These Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls are a dupe for your favorite mall cinnamon rolls. A light and smooth dough filled with a sweet cinnamon mixture and topped with a luscious cream cheese frosting. They are truly heaven in bun form.
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Why this Air Fryer Cinnamon Roll Recipe is a Keeper
The Air Fryer Cinnamon Roll recipe is another inventive way to use the air fryer. These rolls come out so perfect. Plus you get to control how much of that delicious icing gets slathered on top. The hot air makes them golden and delicious.
- Cooks Quick: Other than the resting time, these cinnamon rolls come together quickly.
- Simple Ingredients: All these ingredients are things you probably have on hand.
- Family Friendly: Nothing brings a family together like these rolls on a lazy morning or as a late night treat.
- Handy: If making a full breakfast, by using the air fryer you free up your major appliances and have these for dessert.
If you’re looking for more breakfast recipes, try these Peppermint Mocha Homemade Donuts, Pumpkin Donuts with Salted Caramel Glaze and Maple Bacon French Toast Rolls.
Can you use foil or parchment in the air fryer?
Yes, you can use parchment paper or aluminum foil to line your air fryer basket. This prevents sticking and makes cleanup a breeze when you air fry.
Ingredient Notes for Cinnamon Rolls in the Air Fryer
- Active Dry Yeast: Make sure that your instant yeast is still good.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Variations and Substitutions to Make Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls
- Cardamom Rolls: Substitute cardamom for cinnamon, or use a blend of both for a more complex flavor.
- Zest: Before you roll the dough, add a citrusy twist by incorporating orange zest into your cinnamon sugar filling.
- Bake: No Air Fryer? You can Bake these buns for 20 to 25 minutes on 350 until golden brown.
Pro Tip to Make this Recipe
For an even crispier exterior, you can gently flip the rolls over halfway through cooking with tongs. Brushing the rolls with a little heavy cream before air frying for an extra touch of richness.
How to Make Copy Cat Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls
You can make these copycat Pillsbury air fryer cinnamon rolls. These freshly baked cinnamon rolls are a real game changer.
These are the basic steps for making homemade cinnamon rolls. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions.
1. Make the Cinnamon Roll Dough
First, pour warm milk and yeast into bowl, then add sugar, eggs, and melted butter. Mix until completely combined. Second, stir in flour and salt until dough begins to form and next knead until no longer sticky.
2. Allow the Cinnamon Rolls to Rest
Place bowl on the counter for an hour and a half to allow for the dough to double in size. Next flatten dough with a rolling pin until the dough is roughly a square foot of surface. (12”x12”)
3. Fill the Dough
Then butter and spread the cinnamon and brown sugar. Cut the dough into inch and a half wide strips. Roll the strips into a wheel. Place dough wheel into spring mold pan.
4. Let the Rolls Rest Again
Cover pan with cloth and allow dough to sit for 15 minutes.
5. Preheat the Air Fryer and Cook the Cinnamon Rolls
Preheat your air fryer and then place the cinnamon rolls in the air fryer and cook in air fryer for 20 minutes on 350 degrees and then allow to cool.
6. Prepare Cream Cheese Icing
Mix the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and butter until frosting is combine completely. Finally, top the cinnamon roll with the frosting and enjoy!
Air Fryer Recipe FAQs
You can store leftover cinnamon rolls in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will keep best for 2-3 days!
Simply pop them in the microwave for about 30 seconds. You could also reheat in the air fryer, but this can dry the rolls out, so add a little moister if you reheat.
Sure, I like to make the dough recipe ahead of time and par bake them the night before. Then in the morning I finish per the directions for the best air fryer cinnamon rolls.
Expert Tips to Love this Recipe for Cinnamon Rolls in Air Fryer
Of course you can use a prepackage tube to make an air fryer Pillsbury cinnamon rolls but you taking the time to make them yourself is really worth it.
- Add Fruit: I love to make these easy cinnamon rolls with raisins or other dried fruits.
- More Icing: Feel free to make more icing for leftovers or just to top off the bun with more.
- Icing : Wait until they are completely cool to ice our you will have a runny mess.
- Lining is Key: Don’t Crowd the Basket: Leave some space between the cinnamon rolls for optimal air circulation and even cooking.
- The Golden Rule: Keep an eye on your rolls! Cooking times can vary depending on your air fryer model. Start checking for doneness after about 6- 8 minutes.
More Air Fry Breakfast Recipes
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Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls
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Ingredients
Dough
- ¾ cup Whole milk, warm
- 2 ¼ teaspoons Active yeast
- ¼ cup Sugar
- 1 Egg and 1 egg yolk
- ¼ cup Unsalted butter, melted
- 3 cups All-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon Salt
Filling
- ⅔ cup Light brown sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoons Ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup Unsalted butter, room temperature
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 4 ounces Cream cheese, room temperature
- 4 tablespoons Unsalted butter, room temperature
- ¾ cup Powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
Instructions
- Place milk in a microwave safe container and microwave on high for 30 seconds. Pour warm milk into a mixing bowl and add yeast.
- Add sugar, eggs, and melted butter. Mix until completely combined.
- Stir in flour and salt until dough begins to form.
- Using a stand mixer, attach dough hook and mix on medium until dough forms into a ball and not sticking to the mixing bowl. Add some flour if too sticky. If using hands to knead, knead the dough for 10 minutes on a floured surface until dough is no longer sticky.
- Place the dough ball in a well-oiled bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and a warm towel. Place bowl on the counter for an hour and a half to allow for the dough to double in size.
- Place the dough on a floured surface and flatten with a rolling pin until the dough is roughly a square foot of surface. (12”x12”)
- Rub room temperature butter to cover the dough leave a slight margin around the dough.
- Sprinkle and combine the cinnamon and brown sugar mixture to complete the filling.
- Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut the dough into inch and a half wide strips.
- Roll the strips into themselves until all are rolled into a wheel. Place dough wheel into spring mold pan that fits the air fryer basket. Cover pan with cloth and allow dough to sit for 15 minutes.
- Cook in air fryer for 20 minutes on 350 degrees.
- Remove cinnamon roll from air fryer and allow to cool.
- In a mixing bowl, mix the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and butter until frosting is combine completely.
- Top the cinnamon roll with the frosting and enjoy!
Christina’s Notes
- Recipe Can be Doubled: This is a great recipe for a crowd. Simply increase the ingredients proportionately and split it into batches.
- Add Fruit: I love to make this with raisins or other dried fruits.
- More Icing: Feel free to make more icing for leftovers or just to top off the bun with more.
- Bake: No Air Fryer? You can Bake these buns for 20 to 25 minutes on 350 until golden brown.
- Icing : Wait until they are completely cool to ice our you will have a runny mess.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.
Thank you so much for this amazing cinnamon rolls recipe! Will surely have this again, it tasted really good and super easy to make! Highly recommended!