Cinnamon Rolls in Air Fryer

Buttery, chewy, sweet, and fluffy cinnamon rolls cooked to perfection in an air fryer in under 30 minutes – a perfect sweet treat for a picnic, potluck, or quick breakfast for Christmas morning!

Cinnamon rolls are my guilty pleasure, simple, time-tested delights with a soft buttery texture and that signature glaze that just melts in your mouth, so good!

If you love cinnamon rolls and would prefer to make some at home, you can simply cook cinnamon rolls in your air fryer. Hot air circulates inside the air fryer and makes sure it will cook properly, using less or no oil, and much less time than the oven!

Plus, what can beat homemade baked (or air-fried) goods?

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Minimal prep time and barely any cooking time (compared to homemade cinnamon rolls). This easy recipe makes classic sweet cinnamon rolls in an air fryer in no time.
• Perfect for busy moms and big families as the recipe makes 8 thick rich rolls.
• The recipe only uses pantry staples that you either already have in your kitchen or can buy at any grocery store at an affordable price. No yeast or kneading is needed.
• Did I mention it is addictive and delicious? Now I did.

Ingredients Notes

Cinnamon Rolls

• Refrigerated crescent roll dough (1 can/tube or pre-made dough). Pillsbury cinnamon rolls (crescent rolls) are a no-brainer, but use any other brand you like. Refrigerated cinnamon rolls are truly one of the best inventions we have, they make cooking simple breakfast or sweet treat a breeze! If using Pillsbury cinnamon rolls, note that the Pillsbury Grands cinnamon rolls are larger than smaller cinnamon rolls from other brands and may take a few additional minutes to cook through. I like that you can make fluffy air fryer cinnamon rolls without worrying about rise time or a long cooking process.
• Melted butter, unsalted is the best choice for baking. There is no added salt so you can’t replace it with salted butter.
• Sugar mix: brown sugar and white granulated sugar in 2:1 ratio. Brown sugar gives the chewiness and subtle caramel flavors while white sugar is responsible for some crispiness.
• Ground cinnamon, of course, is a must to make cinnamon rolls.

Glaze

• Vanilla extract (optional)
• Confectioner’s sugar
• Full-fat milk. You can adjust the amount: 1-2 tbsp depending on the desired thickness of the glaze.

Kitchen Equipment

• Rolling pin
• Pastry brush
• Small mixing bowl
• Air fryer. You can line the basket or tray with parchment paper or aluminum foil but it is optional. You don’t need to use cooking spray, the cinnamon buns cooked in an air fryer don’t tend to stick to the sides.

How To Make Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls

1: Prep The Dough

1. Working on a smooth, flat lightly floured surface, remove the dough from the can and roll it out into one large rectangle. Be sure to press the seams together.
2. Use a pastry brush to cover the dough with the melted butter.

2: Add Cinnamon Sugar Mixture

1. Mix the brown sugar, granulated sugar, and cinnamon in a small bowl.
2. Sprinkle the cinnamon mixture in an even layer over the melted butter.

3: Slice The Dough Into Rolls

1. Roll the dough tightly into a log. You want to start on the short end of the rectangle to get a larger diameter cinnamon roll rather than many small cinnamon rolls.
2. Slice the log into 8 even-sized rolls.

4: Air Fry Cinnamon Rolls

1. Preheat the air fryer to 320 degrees F for 5 minutes.
2. Place prepared cinnamon rolls in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Leave space between them as they will spread as they bake, if needed work in batches.
3. Cook for 8-10 minutes in the preheated air fryer, or until they are golden brown and fully cooked through. You can also flip the cinnamon rolls around 5 minutes in, to make sure both sides get lightly golden brown.  

5: Make The Glaze

1. Combine the confectioner’s sugar and milk in a small bowl and whisk well.
2. Once the cinnamon rolls are done, remove and drizzle the glaze over the tops while the rolls are still hot.
3. Freshly baked cinnamon rolls are best to be eaten right away.

Storage

Store leftover cinnamon rolls in an airtight container for 2-3 days in the fridge. It is better to store them without the glaze or frosting.

To freeze, let the cinnamon rolls cool to room temperature. Wrap individually and store in the freezer-safe bag for 2-3 months. They will store best without the icing.

Reheat in the microwave for 10-20 seconds. If you reheat them in the oven or air fryer, they may become dryer.

Substitutions & Variations

• Cream cheese frosting. Another classic frosting to make instead of sweet glaze. Prepare the frosting while the cinnamon rolls are being fried and pour it over the warm cinnamon rolls. You will need softened butter, cream cheese, milk, and powdered sugar.
• If you don’t like cream cheese or white frosting, use caramel sauce as a topping, or crispy bacon for a savory breakfast option.
• Use canned cinnamon rolls instead of crescent rolls or cinnamon roll dough or make the dough from scratch with flour (all-purpose or bread flour), butter, Greek yogurt, egg, sugar, and cinnamon. Some also add instant yeast. The dough doesn’t need to rise but it will add some extra minutes to combine the ingredients. When making the dough from scratch, you can also incorporate some add-ons like dried fruit, chocolate chips or chopped nuts.
• Serving ideas: serve immediately with a cup of tea or coffee, glazed or not, with some maple syrup, honey drizzle, vanilla Greek yogurt, or fruits. Without the icing, the cinnamon rolls pair well with a savory breakfast with eggs.

Expert Tips To Make The Best Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls

• Ninja Air fryers may have an air crisp function, which is perfect for this cinnamon rolls recipe. Check out the Ninja Foodi.You may find that also with different brands too.
• A little bit of heavy cream over the cinnamon rolls in the air fryer will keep them moist and soft while baking.
• All air fryers are different, check the cinnamon rolls at 6 minutes to make sure you don’t overbake them and let them dry out.
• Pillsbury Grands cinnamon rolls in an air fryer take around 12 minutes to cook through.
• You can use a sharp knife or a string to cut the cinnamon dough log into individual rolls.
• Do not make them ahead of time, they can become stale and dry out.
• You can use a piece of parchment paper on the bottom of the basket. I like to also spritz it with a little olive oil as it is the easiest way to keep the rolls from sticking.

Popular Questions

Are Cinnamon Rolls Better In The Oven Or Air Fryer?

Cinnamon rolls turn out great in both oven and air fryer, but air fryer cinnamon rolls take much less time and prep work and can be fully cooked in less than 10 minutes.

How Long To Heat Up Cinnamon Rolls In An Air Fryer?

Refrigerated cinnamon rolls in an air fryer should be cooked for about 8 minutes at 350-360 degrees F until golden brown and soft, or for 9-10 minutes if you want them crispy on the outside. You can flip the cinnamon rolls 5 minutes in, to help them cook properly. 

If you love this air fryer breakfast recipe, you’re going to love these other morning recipes made in the air fryer too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!

More Cinnamon Roll Recipes

Cinnamon Rolls with Apple Pie Filling

Crescent Roll Cinnamon Rolls

TikTok Cinnamon Rolls

Eggnog Cinnamon Rolls

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