There’s something comforting about pulling a tray of soft, chocolatey rolls out of the oven — especially when they’re made without butter and completely lactose-free. These No-Butter Chocolate Rolls are one of those recipes that feel special but stay simple enough for everyday baking. The dough is gently flavored with a touch of cocoa and coffee, filled with dark chocolate, and finished with two light glazes. The result is soft, tender rolls that are not too sweet, not too rich, and so satisfying you’ll happily reach for another one.What we love most about this recipe is how balanced it feels. There’s no heavy butter taste, just a light coconut oil richness and the deep flavor of dark chocolate. The rolls stay soft and moist without being soggy, and the sweetness is just right — enough to feel like a treat, but light enough that you can enjoy them without feeling weighed down. They’re the kind of homemade bake that makes the kitchen smell wonderful and leaves everyone at the table smiling.
Prep Time20 minutesmins
Active Time23 minutesmins
Rest time for the dough2 hourshrs30 minutesmins
Total Time3 hourshrs13 minutesmins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chocolate desserts, chocolate rolls, cinnamon roll
1teaspooninstant coffee diluted in 2 tablespoons hot water
1tablespooncocoa powder
1teaspoonvanilla extract
Stuffing Ingredients:
1teaspooncoconut oil
¼cupbrown sugar
½cupdark chocolate chips or chopped dark chocolate
Bottom of the baking pan:
¼cupbrown sugar
1teaspooncoconut oil
1teaspoonvanilla extract
2tablespoonshoneyStir well to combine
Sugar Glaze:
¼cupicing sugar
3tablespoonslactose-free milkStir until smooth
Chocolate Glaze:
¼cupdark chocolate chips
2tablespoonslactose-free milkMicrowave for 30 seconds and stir until melted and smooth
For finishing:
2tablespoonscocoa powderfor dusting through a strainer
Instructions
Instructions
In a large bowl, combine the warm milk, honey, and instant yeast. Let it sit for 10 minutes until slightly foamy. Add the egg, coconut oil, lactose-free yogurt, diluted coffee, cocoa powder, vanilla, salt, and bread flour. Mix until a soft dough forms.
Knead the dough until it becomes smooth and elastic. It will feel slightly sticky at first — sprinkle a little flour as needed until the dough doesn't stick to your fingers and bowl anymore but still slight sticky, soft and moist. Cover it with plastic wrap and clean towel, and let it rise until doubled in size for 1-2 hour.
Once risen, grease your hands with a little oil, turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface, and roll it into a rectangle. Spread 1 teaspoon of coconut oil to cover the whole surface, Then sprinkle some brown sugar, and dark chocolate evenly over the dough, divide into 6 strips and cut into equal strips. Roll each strip into a cinnamon roll shape, and seal the end of the dough.
Prepare the baking container that will fit all 6 rolls , Prepare the bottom mixture (brown sugar, coconut oil, vanilla, and honey, Mix well) and spread it in your baking pan. Arrange the rolls on top, cover, and let them rise again until puffy around 20-30 minutes.
Bake in a preheated oven on the bottom rack at 350°F (175°C) for about 23 minutes, or until golden and cooked through.
While still warm, drizzle with the sugar glaze ( icing sugar mixed with couple tablespoons of milk) and the melted dark chocolate glaze(chocolate chips mix with couple tablespoons of milk and microwave for 30 seconds and stir until melted). Finish by dusting lightly with cocoa powder through a fine strainer.
These chocolate rolls have quickly become a favorite in our kitchen. They’re soft, chocolatey, and light enough that you can enjoy more than one without feeling heavy afterward. We hope they bring the same simple joy to your home that they bring to ours.
Simply living our beautiful lives — one recipe at a time.
Video
Notes
Note: Nutrition information is an estimate and may vary depending on ingredients and preparation.