Homemade Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls
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There’s nothing quite like the smell of warm cinnamon rolls baking, and now you can have them ready in a fraction of the time with this air fryer recipe. These homemade cinnamon rolls come out soft, fluffy, and golden brown, with that gooey cinnamon sugar swirl we all love. Add a generous layer of cream cheese frosting, and you’ve got a bakery-style treat made right at home.
When I was a kid, my best friend’s Mom always made Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls the morning after a sleepover. It was one of my favorite things. These days, I am a big fan of making rolls myself, and now that I know how to make them in the air fryer with this easy recipe, watch out! They are so quick and easy, it’s honestly a little bit dangerous.
Did you know that the smell of cinnamon rolls baking isn’t just comforting, it’s actually been shown to be one of the most irresistible scents around. Studies have found that the warm, sweet aroma of cinnamon can boost mood and even make people feel more drawn to one another. So don’t be surprised if everyone suddenly wanders into the kitchen the moment these rolls hit the air fryer.
Air Fryer Cinnamon Roll Recipe
In my opinion, the perfect cinnamon rolls are soft and fluffy cinnamon rolls, lightly golden on the outside with a bit of crisp to them, filled with a gooey cinnamon swirl in the middle, and topped with creamy frosting.
Making them in the air fryer means that you don’t even have to turn on your oven. The air fryer does all the work in just 8 minutes, which means cinnamon rolls can happen anytime the craving hits. They’re quick enough for a Saturday morning breakfast but special enough to serve at brunch, when you’ve got guests, or even on Christmas morning.
Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls
Using an air fryer to make cinnamon rolls has a few real perks. The compact space circulates hot air around the rolls, so they cook evenly and develop a golden crust in just minutes. It also preheats much faster than an oven, which means you can go from craving to eating without a long wait. Another bonus is that it will not heat your whole kitchen the way an oven can, making it a great option for warm days or quick morning baking.
If you love this Fluffy Air Fryer Cinnamon Roll recipe, be sure to check out my Lemon Sweet Rolls, these Cherry Limeade Sweet Rolls, and my Cinnamon Roll Waffles, too!
Ingredients You’ll Need
You will find the complete ingredients and instructions in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
For the Dough:
- Active dry yeast – Gives your rolls their rise. Make sure your yeast is fresh so the dough puffs up properly.
- Warm whole milk – About 100°F is perfect. Too hot will kill the yeast.
- Salted butter – Adds richness to the dough. Unsalted works too, just add a pinch of salt.
- Egg – Helps bind the dough and makes it soft.
- All-purpose flour – The base of your dough. You can substitute bread flour if you want a chewier texture.
- Sugar – Feeds the yeast and adds a touch of sweetness.
For the Filling:
- Butter – Softened so it spreads easily over the dough.
- Brown sugar – Dark brown sugar will give you a deeper molasses flavor, while light brown sugar keeps it a bit lighter.
- Cinnamon – The star of the show. Fresh, fragrant cinnamon makes all the difference.
To Make an Optional Frosting:
Whip together softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla for a simple, classic topping. Add a splash of milk if you like it thinner.
How to Make Cinnamon Rolls in the Air Fryer
Don’t let the “from scratch” part scare you. Making homemade cinnamon rolls is easier than you think.
First, we will make the homemade cinnamon roll dough. Get your yeast going with some warm milk and sugar. Then mix in the butter, egg, flour, and sugar until it all comes together into a soft dough.
Next, you’ll let the dough rise until it’s doubled in size.
While that’s happening, mix up the cinnamon mixture for the swirl.
Roll out the dough, spread on that buttery cinnamon sugar filling, and slice it into little spirals.
From there, it’s as simple as popping them into your air fryer basket. They only take about 8 minutes to turn golden brown, which means you can go from mixing bowl to warm cinnamon rolls faster than it takes to watch an episode of your favorite show. Let them cool just a bit, spread on some cream cheese frosting, and get ready to dig in.
Storage and Make Ahead Instructions
- Room temperature – Store unfrosted leftover cinnamon rolls in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Refrigerator – If frosted with cream cheese icing, refrigerate for up to 1 week.
- Reheating – Warm in the microwave for about 30 seconds before serving.
- Make ahead – Prepare and shape the rolls, then cover tightly and refrigerate overnight. Let them rest at room temperature for 20 minutes before air frying in the morning.
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Tips for the Best Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls
- Don’t overcrowd your air fryer. Leave space between rolls so they can rise and cook evenly.
- Cut the rolls no thicker than ¾ inch, or they may stay doughy in the middle.
- Check early. Air fryers cook differently, so peek at your rolls around the 7-minute mark.
More Air Fryer Recipes to Love
I have several air fryer recipes right here on my website. Some of my favorites include Making Bacon in the Air Fryer, Air Fryer Biscuit Donuts, pictured above, (I have a Pumpkin Spice Version too!) How to Make Taco Salad Bowls in the air fryer, Hooters Wings in the Air Fryer, Air Fryer Toasted Ravioli, and these scrumptious Turkey Meatballs too! Find all of my Air Fryer Recipes here, and be sure to download this handy free printable Air Fryer Cheat Sheet while you’re here!
Also, what kind of Nebraskan would I be if I didn’t suggest making a batch of these cinnamon rolls to serve with a pot of my three-bean chili?
These homemade air fryer cinnamon rolls are proof that you don’t need a bakery or even an oven to enjoy a warm, gooey cinnamon roll from scratch. Whether you’re making them for a weekend breakfast, holiday brunch, or just because, they’re guaranteed to be a hit. Once you try them, you may never go back to the oven again.
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Homemade Cinnamon Rolls in the Air Fryer
Ingredients
Cinnamon Roll Ingredients:
- ¾ teaspoon active dry yeast
- ¾ cup whole milk warm
- ¼ cup salted butter melted
- 1 large egg
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ + 1 tablespoon white granulated sugar
Filling Ingredients:
- ¼ cup salted butter softened
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- ½ cup brown sugar
Optional Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients:
- 1 8 ounce package cream cheese softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1-2 Tablespoons milk optional
Instructions
- Add the yeast, warm milk, and 1 tablespoon of sugar to a bowl. Gently whisk the ingredients together and cover with a kitchen towel for about 5 minutes, or until the yeast is foamy.
- Whisk the foamy yeast mixture together with the melted butter and egg until homogenous.
- Gently whisk in the flour and remaining sugar until the dough starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl. You can do this by hand or with an electric stand mixer. Once the dough starts to pull away from the sides, use the kneading attachment or transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead by hand for 5 minutes.
- Place your dough back in the bowl and cover it with plastic wrap. Let the dough rise for 45 minutes, or until it has almost doubled in size.
- Roll the dough out on a floured surface into a rectangular sheet about ¼ inch thick. Make your filling by combining the softened butter, cinnamon, and brown sugar to create a wet, sand-like mixture. Spread the filling over the surface of the dough and then cut the dough into strips about ½ – ¾ inch thick. Roll each strip into a disc and place them on a baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap and let the dough rest for another 30 minutes.
- Remove any baskets or grates from your air fryer and preheat it for 5 minutes at 390°F. Fill the air fryer with cinnamon rolls and cook for 8 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Let the cinnamon rolls cool down for a few minutes before removing them from the air fryer.
- To make the optional cream cheese frosting, simply whip together the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla with your mixr. Add milk to thin the frosting if it is too thick.
- Enjoy your delicious cinnamon rolls!
Notes
- Feel free to use light or dark brown sugar in this recipe. Dark brown sugar will give you a richer, slightly sweeter filling. Unless you use the two variations of brown sugar often, you likely won’t notice a difference one way or the other.
- Make sure you don’t cut your cinnamon rolls too thick. If they are more than about ¾ inch thick, then the tops and bottoms of your rolls will finish cooking before the centers.
- Store your leftover cinnamon rolls on the counter or in the fridge for up to a week. I prefer to store them unfrosted on the counter since it will help prevent them from drying out. If you frost them all, then they’ll need to be kept in the fridge because of the cream cheese. The cream cheese frosting can be stored in the fridge for up to a week as long as it is kept airtight.
- Reheat a cinnamon roll or two in the microwave for about 45 seconds and then top with some cold cream cheese frosting.
- I like to use salted butter in the filling because the salt helps balance out the strong sweetness of the brown sugar.
- You want your milk to be about 100°F.
- Air Fryer sizes differ tremendously. You may have to make smaller batches for smaller fryers. Alays keep an eye on them too, because cook times may vary too.
