Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls

These Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls are soft, buttery and incredible easy to make for the ultimate shortcut breakfast treat your family and friends will love. Regular cinnamon rolls take hours, but this quick version will be ready in less than an hour!

When you’re craving homemade cinnamon rolls but can’t make them from scratch, these Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls are a delicious shortcut solution. Quick and easy to make, this recipe uses sweet Hawaiian rolls as the base for a simply irresistible cinnamon roll with a fluffy texture and rich cinnamon sugar filling that will be ready to enjoy in under an hour.

Perfectly sweet, gooey, and buttery, these Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls are downright decadent and fool-proof, making them great for holiday mornings, brunches or weekend breakfasts. We can guarantee they’re sure to become one of your family favorites, too.

If you like these rolls, be sure to try some of our other sweet breakfast ideas like this Cranberry Orange Monkey Bread and our Apple Crescent Rolls.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Quick and easy shortcut recipe that’s ready in under an hour. These rolls have all of the flavor and texture you crave from classic cinnamon rolls, but this easy method cuts down prep time by hours compared to a homemade dough!
• Soft and fluffy texture. Perfectly sweet and pillowy, Hawaiian rolls give these cinnamon rolls the ultimate texture.
• Perfect for holidays and brunch gatherings. A batch of these easy, yet elevated rolls is a great, special addition to any breakfast or brunch spread when entertaining.
• Great make-ahead breakfast option. Easy to prep in advance and have at the ready, these cinnamon rolls are the perfect time-saving breakfast.

Ingredients

Scroll Down to the Bottom of this Post for Ingredient Amounts Listed in the Printable Recipe Card

• King’s Hawaiian Rolls: Sweet, soft and buttery, these are the perfect pillowy base.
• Salted Butter: For the extra rich and decadent spread for the rolls.
• Cinnadust: Sweet and aromatic, for that signature cinnamon roll taste.
• Brown Sugar: For sweetness and a depth of flavor.
• Cinnamon: Warm and slightly sweet, for even more spiced flavor.
• Cream Cheese: Rich and tangy, soften this ahead of time.
• Heavy Whipping Cream: To make the icing extra indulgent.
• Vanilla Extract or Paste: Use the real, pure version. It’s worth it!
• Powdered Sugar: To sweeten the icing.

Tools You’ll Need

• Baking Dish
• Measuring Cups and Spoons
• Hand Mixer 
• Rubber Spatula
• Mixing Bowls
• Bread Knife 
• Cutting Board
• Cinnadust

How To Make Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Cut Hawaiian sweet rolls in half horizontally, keeping the entire slab intact.

2. Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a 13×9-inch baking pan.
3. Coat both sides of the top half in the butter and place on a cutting board. Coat the bottom half in the remaining butter and leave inside the dish bottom side down. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of the Cinnadust.

4. In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter until fully combined.

5. Spread 3/4 of the cinnamon butter mixture evenly over the bottom half of the rolls.

6. Sprinkle the remaining Cinnadust on both sides of the top half of the rolls. Place on top of the filling. Spread the remaining cinnamon butter over the top.

7. Bake uncovered 20 minutes, or until warmed through and lightly golden. Remove from the oven and let sit for 5-10 minutes before icing.
8. In a bowl, beat cream cheese, heavy whipping cream, vanilla, and powdered sugar until smooth and creamy.

9. Spread the icing over the warm rolls. Serve immediately.

Expert Tips

• Do not overbake to keep the rolls soft. Only bake the rolls until cooked through for the best texture. The tops should be golden and the edges should pull away from the side of the pan. Over-baking can lead to hard, dried out rolls.
• Use softened butter. Be sure to bring it to room temperature and soften before using for easy spreading.
• Serve warm. These are best straight from the oven while they’re warm and soft for the gooiest texture.
• Add extra icing. For an even more indulgent touch, add an extra swipe of icing, or serve more on the side, especially if serving for a special brunch.
• Prep ahead for ease. Assemble the cinnamon rolls the night before for easy mornings. Bring them to room temperature before baking off, then top with icing right before serving.

Variations

Here are some fun twists on this recipe that we’ve made in the past depending on the season:

• Maple pecan cinnamon rolls. Add a drizzle of maple syrup and chopped, toasted pecans.
• Pumpkin spice version. Warm and spiced, make this delicious seasonal spin using pumpkin pie spice and pumpkin puree in the butter spread and icing.
• Orange cream cheese glaze. Give the rolls a hint of citrus with fresh orange zest and juice.
• Chocolate chip cinnamon rolls. Make these extra indulgent by sprinkling in milk, dark, or semi-sweet chocolate chips.
• Holiday cranberry cinnamon rolls. Give the rolls a festive, holiday flavor profile with chopped cranberries or cranberry sauce in the buttery spread.

Storage

Store leftover cinnamon rolls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Rewarm in the microwave for 20 seconds before serving.

You can freeze these cinnamon rolls. Wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or store in a zip top bag in the freezer for up to 2 months. This will keep their soft texture. Thaw in the fridge overnight and rewarm in the microwave.

Prep and fully assemble the rolls up to 12-24 hours in advance, then cover and store in the fridge until you’re ready to bake. Top with icing once they’re out of the oven and serve warm.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Easy Breakfast Bakes

• Grits and Sausage Casserole
• Baked Chocolate Oatmeal
• Best Spinach and Bacon Quiche
• Croissant Breakfast Casserole