Air fryer cinnamon rolls, count me in! Freshly baked Pillsbury cinnamon rolls in the air fryer taste delicious and cook in half the time it takes to prepare them in the oven. The tasty, store-bought cinnamon rolls have a beautiful rise and golden brown color.
How Do You Make Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls?
My family (children) love cinnamon rolls, but I don’t always have the time to make old-fashioned cinnamon rolls from scratch. Then, TikTok introduced me to the Pillsbury cinnamon rolls with heavy cream, which made it possible for me to surprise my family with the gooey breakfast treat without setting aside time to prepare them.
And here we are again, with an even easier recipe for cinnamon rolls! All you have to do is line the Pillsbury cinnamon rolls in the air fryer basket and cook them for about 10 minutes – no preheating required.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls: Remove the Pillsbury Grand cinnamon rolls from their packaging and arrange them into the air fryer basket for quick and easy cinnamon rolls, ready to serve in 10 minutes!
Additions and Substitutions
- Top the cinnamon rolls with toasted pecans or walnuts.
- I used original cinnamon rolls in the pictures, but Pillsbury cinnamon rolls come in other flavors like pumpkin spice, lemon, strawberry, and hot cocoa.
How to Make Cinnamon Rolls in the Air Fryer
The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Step 1: Set the air fryer to 320°F (160°C). Open the can of Pillsbury cinnamon rolls and remove them from the packaging. Set the pre-made icing aside
Step 2: Arrange the cinnamon rolls in the air fryer basket, leaving space between each roll for even cooking. Work in batches if you have a smaller air fryer.
Step 3: Cook for about 8-10 minutes, keeping a close eye on the rolls since air fryer models may vary.
Tip: The cinnamon rolls should be golden brown on the outside and cooked through on the inside.
Step 4: Remove the cinnamon rolls from the air fryer and place them on a wire rack. Let them cool for 2-5 minutes.
Step 5: While the cinnamon rolls are still slightly warm, spread the reserved icing over the rolls and enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Pillsbury cinnamon rolls have a buttery layer on them that helps prevent them from sticking to the air fryer basket, so there is no need for cooking spray.
- Be careful not to overcrowd the basket; arrange the cinnamon rolls into the basket with room to expand, and work in batches if necessary.
- I used the 5-count Pillsbury Grand cinnamon rolls for recipe testing and found a lower temperature for longer to work the best. If you use the smaller 8-count package to make air fryer cinnamon rolls, you may want to cook them at a higher temperature for less time.
- You may want to raise the heat to speed up the cooking process, but that often leads to the outside being overcooked with an undercooked interior.
If you enjoy this sweet treat, try one of these breakfast recipes!
Serving Suggestions
- Serve cinnamon rolls with sliced apples, pears, blueberries, strawberries, or mixed fruit.
- Scrambled eggs, a vegetable omelet, hard-boiled eggs, poached eggs, or soft-boiled eggs are a great way to add protein to your meal.
- Try serving the cinnamon rolls with bacon, turkey sausage patties, or ham steak.
- If you want a grab-and-go breakfast, the cinnamon rolls taste delicious with a cool glass of milk, cold brew latte, or herbal tea.
What to do with the Leftovers
- Refrigerate: If you end up with leftovers, store the air fryer cinnamon rolls at room temperature for 3-4 days. Place them on a plate and cover them with aluminum foil.
- Freeze: If you plan to freeze the cinnamon rolls, leave the frosting off. I often cook the cinnamon rolls in batches, one to eat for breakfast and one to freeze for later. Let the cinnamon rolls cool completely. Gather them together and wrap the rolls in plastic. Then, transfer them to a freezer-safe container or bag. Cinnamon rolls freeze for 2-3 months.
- Thaw: Defrost the cinnamon rolls in the refrigerator overnight.
- Reheat: Set your oven or air fryer to 350°F (176°C) and warm them for 3-5 minutes. Prepare the frosting, and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
How long to heat up cinnamon rolls in air fryer?
It depends on which Pillsbury cinnamon rolls you use. For the 5-pack cinnamon rolls, plan to cook the cinnamon rolls for 8-10 minutes for a golden brown exterior and soft, fluffy interior.
Why are my cinnamon rolls sticking to the basket?
Since the Pillsbury ready-made dough contains a good amount of butter, I have no problem cooking the cinnamon rolls in the air fryer, and they don’t stick to the basket.
If you end up with this problem, I recommend buying the parchment paper made for air fryers – just be sure to poke a few holes in it so the air circulates properly.
More Quick Breakfast Recipes:
Cinnamon Rolls in Air Fryer
- Air Fryer
- Wire Rack
- 1 can Pillsbury Grand Cinnamon Rolls, 5-pack
- Set the air fryer to 320°F (160°C). Open the can of Pillsbury cinnamon rolls and remove them from the packaging. Set the pre-made icing aside.
- Arrange the cinnamon rolls in the air fryer basket, leaving space between each roll for even cooking. Work in batches if you have a smaller air fryer.
- Cook for about 8-10 minutes, keeping a close eye on the rolls since air fryer models may vary. Tip: The cinnamon rolls should be golden brown on the outside and cooked through on the inside.
- Remove the cinnamon rolls from the air fryer and place them on a wire rack. Let them cool for 2-5 minutes.
- While the cinnamon rolls are still slightly warm, spread the reserved icing over the rolls and enjoy!
- Pillsbury cinnamon rolls have a buttery layer on them that helps prevent them from sticking to the air fryer basket, so there is no need for cooking spray.
- Be careful not to overcrowd the basket; arrange the cinnamon rolls into the basket with room to expand, and work in batches if necessary.
- I used the 5-count Pillsbury Grand cinnamon rolls for recipe testing and found a lower temperature for longer to work the best. If you use the smaller 8-count package to make air fryer cinnamon rolls, you may want to cook them at a higher temperature for less time.
- You may want to raise the heat to speed up the cooking process, but that often leads to the outside being overcooked with an undercooked interior.
- The nutritional information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for professional advice.