The best low calorie cinnamon roll cookies
So you’re craving a soft centred cookie with crispy edges but you could also go for a cinnamon roll, what do you do? You make these low calorie cinnamon roll cookies! These cookies are the perfect mix of cookies and cinnamon rolls. All the sweet, cinnamony softness of a cinnamon roll encased in a delicious crispy-edged cookie topped with cream cheese frosting. These cookies bake in under 10 minutes, contain 66 calories and are the perfect sweet treat for weight loss!
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Cinnamon roll anything is always a good idea, whether you’re enjoying this low calorie cinnamon roll, these low calorie cinnamon roll pancakes or these low calorie cinnamon roll muffins. But cinnamon roll cookies? Nothing, absolutely NOTHING could be better. All the ease of making a batch of cookies combined with all the delicious cinnamon flavor of cinnamon rolls? Heaven in a dessert.
These cookies are so insanely easy to make but taste insanely delicious. Making homemade cinnamon rolls can take a long time and a whole lotta’ effort. Honestly, it can be super overwhelming because there are so many steps and so much to do. These cookies are the perfect way to get the taste of a cinnamon roll that bakes in under 10 minutes. There is no kneading, no waiting around and no rolling out. These cookies can be in your belly within 30 minutes!
My favorite part of creating low calorie desserts is not only making delicious treats that people on a weight loss journey can enjoy, but treats that everyone can enjoy. I love it when people who aren’t on a weight loss journey can enjoy my recipes because they taste that good. These cookies are the perfect crowd pleasers, you honestly wouldn’t know the difference between these and the higher calorie versions! Plus, who doesn’t love a good cookie-cinnamon-roll-crossover?
Low calorie cinnamon roll cookies
Aside from these cookies being the perfect cinnamon roll and cookie love child, these cookies are the prefect quick and easy sweet treat that can be thrown together in under 30 minutes!
Why you’ll love this recipe:
- These cookies bake in under 10 minutes.
- They can easily be made vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free.
- Just 66 calories per cookie!
- Topped with delicious, smooth cream cheese frosting.
- These cookies are free of any added sugars!
- The perfect blend of cookie and cinnamon roll.
- The BEST low calorie cinnamon roll cookies ever!
Ingredients
Exact ingredient quantities can be found at the bottom of this page.
To make these low calorie cinnamon roll cookies you will need:
All-purpose/plain flour – This recipe calls for good ‘ol plain/all-purpose flour. You can opt for gluten-free flour here to make these cookies gluten-free.
0 calorie brown sugar or sweetener of choice – My go-to sweetener for cookies is always 0 calorie brown sugar replacement. It is super sweet and has almost the exact same flavor profile and texture as dark brown sugar which is perfect for theselow calorie cinnamon roll cookies.
Unsweetened Applesauce – Applesauce works great to substitute butter and oil in regular cookie recipes. It adds moisture to the cookies and contains very few calories. I went for unsweetened applesauce for this recipe to avoid added sugars. Be mindful of the type of applesauce you use as some contain added sugars which increase the calories. I use this applesauce that I just get off Amazon.
Baking soda – To help the cookies spread and rise.
Oil – A little oil to add moisture to the cookies and keep them super soft. I went with olive oil but any oil will work for this recipe, the calories may vary slightly between different oils though.
Vanilla extract – You can’t make the perfect cookie without a dash of vanilla!
Ground cinnamon – To create the cinnamon swirl.
Philadelphia lightest cream cheese – What’s a cinnamon roll muffin without the frosting? Philadelphia lightest cream cheese is super low in calories whilst still being creamy. If you are unable to get your hands on it, you can opt for light cream cheese which will add a few extra calories. For a vegan alternative, use vegan cream cheese.
0 calorie icing sugar – A small amount of icing sugar to sweeten the cream cheese frosting. You can also use regular icing sugar here but the calories will be a little higher.
How to make these cookies
- Pre-heat oven to 180°C (356°F).
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the sweetener, applesauce, vanilla and oil until well combined.
- Fold in the flour and baking soda and mix well to combine. Set the cookie dough in the fridge to firm up for at least 30 minutes, this will make it much easier to work with later on.
- In the meantime, make the cinnamon swirl by whisking together the applesauce, sweetener and ground cinnamon until well combined. Set aside.
- Once the cookie dough has firmed up, spread it across a sheet of plastic wrap. Using a rubber spatula, flatten the dough to form a rectangle.
- Spread the cinnamon swirl onto the rolled out cookie dough and roll up into a tight log. The cookie dough may be a little sticky so it’s best to use a rubber spatula when working with it. Wrap the log in the plastic wrap and freeze for 15 minutes to firm up.
- Once the dough is firm, cut into 3 pieces and set onto a lined baking tray.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes and let the cookies cool on the baking tray for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- As the cookies cool, make the frosting by whisking together the cream cheese, 0 calorie icing sugar and vanilla extract until smooth. Transfer to a piping bag.
- Pipe the frosting onto the cooled cookies and enjoy!
Storage
These cookies can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days without the frosting. Add the frosting when you’re ready to eat the cookies.
To freeze – You can freeze the baked cookies for up to 3 weeks, I recommend freezing without the frosting. Place the cookies in an airtight container and set in the freezer. Once you’re ready to eat them, just blitz them for a few seconds in the microwave to defrost, top with the frosting and enjoy! You can also freeze the cookie dough log for up to 3 weeks, wrap in plastic wrap and set in the freezer. Defrost the cookies before cutting and baking per the recipe.
MORE LOW CALORIE COOKIES…
66 calorie cinnamon roll cookies
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp 0 calorie brown sugar
- 1 tbsp applesauce
- 1 tsp oil
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
- 4 tbsp all-purpose/plain flour
- ⅛ tsp baking soda
Cinnamon swirl
- 2 tsp 0 calorie brown sugar
- 1 tsp applesauce
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
Cream cheese frosting
- 1 tbsp Philadelphia lightest
- 2 tbsp 0 calorie icing sugar
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 180°C (356°F).
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the sweetener, applesauce, vanilla and oil until well combined.
- Fold in the flour and baking soda and mix well to combine. Set the cookie dough in the fridge to firm up for at least 30 minutes, this will make it much easier to work with later on.
- In the meantime, make the cinnamon swirl by whisking together the applesauce, sweetener and ground cinnamon until well combined. Set aside.
- Once the cookie dough has firmed up, spread it across a sheet of plastic wrap. Using a rubber spatula, flatten the dough to form a rectangle. Spread the cinnamon swirl onto the rolled out cookie dough and roll up into a tight log. The cookie dough may be a little sticky so it's best to use a rubber spatula when working with it.
- Wrap the cookie dough log in the plastic wrap and freeze for 15 minutes to firm up.
- Once the dough is firm, cut into 3 pieces and set onto a lined baking tray.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes and let the cookies cool on the baking tray for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- As the cookies cool, make the frosting by whisking together the cream cheese, 0 calorie icing sugar and vanilla extract until smooth. Transfer to a piping bag.
- Pipe the frosting onto the cooled cookies and enjoy!
Nutrition
