Vegan 20 Minute Meals, Vegan Cakes & Cookies

Quick Air Fryer Cinnamon Roll

Name: Quick Air Fryer Cinnamon Roll
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 1 cinnamon roll
Ingredients: For the dough:; 8 tbsp all-purpose flour; 1 tsp baking powder (heaping); 4 tsp sugar; 1 pinch salt; 1 tbsp neutral vegetable oil; 5 tbsp plant-based milk; For the filling:; 2 tsp plant-based margarine (soft); 1 tsp cinnamon; 3 tsp brown sugar; For the icing:; 2 tbsp powdered sugar; 0.5 tsp plant-based milk

A recipe by Anna Germek | Photos by Anna Germek

We're the kind of people who instinctively raid the candy drawer at 3 p.m., on the hunt for something sweet to go with our afternoon coffee. And if there's leftover pastry in the office on top of that: jackpot! Cinnamon rolls are right up there at the top of our list, because we loooove these soft, cinnamon-sugar rolls. Whether as apple cinnamon rolls, carrot cake cinnamon rolls, or cinnamon roll waffles – we're all about mixing it up around here!

What we could occasionally do without, though, is the long rising time of yeast dough – and the fact that the effort only really pays off when you're making a whole batch of cinnamon rolls. So we got tinkering, and today we're presenting the solution: the single-serving air fryer cinnamon roll, ready in just 25 minutes – from first ingredient to first bite.

How does the dough work without yeast?

Pretty simple: we swap the yeast for baking powder. Sure, the flavor's a little different, but the rolls turn out just as fluffy – and they come together super fast. No waiting required. The dough's ready in just a few minutes and good to go right away.

Can I scale the ingredients up for a whole baking dish?

Of course! We designed this recipe specifically for those afternoons when you're craving something sweet but really only want to bake a single roll. But if you've got friends over, or want to bake a few extra to have on hand, just multiply the ingredient amounts and use a bigger dish in the air fryer, as long as there's room for it.

Do I need an air fryer for this?

Nope, this recipe works in a regular oven too. Since you'll need to factor in preheating time, though, the whole thing takes a bit longer. If you've got an air fryer at home, this is your absolute cheat code for a super-fast recipe: after just 13 minutes of baking, you've got a wonderfully fluffy, warm cinnamon roll – no lengthy preheating required.

Can I prep the cinnamon roll the night before?

It tastes best fresh and warm. But if you'd like to get a head start, you can prepare the roll ahead of time and keep it in the fridge. Then just take it out shortly before baking and pop it straight into the air fryer!

Even more Vegan Cinnamon Roll Inspiration

If this recipe has left you craving more, we've got even more cinnamon-scented tips for you! How about a cinnamon roll tiramisu or a cinnamon roll cake? These eye-catchers will make all your cinnamon roll dreams come true!

Left: dough being mixed, right: finished dough ball in hand

3 photos: Butter-cinnamon mixture on a spoon; dough rolled out into a strip; butter mixture spread on the strip.

Quick Air Fryer Cinnamon Roll

1 cinnamon roll

25 minutes

Ingredients

For the dough:

8 tbsp all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder (heaping)

4 tsp sugar

1 pinch salt

1 tbsp neutral vegetable oil

5 tbsp plant-based milk

For the filling:

2 tsp plant-based margarine (soft)

1 tsp cinnamon

3 tsp brown sugar

For the icing:

2 tbsp powdered sugar

0.5 tsp plant-based milk

Instructions

In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Add the oil and plant-based milk, then knead into a smooth dough.
On a lightly floured surface, shape the dough into a log, then roll it out into a long, narrow strip about 2–3 centimeters (0.75–1.25 inches) wide – this is the easiest way to get the right width. Mix the margarine with the cinnamon and sugar, then spread it over the dough.
Roll up the dough from the short side to form a thick roll.
Place the cinnamon roll in an oven-safe dish (Ø 9 centimeters / 3.5 inches).
Bake in the air fryer at 170 °C/340 °F for 13 minutes (or in the oven at 190 °C/375 °F for approximately 16 minutes). Whisk the powdered sugar with the plant-based milk and drizzle over the warm cinnamon roll.