Hawaiian Rolls Cinnamon Rolls
These easy, semi-homemade cinnamon rolls, made with store-bought Hawaiian Rolls, are the perfect shortcut to get ooey-gooey cinnamon rolls in just 30 minutes. With a package of soft brioche rolls, homemade cinnamon butter, and a cream cheese frosting, you’ll never know they aren’t homemade.
Looking for a fast and easy way to make homemade cinnamon rolls? Using a package of Hawaiian Rolls, homemade cinnamon butter, and a sweet cream cheese frosting, you can have warm, gooey cinnamon rolls in just 30 minutes.
Looking for more easy cinnamon roll ideas? Air fryer cinnamon roll bites, made from refrigerated biscuit dough, are another quick option.
There really is nothing better than fresh, warm cinnamon rolls. And while I love making them from scratch, sometimes there just isn’t time for all that work. Making dough takes time, and sometimes you just want those warm-gooey cinnamon rolls right now.
These cheater cinnamon rolls are a great option, and they are the closest thing I’ve found to making them from scratch.
The soft, flaky, and lightly sweet Hawaiian Rolls are the perfect substitute for the traditional brioche-style cinnamon roll dough, and they are easily available in most grocery stores for just a few dollars.
With the brown sugar and cinnamon butter filling and a sweet cream cheese frosting, you may not even be able to tell the difference from homemade.
From start to finish, these decadent treats are ready in just 30 minutes, making them a great choice when you want something quick.
They are perfect for Christmas morning breakfast, Sunday brunch, or a sweet treat to serve with an afternoon coffee or tea.
If you can’t find Hawaiian Rolls, you can use brioche slider rolls as an alternative. And if you prefer larger rolls, rather than the smaller-sized ones, you can use larger brioche rolls, such as hamburger rolls; just opt for those without added ingredients like sesame seeds.
These tasty cinnamon rolls will keep well for a few days, and you can reheat them in the microwave or air fryer to refresh them, making them just as good as they were on day one.
Ingredients & Substitutions
For a full list of ingredients and measurements, see the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Hawaiian Rolls – Hawaiian rolls are a brioche-like roll; they are slightly sweet and super soft and flaky. They are perfect for this recipe because the flavor and texture are very similar to most cinnamon roll dough recipes. You will want a 12-count package for this recipe. If you can’t find Hawaiian Rolls, a package of brioche slider rolls will also work well.
Butter – Butter is used in this recipe both in the cinnamon filling and the cream cheese frosting. You can use salted or unsalted butter. You will want to make sure it is softened so that it is easier to spread without tearing the rolls.
Cinnamon – Cinnamon is an essential ingredient in cinnamon rolls. However, you can change the flavor easily by replacing some of the cinnamon with other spices such as ginger or nutmeg. You can also use spice blends such as pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice to change the flavor of the rolls.
Sugar – This recipe calls for both brown sugar and powdered sugar. We prefer using dark brown sugar in our cinnamon filling as it has a richer flavor, but you can use light brown sugar if you prefer, or if you don’t like the caramel flavor of brown sugar, you can substitute it with granulated sugar. Powdered sugar is needed to thicken and sweeten the cream cheese frosting.
Cream cheese – Cream cheese is used for the sweet, creamy frosting. If you want to simplify things further, you can use a store-bought frosting instead of making your own.
Preparing 30-Minute Cinnamon Rolls
Begin by combining the brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon in a small bowl. You can mix by hand if the butter is very soft, or use a hand mixer.
Without separating the rolls, use a serrated bread knife to cut them in half, forming a top and bottom. If you don’t get them evenly sliced, don’t worry about it; mine are always lopsided.
Next, spread half of the cinnamon butter on the bottom half of the rolls.
If you find it hard to spread, you can dollop it on and lightly press it down, doing your best to even it out.
Place the tops of the rolls on the bottom, then place them in a baking dish. Using the serrated knife, cut a shallow groove down and across each roll, without going all the way through. Then dollop the remaining butter on top.
Bake the rolls for about 20 minutes, until they are soft and gooey. At the 5-minute mark, open the oven and spread the cinnamon butter over the top of the rolls. Allowing them to bake for a few minutes first will melt the butter, making it easier to spread without tearing the rolls.
While the rolls are baking, prepare the frosting.
After removing the rolls from the oven, allow them to cool for about 5 minutes, then frost and serve as desired.
Storing Leftover Cinnamon Rolls
You can store these cinnamon rolls in the refrigerator for about 3 days. Either cover the pan with plastic wrap or aluminum foil, or transfer the rolls to an airtight container.
Refresh the rolls by popping them in the microwave for 30 seconds, or try using the air fryer. 350°F for 1-2 minutes should be plenty and will make them as good as day one.
More Cinnamon Roll Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Easy Cheater Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients
- 1 (12 count) package Hawaiian rolls
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 1 cup dark brown sugar slightly packed
- 1 tbsp + 1 tsp ground cinnamon
Frosting
- 1/4 cup butter softened
- 1/2 cup cream cheese softened
- 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a small bowl, combine 1/2 cup of softened butter, the brown sugar, and the cinnamon until well mixed. You can use a hand mixer if you like.
- Without separating the rolls, use a serrated knife to cut them in half creating a top and bottom.
- Spread half of the cinnamon mixture on the bottom of the rolls and then replace the tops.
- Spray a 9×7 pan with non-stick spray and place the rolls in the pan. If you don't have a 9×7, you can use a larger pan, but the cinnamon butter may leak and spread more as they bake.
- Using the serrated knife, cut a shallow groove down the center and across each roll, forming an X on the tops.
- Dollop the remaining cinnamon butter on the top of the rolls and place them in the oven to bake for 20 minutes, until they are golden brown and soft and gooey. When the rolls have been in the oven for 5 minutes, open the oven and spread the butter over the tops of the rolls. This allows the butter to melt, making it easier to spread without tearing the soft tops of the rolls.
Cream Cheese Frosting
- While the rolls are baking, prepare the filling.
- Place the softened butter and cream cheese in a medium-sized bowl and cream together using a hand mixer.
- Slowly add the powdered sugar and mix until well combined, then add the vanilla. If you like your frosting sweeter, you can add more powdered sugar to taste.
- Once the rolls are removed from the oven, allow them to cool for about 5 minutes, then frost and serve as desired.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
