Learn how to make Cinnamon Rolls in the Air Fryer- they are absolute perfection! They are the perfect texture: hot, soft and tender on the inside, with a slight thin crispness on the outside. This will be your new go-to way to cook Pillsbury (or other pre-made) cinnamon rolls. Easily the best way I've ever eaten them.
These are a simple quick and easy dessert or breakfast for when you're crunched for time or just have some hungry teenagers or kids hanging around. Learn what temperature to cook cinnamon rolls at in the air fryer. This is the best way to make pre-made/ packaged cinnamon rolls. Try our homemade version, The Best Cinnamon Rolls.
This was inspired by our TikTok Cinnamon Rolls. If you like cinnamon desserts, try our Cinnamon Roll Casserole.
For more air fryer recipes and tips be sure to check out our How To Use an Air Fryer guide with recipes like Air Fryer Bagel Bites.
Why We Love This Recipe
Sometimes I need to whip up a quick dessert or don't feel like baking, or sometimes it's a birthday and I need a quick breakfast. Store bought Pillsbury cinnamon rolls are a great quick and easy solution! Not only is it faster to make them in the air fryer, but for canned cinnamon rolls they taste so much better and have a better texture.
Try homemade with these easy recipes like Cinnamon Roll Filling, Cinnamon Roll Icing. You don't want to miss our amazing Brown Butter Cinnamon Rolls.
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Ingredients
These are great because they only take 2 ingredients. Follow our guidance on each ingredient for best results.
- refrigerator cinnamon rolls- I use Pillsbury, but this will work with any brand of cinnamon rolls. We tested a few different off brands and they all worked just as well. Use your favorite!
- avocado oil (for brushing on the air fryer basket)- you can use other kinds of oil, but I recommend avocado after testing many different types of oil in my air fryer. It has a high smoke point and I've found that olive oil leaves a residue on my air fryer basket.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls
Use these process shots to help get the results you are wanting. The pictures can help with texture and be a visual guide for best results.
1. Preheat the air fryer to 350°F. Brush avocado or other oil on your air fryer basket to prevent the rolls from sticking. I like avocado because it is mostly tasteless and odorless. I don't recommend olive oil, it seems to leave a residue over time on the air fryer.
2. Place cinnamon rolls in the air fryer basket, about ½" apart or closer for rolls that puff up and touch*. Place with cinnamon bits facing up.
*If you don't want the cinnamon rolls to touch, place more than ½" apart and reduce baking time by 2 minutes.
How Long to cook Cinnamon Rolls in the Air Fryer
3. Place cinnamon rolls in the air fryer and cook for 6-9 minutes. We use the Ninja Foodi Grill XL air fryer and found 7 minutes made them absolutely perfect. They are soft and tender on the inside with the sliiiightest thin crunchy exterior.
4. Bring frosting to room temperature and drizzle over the top of the rolls. For frosting that absorbs into the cinnamon roll and hardens on top, pour over while warm. For frosting that is sticky and sits on top, wait for the rolls to cool completely before drizzling with frosting.
Hint: Feel free to line your air fryer with aluminum foil for this recipe.
Substitutions and Variations
We love switching things up when we're in the kitchen. Try any of these variations for something a little different.
- Oil - instead of avocado oil, feel free to use a different oil. We don't recommend coconut oil due to it's low smoke point (see more information about food safety at the bottom of the post).
- Caramel -whip up some of our Homemade Caramel Topping and drizzle it over the top.
- Nuts - add some pecan bits for a yummy cinnamon pecan flavor.
- Chocolate - drizzle chocolate over the top for that yummy Mexican Chocolate flavor. Delicious!
- Egg Nog- dress them up for the holidays with an Egg Nog Glaze- you can find our favorite Egg Nog Glaze recipe on this post.
- Maple Bacon - add a maple glaze and top with bacon bits for a fun and interesting twist!
Storing Pillsbury Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls
We recommend waiting to cook them until ready to eat. Store uncooked rolls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days then make as directed.
These can be frozen if necessary. Freeze in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Bring to room temperature then reheat in the air fryer at 350*F for 3-4 minutes.
How to Reheat Cinnamon Rolls in the Air Fryer
Preheat air fryer to 360°F. Heat for around 3-4 minutes, start checking at minute 2.
Serving Suggestions:
- Fruit- serve these with a side of fresh fruit for some flavor and nutrients.
- Eggs- We love having cinnamon rolls with a side of eggs. A little protein is the perfect balance for them.
- Breakfast Meat- If you aren't a fan of eggs, go for a breakfast meat such as sausage or bacon.
- Coffee, Tea or Orange Juice- These drinks are classics when it comes to cinnamon rolls.
Top tips
Don't overcook the cinnamon rolls! If they are overcooked they will be dry and tough instead of tender and moist.
Rotate the basket: If your air fryer has a rotating basket or tray, consider giving it a gentle turn halfway through the cooking process to ensure even browning.
Adjust the cooking time: Since air fryers can vary in temperature and power, it's important to monitor the cinnamon rolls closely as they cook. Start with the recommended cooking time, but be prepared to adjust it as needed. For reference, we used a NINJA foodi air fryer.
Arrange the rolls: Place the cinnamon rolls in a single layer inside the air fryer basket. Leave some space between them to allow for expansion as they rise and bake.
Recipe
Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls (Pillsbury)
Ingredients
- 8 Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls 1 package
- 2 teaspoons avocado oil
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 350°F and remove the basket.
- Brush avocado oil over the basket to prevent the cinnamon rolls from sticking.
- Place the cinnamon rolls in the air fryer basket in a single layer ½" apart or less*. This spacing will let them puff up and cook into each other.
- Cook for 6-9 minutes. Ours were perfect at minute 7. They will be lightly golden brown and soft and tender inside. See photos above for a great visual on this.
- *For cinnamon rolls with more crispy edges, place them more than ½" apart and reduce the cooking time by 2 minutes.
Notes
- We recommend eating these hot and fresh! Store uncooked rolls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Store cooke leftovers similarly, and reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 3-4 minutes.
- For freezing: store in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Bring to room temperature then reheat as directed above.
- Please note that all air fryers are a little bit different. Your cooking time may vary. We used a NINJA Foodi grill XL for this recipe.
- Do not over cook the cinnamon rolls or they will be dry and tough instead of soft and tender.
- If you are able to rotate your basket, we recommend rotating the basket in the middle of the cooking process to ensure a more even baking.
Nicole says
Great recipe! I needed to make these last minute and this was the perfect way to make the Pillsbury cinnamon rolls taste a little better. Everyone loved them.
Dana says
These cinnamon rolls are a DREAM. Like, total fairground food in the comfort of your own home, and in an air fryer, so we can chalk it up to being a healthier choice, right? 😉
Ali says
I have just got an air fryer and I had no idea that you could make cinnamon rolls in there. These were perfect for our weekend breakfast, thank you! Will make again.
Lori Holton says
Not good! First time using my Air Fryer. Followed your directions and baked at 350 for 7 minutes. Came out burnt on top and raw on the bottom. Your recipe says nothing about flipping them over. Ended up throwing them away.
Nicole says
Hi! We're so sorry you had a bad experience with our recipe and your air fryer. As I mentioned in the recipe, all air fryers are a little different and cooking times may vary. I wish there was a better way to give universal directions for all the different air fryers. They didn't need to be flipped in my air fryer and truly I felt like they had cooked perfectly. Thank you for sharing so that other readers can be aware that they might have issues.
JC says
This was fast and easy. We also have a Ninja Foodi grill, and these turned out perfect. The cinnamon rolls have a better texture made in the air fryer too.
Eva says
I couldn't believe how easy it was to make these. It is almost dangerous to be able to whip them up so quickly! My little guy was very excited, Cinnamon Rolls are his favorite. Thank you for another great recipe.
Patricia D OShaughnessy says
At the same time did 4 in the air fryer and 4 in the oven. Oven ones came out much better!