Homemade Cinnamon Rolls in a Fraction of the Time
If you’ve ever wanted to make homemade cinnamon rolls but dreaded the kneading, rolling, and dough-making from scratch, this recipe is going to be your new obsession. Using King’s Hawaiian rolls, you can get soft, fluffy, ooey, gooey cinnamon rolls in a fraction of the time. No stress, no messy dough, just buttery, sweet perfection that melts in your mouth. And topping them with cream cheese frosting? So decadent and after one bite, I honestly can’t tell the difference between this and a cinnamon roll that takes 4 to 5 hours to make!
How to Prep the Rolls
Start by keeping your dozen King’s Hawaiian rolls together as a single slab. Transfer them to a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Using a very sharp knife, cut into each roll in a swirl pattern, starting from the outside moving towards the center, about three-quarters of the way down—don’t slice all the way through.
A few quick tips to make cutting easier:
- If the tops feel sticky or are tearing, letting the rolls sit out for 10 minutes helps dry them slightly.
- Use a gentle sawing motion with a sharp knife to avoid squishing the rolls.
Cinnamon Butter Magic
The cinnamon butter is where the magic happens. Melt your butter and whisk it together with brown sugar and cinnamon until it looks like liquid lava. Pour it all over the rolls, letting it seep into the cuts and coat every swirl. Let it soak for 10 to 15 minutes so every bite is packed with that sweet, buttery goodness. For an extra flavor boost, add a little vanilla bean paste to the cinnamon butter—it gives a rich, deep vanilla flavor that pairs perfectly with the sweet rolls.
Baking and Frosting
Once the rolls have soaked up that cinnamon butter, bake them at 350°F for 10 minutes, until the tops are golden and the centers are bubbling with gooey cinnamon sugar. While they’re baking, make the cream cheese frosting by beating together cream cheese and butter until smooth, then adding powdered sugar, vanilla, and heavy cream until fluffy. Spread some over the warm rolls, adding as little or as much as you like to your taste.
Variations
Want to switch things up? Try:
- Adding a pinch of pumpkin spice to the cinnamon butter for a seasonal twist.
- Adding vanilla bean paste to the cinnamon butter for extra rich vanilla flavor.
- Infuse the frosting with maple syrup for a more fall profile.
These cinnamon rolls are quick, easy, and so satisfying—perfect for weekends, holidays, or whenever you want a cozy, homemade treat without the stress of traditional dough. Soft, gooey, buttery, and finished with that luscious cream cheese frosting, they’re basically irresistible.
Craving More Quick and Easy Desserts? Try These Recipes Out!
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Dessert
The Easiest Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients
- 1 (12-pack) King’s Hawaiian Original Sweet Rolls
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2/3 cup light brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 tablespoon heavy cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Keep the rolls together as a slab and transfer to a baking tray lined with parchment paper. With a sharp knife, cut into each roll in a swirl pattern about 3/4 of the way down, starting from the outside moving towards the center, without slicing all the way through.
- In a bowl, whisk together the melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon until it resembles lava. Pour the mixture all over the rolls, letting it seep into the cuts. Allow the rolls to soak for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Bake for 10 minutes, until golden on top and gooey inside.
- While baking, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and heavy cream, mixing until fluffy.
- Spread the frosting over the warm rolls or serve on the side for dipping.
Tips & Notes
Q: Can I make these ahead of time?
A: Yes! You can prep the rolls with the cinnamon butter and even make the cream cheese frosting ahead of time. Cover the rolls tightly and refrigerate overnight, then bake when ready.
Q: Having trouble cutting the rolls?
A: Use a very sharp knife and take your time slicing about 3/4 of the way down. Sometimes letting the rolls sit out for 10 minutes helps dry out the top, making it easier to cut without squishing them.
Q: How can I make these less sweet?
A: You can reduce the brown sugar in the cinnamon butter to 1/2 cup and adjust the powdered sugar in the cream cheese frosting to taste. This way, you still get all the gooey, buttery goodness without it being overly sweet.
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WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS RECIPE?
HI, I’M HAJAR
Welcome to Moribyan! This is my blog where I love to share all my favorite recipes and lifestyle tips with you all. If I’m not cooking here, I’m either at Trader Joe’s, the gym, or eating a bagel.
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These are absolutely fabulous! I added about 1/2 cup of chopped pecans to the brown sugar and butter mixture, baked them, then inverted the rolls so the caramel mixture was on bottom then added the frosting! Amazing! Thank you
Loved these!! So easy & practical
These are so good!! The time was minimal, the mess was minimal but the favor…maximum! I dont know if I’ll ever do the scratch way again.
Delicious cinnamon rolls! It goes so fast! What a treat! Thank you for sharing this recipe
Love them!🙏🏽 thank you
Very nice