Gluten Free + Vegan Giant Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll Nutella Cake!
I am SO proud of this recipe & I really cant wait to see what you guys think when you try it :). This delicious show stopper cinnamon roll cake really is the essence of what ultimate fall baking should be!! This is one of those recipes that will get you a lot of ooh's and ahh's.. especially after everyone has their first bite. I understand that this recipe may seem intimidating but I promise that if you have successfully made regular cinnamon rolls - you'll have no problems here.
I’m calling it a cake since it is the size of a cake. But in truth it is really just a MASSIVE pumpkin cinnamon roll! I have a killer (extremely loved) cinnamon roll recipe here in the club.. and used that as my starting point. That recipe (and this one) is SOFT, tender, fluffy, gooey..the perfect texture in every way! I made a few modifications to the dough to make it easier to work with & roll into one giant roll. But truly you can expect the same amazing texture.
To take things an extra step I made a birthday cake version too. I filmed a class for that recipe as well..but unfortunately my phone bit the dust and that footage didn’t make it into an iCloud update on time. So- when I filmed this class I talked about both variations. They are made exactly the same way.. Only two differences. The birthday cake recipe uses applesauce in the dough whereas this one uses pumpkin puree. Then you’ll also notice that the fillings are different. This one uses Nutella, Organic Cane Sugar and Pumpkin Pie Spice . The other uses Butter, Brown Sugar & Cinnamon! BUT FUN FACT .. the fillings can be swapped and used in the opposite recipe if you wish. Pumpkin Cinnamon roll dough with classic cinnamon roll filling and then a classic cinnamon roll dough filled with Nutella! The recipes make the same exact quantity of dough..so the filling ingredient amounts will be exactly perfect if you swap them.
Just like my original recipe - this one is also gluten free & vegan! (as is the birthday cake version).
Lets talk about Nutella & making this recipe NUT FREE*
Is it Dairy Free/Vegan??
No. BUT I have found 3 fantastic dairy free alternatives for you that are dairy free + vegan.
Justins Chocolates Hazelnut and Almond Butter is an excellent sub for nutella
The brand SunButter makes a Chocolate Sunflower butter. It does not contain hazelnuts -so this is a great option for anyone looking to avoid nuts!
The brand Soom makes a Chocolate Tahini Butter. Again- this one is nut free!
There are a couple other brands that you may find on amazon & in health food stores!
Of course you can always make a homemade version too. Its not at all challenging- just a little bit of a messy process.
I also wanted to mention that any brand of generic Nutella will work perfectly well too!
Tips & Tricks (PLEASE READ)
PLEASE watch the class! It’ll save you from making all kinds of possible mistakes.
DO NOT make this recipe without using a baking scale. JUST DON’T DO IT. The details are important here. Your flour and liquid amounts need to be exactly the same as mine.
This dough is stickier, softer and thinner than traditional cinnamon roll dough. DO NOT assume that it cant be right because its different than dough you have worked with before and start adding flour. Trust the process. As long as you have used my gram measurements and the correct ingredients you are golden.
You may use ANY kind of dairy free milk in this recipe. I used full fat oat milk. Heck you can even use regular milk if thats what you keep in the house.
You can use classic canned pumpkin puree or any kind of applesauce as long as it’s smooth. Sweetened, unsweetened even cinnamon applesauce is fine.
DON’T try to make this recipe sugar free.
I recommend investing in a little $10 oven thermometer that hangs on the rack so that you can make sure your temperature is what it is supposed to be. Oven temp can make or break how bread recipes turn out.
If you have worked with your yeast within the past few months and feel confident that it will work- feel free to skip the portion of the directions in which you mix it with the milk & some sugar! Everything can be dumped right into the mixing bowl.
INGREDIENTS
Most of the ingredients you will be familiar with. I wanted to link to some of the ones that might be harder to find. It’s important that NO substitutions are to be made.
King Arthur Measure for Measure Flour https://amzn.to/3hJQpMl
Potato starch https://amzn.to/2Z8JZ37 (most grocery stores carry this and for a better price)
Judee’s Expandex (This i have only seen on amazon) https://amzn.to/3hLIs9I . This flour is VERY important to this recipe. Its a non gmo modified form of tapioca starch- however it works nothing like tapioca starch.
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Double acting baking powder https://amzn.to/3CfkOtY (Bob’s red mill double acting baking powder is also a good choice.
Yeast: https://amzn.to/39dvFIt (This is available in most grocery stores from various brands).
Xanthan Gum: I usually just stick with bobs red mill. Guar gum works in the same amount as well.
Mild flavored oil: I would use Avocado, Vegetable or Canola. Technically melted butter, ghee or coconut oil would work too- but they cant be hot or they could kill the yeast. I prefer an oil that doesn’t require any melting for maximum rise and fluffiness.
Gluten Free + Vegan Giant Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll Nutella Cake
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
Notes
This dough can be made 24 hours in advance or the same day. You could also roll up the dough a day in advance. The best way to store it - is to wrap it tightly with ceran wrap and store it in the fridge. The dough might need a few minutes longer to proof due to starting out cold.
If you have worked with your yeast within the past few months and feel confident that it will work- feel free to skip the portion of the directions in which you mix it with the milk & some sugar! Everything can be dumped right into the mixing bowl.
Nutella
Nutella is not dairy free or vegan. I have found 3 fantastic dairy free alternatives for you that are dairy free + vegan.
- Justins Chocolates Hazelnut and Almond Butter is an excellent sub for nutella
- The brand SunButter makes a Chocolate Sunflower butter. It does not contain hazelnuts -so this is a great option for anyone looking to avoid nuts!
- The brand Soom makes a Chocolate Tahini Butter. Again- this one is nut free!