Every Christmas morning of my childhood was filled with the smell of cinnamon rolls. They weren’t just any cinnamon rolls, either. They were the Pillsbury kind that came in a food-grade cardboard container. I loved unwrapping the spiral package and placing the buns in perfect order on the pan. The smell ignited deep a craving for golden crust and melty icing.
But then we started eating healthier food. For several years after my parents became raw vegan, my grandmother and I would share cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning, but it wasn’t quite the same. My diet had changed too, and though the smell was still enticing, the buns tasted too sweet for me to really enjoy them. We needed an alternative.
This year, we found one: vegan, sugar-free, gluten-free cinnamon rolls. But they’re not just some sorry substitution. They are truly the best cinnamon rolls I’ve ever had. They’re sweetened with dates, raisins and a little honey, and we use nuts for the dough. The consistency and taste is pretty similar to a conventional cinnamon role, but it actually feels good to my body to eat them. Here’s the recipe:
- 1 1/2 cups Dates soaked and pitted
- 2 tbsp Cinnamon
- 1/4 cup Coconut Oil extra virgin
- 2 cups Rolled Oats
- 1/3 cup Pecans
- 1/4 cup Water you may need a couple extra tablespoons
- 1/2 cup Raisins
- 1 tsp Cinnamon
- 1-2 tbsp Honey optional
- 2 tbsp Coconut Oil
- 1/4 cup Cashew Butter
- 1/4 cup Coconut Oil for a variation, half the coconut oil.
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 2 tbsp Honey raw
- 1 handful Pecans crumbled
- Blend all of the Bun ingredients in a food processor. Add more water if necessary. Place in a bowl lined with saran wrap or wax paper, and set aside in fridge.
- Blend the Filling ingredients in the food processor until smooth and set aside in a bowl in the fridge.
- Blend the Icing ingredients in the food processor and set aside in the fridge.
- On a smooth surface, place dough on saran wrap and roll into a rectangle. Cover with filling, leaving one inch of the far edge uncovered. Roll tightly towards the uncovered edge.
- Use a sharp knife to cut the log into cinnamon roles.
- Arrange on a plate and spread icing on top. Add crumbled pecans.
(This recipe is adapted from Damy Health).
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By Nicholas Tippins
Yum!!! (meow)