Perfect Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls: Quick & Easy Pillsbury or Homemade Recipe

Imagine perfectly golden-brown, gooey cinnamon rolls, warm from the oven, ready in a fraction of the time. This dream becomes a reality with the magic of your air fryer! Whether you prefer the convenience of canned Pillsbury cinnamon rolls or the satisfaction of baking them from scratch, the air fryer delivers an unbeatable result. This comprehensive guide will show you exactly how to achieve that sweet, irresistible treat, covering everything from the ideal temperature and cooking times to tips for the best rise and delicious variations. Get ready to elevate your breakfast or dessert game with minimal effort and maximum flavor!

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For more warm cinnamon roll goodness to satisfy your sweet tooth, explore these other delightful recipes: my Oreo Cinnamon Rolls, my Cinnamon Puff Pastry Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting, or my Pumpkin Spice Cinnamon Rolls!

Why Make Cinnamon Rolls in the Air Fryer?

The air fryer has revolutionized quick and easy cooking, and cinnamon rolls are no exception. This compact kitchen appliance excels at circulating hot air evenly, ensuring your cinnamon rolls cook through perfectly while achieving a wonderfully soft and fluffy interior with a slightly crisp exterior. Compared to a traditional oven, the air fryer significantly reduces cooking time, often by half or more, and requires less preheating. This means you can go from craving to enjoying warm, glazed cinnamon rolls in less than 15 minutes, making it an ideal choice for a quick breakfast, brunch, or a spontaneous sweet treat. Plus, it heats up your kitchen much less, which is a bonus, especially on warmer days!

Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls in Air Fryer: The Easiest Sweet Treat

Absolutely! Using your air fryer is, hands down, the easiest and fastest way to prepare canned cinnamon rolls. It’s a game-changer for anyone who loves these classic pastries but doesn’t want to wait for the oven to preheat and bake. The air fryer’s efficient hot air circulation ensures that the Pillsbury dough cooks quickly and evenly, creating a delicious result that rivals traditional baking. You’ll be amazed at how the brown sugar and cinnamon flavors from the canned dough intensify with this simple cooking method. In less than 10-20 minutes (depending on the size of your rolls), you can have perfectly baked cinnamon rolls, ready for their delicious cream cheese frosting. For another yummy recipe that uses Pillsbury cinnamon rolls, try my Cinnamon Rolls Peach Cobbler!

What You’ll Need for Quick Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls

The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity. For canned cinnamon rolls, you truly only need one main ingredient:

• A Can of Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls: This guide covers two popular varieties:
  • Pillsbury Grands (5-count): These are larger, fluffier rolls and are the primary focus of the detailed recipe card below.
  • Regular-sized Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls (8-count): Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered for these smaller rolls too; check the recipe card for adjusted times and temperatures.

While I primarily use Pillsbury, this method should also work for other brands of canned cinnamon rolls, especially if they are similar in size to the regular Pillsbury rolls. Just keep an eye on them during cooking, as times may vary slightly.

Essential Equipment:

• An Air Fryer: Of course! For optimal results and to comfortably fit the rolls, I recommend at least a 3-quart air fryer. The Grands can be a bit snug, but they’ll fit in a single layer. Even better, a 4-quart Air Fryer like this Ninja model or larger will give them more space to expand.
• Tongs: Essential for safely flipping the hot cinnamon rolls halfway through cooking.
• Optional: Parchment Paper or Aluminum Foil: These can be useful for easier cleanup and to prevent sticking, although they are not strictly necessary. We’ll discuss their use in more detail below.
• Optional: Instant-Read Thermometer: For absolute certainty that your rolls are cooked through, especially when experimenting with different brands or sizes.

Optimal Temperature for Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls

Achieving perfectly cooked cinnamon rolls in an air fryer requires precise temperature control. For Pillsbury Grands (the larger 5-count rolls), you’ll want to preheat your air fryer to 320°F (160°C). For the smaller, regular-sized Pillsbury cinnamon rolls (8-count), a slightly higher temperature of 350°F (175°C) is ideal. Always refer to the recipe card for the exact specifications.

While some air fryer recipes suggest no preheating, it’s generally advisable to preheat for a few minutes. This ensures the air fryer reaches the desired temperature quickly and helps the rolls cook more evenly from the start, contributing to a better rise and consistent texture. You don’t need to fully preheat for a long time, just enough to get the internal temperature of the air fryer basket up to speed – typically 3-5 minutes is sufficient for this recipe.

How Long Does It Take to Cook Cinnamon Rolls in an Air Fryer?

The cooking time largely depends on the size of your cinnamon rolls and your specific air fryer model:

• For Pillsbury Grands (5-count): These larger rolls require a total of approximately 18 minutes. You’ll cook them in a single layer for 9 minutes, then carefully flip them over with tongs and cook for another 8-9 minutes until they are golden brown and fully baked through.
• For Regular-sized Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls (8-count): These smaller rolls cook faster, needing about 8-11 minutes total. Again, remember to flip them halfway through the cooking process for even browning.

Important Note: Air Fryer Variations! Just like traditional ovens, air fryers can vary in their power and efficiency. Your first batch might require a slight adjustment. Always check your cinnamon rolls for doneness—they should be golden brown on top and bottom, and feel soft but firm to the touch. If they seem undercooked, add another 1-2 minutes to the cooking time and check again. An instant-read thermometer should read above 190°F (88°C) in the center for cooked perfection.

Can You Use Parchment Paper or Foil in an Air Fryer?

Yes, you can! Both parchment paper and aluminum foil are safe to use in an air fryer, provided they are used correctly. They offer several benefits:

• Easy Cleanup: Lining your air fryer basket significantly reduces sticky residue, making cleanup a breeze.
• Prevents Sticking: Especially useful for delicate items or if your air fryer basket isn’t perfectly non-stick.
• Keeps Smaller Items in Place: For lighter foods, a liner can help prevent them from being tossed around by the strong airflow.

Important Tip: When using parchment paper or foil, always ensure the liner is slightly smaller than your air fryer basket. Never let it block the airflow entirely or extend above the food, as this can impede cooking and even pose a fire hazard if it touches the heating element. Also, do not preheat your air fryer with an empty parchment paper liner, as it can fly up and burn. If you do choose to use a liner, you might find that it slows down baking slightly, so be prepared to add a minute or two to your cooking time.

Will Canned Cinnamon Rolls Rise in the Air Fryer?

Absolutely! One of the great things about baking Pillsbury Grands in the air fryer is that they get a fantastic rise. The consistent heat distribution helps the dough expand beautifully, resulting in wonderfully fluffy, soft rolls with a lovely domed top. These tall, perfectly baked buns are then just waiting to be draped in that rich, sweet cream cheese icing that comes with the can, or even better, a homemade frosting!

Homemade Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls from Scratch

Yes, you can absolutely adapt your favorite homemade cinnamon roll recipe for the air fryer! The same principles of even heat and quicker cooking apply. The key considerations are ensuring your baking time and temperature are adjusted for an air fryer, and that your air fryer basket is large enough to accommodate the risen rolls without overcrowding.

A handy rule of thumb for converting traditional oven recipes to air fryer recipes is to reduce the baking time by 20% and reduce the temperature by 25-30 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 15-20 degrees Celsius). For example, if your homemade cinnamon rolls typically bake at 350°F for 25 minutes in a conventional oven, you would adjust that to roughly 320°F for about 20 minutes in the air fryer. This method works wonderfully for making fluffy, soft, and perfectly baked homemade cinnamon rolls with less fuss and a quicker turnaround. If you’ve got a batch of my Cinnamon Rolls with Apple Pie Filling ready to bake, you’d cook those for about 20 minutes at 320 degrees in the air fryer. It’s an excellent option for those who love to bake from scratch but appreciate the speed and efficiency of modern appliances!

Reheat Cinnamon Rolls in the Air Fryer

The air fryer isn’t just for baking fresh rolls; it’s also perfect for reheating them! If you have leftover cinnamon rolls that have dried out a bit, simply sprinkle a tiny bit of water over them before reheating. Otherwise, just place them in a lined air fryer basket and cook at 350°F (175°C) for about 3-4 minutes. They’ll come out warm, soft, and deliciously fresh, almost as good as when they were first baked!

Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls: Tips and Frequently Asked Questions

More Delicious Cinnamon Roll Recipes to Try

• Cinnamon Puff Pastry Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting
• Pumpkin Spice Cinnamon Rolls
• Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls

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