Air-Fried Cinnamon Rolls: A Quick, Easy Treat?

Cinnamon rolls are a delicious treat, but they can be time-consuming to make. Air fryers offer a quick and easy solution to this problem, with some recipes taking less than 10 minutes to prepare. You can use pre-made dough, such as Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls, or make your own dough from scratch. The air fryer is also a great option for getting kids involved in cooking, as it's simple to use and doesn't require any pre-heating.

Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls from Scratch

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 package (2 1/4 teaspoons) instant yeast
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1/3 cup milk, warmed to 115°F
• 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/3 cup powdered sugar
• 2 teaspoons milk or cream

Method:

• Mix all the ingredients for the dough in a medium-sized bowl until it forms a shaggy ball. Turn it out onto the counter and knead it a few times until it becomes a smooth ball.
• Place the dough ball in a lightly oiled bowl. Cover and let it rise in a warm place for about 40 minutes, or until slightly risen.
• While the dough is rising, prepare the filling by combining the softened butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a small bowl. Stir until well mixed.
• On a floured counter or pastry mat, roll out the risen dough into an 8x8 square. Spread the cinnamon mixture over the dough, leaving about 1 inch at the top end.
• Roll the dough up starting from the side closest to you, then cut it into 6 equal portions.
• Place the rolls in a 7-inch springform pan, leaving about an inch of space around them. Cover and let rise for 20 minutes.
• Uncover the rolls and place the pan in the air fryer basket. Set the temperature to 320°F and the timer for 8 minutes. The rolls should be puffed up and golden brown when done.
• While the rolls are cooking, make the icing by mixing the powdered sugar and milk in a small bowl until smooth. You can add more milk if you prefer a thinner consistency.
• Remove the pan from the air fryer and let the rolls cool for about 5 minutes before drizzling with icing and serving.

Tips:

• If your air fryer has an air fry and a bake setting, use the air fry setting for this recipe.
• You can freeze these cinnamon rolls, but it is recommended to freeze them without the icing and add it just before serving.
• You can also cook the rolls directly in the air fryer basket by lining it with parchment paper.

Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls with Pillsbury Dough

Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls are the perfect shortcut to freshly baked cinnamon rolls on a weekend morning. They are made in under 10 minutes and require just canned Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls and an optional splash of heavy cream. These delicious cinnamon buns are golden brown, soft, fluffy, moist, and topped with ooey-gooey icing.

Ingredients:

• 1 can of Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls
• Coconut oil cooking spray
• Heavy cream (optional)

Method:

• Spray the basket of the Air Fryer with coconut oil cooking spray.
• Place the cinnamon rolls from the package evenly in the basket.
• Set aside the icing.
• Air fry the cinnamon rolls for 8 minutes at 360 degrees. Check in on them around 7 minutes to ensure they are cooking well.
• Once done, carefully remove and top with icing.

Tips:

• If the tops are browning well at the 4-5 minute mark, flip them over so they cook on the other side.
• You can add a twist by topping the cinnamon rolls with bacon.
• If you are using heavy cream, line the bottom of the basket in the air fryer to avoid a mess.
• If you are skipping the heavy cream, you can opt for cooking spray instead.

Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls with Heavy Cream

Ingredients:

• 1 can of Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls 8-Count
• Coconut Oil Cooking Spray
• Heavy Cream
• Icing

Method:

Firstly, spray the basket of the Air Fryer or Ninja Foodi with Coconut Oil Cooking Spray. Then, place the cinnamon rolls from the package evenly in the basket.

Next, set aside the icing and air fry the cinnamon rolls for 8 minutes at 360 degrees. It's important to note that all air fryers heat differently, so check on them around the 7-minute mark to ensure they are cooking well.

Once done, carefully remove and top with icing.

Tips:

• If the tops are browning well at the 4-5 minute mark, carefully flip them over so they cook on the other side.
• For a twist, top the cinnamon rolls with bacon.
• For an even quicker method, use canned cinnamon rolls. Simply slice the cinnamon rolls into eight portions, spray the air fryer basket, add them in, and air fry for 6-7 minutes. Then, remove from the air fryer basket and spread the icing on top.

Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls with Parchment Paper

Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls are a quick and easy breakfast treat. They can be made in under 10 minutes, with minimal preparation and no pre-heating required. The air fryer method produces a light, crispy texture and is a great way to cook cinnamon rolls for a weekend brunch.

Ingredients:

• 1 can of Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls (8-count)
• Coconut oil cooking spray
• Heavy cream (optional)
• Icing (provided with the cinnamon rolls)

Method:

• Spray the basket of the Air Fryer with coconut oil cooking spray.
• Place the cinnamon rolls from the package evenly in the basket.
• If desired, spread a little heavy cream on top of the cinnamon rolls.
• Air fry the cinnamon rolls for 8 minutes at 360 degrees Fahrenheit. Check on them after 7 minutes, as different air fryers may have varying cooking times.
• While the cinnamon rolls are cooking, transfer the icing to a microwave-safe bowl and heat for around 15 seconds, or until it reaches a pourable consistency.
• Once the cinnamon rolls are done, carefully remove them from the air fryer and spread the icing on top.

Tips:

• If the tops of the cinnamon rolls are browning too quickly, try flipping them over halfway through the cooking time.
• If using a larger size of cinnamon rolls, such as Pillsbury Grands, increase the cooking time to 10-12 minutes and add more heavy cream.
• Parchment paper can be used to line the air fryer basket, but this may slow down the cooking process, so adjust the timing accordingly.

Storage:

Leftover cinnamon rolls can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, place them back in the air fryer basket and heat at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 2-3 minutes.

Air Fryer Cinnamon Roll Bites

Ingredients:

• 1 can (12.4 oz) refrigerated Pillsbury™ Cinnamon Rolls with Original Icing (8 Count)
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 4 oz (half of 8-oz package) cream cheese, softened
• 1 tablespoon butter, softened
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 to 3 teaspoons milk

Method:

Cut an 8-inch round of cooking parchment paper and place it in the bottom of the air fryer basket.

Separate the dough into 8 rolls. Cut each roll into 4 equal pieces; place 16 pieces in the bottom of the air fryer basket. Set icing aside.

Set the air fryer to 325°F and cook for 3 minutes. Then, use tongs to turn over each piece and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from the air fryer and repeat with the remaining 16 pieces.

In a large resealable food storage plastic bag, mix cinnamon and granulated sugar. In a small bowl, beat cream cheese and softened butter with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Beat in powdered sugar, reserved icing, and enough milk for a dipping consistency.

Shake the warm bites in the cinnamon-sugar mixture and serve warm with the dipping icing.

Tips:

• You can use any pre-packaged cinnamon roll dough for this recipe, such as Pillsbury.
• Cut each cinnamon roll into 6 pieces for bite-sized portions.
• Bake the pieces in batches to prevent them from sticking together.
• Adjust the baking time according to your preference. For a toasty texture, bake for 3 minutes on each side. For a slightly less baked texture, try 2 minutes on each side.
• You can shake the cinnamon roll bites in the sugar mixture before or after baking.
• To ensure that all the bites are warm when served, pop them in the microwave for 10-15 seconds.

Frequently asked questions