Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls (Easy Shortcut Recipe)
This post may contain affiliate links that won’t change your price but will share some commission.
These Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls are soft, buttery, sweet, and incredibly easy to make. Using soft Hawaiian rolls as a shortcut yields fluffy cinnamon rolls with warm cinnamon flavor and gooey sweetness, without the time required for traditional yeast dough.
This easy breakfast recipe comes together quickly, making it perfect for holiday breakfast recipes, weekend brunches, family gatherings, or last-minute sweet cravings.
The soft texture of Hawaiian rolls pairs perfectly with cinnamon sugar and icing for a semi-homemade cinnamon roll recipe that tastes comforting and bakery-style with minimal effort.
These Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls have been a favorite recipe from readers of Call Me PMc since I first published them way back in 2015. Yes, they were here before the TikTok viral videos, which actually brought them to the attention of more readers. I hope you enjoy my recipe!
Why Hawaiian Rolls Make Great Cinnamon Rolls
Using Hawaiian rolls saves time while still giving the rich flavor and texture people expect from cinnamon rolls.
Hawaiian rolls are soft, slightly sweet, and buttery, which makes them perfect for shortcut cinnamon rolls. Because the rolls already have a fluffy texture, they create soft cinnamon rolls without needing homemade yeast dough.
Quick Cinnamon Rolls. Cheater Cinnamon Rolls, 15-Minute Cinnamon Rolls, or King’s Hawaiian Cinnamon Roll Sliders – Whatever it is you want to call these, they are the best cooking hack ever!
Tips for the Best Quick Cinnamon Rolls
Don’t overbake
Hawaiian rolls bake quickly and can dry out if overcooked.
Use softened butter
Soft
Let the rolls absorb the filling
Resting briefly before baking helps the cinnamon flavor soak in.
Add icing while warm
Warm rolls help icing melt into the cinnamon layers.
Can You Make Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls Ahead?
Yes. You can assemble the rolls ahead of time and refrigerate them before baking.
This makes them especially popular for Christmas morning breakfasts and brunch gatherings.
What Makes These Cinnamon Rolls So Easy?
Traditional cinnamon rolls require yeast dough, rising time, and kneading. Using Hawaiian rolls creates a shortcut version that keeps the soft texture and cinnamon flavor while dramatically reducing prep time.
What to Serve with Cinnamon Hawaiian Rolls
The great thing about these shortcut cinnamon rolls is they go with anything! Try:
- coffee
- fruit salad
- breakfast casserole
- scrambled eggs
- bacon
- brunch cocktails
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Sweet or savory Hawaiian rolls can both work depending on flavor preference.
Yes. Freeze after baking and reheat gently.
No. Hawaiian rolls eliminate the need for homemade yeast dough.
Yes. Pecans, walnuts, or raisins work well in the filling. I recommend adding one cup of chopped nuts to the cinnamon
Yes, the recipe can easily be doubled or tripled. If you notice in my recipe card where ‘servings’ is displayed, you can +/- that to adjust the servings you want to make.
Yes, you can use any rolls. King’s Hawaiian is perfect because they’re slightly sweet. I used Toll House rolls before. Any dinner roll will work, especially if you don’t like really sweet food. Obviously, don’t use rolls with rosemary, onions, or garlic.
Quick Cinnamon Hawaiian Rolls
I used a 12-count package of Hawaiian rolls, but you can use any premade, precooked roll. However, I like the King’s Hawaiian rolls best because they have a subtly sweet and light texture. In fact, I first bade similar shortcut cinnamon rolls back in 2015, Sister Schubert Pull-Apart Cinnamon Rolls. That’s how this original recipe came to be.
You can easily double or triple this recipe.
I always, always use real
For the drizzle!
These easy cinnamon rolls are pretty sweet without the glaze. However, they’re cinnamon rolls and cinnamon rolls have icing.
I mixed powdered sugar and heavy whipping cream for the glaze. For my 12-count rolls, I used 3 cups of sifted powdered sugar and three to four tablespoons of heavy whipping cream. Sifting the powdered sugar is necessary; otherwise, you’ll have lumps that are impossible to whisk out. I much prefer heavy whipping cream over whole milk for a glaze. It’s creamier and, frankly, tastes better in my opinion. However, if you don’t have heavy whipping cream, use whole milk and add 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
Another option is cream cheese glaze or frosting.
While you’re here, check out these recipes
- Birthday Cake Cinnamon Rolls
- 5 Ingredient Puff Pastry Pineapple Upside Down Cinnamon Rolls
- Carrot Cake Cinnamon Rolls
- Snickers Bars Cinnamon Rolls
- Cinnamon Roll Cherry Cobbler
- Old Fashioned Cinnamon Rolls
- Quick Biscuit Dough Cinnamon Rolls
Quick Cinnamon Hawaiian Rolls
Items in blue & underlined below can be clicked for more detail or to purchase.
Ingredients
For the rolls
- 12-count package Hawaiian Sweet Rolls
- ½ cup butter softened
- 1 tablespoon butter to spread in bottom on the pan
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
For the glaze
- 4 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- 1.5 – 2 cups powdered sugar (aka confectioners) sifted then measured
Instructions
- Bloggers and creators, please be a good human and don't copy my recipe.
For the rolls
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a small bowl, mix the butter, brown sugar and cinnamon together with a fork.
- Spread 1 tablespoon of the butter on the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking pan.
- Cut the rolls in half horizontally and place the bottom half of the rolls in the 9×13-inch pan.
- Spread half of the cinnamon butter mixture evenly over the rolls in your pan. Replace the top half of the rolls. Spread the remaining cinnamon butter mixture evenly over the top of the rolls.
- Bake for 12-13 minutes.
For the glaze
- While the rolls are baking, mix the cream cheese, heavy whipping cream, and powdered sugar together. Stir until smooth.
- When the rolls are cooked, drizzle the glaze of the top of the rolls. Serve warm.
So easy to make & delicious. Will make again with less sugar (even though minimal, less is more(, ir add more nuts to balance. Thank you for sharing your recipe & great idea. Would never go back to canned cinnamon rolls again after tasting the decadent difference. Just like homemade without all the fuss of making dough.
I totally agree! Thanks for commenting and rating, Kelli. Happy holidays 🎄
The simplicity is what I love the most
Do you recommend making any of this in advance? My wife and I are doing a breakfast buffet for a fundraiser and would like to have this as the pastry. Just trying to save some time for the morning of buffet.
Yes, you can put them together the night before and refregerate and then pop them in the oven when you’re ready. This recipe if perfect for buffet. Good luck with everything. ~ P
Can’t wait to try it tomorrow 🤗
Easy to make and delicious! I only used half the glaze but I saved the other half for when I make these again.
I’m so glad you liked them, Elaine. Sometimes I forget that everyone doesn’t like as much icing as I do. 🤦🏼♀️
I made these for the first time after looking at several similar recipes and this did not disappoint. My only complaint was l followed the recipe as written but the glaze made three times more then l wanted or needed. So next time l make these l will adjust the glaze.
Thank you for sharing this. It was sinfully delicious and so easy to make.
Hi Kyra, I’m so happy you enjoyed it! Thanks for commenting. ~P
Omgoodness!! We had so many Hawaiian sweet rolls left over from Thanksgiving . I have made several batches of cinnamon rolls. They don’t last a minute at my house.
They are the Best!!❣️
Thank you so much. I love how easy they are and taste just like ‘real’ cinnamon rolls. I’m so happy you all like them too! ~ P
Very delicious and easy to whip up!