Vegan Banana Chocolate Chip Cinnamon Rolls (Easy, Step by Step Recipe)

Don’t let the appearance fool you. These decadent-looking Banana Chocolate Chip Cinnamon Rolls are actually quite healthy! Made with mashed bananas, cocoa powder, yeast, sugar, salt, water, olive oil, vegan chocolate chips and topped with this Low Fat Chocolate PB Powder Frosting, these cinnamon rolls are not just good for your soul, they’re good for your body, too.

The recipe below yields thick and hearty cinnamon rolls that almost has a cakey texture, thanks to the heaping addition of bananas. For a softer roll, you can also use all-purpose flour. Substitution notes are below, so check it out!

Here’s why I love this recipe

• vegan – no eggs, milk or butter required
• healthy AND delicious
• easy to prepare if you have a stand mixer or bread machine
• satisfying and filling, thanks to the mashed bananas which are high in fiber and nutrients

Ingredients Used to Make Banana Chocolate Chip Cinnamon Rolls

_{**I’ve linked some of these ingredients to amazon.com to give you an idea of what they are, but you should also be able to find them in your local grocery store (usually, the baking aisle, or the natural & organic food section). They are also affiliate links, which means that I earn a commission as an Amazon Associate if you decide to purchase the items. The price will be the same for you, link or no link 🙂}

• Bread Flour – Bread flour is highly recommended for this recipe for the best texture and structure. I used King Arthur Bread Flour. Please read the note in the substitution section below if using other flours.

• Instant Yeast – you can find instant yeast in the baking section near the flours. My favorite is SAF Instant Premium Yeast, which works quickly and consistently produces great results. I recommend using instant yeast over active yeast for this recipe since active yeast (unlike instant yeast) needs to be activated in water, which we don’t add until the very end.

• Sugar – I used raw cane sugar, but you can use regular granulated white sugar, or healthier alternatives like coconut, date, or maple sugars. Sugar free sugar-free substitutes such as monk fruit sweetener or stevia powder can be used in the frosting recipe, but for what goes inside the bread, I would NOT RECOMMEND using sugar-free substitutes since they can cause the bread to not rise properly.

• Salt – Pink Himalayan salt is what I have at home, so it’s what I use, but you can use any kind for this recipe.

• Bananas – we’ll need to use mashed bananas in this recipe. For the best flavor, use the ripe ones. They have deep yellow skin with brown spots.

• Olive Oil – I like using light olive oil since it has a neutral flavor, but you can also any cooking oil of your choice like coconut oil, or avocado oil instead

Equipment

• I used a KitchenAid Stand Mixer with a dough hook to knead the dough. You’re also welcome to use a bread machine, or knead the dough by hand.

More Banana Recipes (HERE)

Step by Step Guide

How to Make these Cinnamon Rolls Healthier

• Make this Banana Chocolate Chip Cinnamon Rolls even healthier by adding a handful of nuts, seeds and old-fashioned oats to add texture and nutrition. Here are some ideas
  • Nuts – chopped walnuts, pecans, cashews
  • Seeds – poppy seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, flaxseeds or chiaseeds
  • Dried Fruit – chopped apricot, raisins, cranberries, dried cherries, candied ginger, citrus zests, etc.

• Want to add more fiber? Substitute white whole wheat flour for up to half of the bread flour called for in this recipe. You’ll need to add a few more tablespoons of water to adjust the hydration since whole wheat flour absorbs more water than white flour.

• For the chocolate frosting, I used this Chocolate Peanut Butter Powder Frosting recipe which is low fat and low sugar. But if using regular storebought chocolate frosting, it might be a good idea to not use so much frosting. In that case, just pipe a little on the rolls, like below!

Different Icing and Frosting Options for Cinnamon Rolls

If you want to enjoy cinnamon rolls with a variety of glazes, icings and frostings, there are many fun and delicious options to choose from. For starters, try drizzling cinnamon rolls with chocolate, topping them with whipped cream, or adding some coffee to the glaze. For more ideas, check out this post for 10+ Easy Homemade Cinnamon Roll Icing & Frosting Recipes

Note on Substitutions

• Unfortunately, gluten-free flours cannot be substituted for bread flour in this recipe.
• If you don’t have bread flour, you can also use All Purpose Flour instead. AP flour has less protein than bread flour, so it will yield softer rolls with less chew/ bite.
• The almond flour can be subbed with other nut flour like pecan, cashew and walnut flour.

How to Store

• You can store these Cinnamon Rolls in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days.
• For longer storage, you can place them in a plastic freezer bag or airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 7 days, or freeze up to 3 months. To reheat, cover with foil and warm them up in the oven or air fryer

Final Tips for Banana Chocolate Chip Cinnamon Rolls

• Weigh your flour for the best results. 1 cup of bread flour = 120 grams / 4.23 oz. This is recommended since scooping the flour directly from the bag can can pack the flour into the measuring cup, and this means you’ll end up with more flour than what’s called for in the recipe. If you don’t have a kitchen scale, you can measure the flour by spooning pre-sifted flour into the measuring cup, then using the straight end of the spoon to level the flour across the top to sweep off the excess.
• Baking time (as well as serving size) will vary based on the size of your baking pan, the material (silicone vs metal) of the pan. If you’re not sure whether the bread is ready, you can insert a quick read thermometer into the bread – a finished bread will register 190 F (or 88 C).
• To make this recipe in the bread machine: add all the dry ingredients into the machine, stir briefly before adding the wet ingredients. The machine can be set for basic. Check the dough for consistency and adjust by adding additional water (or flour) before the end of the first kneading cycle. If you want to add additional nuts or dried fruits, leave them aside, and only them 3 minutes before the end of the second kneading cycle.

More Bread Recipes (HERE)