Whole Wheat Cinnamon Buns with Dairy

Prep: 25 minCook: 50 minmediumAmerican
Whole Wheat Cinnamon Buns with Dairy

These soft, homemade cinnamon buns use whole wheat flour for a heartier texture and nutty flavor. The warm milk and butter create a tender dough that's rolled with sweet cinnamon sugar filling. Perfect for weekend breakfast or brunch, these buns bake up golden and aromatic. The whole wheat adds nutrition while maintaining the classic comfort food appeal of traditional cinnamon rolls.

VegetarianNut-Free

Ingredients

  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 ¼ teaspoons dry yeast
  • 2 cups whole wheat flour
    all-purpose flour1:1comfort

    lighter texture

    Full guide →
  • ¾ cup warm milk
    plant milk1:1vegandairy_free

    use unsweetened variety

  • ½ tablespoon butter, melted
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 6 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • ½ tablespoon oil or melted butter

Instructions

  1. 1

    Stir milk, butter, sugar, and salt together

  2. 2

    Sprinkle yeast on top and wait 10-15 minutes

  3. 3

    Mix in the flour

  4. 4

    Knead dough for three to five minutes

  5. 5

    Let dough rest while preparing the filling

  6. 6

    In a separate bowl, mix the filling ingredients together

  7. 7

    Roll out dough and spread filling all over

  8. 8

    Roll up dough to form a log

  9. 9

    Slice the log and put into round greased pan

  10. 10

    Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 18-22 minutes

Tips

Tip 1

Make sure milk is warm but not hot to activate yeast properly without killing it

Tip 2

Let dough rest to develop gluten and make rolling easier

Tip 3

Use dental floss to slice the log cleanly without compressing the buns

Good to Know

Storage

Store covered at room temperature for 2-3 days or refrigerate for up to 1 week

Make Ahead

Can prepare through slicing step, cover and refrigerate overnight, then bake in morning

Serve With

Serve warm, optionally with glaze or powdered sugar

Common Mistakes

Watch

Don't use hot milk as it will kill the yeast

Watch

Don't skip the yeast proofing step or buns won't rise properly

Substitutions

Dairy-Free Swaps

warm milk→
plant milk1:1vegandairy_free

use unsweetened variety

Full guide →

General Alternatives

whole wheat flour→
all-purpose flour1:1comfort

lighter texture

Full guide →
Find more substitutions →

FAQ

Can I make these without a stand mixer?

Yes, you can mix and knead by hand. The dough will be slightly sticky but manageable with floured hands.

How do I know when the yeast is activated?

After 10-15 minutes, the mixture should be foamy and bubbly on top, indicating active yeast.

Can I freeze these cinnamon buns?

Yes, freeze baked and cooled buns for up to 3 months. Thaw and reheat in 350°F oven for 5-8 minutes.