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Home » Recipes » Bread Baking

Air fryer cinnamon rolls (from scratch)

Last Modified: December 5, 2022

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Soft and fluffy cinnamon rolls baked in the air fryer certainly make this world a better place. Imagine how dull a morning would be but for indulgent treats like these rolls? With the advent of the air fryer oven, baking these warm pillows of yum have become easier and more fun.

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soft cinnamon rolls from scratch baked in the air fryer oven recipes
These frosted cinnamon rolls are quick to make in the air fryer.

It has been raining in sheets this week. And I found baking these gorgeous cinnamon + brown butter slathered rolls to be the antidote to gloomy mornings.

While I usually do not frost them, this time, I went to town since my little girl is home. 

Jump to:
  • Ingredients
  • Make ahead, shelf life and storage
  • Variations
  • Recipe Notes
  • Method
  • 📖 Recipe
  • More Air Fryer Recipes

Ingredients

This recipe is a three step process. The first one is to make the dough. Next, we make the filling while the dough proofs and finally, we whip up the frosting.

For the dough, you will need-
  • Warm milk – hot milk will kill the yeast while cold milk will not allow it to proof well.
  • Instant Yeast – I recommend this but active dry yeast will work too.
  • Sugar- use fine sugar for quicker dissolving.
  • Bread flour – swap with all purpose flour if you do not have bread flour.
  • Melted butter
Ingredients for filling-
  • Melted butter
  • Soft brown sugar- any other sugar does not work as well here.
  • Ground cinnamon
For the frosting-
  • Softened cream cheese
  • Melted butter
  • Vanilla
  • Milk
  • Powdered sugar 

Make ahead, shelf life and storage

In my humble opinion, these rolls should be declared as the official Christmas breakfast. Warm and fluffy, the earthy notes of cinnamon are a delight to look forward to.

Make these rolls 3 days ahead. However, frost them only just before serving. Store unfrosted rolls in a covered and air tight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.

Freezing

You can also freeze unfrosted rolls for up to 3 months. Place each roll on a baking sheet and wait for it to freeze fully. When done, transfer to a freezer safe bag, label and return to the freezer.

Thaw by popping it into the air fryer and defrost at 175C (345C) for 4 to 6 minutes. When warm, frost as desired and serve.

Variations

Vegan cinnamon rolls

Use unsweetened almond milk in place of dairy milk. Similarly, replace regular butter with vegan butter. Skip the frosting or use a simple nut milk and sugar glaze.

  • Make them into chocolate rolls– use Nutella or your favorite spread instead of the cinnamon filling.
  • You can also use other fillings like Biscoff spread instead of the one mentioned here.
  • For a kid-friendly fun version, add crushed Oreos along with the cinnamon butter mixture.
  • Use store bought pizza dough or biscuit dough instead of making it all from scratch for a quick and effortless version.
air fryer cinnamon rolls with frosting
A freshly baked batch of cinnamon rolls

Recipe Notes

  • Always test if your yeast is alive before baking bread. 
  • For successfully proofing the yeast, the milk has to be warm. 
  • Use a weighing scale to weigh all the ingredients for best results.
  • You can bake these rolls in a Ninja Foodi air fryer or any regular air fryer, air fryer oven or a traditional oven.
  • If you have a small air fryer, I suggest baking these in two batches.
  • For smaller air fryer baskets, a 7 inch round springform pan or cake pan will work well.
  • This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled.
  • For a smooth textured frosting, the cream cheese has to be softened and at room temperature.

Method

Proof the yeast

In a mixing bowl, add warm milk, instant yeast and sugar. Whisk well.

step by step guide to make air fryer cinnamon rolls

Let it sit for 20 minutes until frothy and bubbly on the surface.

Making the dough

To the bowl of your stand mixer, add the bread flour, melted butter, salt and the frothy yeast mixture.

step by step guide to make air fryer cinnamon rolls

Knead till you have a smooth, non sticky and soft dough. You can also do this by hand. When you knead by hand, you will have to do it for about 5 to 7 minutes from start to finish.

step by step guide to make air fryer cinnamon rolls

Proofing the dough

Grease a mixing bowl with a thin layer of melted butter. Place the dough ball in this. Cover with a shower cap. 

Allow the dough to double in volume by placing it in a warm place. This may take anywhere between 40 mins to 2 hours, depending on the weather.

How to proof bread dough in the Instant Pot?

Alternatively, you can proof the dough in the Instant Pot using YOGURT setting. This is especially useful if you are living in a cold place.

Insert the inner pot into the Instant Pot. Add 1 cup water to the pot. Place a trivet into the pot. Now, place bowl of dough on the trivet.

Proofing cinnamon roll dough in instant pot using yogurt setting

Cover with a transparent glass lid. I strongly recommend the INSTANT POT LID since this fits snugly. Plug in the IP, press YOGURT and set the timer to 1 hour. 

Allow the YOGURT cycle to complete. After 1 hour, you will see that the dough has doubled beautifully.

Rolling the dough

Punch the proofed dough down. Knead this for 1 to 2 minutes gently. 

step by step guide to make air fryer cinnamon rolls

Turn it onto a floured work surface. Now, roll the dough out into a 10 by 10 inch square. 

Making the filling

Combine brown sugar, ground cinnamon and melted butter in a mixing bowl until smooth. It should resemble a paste.

How to make cinnamon roll filling with brown sugar, butter and ground cinnamon?

Shaping the rolls

Spread the filling into an even layer, leaving an 1 inch gap around the edges. 

step by step guide to make air fryer cinnamon rolls
Roll the dough tightly into a log. Using a piece of thread, cut the log into 9 equal pieces.

step by step guide to make air fryer cinnamon rolls

Alternatively, you may also use a bench scraper or a sharp knife to cut the log of dough. Place each piece into a greased 8 by 8 inch square pan, leaving an inch gap between each piece.

step by step guide to make air fryer cinnamon rolls

Second proofing

Now, cover the pan with a shower cap. Allow this to rise for 20 minutes.

Preheating

Towards the end of the second rise, preheat your air fryer at 320 F (160C). If you are going to bake them in the oven, preheat your oven at 350 F (180C).

Instant Vortex Air Fryer Oven

You do not need to preheat the Instant Vortex Air Fryer oven since it works differently. Just when you are ready to bake, press BAKE, set the temperature at 320F (160C) and wait for the display to read ADD FOOD.

Proceed to place the rolls in the air fryer oven, set the timer to 8 minutes and wait for the cooking cycle to complete.

Air fryer instructions for cinnamon rolls

In case you are baking these rolls in a regular air fryer, you will need to bake the rolls in a 9 inch round springform pan.

If your air fryer basket is small, you can line it with parchment paper and place the rolls directly in them and bake.

Temperature and timings– Bake at 320 F (160C) for 8 minutes or until the rolls are golden on the top. Keep an eye on the rolls after 7 mins to prevent burning.

Oven instructions

These rolls can be baked in a preheated regular oven at 350F (180C) for 20 minutes or until the tops are golden.

Cream cheese frosting

While the rolls are baking, let’s make the frosting. To the bowl of your stand mixer, add softened cream cheese, melted butter, milk, vanilla and sugar.

step by step guide to make air fryer cinnamon rolls

Whip on medium high speed until soft peaks form. This takes about 7 mins. When done, let it sit in the fridge until ready to frost.

Cream cheese frosting for cinnamon rolls

Frosting 

For a uniform frosting, I recommend frosting these rolls while they are warm.

how to frost cinnamon rolls?

Spread an even layer of the cream cheese frosting over the rolls using a silicon spatula. Serve immediately.

air fryer cinnamon roll with cream cheese frosting
These soft and fluffy cinnamon rolls are perfect for breakfast

📖 Recipe

soft cinnamon rolls from scratch baked in the air fryer oven recipes
Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Air fryer cinnamon rolls

Soft and fluffy cinnamon rolls baked in the air fryer make for a fantastic holiday breakfast.
Prep Time30 mins
Cook Time8 mins
Proofing time1 hr 20 mins
Course: Breads, Breakfast
Cuisine: American, International
Servings: 9 rolls
Calories: 361kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Mixing bowl
  • 1 Stand mixer You can also knead by hand.
  • 1 set measuring cups and spoons or a weighing scale
  • 1 Rolling Pin
  • 1 8 by 8 inch square baking pan
  • 1 Spatula

Ingredients

For the dough

  • 4.5 oz warm milk (½ cup +1 tbsp)
  • 2.25 teaspoon Instant Yeast
  • 3 tablespoon fine sugar
  • 14 oz bread flour (1.75 cups)
  • 3 tablespoon butter melted
  • ½ teaspoon salt

For the filling

  • 3 tablespoon butter softened
  • ¼ cup soft brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

For the cream cheese frosting

  • 4 oz cream cheese softened
  • 2 tablespoon powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoon milk
  • 2 tbsp melted butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

Proof the yeast

  • In a mixing bowl, add warm milk, instant yeast and sugar. Whisk well.
  • Let it sit for 20 minutes until frothy and bubbly on the surface.

Making the dough

  • To the bowl of your stand mixer, add the bread flour, melted butter, salt and the frothy yeast mixture.
  • Knead till you have a smooth, non sticky and soft dough. This takes 4 to 5 minutes.
  • You can also do this by hand. When you knead by hand, you will have to do it for about 5 to 7 minutes from start to finish.

Proofing the dough

  • Grease a mixing bowl with a thin layer of melted butter. Place the dough ball in this. Cover with a shower cap.
  • Allow the dough to double in volume by placing it in a warm place. This may take anywhere between 40 mins to 2 hours, depending on the weather.

How to proof bread dough in the Instant Pot?

  • Alternatively, you can proof the dough in the Instant Pot using YOGURT setting. This is especially useful if you are living in a cold place.
  • Insert the inner pot into the Instant Pot. Add 1 cup water to the pot. Place a trivet into the pot. Now, place bowl of dough on the trivet.
  • Cover with a transparent glass lid. I strongly recommend the INSTANT POT LID since this fits snugly. Plug in the IP, press YOGURT and set the timer to 1 hour.
  • Allow the YOGURT cycle to complete. After 1 hour, you will see that the dough has doubled beautifully.

Rolling the dough

  • Punch the proofed dough down. Knead this for 1 to 2 minutes gently.  Turn it onto a floured work surface. Now, roll the dough out into a 10 by 10 inch square.

Making the filling

  • Combine brown sugar, ground cinnamon and melted butter in a mixing bowl until smooth. It should resemble a paste.

Shaping the rolls

  • Spread the filling into an even layer, leaving an 1 inch gap around the edges.
  • Roll the dough tightly into a log. Using a piece of thread, cut the log into 9 equal pieces.
  • Place each piece into a greased 8 by 8 inch square pan, leaving an inch gap between each piece.

Second proofing

  • Now, cover the pan with a shower cap. Allow this to rise for 20 minutes.

Preheating

  • Towards the end of the second rise, preheat your air fryer at 320 F (160C).  If you are going to bake them in the oven, preheat your oven at 350 F (180C).

Instant Vortex Air Fryer Oven

  • When you are ready to bake, press BAKE, set the temperature at 320F (160C) and wait for the display to read ADD FOOD.
  • Proceed to place the rolls in the air fryer oven, set the timer to 8 minutes and wait for the cooking cycle to complete.

Air fryer instructions for cinnamon rolls

  • In case you are baking these rolls in a regular air fryer, you will need to bake the rolls in a 9 inch round springform pan.
  • If your air fryer basket is small, you can line it with parchment paper and place the rolls directly in them and bake.

Temperature and timings

  • Bake at 320 F (160C) for 8 minutes or until the rolls are golden on the top. Keep an eye on the rolls after 7 mins to prevent burning.

Oven instructions

  • These rolls can be baked in a preheated regular oven at 350F (180C) for 20 minutes or until the tops are golden.

Cream cheese frosting

  • To the bowl of your stand mixer, add softened cream cheese, melted butter, milk, vanilla and sugar.
  • Whip on medium high speed until soft peaks form. This takes about 7 mins. When done, let it sit in the fridge until ready to frost.

Frosting

  • Spread an even layer of the cream cheese frosting over the rolls, while warm. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • Always test if your yeast is alive before baking bread. 
  • For successfully proofing the yeast, the milk has to be warm. 
  • Use a weighing scale to weigh all the ingredients for best results.
  • You can bake these rolls in a Ninja Foodi air fryer or any regular air fryer, air fryer oven or a traditional oven.
  • If you have a small air fryer, I suggest baking these in two batches.
  • For smaller air fryer baskets, a 7 inch round springform pan or cake pan will work well.
  • This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled.
  • For a smooth textured frosting, the cream cheese has to be softened and at room temperature.

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Nutrition

Calories: 361kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 42mg | Sodium: 260mg | Potassium: 129mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 511IU | Vitamin C: 0.03mg | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @tomatoblues or tag #tomatoblues!

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Hi! I m Anusha. A very warm welcome to my blog Tomato Blues. I m an advocate by profession and chose to become a food blogger later. I live in Singapore with my husband and daughter. Tomato Blues – About The Author

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