Gluten free diets have become increasingly popular in recent years, with more and more people choosing to avoid gluten for medical reasons or personal preferences. For those who love cinnamon rolls, finding a gluten free option that’s just as tasty as the original can be a challenge. Pillsbury’s cinnamon rolls are a beloved American classic, but do they offer a gluten free variety?
What is Gluten?
Gluten is a protein found in grains like wheat, barley and rye. For most people, gluten does not cause any issues or adverse reactions. However, for those with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, gluten can cause serious health problems.
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes damage to the small intestine when gluten is ingested. Even small amounts of gluten can trigger painful symptoms like diarrhea, bloating, abdominal pain and nausea in those with celiac disease. Over time, the chronic inflammation caused by gluten exposure can lead to damage of the intestinal villi, which are tiny, finger-like projections that line the small intestine and absorb nutrients from food. This damage interferes with the absorption of important nutrients like iron, calcium and folate.
Non-celiac gluten sensitivity causes similar gastrointestinal symptoms as celiac disease, but without the autoimmune attack on the intestinal villi. People with non-celiac gluten sensitivity may experience digestive issues, fatigue, headache and joint pain when they eat gluten-containing foods.
The only treatment for celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity is adhering to a strict lifelong gluten free diet, eliminating foods and products containing wheat, barley, rye and sometimes oats. This makes finding tasty gluten free alternatives to foods containing these grains extremely important.
Are Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls Gluten Free?
Unfortunately, Pillsbury’s traditional canned cinnamon rolls are not gluten free. The original Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls contain wheat flour as a main ingredient, meaning they do contain gluten.
Here is a look at the ingredients list for Pillsbury’s classic cinnamon rolls:
– Enriched bleached flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid)
– Water
– Brown sugar
– Palm oil
– Yeast
– Soybean oil
– Salt
– Modified food starch
– Vital wheat gluten
– Datem
– Mono and diglycerides
– Spices
– Artificial flavor
– Gelatin
– Sodium stearoyl lactylate
– Polysorbate 60
– Sorbitan monostearate
– Xanthan gum
– Citric acid
– Rice flour
As you can see, the first ingredient is enriched bleached wheat flour. Further down there is also vital wheat gluten listed. These ingredients clearly indicate there is gluten present.
So for anyone following a strict gluten free diet, Pillsbury’s regular canned cinnamon rolls are off limits. Consuming them would cause issues for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.
Does Pillsbury Make Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls?
The good news is that even though their traditional canned cinnamon rolls contain gluten, Pillsbury has created a gluten free cinnamon roll product so people with gluten sensitivity or celiac disease can also enjoy their cinnamon roll taste.
Pillsbury Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls launched in 2019 to provide a gluten free option with the same taste and texture as their original cinnamon rolls.
Here are the ingredients for Pillsbury Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls:
– Water
– Potato starch
– Rice flour
– Sugar
– Yeast
– Palm oil
– Contains 2% or less of each of: salt, xanthan gum, sodium acid pyrophosphate, baking powder (sodium acid pyrophosphate, corn starch, monocalcium phosphate), guar gum, modified tapioca starch, rice flour, tricalcium phosphate.
As you can see, Pillsbury’s gluten free cinnamon rolls do not contain any wheat or wheat derivatives. They are made with gluten free flours and starches like potato starch, rice flour and modified tapioca starch.
Pillsbury states their gluten free cinnamon rolls contain less than 20 parts per million of gluten. This very low level of gluten means these cinnamon rolls are considered gluten free and safe for people with celiac disease and gluten intolerance.
The gluten free cinnamon rolls come in a can of 7 ready-to-bake rolls. They can be prepared the same way as Pillsbury’s regular cinnamon rolls by placing the unbaked rolls in a pan, letting them rise for 30-60 minutes, and then baking until golden brown and cooked through.
Where to Buy Pillsbury Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls
Pillsbury’s gluten free cinnamon rolls are sold alongside their other refrigerated baked goods in the canned goods aisle of grocery stores. They retail for around $4.49 to $4.99 for a 7 count can.
Here are some of the major grocery retailers that carry Pillsbury gluten free cinnamon rolls:
- Walmart
- Kroger
- Publix
- Safeway
- Albertsons
- Stop & Shop
- HEB
- Meijer
- Harris Teeter
- Fred Meyer
- Target
- Whole Foods Market
The gluten free cinnamon rolls can also be purchased online through Walmart, Amazon, Instacart, and other grocery delivery services.
If you don’t see Pillsbury’s gluten free option at your regular grocery store, you can ask the store manager to consider carrying them. More and more large supermarket chains are expanding their selections of gluten free products to meet growing consumer demand.
How Pillsbury Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls Are Made
To create gluten free cinnamon rolls that closely mimic the taste and texture of their original wheat-based rolls, Pillsbury had to re-engineer their recipe.
Gluten free baked goods can often turn out gritty and dry without gluten to bind ingredients and provide structure. To avoid this, Pillsbury uses a combination of starch and gluten free flours like potato starch, rice flour and tapioca starch.
Potato starch helps give the dough a soft, stretchy consistency to resemble the chewy texture of gluten. Rice flour provides structure and a neutral, mild flavor. Tapioca starch helps enhance the texture and adds moisture so the baked rolls are not crumbly.
Xanthan gum and guar gum are added to add elasticity and further bind the gluten free flours. Yeast is used for rising and leavening. Sugar, non-dairy margarine, salt and spices like cinnamon are incorporated for flavor.
The gluten free dough is portioned and shaped into rolls with a spiral of cinnamon sugar filling, similar to Pillsbury’s original recipe. Before baking, the rolls go through a proofing stage where the yeasted dough rises and develops air bubbles to create Pillsbury’s signature soft, pillowy interior texture.
Nutrition Facts of Pillsbury Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls
Here is the nutrition information for one Pillsbury gluten free cinnamon roll (35g):
| Calories: | 160 |
| Fat: | 7g |
| Carbohydrates: | 25g |
| Sugar: | 5g |
| Protein: | 1g |
| Fiber: | 0g |
| Sodium: | 190mg |
Compared to Pillsbury’s regular cinnamon rolls (60g per roll), the gluten free version is lower in calories, fat, sodium and sugar. However, it’s also lower in protein and does not contain any fiber.
Since the gluten free cinnamon rolls are made without whole grains, they lack the nutritional benefits of fiber, B vitamins, iron and other minerals found in wheat-based rolls. The lower calorie, fat and sugar counts are advantages for some. But the lack of nutrition may be a drawback for others.
As with any processed gluten free baked goods, Pillsbury’s rolls should be enjoyed in moderation as part of an overall healthy diet. They can provide a tasty cinnamon roll fix for gluten free eaters, but shouldn’t be a daily indulgence.
Taste Reviews
So how do Pillsbury’s gluten free cinnamon rolls actually taste compared to their original, gluten-containing version?
Here are some reviews from people who have tried them:
Positive reviews
- “These taste exactly like regular Pillsbury cinnamon rolls to me! The texture is soft and pillowy. You wouldn’t know they are gluten free.”
- “I was so happy when I found these because I thought I could never eat cinnamon rolls again after going gluten free. The taste and texture are pretty much identical to normal cinnamon rolls. I love them!”
- “These gluten free cinnamon rolls cook up just the same as the regular ones. My family couldn’t tell the difference in taste when I made them for breakfast.”
- “They have the classic sweet cinnamon and doughy taste I remember from childhood. My son and I devoured them in minutes!”
Negative reviews
- “The taste just isn’t the same as normal cinnamon rolls to me. They are pretty bland and the texture is a little gummy.”
- “I was disappointed with the rolled shape of the gluten free cinnamon rolls. They should come in a pan, not flat rolls.”
- “The taste was ok but nothing compared to regular Pillsbury rolls. I won’t buy again since they are expensive for gluten free.”
- “They were drier than expected and the icing tasted fake. I’ll have to keep looking for better gluten free cinnamon rolls.”
The verdict seems to be that Pillsbury’s gluten free cinnamon rolls are quite similar in taste, but not an exact match to the original wheat version. Some find the taste and texture nearly identical, while others feel they fall a bit flat.
As with any gluten free baked good, personal preferences will vary. Overall, the Pillsbury gluten free cinnamon rolls provide a convenient option for enjoying cinnamon rolls on a gluten free diet. The taste may satisfy some major cinnamon roll cravings!
How to Make Your Own Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls
While Pillsbury’s gluten free cinnamon rolls are convenient, you can also make tasty gluten free cinnamon rolls at home. This allows you to control the ingredients and customize the flavors to your liking.
Here is a basic recipe and instructions for homemade gluten free cinnamon rolls:
Ingredients
For the dough:
- 1 1/4 cups gluten free all-purpose flour blend
- 1/4 cup potato starch
- 2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup warm milk or non-dairy milk like almond milk
- 1 large egg
- 2 Tablespoons butter or coconut oil, melted
For the filling:
- 3 Tablespoons butter, softened
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
For the icing:
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 2 Tablespoons butter or coconut oil, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- Up to 2 Tablespoons milk or non-dairy milk
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the gluten free flour blend, potato starch, yeast, granulated sugar and salt.
- Heat the milk until just warm, about 100°F to 110°F. Add to the dry ingredients along with the egg and melted butter. Stir to form a sticky dough.
- Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 2 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in a greased bowl, cover and let rise for 1 hour.
- While dough is rising, mix together the softened butter, 1/4 cup sugar and cinnamon for the filling.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll the risen dough into an 8×12 inch rectangle. Spread filling evenly over dough.
- Starting at a long edge, tightly roll up dough and pinch seam to seal. Cut roll into 8 slices.
- Place cinnamon rolls cut side up in a lightly greased 8×8 baking pan or round cake pan.
- Cover pan and let rolls rise for 30 minutes until puffy.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake cinnamon rolls for 25-30 minutes until tops are lightly golden brown.
- While rolls bake, mix together icing ingredients until smooth and fluffy. Spread icing over warm cinnamon rolls before serving.
This basic homemade recipe can be customized in many ways. Try adding raisins or pecans to the filling or a cream cheese swirl to the dough. Top with caramel or maple icing instead of plain cream cheese icing. Let your creativity run wild!
Baking your own gluten free cinnamon rolls allows you to use your favorite brand of flour blend and high quality natural ingredients. With some trial and error, you can tweak the recipe to achieve the perfect soft, pillowy cinnamon roll texture you love without gluten.
Gluten Free Cinnamon Roll Brands to Try
In addition to Pillsbury gluten free cinnamon rolls, there are some other store-bought brands of gluten free cinnamon rolls worth tasting:
- Katz Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls – Sold frozen online and in health food stores
- Immaculate Baking Company Cinnamon Rolls – Refrigerated rolls sold at Target, Walmart, Whole Foods
- Udi’s Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls – Frozen rolls sold at most major grocery stores
- Against the Grain Gourmet Cinnamon Rolls – Frozen rolls found in the freezer aisle at Whole Foods, Walmart, Safeway, Publix
- Schar Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls – Frozen rolls available at Wegmans, Whole Foods, Costco
All of these brands make their gluten free cinnamon rolls without wheat, barley, rye or oats. They provide a quick fix when you don’t have time to bake homemade. Taste and texture will vary by brand, with some being more accurate to traditional cinnamon rolls than others.
Finding Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls at Cafes and Bakeries
Many small bakeries and cafes now offer in-house baked gluten free cinnamon rolls on their menus. Calling ahead to ask if they have a gluten free version can satisfy a cinnamon roll craving when out and about.
Dedicated gluten free bakeries will also offer freshly baked rolls that are safe for gluten free diets. Search online directories like Find Me Gluten Free to locate gluten free bakeries in your area.
Major coffee shop chains like Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts sometimes carry gluten free cinnamon rolls seasonally. However, be sure to always verify ingredients as menu offerings frequently change. Never rely on verbal assurances – gluten free needs to be confirmed in writing. Cross contamination in food service establishments makes customers with celiac disease especially vulnerable.
The Bottom Line
While Pillsbury’s traditional canned cinnamon rolls contain wheat and are not gluten free, the company has created a gluten free product that provides the same delicious taste without gluten.
Pillsbury Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls give people with celiac disease and gluten intolerance a way to enjoy this classic breakfast pastry. Made with gluten free starches and gums, the taste and texture impress many reviewers.
However, some find the gluten free version falls a bit flat compared to the pillowy soft original. Homemade rolls let you customize flavors and textures to your preference, using the best quality ingredients.
For cinnamon roll lovers avoiding gluten, Pillsbury and other brands offer convenience. But take the time to find your favorite recipe or bakery for gluten free cinnamon rolls that satisfy your craving and meet your dietary needs.
