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 a characteristic golden color – plus, the taste is spot on!
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 a ton of 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 ready-to-make dough in the air fryer basket and cook for 8-10 minutes – no preheating required.
What You Need to Make this Recipe
- Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls: Remove the Pillsbury Grand cinnamon rolls from their packaging and add them to the air fryer basket for quick and easy rolls that are ready to serve in 10 minutes!
Additions and Substitutions
- Nuts: Top the cinnamon rolls with toasted pecans or walnuts.
- Icing: Melt butter and brown sugar to make a brown sugar glaze to pour it over the top with the packaged icing.
- Pillsbury Grand Cinnamon Rolls: For the pictures, I used the original cinnamon rolls, but Pillsbury has other flavors like orange, 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 for later use.
Step 2: Place the cinnamon rolls in the air fryer basket, leaving space between each roll to allow for even cooking. You may need to work in batches if your air fryer is small.
Step 3: Cook for about 8-10 minutes, keeping a close eye on the rolls since cooking times can vary based on the air fryer you use. 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 to cool for 1-3 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.
- Don’t overcrowd the basket. Line the cinnamon rolls into the air fryer basket with room to expand.
- We used the 5-count Pillsbury Grand cinnamon rolls for recipe testing and found a lower temperature for longer to be the sweet spot. If you use the smaller 8-count package to make air fryer cinnamon rolls, you may need to cook them at a higher temperature for less time.
- It’s tempting to raise the heat to speed up the cooking process, but that often leads to an overcooked outer layer and an undercooked interior – a situation no one wants!
- The first time you make our cinnamon rolls in the air fryer, I recommend checking the rolls every couple of minutes since air fryer models can vary.
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Serving Suggestions
- Fruit: Serve cinnamon rolls with sliced apples, pears, blueberries, strawberries, or mixed fruit.
- Eggs: Scrambled eggs, a vegetable omelet, hard-boiled eggs, poached eggs, or soft-boiled eggs are a great way to add protein to your meal.
- Meat: Try serving the cinnamon rolls with bacon, turkey sausage patties, or ham steak.
- Beverages: If all you want is 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, air fryer cinnamon rolls will keep at room temperature for 3-4 days. Place them on a plate and cover them with foil.
- Freeze – I don’t recommend freezing cooked cinnamon rolls unless you cook them and leave the frosting off. I sometimes air-fry the cinnamon rolls in batches, one to eat and one to freeze for later. To freeze the rolls, gather them together, wrap them tightly in plastic, and place them into a freezer-safe container or bag. Cinnamon rolls will freeze for two months.
- Thaw – When you’re ready to eat, defrost them in the fridge overnight. Prepare the frosting, warm your cinnamon rolls in the oven according to the baking instructions, and enjoy.
- Reheat – For best results, set the oven or air fryer to 350°F (176°C) and pop them in for 3 minutes
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. As always, if this is your first time following this recipe, I recommend keeping an eye on the cinnamon rolls because, like oven ranges, air fryer models vary.
Why are my cinnamon rolls sticking to the basket?
Since the Pillsbury ready-made dough contains a good amount of butter, I have had 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:
Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls in Air Fryer
- 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 for later use.
- Place the cinnamon rolls in the air fryer basket, leaving space between each roll to allow for even cooking. You may need to work in batches if your air fryer is small.
- Cook for about 8-10 minutes, keeping a close eye on the rolls since cooking times can vary based on the air fryer you use. 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 to cool for 1-3 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.
- Don’t overcrowd the basket; line the cinnamon rolls into the air fryer basket with room to expand.
- We used the 5-count Pillsbury Grand Cinnamon Rolls for recipe testing and found a lower temperature for longer to be the sweet spot. If you use the smaller 8-count package to make air fryer cinnamon rolls, you may need to cook them at a higher temperature for less time.
- It’s tempting to raise the heat to speed up the cooking process, but that often leads to an overcooked outer layer and an undercooked interior – a situation no one wants!
- The first time you make our cinnamon rolls in the air fryer, I recommend checking the rolls every couple of minutes since air fryer models can vary.
- The nutritional information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for professional advice.