehydrator, soI experimented withanother way…

Banana Cinnamon Rolls (No Dehydrator!) | 3-Ingredient Vegan Recipe (2)Banana Cinnamon Rolls (No Dehydrator!) | 3-Ingredient Vegan Recipe (3)

The oven. It’s the oven obviously. There is no other secret magical banana-drying method or anything, at least not the I know about. But rather than use the oven like a mock dehydrator at it’s lowest setting and have to wait forever for your sticky swirlyrolls, Iexperimented until I found the highest possible temp that would still dry them out butnot actually bake or burn them.Higher temperature = faster cook time = snacking sooner!

And I actually found the texture preferable with this method too–not as gooey need-twelve-napkinsmessy. You can pick up and eatthese little banana bundles with grace.

It’s still a low and slow process that will take a few hours, but most of that time is just waiting while the oven does it’s work. The actual ingredients and assembly is very easy, and you really only need 3 ingredients! You couldadd vanilla or salt to the date filling. Or you could add raisins on top likethey did at the festival. But honestly I just love them the simple banana + date + cinnamon way.

Banana Cinnamon Rolls (No Dehydrator!) | 3-Ingredient Vegan Recipe (4)

The trickiest part of the whole process is slicing the bananas lengthwise. If you’ve never tried to do that, trust me it’s much harder than it sounds. They have a tendency to break and mush everywhere.

A few tips
– Use spotty but not overripe bananas. Bruises and mushy spots make it almost impossible.
– Slice each banana into 3 strips. In the video I attempted 4, but since then I have found that 3 is much more doable and actually makes for a sturdier cinnamon roll.
– Leave half of the peeling on and slice it in the peeling. It is easier to hold this way and gives the banana some support.
– The straighter the banana the better.
– If they do break, save thoseshorter strips. You can piece them together androll them up inside larger ones.

Banana Cinnamon Rolls (No Dehydrator!) | 3-Ingredient Vegan Recipe (5)

These Banana Cinnamon Rolls are naturally SO sweet from the combination of candy-likedates and concentratedbanana sugars. If you like those two fruits, you will love them.Better than any baked bread-style cinnamon roll will ever be if you ask me!

>>> Click Below To Pin <<<

Banana Cinnamon Rolls (No Dehydrator!) | 3-Ingredient Vegan Recipe (6)

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Banana Cinnamon Rolls (No Dehydrator!) | 3-Ingredient Vegan Recipe (7)

Banana Cinnamon Rolls

  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 180 minutes
  • Total Time: 200 minutes
  • Yield: 10 -12 rolls 1x
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Ingredients

Scale

  • 4 spotty bananas
  • Cinnamon

Date Paste

  • 1 cup Medjool dates (about 12)
  • 1/2 cup water
  • Optional: 1 tsp vanilla and/or a pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 250F
  2. Slice the bananas lengthwise into 3 strips each (see tips in the post and watch the video for technique).
  3. Lay out the slices on 2 baking trays lined with parchment paper. Do not overcrowd. I recommend 6 slices per tray. If you have any smaller strips that broke, lay them out too.
  4. Bake for 1 hour at 250F.
  5. Remove from the oven and let them cool for 15-20 mins.
  6. Gently run a finger or dull knife under each slice to release it from the pan. Flip them over so the side with more moisture is facing upwards.
  7. Blend all the ingredients for the date paste.
  8. Spread about 1 tablespoon of date paste down the length of a banana slice. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Roll.
  9. Repeat with the remaining slices. You can roll the shorter pieces inside the longer strips.
  10. Arrange all the rolls on one lined pan.
  11. Return them to the oven for 1.5-2 hours at 250F.
  12. Remove from the oven. Allow to cool. Eat immediately or refrigerate for a firmer consistency. Keep leftovers in the fridge.

Banana Cinnamon Rolls (No Dehydrator!) | 3-Ingredient Vegan Recipe (8)

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Banana Cinnamon Rolls (No Dehydrator!) | 3-Ingredient Vegan Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Are Walmart cinnamon rolls vegan? ›

No. This product is not vegan as it lists 1 ingredient that derives from animals and 4 ingredients that could derive from animals depending on the source.

Why are my homemade cinnamon rolls hard? ›

Don't Overmix the Dough

When making cinnamon rolls, mix the dough just until the ingredients are incorporated and the dough is smooth and soft. Overmixed dough leads to tough cinnamon rolls. The dough is ready when it pulls away from the sides of the mixing bowl and feels tacky but doesn't stick to your fingers.

Are Trader Joe's cinnamon rolls vegan? ›

9 Trader Joe's Jumbo Cinnamon Rolls

Yup, these cinnamon rolls are accidentally vegan. Look out for the seasonal pumpkin version that appears every fall.

What is a vegan substitute for bananas in baking? ›

You can replace 1 banana with 1/2 cup of applesauce, but avoid using more than 1 cup total applesauce in a recipe (it'll be too wet and dense and cook unevenly).

What can I substitute for 2 bananas in baking? ›

Applesauce (store-bought or homemade) can substitute for a banana in baked goods. Replace one banana with 1/2 cup of applesauce, but don't use more than 1 cup of applesauce because the mixture will be too wet. Egg whites (or a whole egg) can also substitute for a banana in some baked goods.

Which cinnamon rolls are vegan? ›

What brands of canned cinnamon rolls are vegan? There are actually a few plant-based cinnamon roll brands you can buy that are quite similar to Pillsbury in flavor. I like Annie's, Immaculate Baking, and Trader Joe's delicious cinnamon rolls. They all come in a can, just like Pillsbury.

Are Pillsbury cinnamon rolls vegan? ›

Hidden Non-Vegan Ingredients

In some instances, Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls may contain milk, eggs, or other animal-derived additives. These additional ingredients might be included to enhance the flavor, texture, or shelf life of the product.

Is Cinnabon vegan? ›

Are your bons Halal, Vegan / Vegetarian, or are they acceptable for those with Peanut Allergies? Our core bons do not contain meat or alcohol, but we do not have Halal certification. Our rolls contain eggs and buttermilk, and our frosting is made from dairy cream cheese.

What is the secret ingredient in Cinnabon? ›

Cinnabon's Secret Ingredient

This special Indonesian cinnamon, called Makara, is trademarked by Cinnabon. And because of that trademark, you won't find this product in your local grocery store spice aisle.

What happens if you let cinnamon rolls rise for too long? ›

Can cinnamon rolls rise for too long? Yes definitely! If you let your cinnamon rolls rise for too long you can over-proof them. This can lead to dense rolls or rolls that collapse after baking.

Is Chick Fil A bread vegan? ›

Unfortunately for vegans, none of the sandwich bread at Chick-fil-A is vegan-friendly. The buns and brioche contain dairy and honey, and the flaxseed flour flatbread in the Grilled Cool Wrap contains l-cysteine. Stick to the salads and the fries, and you'll be in good (vegan) hands.

Can vegans eat hummus? ›

Hummus is a vegan staple that allows you to have some versatility in your diet. It's an immensely popular food amongst vegans so you may have found a new favourite yourself. It's available in a wide range of flavours and is very versatile in the kitchen so you can experiment with it if you wish to.

What is the best fruit substitute for banana? ›

Mango is one of the most common substitutes for bananas in smoothies. It has a pretty mild flavor. Because it's not as juicy as most fruits, mango is great at creating a creamy texture. Use about 1 cup of frozen mango to replace 1 banana.

What fruit is equivalent to a banana? ›

Plantains and bananas are genetically similar, but plantains are primarily eaten cooked. Like bananas, plantains are originally from Southeast Asia. However, they are now grown all over the world, including in India, Egypt, Indonesia, and tropical regions of the Americas.

What food is closest to a banana? ›

Top Banana Substitutes
  • Applesauce: A great substitute in baking, providing moisture and a subtle sweetness.
  • Avocados: Offer a creamy texture, ideal for smoothies and desserts.
  • Pumpkin Puree: Adds moisture to baked goods with a mild, sweet flavor.
  • Greek Yogurt: For smoothies, it provides creaminess and a protein boost.

What is the alternative use of bananas? ›

Use as fertilizer or mulch

Many cultivars of roses and other plants, like staghorn ferns, also benefit from the nutrients found in banana peels; simply cut up some peels and use them as plant food around your established plants. You can also learn how to make compost and use your banana peels to make fertilizer.

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