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If you can't wait to devour Pillsbury cinnamon rolls, you should cook them in the air fryer! Air fryer cinnamon rolls taste even better than baked and only take eight minutes to cook. You can follow my recipe for homemade cinnamon rolls or just use a pre made tube of cinnamon rolls. Enjoy these air fryer cinnamon buns for a sweet and easy breakfast that the whole family will love!
Fresh cinnamon rolls are one of my favorite childhood treats. I'd look forward to them on Christmas morning each year. The smell of sweet and spicy rolls filling up our whole house made the morning magical. For this easy air fryer cinnamon rolls recipe, the bake time is cut in half! I love my air fryer for all kinds of recipes, but air fryer breakfast recipes really sing.
It's so simple to air fry cinnamon rolls. All you have to do is place the cinnamon roll dough into the air fryer basket and bake! I love to get my kiddos in the kitchen, and air fryer recipes are great for that. You can let them pull the rolls apart, brush them with almond milk, and place them into the air fryer. My kids love air fryer Pillsbury cinnamon rolls just as much as homemade cinnamon buns.
Any store brand will work for this recipe - the Pillsbury brand works great, and I also love Annie's if you like to buy organic. Annie's only uses non-GMO ingredients and avoids artificial flavors - so we use their rolls often. If you have some extra time you can make these rolls from scratch too and bake them in the air fryer!
Enjoy this easy recipe on a busy weekday morning or as a special treat on the weekend. You don't need a rolling pin, a stand mixer, and tons of time! You only need 15 minutes and an air fryer!
👩🍳 Why This Recipe Works
- Cut down the cook time using the air fryer
- No need to use your conventional oven
- Delicious cinnamon rolls without any effort
- Easy breakfast the kids will love!
- You only need three ingredients
- The best air fryer cinnamon rolls in less than 15 minutes!
- One of my favorite recipes for busy mornings!
🥘 Ingredients
This recipe calls for three simple ingredients you can find at any grocery store. Just consider the size of your air fryer when you pick out the brand of rolls to use.
Canned Cinnamon Rolls: This recipe works great with Pillsbury cinnamon rolls, but you can use homemade cinnamon buns or any other store brand. Annie's or Rhodes cinnamon rolls are another great option. Different brands may vary in cooking time. Try to find the perfect size for your air fryer.
Almond Milk: Unsweetened almond milk is used to brush the outside of the cinnamon rolls for golden brown tops. Any plant milk will work here.
Spray oil: Spray oil will keep the air fried cinnamon rolls from sticking to the basket. Olive oil spray or coconut oil spray both work great.
📖 Variations
Large Cinnamon Rolls: If you like big cinnamon rolls, you can use Pillsbury Grands cinnamon rolls. You will need to increase the cook time by a few minutes due to size. Start with 6 minutes and then flip them over and cook for 2 to 4 more.
Mini Rolls: If you want to make mini cinnamon rolls, use crescent roll dough. Roll it out into a large rectangle and spread with softened butter. Sprinkle the crescent dough with cinnamon and brown sugar. Roll up the dough and cut it into smaller rolls. Air fry for 5 to 6 minutes or until golden brown.
Air Fryer Donuts: You can make donuts with refrigerated biscuit dough. Simply cut a 1-inch hole out of the center of each biscuit. Air fry for 5 to 7 minutes and then brush with melted butter and roll in cinnamon sugar.
Cream Cheese Frosting: Cream cheese frosting and cinnamon buns are the perfect combination. If you want to make your own cinnamon roll frosting, beat together equal parts unsalted butter and cream cheese then add confectioners sugar until you reach the desired sweetness.
No Frosting: If frosting isn't your thing, you can leave it off. Try dusting the sweet rolls with powdered sugar and drizzling maple syrup on top.
Homemade Cinnamon Rolls: If you want to make your own dough, you can follow my recipe for light and gooey cinnamon buns. My cinnamon roll recipe with gooey cinnamon filling is a delicious treat with a healthy spin.
🔪 Instructions
Heat Air Fryer & Prep Rolls: Preheat your Ninja Foodi or air fryer to 340 degrees F / 170 C for 5 minutes. Brush the tops of the premade rolls with almond milk.
Spray: Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray or spray oil to keep them from sticking to the basket.
Cook: Place the rolls in the basket. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes. Check at the 6 minute mark to make sure they don't overcook. The exact time will depend on the brand of your air fryer. Repeat with the leftover cinnamon rolls. Once they're done, place the warm cinnamon rolls on a wire rack to cool.
Frost Warm Rolls: Once the airfryer cinnamon rolls have cooled, you can frost them with your favorite icing or dust them with powdered sugar. Enjoy!
❓ Recipe FAQs
Why make cinnamon rolls in the air fryer?
Using the air fryer is probably the easiest way to make cinnamon rolls. There's no need to turn on your oven or heat up the kitchen. You can also shave off a few minutes of cook time. These breakfast treats take about eight minutes to cook in an air fryer while they take 15 minutes in the oven.
Can I use any brand of cinnamon rolls?
Yes, you can use any brand of premade cinnamon rolls. Some brands may cook faster than others which is why it's best to check them at 6 minutes. You can always add a few more minutes if they're not done.
How should I store airfryer cinnamon rolls?
Air fryer cinnamon rolls are best enjoyed fresh. You can store any leftover rolls in a plastic ziptop bag or airtight container at room temperature for two days. If you refrigerate them, they will last for up to a week. You can reheat them in the microwave, oven, or air fryer.
What should I serve them with?
Cinnamon rolls taste delicious on their own, but I like to serve them with coffee, bacon, and scrambled eggs! Weekend mornings are the perfect time for a big breakfast. They're also great for dessert, topped with a drizzle of chocolate sauce or even ice cream!
💭 Expert Tips
- Check the rolls at 6 minutes. You can always add more time.
- Premade cinnamon buns are a great option if you're short on time.
- You can also use a piece of parchment paper to keep them from sticking. Look for parchment specifically made for air fryer recipes.
- If you find the tops are browning too quickly, you can flip the cinnamon rolls over and then finish the baking time. This may not be necessary with smaller cinnamon rolls.
- Place the rolls in a single layer. Don't overlap them or they won't cook properly. You can always cook multiple batches if needed.
- You'll know the rolls are done when they're lightly browned on top and on the bottom. If you want them to be a little more crispy, cook for 1-2 minutes more.
- Adjust cooking time based on the machine being used.
- Brushing rolls with almond milk adds a lovely glaze to the top of each roll - don't leave this step out!
