Whole Wheat, Fat Free Vegan Cinnamon Buns Recipe

Written by Lindsay Nixon

I love cinnamon buns. I couldn't go to the mall without stopping by Cinnabon. I had to make the Pilsbury version at least weekly in college. There is something magical about the sugar and cinnmon gooeyness. Of course, after I went vegan cinnamon buns were off limits unless I made them myself. The task seemed daunting so I kept putting it off until one day my desires could no longer be controlled.

I found a few recipes online, but they didn't meet the requirements of my then-newly adopted lifestlye. So I set out to make a fat-free and whole-wheat cinnamon bun. Call it the impossible task, but I assure you, its quite possible -- and still delicious.

This is my tried and true recipe. I've made it for well over a dozen people (including my sister, my best friend, my parents and my in-laws, all of who are not veg or eat the way I do) and time and time again these buns are a smashing hit. I love these buns and so will you (especially when I tell you they have only 260 calories per bun with icing!) Enjoy!

and made with raisins:

iced bun

Nutritional Information: 260 calories, >1g fat, 60g carbs, 6g protein per bun! (with icing!)

buns

Cinnamon Buns Recipe

Servings: 6

Description:

Sweet and delicious! Fat-free, whole wheat and 100% vegan. It doesn't get much better than that does it?

Ingredients:

¾ cup non-dairy milk
1 packet active yeast
3 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1 tbsp baking powder
¼ cup raw sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp salt
6 tbsp unsweetened applesauce
4 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp raisins (optional)
1 cup confectioners sugar
1 tsp non-dairy milk

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350F. Grease a circular cake pan and set aside. Gently warm 3/4 cup non-dairy milk to about 110 degrees. Sprinkle yeast over warmed non-dairy milk and let it dissolve, about 5 minutes. Combine 2 cups of flour, 1/4 cup sugar, baking powder, 1 tsp cinnamon and 1/4 salt in a large bowl. Add 5 tbsp applesauce and yeast mixture, stirring spatula to combine. Add in another 1/2 cup flour, stirring to combine. Sprinkle remaining flour on a flat surface and knead dough, kneading in most of the flour. Knead about 15-20 times. Using a floured rolling pin, roll dough out into large, thin rectangle and set aside. Prepare filling by combining 4 tbsp brown sugar with 1 tbsp unsweetened applesauce, 1 tsp cinnamon and raisins if using. Spoon filling in the center of the dough and spread it around, leaving 1" edge clear. Gently but tightly roll the dough up. Use a pizza cutter, sharp knife or string to cut off 6 rolls and place into prepared cake pan and bake 20 to 25 minutes, until golden and cooked through. Meanwhile, prepare icing by mixing 1 cup confectioners sugar with 1 tsp non-dairy milk (plain or vanilla), whipping until it becomes a thick glaze with no sugar chunks. Spread glaze over hot buns.

Posted on May 27, 2009