Cinnamon Rolls with Heavy Cream

Name: Cinnamon Rolls with Heavy Cream
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 2 tubes Pillsbury Grands Cinnamon Rolls (, 5-count ); ½ cup heavy cream; 4 tablespoons Pillsbury Icing, (comes with the cinnamon rolls); 3 ounces cream cheese, (softened); 3 tablespoons butter, (softened ); ½ cup powdered sugar; ½ teaspoon vanilla extract; ⅕ teaspoon sea salt

Cinnamon Rolls with Heavy Cream – Thanks to a viral TikTok tip, you can take canned cinnamon rolls to the next level using this recipe for Cinnamon Rolls with Heavy Cream. I have seen them going crazy on my for-you-page for months, and I finally caved. Jump on the viral trend and make TikTok Cinnamon Rolls.

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A close-up of two cinnamon rolls with cream cheese frosting.

This isn’t the first time TikTok made me try something new. Before this, it was Healthy Coke with Balsamic Vinegar and the Bella Hadid Sandwich Recipe I simply had to test out. But unlike the healthy coke, this TikTok trend is drool-worthy; light, fluffy, and moist – no one will know they’re not made from scratch. They really are THAT good!

WHAT IS THE VIRAL CINNAMON ROLL HACK?

With so many videos on TikTok of people recreating these rolls, it was hard to track down and credit the original creator. However, the mastermind behind the viral cinnamon roll hack has made the internet go bananas. All she did was add heavy cream to store-bought cinnamon rolls, but it is oh so good!

In some videos, I saw users pouring a brown sugar glaze over the cinnamon rolls in addition to the heavy cream. I tried it the first time I made the cinnamon rolls, but it was too sweet. However, if you have an extra sweet tooth, add the mixture to the rolls before they bake. Here’s what you need:

1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 tablespoon cinnamon

Warm ingredients in a skillet and pour them over the cinnamon rolls. Cover them with foil and bake according to the instructions below.

WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE THIS RECIPE

Pillsbury Grands Cinnamon Rolls: Remove the Pillsbury cinnamon rolls from their packaging and add them to a baking dish for quick and easy cinnamon rolls ready to serve in 30 minutes! You can use the pre-packaged frozen cinnamon rolls as well.
Heavy Cream: I get the hype; I may start adding this SECRET INGREDIENT to all of my cinnamon roll recipes moving forward. Heavy cream adds richness, and the result is gooey Cinnabon-Style cinnamon rolls.
Cream Cheese: Full-fat cream cheese creates a smooth and delicious frosting that takes the pre-packaged icing to the next level.
Butter: Butter combined with cream cheese to make the frosting.
Powdered Sugar: Add flavor and texture to the frosting with powdered sugar.
Vanilla Extract: I use vanilla to flavor these cinnamon rolls, but get creative. Try caramel, orange, or maple extract for something different.
Sea Salt: Salt is an underrated ingredient and balances the sweetness of the dessert.

SUBSTITUTIONS AND VARIATIONS

Nuts: Chopped Pecans or Walnuts
Icing: Melt Butter and Brown Sugar
Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls: For this recipe, we use seasonal pumpkin spice, but they have other flavors like original, lemon, strawberry, and hot cocoa.

HOW TO MAKE CINNAMON ROLLS WITH HEAVY CREAM

The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.

Preheat the oven to 350° F (176° C) and prepare a baking dish. Line the Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls into it with room to expand.

Line the cinnamon rolls into a baking pan with space to expand.

Pour heavy cream over and around the cinnamon rolls.

Pour heavy cream over the cinnamon rolls.

Bake them in the oven for 25-30 minutes.

Place the icing from the packaging into a mixing bowl, and add cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and salt. Combine the ingredients by hand or using a hand mixer; blend until smooth.

Combine the ingredients for cream cheese frosting in a mixing bowl.

Top the cinnamon rolls with frosting and serve immediately.

Cinnamon rolls with cream cheese frosting in a baking pan.

BAKING TIPS

Line the cinnamon rolls into a baking dish and make sure they are spaced out with room to expand.

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SERVING SUGGESTIONS

Fruit: Apples, pears, blueberries, strawberries, or mixed fruit
Eggs: Scrambled, omelet, Hard-Boiled, poached, and Soft-Boiled.
Meat: Bacon, Air Fryer Sausage Patties, or ham steak.
Beverages: Milk, coffee, or Tea.

WHAT TO DO WITH THE LEFTOVERS

Refrigerate – If somehow you end up with leftovers, cinnamon rolls keep at room temperature for 3-4 days. Place the leftover rolls on a plate and cover them with aluminum foil.
Freeze – I do not recommend freezing already baked rolls unless you bake them and leave the frosting off. I will often make two batches; I bake one to eat right away and then freeze the other for quick baking the next time around. To freeze the rolls, gather them together, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and then place them into a freezer-safe bag. The rolls will keep for up to 2 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 to 350° F (176° C) and pop them in for 5 minutes.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why do you add heavy cream to cinnamon rolls?

As the cinnamon rolls cook, the pre-made rolls expand and absorb the heavy cream leaving them extra moist and fluffy.

What is the frosting on cinnamon rolls made of?

We take the packaged icing up a notch by making homemade cream cheese frosting with cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla, and butter.

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