Easy Gluten Free Cruffins Recipe
If you’re hunting for your next brunch showstopper, let me introduce you to Easy Gluten Free Cruffins. Imagine everything you love about cinnamon rolls and croissants—flaky, buttery, tender, and sweet—but all rolled up in a muffin tin, and safe for gluten free friends. This recipe gives you the thrill of bakery-style pastry at home, without the gluten or the fuss, and it brings swoon-worthy aromas that will have everyone circling the kitchen. Whether you’re hosting, gifting, or just treating yourself, Easy Gluten Free Cruffins make every day a little more special.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe is all about pantry-friendly, fuss-free ingredients that come together for a magical result. Each one has a starring role—think sweetness, fluffiness, and irresistible cinnamon warmth—so don’t skip or skimp. Here’s how everything shines in your Easy Gluten Free Cruffins!
- Active dry yeast: Essential for getting that fluffy, light rise—this helps mimic the airiness of traditional cruffins, even without gluten.
- Cane sugar: Adds sweetness throughout the dough and cinnamon swirl, plus some sparkle in the final coating.
- Milk: Gives moisturized, tender texture; use dairy or your favorite non-dairy alternative.
- Gluten free flour blend: The base for structure—pick a blend meant for baking to ensure the best rise and crumb.
- Unsalted butter (frozen and melted): Grated frozen butter makes the dough flaky, while melted butter is both a filling and helps the sugar stick after baking.
- Salt: A little goes a long way to balance out all the sweet notes.
- Pure vanilla extract: Boosts overall flavor, giving the cruffins their classic bakery taste.
- Ground cinnamon: The heart of that swirl—warm, aromatic, and classic.
How to Make Easy Gluten Free Cruffins
Step 1: Prepare the Yeast Mixture
Begin by warming your milk until it’s just cozy (about 110º F). Sprinkle in a tablespoon of cane sugar and the active dry yeast, giving it a gentle stir. Let it sit until frothy—this little science trick jumpstarts your cruffin’s rise and brings out that signature pillowy bite you crave. Preheat your oven to 200º F then shut it off. The warm oven will become your dough’s happy place for rising later.
Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together your gluten free flour blend, more cane sugar, and a pinch of salt. These simple ingredients team up to create that soft, rich dough every cruffin needs. Whisking helps keep things airy—no tough cruffins allowed!
Step 3: Grate the Frozen Butter
Grab your cheese grater and frozen butter. Grate it directly into the bowl of dry ingredients, tossing as you go so every shred is coated in flour. This quick trick guarantees flakiness and that melt-in-your-mouth crumb—just like a croissant, without any layers to fold.
Step 4: Bring the Dough Together
Your yeast mixture should now be bubbly and happy. Pour it over the flour mixture, add the vanilla extract, and gently mix. The dough should be soft and pliable, but not sticky. If it’s too wet, add more flour, just a tablespoon at a time. Each gluten free blend is a little different, so adjust as needed until it feels workable in your hands.
Step 5: Roll and Fill
Transfer your dough to a floured silicone mat. Dust the top lightly and roll out to a rectangle about 1/4 inch thick. Brush the surface with melted butter, then sprinkle an even mix of cane sugar and ground cinnamon. It’s time for the swirl! Use a sharp knife to slice the dough into strips, ready to roll.
Step 6: Shape the Cruffins
Carefully roll up each strip into a tight spiral, minding the cinnamon-sugar so it stays tucked inside. Place your dough spirals into a greased muffin tin. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let them rise in the switched-off, still-warm oven for 45 minutes until doubled—this is the magic moment!
Step 7: Bake to Golden Perfection
Remove the pan and plastic wrap. Preheat your oven to 375º F. Brush more melted butter over the tops—this extra step gets you gorgeous, golden tops with just a hint of crisp. Bake for 25–30 minutes until you’re hit with the smell of cinnamon-sweet magic.
Step 8: Sugar Finish
While the cruffins are still warm, roll them in a mixture of ground cinnamon and cane sugar. If you want an extra sweet crunch, brush with a bit more melted butter before rolling. The finishing touch makes every bite sparkle and brings out a fantastically cozy flavor.
How to Serve Easy Gluten Free Cruffins
Garnishes
The simplest way is often best—just dust them with a cloud of powdered sugar! But if you want to take your Easy Gluten Free Cruffins over the top, drizzle with a vanilla glaze or sprinkle chopped toasted nuts. Even a splash of citrus zest can make them pop for spring brunch.
Side Dishes
These cruffins are ready to steal the show, but they play well with others! Pair them with creamy Greek yogurt and fresh berries, or team with scrambled eggs and bacon for a truly indulgent breakfast spread. A steamy cup of chai or your favorite latte is a must as well.
Creative Ways to Present
Pile Easy Gluten Free Cruffins high on a tiered cake stand for a brunch buffet, tuck each one into a parchment wrapper for bake sale flair, or wrap them up in cellophane with a pretty ribbon for the loveliest edible gift. Their swirled centers look beautiful sliced open and paired with a pat of butter or fresh jam, too.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Easy Gluten Free Cruffins are always at their best warm from the oven, but leftovers keep wonderfully! Once cooled, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. The texture will stay tender and delicious, especially if you keep them out of the fridge, which can dry them quickly.
Freezing
If you want to save some for later, let the cruffins cool completely, then wrap tightly in plastic wrap and pop into a freezer bag. They’ll keep their bakery-fresh flavor for up to two months. Just thaw at room temperature when a craving hits, or give them a quick warm-up in the oven.
Reheating
For ultra-cozy, just-baked vibes, reheat your Easy Gluten Free Cruffins in a 300º F oven for 8–10 minutes, or until they’re warmed through. Microwaving works in a pinch (20–30 seconds), but the oven brings back that lovely crisp top. If desired, brush them with a bit more melted butter and toss in cinnamon sugar after reheating—why not?
FAQs
Can I use any gluten free flour blend?
You definitely can, but for best results choose a gluten free flour blend designed for baking (not just all-purpose). Some blends hold moisture better or rise higher, so start with the recommended 3 cups and add more only if needed for a workable dough.
What kind of milk is best for Easy Gluten Free Cruffins?
Whole milk gives a rich, tender crumb, but unsweetened almond or oat milk work beautifully if you want a dairy free version. The key is to use milk that’s warmed to the right temperature so your yeast activates properly!
Can these be made vegan?
Absolutely! Use a plant-based butter and your favorite non-dairy milk. Make sure your gluten free flour blend doesn’t contain dairy, and you’ll have wonderful vegan Easy Gluten Free Cruffins to share with everyone.
Can I prepare the dough ahead of time?
Since gluten free dough only gets one good rise, it’s best to shape the cruffins immediately, let them rise, and then bake. However, you can freeze shaped (unbaked) cruffins; just thaw, let rise again in a warm spot, and then bake as usual.
My cruffins didn’t rise much. What went wrong?
This is often a yeast issue—either the milk was too hot and killed the yeast or too cool and didn’t activate it. Make sure it’s right around 110º F and always check your yeast expiration date for the fluffiest Easy Gluten Free Cruffins.
Final Thoughts
There’s something extra special about baking Easy Gluten Free Cruffins from scratch—your kitchen fills with sweet cinnamon and everyone comes running. I hope you fall for this recipe as much as I do. Give it a try and let the smiles (and crumbs) fly; you’ll see why it’s a favorite for any gluten free gathering!
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Easy Gluten Free Cruffins Recipe
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 12 cruffins 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
These Easy Gluten Free Cruffins are a delightful combination of flaky croissants and muffins, filled with a sweet cinnamon-sugar mixture. Perfect for a special breakfast treat or a delicious snack!
Ingredients
Yeast Mixture
- 2 ½ teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 tablespoon cane sugar
- 1 cup milk (* See notes)
Cruffins
- 3 cups gluten free flour blend (* See note!)
- ½ cup cane sugar
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter (frozen)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup cane sugar (* See note.)
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted)
- ¼ cup cane sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Yeast Mixture Warm milk to 110º F, add sugar and yeast. Let sit until frothy. Preheat oven to 200º F.
- Cruffins Combine dry ingredients. Grate frozen butter into flour. Add yeast mixture and vanilla. Mix gently. Roll out dough, add sugar-cinnamon mix, cut into strips, roll, place in muffin pan. Let rise. Bake, brush with butter, roll in sugar-cinnamon mix.
Notes
- You only get one good rise with gluten-free dough, so shape cruffins before rising.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Brunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cruffin
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Keywords: gluten free, cruffins, cinnamon sugar, breakfast, brunch, easy recipe
