Air fryer cinnamon rolls cook up so light, fluffy, and delicious! A simple homemade dough with butter, cinnamon, and sugar is rolled up and sliced to create the perfect sweet breakfast treat that everyone will love!
The air fryer cooks everything up much more quickly than the oven thanks to circulating air and it's one of my favorite kitchen tools for just that reason. I love making these cinnamon rolls in the air fryer for brunch events or even just a decadent treat for a weekend breakfast.
Homemade Cinnamon Rolls in the Air Fryer
This was inspired by another cinnamon roll recipe on Kitchen Divas, and pairs well with this amazing coffee recipe. More easy, sweet air fryer recipes I think you will like are this Air Fryer Lava Cake recipe and these rich, fudgy Air Fryer Turtle Brownies.
If you also enjoy savory foods in pastry to cook in your air fryer you might also like these Mini Chicken Cordon Bleu Croissants and these Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Egg Rolls.
Ingredients
I know the list looks long, but don't worry these homemade cinnamon rolls using the air fryer are made with easy-to-find ingredients, many of which you may already have on hand.
Cinnamon Roll:
- milk
- water
- butter
- flour
- sugar
- salt
- active dry yeast
- egg
Filling Ingredients:
- butter
- brown sugar
- cinnamon
Icing Ingredients:
- cream cheese
- butter
- heavy whipping cream
- vanilla
- powdered sugar
See the recipe card further down on the page for the exact quantities of each ingredient.
Instructions
Here is an overview of making air fryer cinnamon rolls. You will find step-by-step images in the recipe card so you can follow along as you make homemade cinnamon rolls air fryer.
Step 1: Mix the Dough
In a large bowl microwave-safe bowl, mix milk, water, and butter together.
Microwave on high just until butter is melted and the mixture is warm.
Add the flour, sugar, salt, yeast, and egg to the wet ingredients. Use a stand mixer or your hands to mix together until a uniform dough forms.
Step 2: Knead and Rest the Dough
Transfer the dough to a floured work surface and continue working the dough with your hands for about 2-3 minutes.
Spray a bowl with non-stick cooking spray and place the ball of dough inside.
Cover the bowl loosely with a towel and allow to rest for about 15 minutes.
Step 3: Roll and Fill the Dough
Transfer the dough back to your floured work surface. Roll the dough out until it is about 8 inches by 10 inches.
Spread softened butter over the top of the rolled dough, then sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon evenly over the top of the butter.
Step 4: Cut the Cinnamon Rolls
Roll the dough tightly starting with the short side.
Cut the roll into 6 pieces and arrange them in your greased air fryer basket.
Step 5: Let the Dough Rise
Cover the pan tightly with plastic wrap. Allow rolls to rise in a warm place for about 60-75 minutes or until the rolls have doubled in size.
Step 6: Cook Cinnamon Rolls in the Air Fryer
Air fry at 320ºF for 8-9 minutes or until the rolls are golden brown and cooked in the middle.
Step 7: Make the Icing
While rolls are baking, prepare the icing. Place all ingredients in a medium mixing bowl and beat together.
Drizzle over warm rolls and serve.
Substitutions
Don't have the correct ingredients on hand? Or want to change something up? Here are some helpful tips for you to change this homemade cinnamon rolls air fryer recipe.
- Canned biscuits - If you don't want to go through all the trouble of making the homemade dough you can use canned cinnamon rolls instead and cook them up following the same air fryer cook time as the homemade.
- Brown sugar - The brown sugar does have a slightly different flavor than regular sugar and it adds to the swirl in the layers of dough. But you can swap it out with regular sugar or mix in 1 ½ teaspoons of molasses with ½ cup of regular sugar for a more accurate substitute for brown sugar.
- Vanilla extract - Use the same amount of maple syrup instead.
Variations
Want to personalize this cinnamon rolls in the air fryer recipe? Here are some of my tried and true tips for changing up this recipe.
- Cinnamon Raisin - After spreading the butter, brown sugar and cinnamon on the rolled out dough, add a few raisins over the top.
- Chocolate Chip - Sprinkle mini chocolate chips over the butter, brown sugar and cinnamon mixture before rolling up the cinnamon rolls.
- Apple - Spread a thin layer apple pie filling over the top of the butter and then roll up and slice the cinnamon rolls.
If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy Grandma's Old-Fashioned Caramel Sticky Buns, Pull-Apart Cinnamon Rolls or our Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls.
Equipment
Here's the list of the kitchen tools and equipment needed to make this recipe at home.
- Rolling pin
- Mixing bowl
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Microwave safe bowl
- Whisk
- Air fryer
- Stand mixer, optional
Storage
Once cooked, air fryer cinnamon rolls can be stored on the counter for two days. For a longer period of time, it's best to store them in the refrigerator.
If you want to warm up leftovers you can use the microwave, regular oven, or air fryer to heat them up.
Tips
Whether you're a dough expert or this is your first time making homemade pastries, here are a few tips to make sure things go easily and you have great results.
- Be generous when flouring your work surface. Make sure you cover it entirely so that as you roll it out there is flour underneath.
- If you can't find a warm place in your kitchen to place the dough to rise, turn your oven on warm and set the bowl on top of the middle of the stove top.
- Use the heel of your hands to work the dough. Press into it, fold it and repeat.
- The first time you make this recipe, be sure to check the cinnamon rolls at the halfway point to determine if you need to shorten the cook time. Air fryers are all a little different and some will cook less or more quickly than others.
More Baked Sweet Breakfast Recipes
Do you like a variety of sweet breakfast pastries? Here are some recipes you may also like to try:
FAQ
Do you have questions about making cinnamon rolls in the air fryer? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about making this recipe.
Cinnamon roll dough can be made the night before and rise in the refrigerator overnight. They will be ready to cook the next morning. Remove them from the refrigerator and let them sit on the counter for 30 minutes to 1 hour before cooking.
Return the cinnamon rolls to the air fryer and heat at 325 degrees F for 2-3 minutes. Watch them closely that they don't burn.
When you air fry cinnamon rolls, it means you don't need to heat up the house by turning on the oven. Plus there's no need to preheat the oven for 15-20 minutes before cooking. Finally, the air fryer cooks up cinnamon rolls in about half the time it takes in the oven.
Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls Video
Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls
Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.
Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls
Equipment
- Stand Mixer optional
Ingredients
Roll Ingredients
- ¼ cup milk
- 2 tablespoon water
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 1 ½ cups flour
- 2 tablespoon sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 ¼ teaspoon active dry yeast
- 1 egg
Roll Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon butter softened
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ tablespoon cinnamon
Icing Ingredients
- 1 oz cream cheese softened
- 1 tablespoon butter softened
- ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Get out and measure your ingredients.
Roll Directions
- In a large bowl microwave-safe bowl, mix milk, water, and butter together. Microwave just until butter is melted and mixture is warm.
- Add flour, sugar, salt, yeast, and egg to wet ingredients.
- Use a stand mixer or your hands and mix together until uniform dough forms. Continue working dough with your hands on a floured surface for about 2-3 minutes.
- Place ball of dough in a bowl that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Cover loosely and allow to rest for about 15 minutes.
- After resting, roll dough out on a floured surface until it is about 8 inches by 10 inches.
Filling Directions
- Spread softened butter over top of rolled dough.
- Evenly sprinkle cinnamon over top of butter.
- Followed by the brown sugar.
- Roll the dough tightly starting with the short side.
- Cut the roll into 6 pieces and arrange them in your greased air fryer pan.
- Cover the pan tightly with plastic wrap.
- Allow rolls to rise in a warm place for about 60-75 minutes or until the rolls have doubled in size.
Cook in the Air Fryer
- Air fry at 320ºF for 8-9 minutes.
- Until the rolls are golden brown.
Icing Directions
- While rolls are baking, prepare icing. Place all ingredients in a medium mixing bowl and beat together.
- Drizzle over warm rolls and serve.
- Serve.
- Enjoy every bite!
Notes
- Be generous when flouring your work surface. Make sure you cover it entirely so that as you roll it out there is flour underneath.
- If you can't find a warm place in your kitchen to place the dough to rise, turn your oven on warm and set the bowl on top of the middle of the stove top.
- Use the heel of your hands to work the dough. Press into it, fold it and repeat.
- The first time you make this recipe, be sure to check the cinnamon rolls at the halfway point to determine if you need to shorten the cook time. Air fryers are all a little different and some will cook less or more quickly than others.
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