The Most Amazing Gluten and Dairy Free Caramel Rolls
I have been craving caramel rolls for 5 years! That is way too long to have a craving – I’m not even lying! So, when my mom came over with gluten-free bread flour, we decided we better make Gluten & Dairy Free CARAMEL ROLLS!
I Said Goodbye to Gluten
Five years ago, I discovered I was gluten intolerant and was completely lost as to what to make myself. At the time, I was in graduate school and working, so the idea of going gluten-free seemed completely overwhelming.
Luckily, my mom came to my rescue and made a gluten-free casserole, while I adjusted that first week to the idea. I knew I didn’t want to get sick eating anything but I didn’t really understand all of the things that contained gluten. It took me quite a while to know what to look for on package labels and, a lot of times, getting sick to learn.
Eating out was pretty much a nightmare. It was still a pretty new concept in South Dakota at the time. The wait staff had no idea what I was referring to and chefs thought I was just choosing the newest dieting fad. So, no one took me seriously.
Baking Gluten Free Caramel Rolls
Learning to bake gluten-free was my first goal because I really love to bake and eat sweets. I can cook, but not as well as I can bake.
Caramel rolls are an all-time favorite of mine. I hadn’t ever made rolls before going gluten-free, so attempting a gluten-free caramel roll totally scared me. Luckily, it went smoothly! They were delicious, but I did have my mom’s encouragement, too!
Dairy Free Caramel Roll Substitution
My son has had issues with dairy since he was born and I have been lactose intolerant since Junior High. So, having these rolls made dairy-free was an added bonus. It’s awesome when you find a way to make something everyone can enjoy! I am not as strict with avoiding dairy as I am gluten, although I should be.
If you have a caramel roll recipe you love, but it contains cottage cheese, you can substitute 1 tbsp of vinegar for 1 cup of cottage
Why vinegar in a sweet roll? Cinnamon rolls and caramel rolls have super sweet icing/sauce, so adding something acidic helps cut the sweetness. This way, your
Check out my S’mores Cookies {Gluten & Dairy Free} Recipe here!
Pamela’s Gluten-Free Baking Flour
As I have mentioned in other recipes, my family really loves Pamela’s brand for pancakes and bread flour. It contains almond flour, so your pancakes and bread have more protein in them then a regular flour does!
You can find the Pamela’s bread flour here. For my Pumpkin & Spiced Pear Pancakes recipe click here.
Gluten and Dairy Free Caramel Rolls Recipe
Caramel Rolls with Dairy Free Caramel Sauce
Ingredients
Filling
- 8 tbsp Vegan Butter or Ghee Room Temperature
- ⅔ cup Brown Sugar
- 3 tbsp Cinnamon
Yeast
- 2 ¼ tsp Active Dry Yeast or 1 Yeast Packet 7g
- 1 tsp Sugar
- ½ cup Water Very Warm
Dough
- 8 tbsp Vegan Butter or Ghee Room Temperature
- 1 ½ tsp Vinegar
- 3 ½ cups Pamela’s Bread Mix
- 1 tbsp psyllium husk optional
- ½ tsp Salt
- 2 large eggs
- ⅔ cup Warm Water
Dairy Free Caramel Sauce
- 2 cups Brown Sugar (or coconut sugar)
- 1 tsp vinegar or to taste
- 6 tbsp coconut milk
- 4 tbsp corn syrup
- ½ cup vegan butter or butter flavored Crisco – you will need additional salt
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- For Filling: Mix room temperature butter with cinnamon and sugar – set aside.
- For Yeast: Dissolve your yeast in 1/2 cup very warm water and 1 tsp of sugar. You will let this set and get foamy for 5-10 minutes.
- For Dough: In a stand mixer, mix together room temperature butter and vinegar. Add remaining dough ingredients, including foamy yeast mixture. Mix well.
- For Caramel Sauce: You will want the sauce ready to go before rolling and cutting your rolls, so that it can be added to the bottom of your 9×13 cake pan.
- In a medium sauce pan, combine brown sugar, vinegar and corn syrup on medium heat. Once incorporated, add coconut milk, butter or Crisco, salt and vanilla. Bring to a low boil on medium heat.
- Between two long greased sheets of parchment paper, roll dough out into a rectangle, 1/4 inch thick.
- Take off the top layer of parchment paper and spread filling mixture evenly.
- Use parchment paper to assist you in rolling into a log, rolling the longest side of the dough. Peel the paper off as you roll into a log. If the dough is too sticky, refrigerate for a half hour.
- Using a sharp knife, cut the log into 1.5-2 inch wide rolls.
- Arrange rolls in a greased 9×13 inch pan. Place the swirls facing up and each roll equal distances apart.
- Rest the dough for 60-90 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350° F. Bake for 40-50 minutes or until golden brown.
Dairy Free Caramel Sauce
After a lot of experimenting, my mom and I found a way to make a dairy free and even vegan caramel recipe! You will LOVE IT!
It is so gooey and delicious. You would never know that it didn’t have cream in it.
This Dairy Free Caramel Sauce would be really good on caramel apples and ice cream, too!
Tips
You can use the whisk attachment or the dough attachment on your stand mixer for incorporating your dough mixture. The whisk attachment is probably faster for incorporating your ingredients. You can find my KitchenAid Stand M
You will want your dough to be dry enough that it stays on your stand mixer attachment when you take it out of the bowl. If it is too wet, you will need to add more flour so that your dough doesn’t stick to your parchment paper.
Another tip is using psyllium husk. Psyllium husk is a binding agent that will help your gluten-free baking flour stay together. It will replace the gluten, just as xanthum gum would.
For more of my yummy, healthy recipes, click here.
Conclusion
These rolls are so addicting! It is so nice to have an awesome gluten and dairy free recipe that is a classic in your repertoire.
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as my family did <3
Check out my Pumpkin & Spiced Pear Pancakes here!
Find out my SECRET to a yummy Dairy-Free cream sauce here.
Good morning! This is my first recipe I am giving a try since becoming gluten and dairy free. When it says coconut milk is that in the can or the carton in the fridge. I get confused! Thanks!
Hey, sorry about the delay in response. I use the Thai Coconut Milk in a can!
These look amazing! Do you know if they can be made ahead of time and baked the next day? I am thinking these look perfect to bake for Christmas morning.
Thank you! That is a great question, I haven’t tried that yet Melissa! I’m not sure… I hope they turn out great for your family!!
What are the results with Bobs Red Mill gluten free flour?
The ingredients in Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Flour are very similar to the flour listed in this recipe! Should work out the same! I’m craving these right now… Let me know how you like them 🙂