Cinnamon Rolls with Heavy Cream

Thanks to a viral TikTok hack, you can transform store-bought cinnamon rolls by combining cinnamon rolls with heavy cream. After seeing recipes for them everywhere, I finally gave the heavy cream hack a try—and they taste just like homemade cinnamon rolls!

TikTok does it again! First, it was healthy Coke with balsamic vinegar and the Bella Hadid sandwich recipe—unlike healthy Coke, which left me scratching my head, this TikTok cinnamon roll hack lives up to the hype. The cinnamon rolls are so good, no one will guess they’re not made from scratch!

More TikTok Recipes:

• Grinder Salad
• Cottage Cheese Ice Cream
• Gigi Hadid Pasta Recipe
• Grimace McDonald’s Milkshake Recipe

What is the Viral Cinnamon Roll Hack?

With countless videos of people recreating the viral recipe for cinnamon rolls with heavy cream, pinpointing the original creator was impossible. Whoever shared the hack broke the internet for a while—with the genius idea of pouring heavy cream over store-bought cinnamon rolls!

Some creators took the hack a step further by adding heavy cream and a homemade brown sugar glaze over the rolls before baking. I tried it, but it made the cinnamon rolls too sweet for my taste. If you want to give it a try, here’s what you need:

Key Ingredients

​All you need is packaged cinnamon rolls, one simple ingredient, and 30 minutes to make cinnamon rolls that taste homemade. Jump on the trend, and let’s make the viral TikTok cinnamon rolls!

• Cinnamon Rolls: Like the original recipe,  I use the larger Original Pillsbury Grands Cinnamon Rolls—the ones in a pack of five from the grocery store. Simply pop them out of the packaging and into a prepared baking dish for quick and easy cinnamon rolls, ready in just 30 minutes! The viral hack also works with no-yeast cinnamon rolls, sourdough discard cinnamon rolls, frozen cinnamon roll options like Sister Schubert’s or Rhodes, and other store-bought cinnamon rolls.

• Heavy Cream: I get the hype around this secret ingredient. Heavy whipping cream may become a staple in all my cinnamon roll recipes. It’s a quick way to give the rolls an irresistibly gooey, Cinnabon-style texture—and I can’t get enough!

• Frosting: Most grocery store cinnamon rolls come with ready-made icing, but quickly upgrade it by mixing in full-fat cream cheese, unsalted butter, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and a pinch of sea salt to make a quick homemade cream cheese frosting. Want to switch up the flavor of the frosting? Add orange extract, lemon zest, honey lavender simple syrup, caramel flavor, cardamom simple syrup, orange zest, or pure maple syrup.

Additions and Substitutions

• Experiment with toppings. Make the melted butter and brown sugar glaze to pour over the rolls before they bake, or top them with chocolate chips, toasted pecans, or walnuts.
• Swap the cinnamon rolls. Use Original Pillsbury Grand Cinnamon Rolls or try their other flavors— butter cream, lemon, hot cocoa, pumpkin spice, or strawberry.

Tools You’ll Need

Bake the cinnamon rolls with heavy cream in a heavy-bottomed baking pan like a ceramic baking dish or cast iron skillet for even heat distribution. Combine the frosting ingredients in a mixing bowl using a whisk, hand mixer, or stand mixer.

Expert Tips

• Prep the Pan: Bake the cinnamon rolls in a prepared pan—either spread butter evenly or coat it with cooking spray. The secret ingredient (aka heavy cream) creates a beautiful caramelization on the underside of the rolls, resulting in a delicious but messy, sticky syrup. 
• Space the rolls. Arrange the cinnamon rolls into a casserole dish or baking pan with room to expand for the best results. Work in batches if your baking dish doesn’t fit all the cinnamon rolls. 
• Use room temperature ingredients. Ensure the cream cheese and unsalted butter are brought to room temperature to combine easily into a smooth cream cheese frosting.

If you enjoy the delicious cinnamon rolls, try more dessert recipes!  

Amish Zucchini Bread

Old Fashioned Cinnamon Rolls

Cottage Cheese Banana Bread

Serving Suggestions

If all you want is a grab-and-go breakfast, enjoy the cinnamon rolls with a cool glass of milk, cold brew latte, or your favorite herbal tea.

Complete the meal by pairing the gooey cinnamon rolls with fresh fruit—sliced apples, pears, banana slices, or berries—crispy bacon, scrambled eggs, turkey bacon, or air fryer sausage patties.

What To Do With Leftovers

• Refrigerate: If you somehow end up with leftovers, the cinnamon rolls with heavy cream will keep at room temperature for 3-4 days. Arrange the rolls on a plate and cover with aluminum foil, or store them in an airtight container.
• Freeze: If you plan to freeze the cinnamon rolls, it’s best to leave the frosting off. I often bake them in batches—one for breakfast and one to save for later. Let the rolls cool completely to freeze, then cover them tightly in plastic wrap to prevent freezer burn. Place the wrapped rolls in 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

More Breakfast Recipes:

• Cinnamon Rolls in the Air Fryer
• Banana Carrot Muffins
• Kodiak Pumpkin Pancakes