This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
These Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls come together fast and taste like a bakery treat straight from your oven! With soft, buttery rolls, warm cinnamon sugar, and creamy icing, they’re an easy win for breakfast or dessert.
Using store-bought Hawaiian rolls as a shortcut, this recipe skips the time-consuming steps of making dough from scratch without sacrificing that gooey cinnamon roll experience. You simply slice, spread, bake, and frost. No rolling pins or rising time required!
Whether you’re hosting brunch, planning a cozy holiday breakfast, or just want something warm and sweet with your coffee, these rolls always deliver. And because they’re made in one pan, they’re perfect for busy mornings or last-minute guests.
Ingredients Needed for Hawaiian Rolls Cinnamon Rolls
- Salted Butter: Make sure it’s softened so it mixes easily with the brown sugar.
- Light Brown Sugar: Adds sweetness and a light molasses flavor that gives the rolls that signature sticky, caramelized filling.
- Cinnamon: The star spice of any cinnamon roll!
- Vanilla Extract: Used in both the filling and glaze for added depth and sweetness.
- Hawaiian Rolls: Soft, sweet, and fluffy, these are the perfect shortcut base for cinnamon rolls.
- Cream Cheese: Use room-temperature cream cheese for a silky smooth frosting!
- Heavy Cream or Milk: Thins the glaze slightly for easy spreading. Cream gives a richer flavor, but you can use milk if you prefer.
- Powdered Sugar: Sweetens and fluffs up the glaze for that classic frosted look.
How To Make Easy Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls
✱ Be sure to see the recipe card below for exact ingredients and full recipe instructions!
Step 1 | Make the Filling
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
To a bowl, add the butter, sugar, cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Mix with a hand mixer on medium speed until the ingredients are well combined. Set aside.
Line a 9×13 baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 2 | Assemble & Bake
Cut the rolls in half long ways. Set the tops off to the side.
Use a spatula to evenly spread ¾ of the sugar mixture on the bottom of the buns.
Place the tops on top of the buns. Spread the remaining sugar mixture evenly on top of the buns.
Bake for 10 minutes. Gently place an aluminum foil tent on top. Bake for an additional 10 minutes.
Step 3 | Make the Glaze
Remove from the oven and place on a cooling rack for 5 to 20 minutes. The longer the cinnamon rolls cool, the thicker the icing will be.
While the cinnamon rolls are cooling, add the cream cheese, heavy cream, and the remaining vanilla extract to a bowl. Using a clean hand mixer, mix at medium speed for at least 1 minute, or until smooth and creamy.
Add the powdered sugar. Use the hand mixer to mix for at least 2 minutes or until fluffy.
Step 4 | Frost and Serve
Spread the icing on top of the cinnamon rolls. If you like it less sweet, you can use less icing.
Recipe Tips
- Use softened ingredients. Cold butter or cream cheese won’t mix smoothly and can lead to a lumpy filling or glaze. Take everything out of the fridge about 30 minutes to an hour before starting.
- Line your pan with parchment! This helps prevent sticking and makes cleanup a lot easier. It also makes lifting and serving the rolls easier.
- Cover with foil halfway. This prevents the tops from getting too dark while allowing the filling to caramelize perfectly. The foil tent traps steam and keeps the rolls soft as well.
- Cool before glazing! This is very important. Allowing the rolls to rest for 5 to 20 minutes helps the icing set more effectively. If you put the glaze on top of hot rolls, it will fall right off.
Variations and Substitutions
- Nuts: Add chopped pecans, walnuts, or slivered almonds on top before baking for texture and crunch. The nuts toast slightly in the oven, complementing the sweet filling.
- No cream cheese? You can swap in 8 tablespoons of softened butter for a simpler glaze. It’ll be rich and sweet, just without the tang.
- Spices: Add a pinch of nutmeg, allspice, or even pumpkin spice to the filling for a seasonal variation. These spices pair beautifully with brown sugar and cinnamon.
- Make-ahead option: Assemble the rolls the night before and cover them tightly in the fridge. In the morning, bake as directed for a fresh, warm treat.
Want to Save this Recipe?
Enter your email below & we'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you’ll get great new recipes from us every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Soulfully Made.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! You can use any soft dinner roll, however, it is much easier to use rolls that are connected like Hawaiian rolls. The assembly process will take longer if you use individual rolls, but it would still work!
Yes, although a hand mixer makes things easier. You can mix the filling and icing by hand using a sturdy spatula or whisk. It just may take a little more elbow grease to get everything smooth. Or a stand mixer works as well.
Nope! Keep them together in one big slab—it helps the filling stay gooey inside and makes assembly quicker.
You can, but homemade cream cheese glaze tastes fresher and allows you to adjust the sweetness and thickness to your liking.
Storage
Storage: Store at room temperature for 1 day or refrigerate for up to 3 days.
Freeze: To freeze, store the rolls and icing separately for up to 2 months.
What to Serve with Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls
These easy cinnamon rolls are perfect for breakfast or brunch spreads and pair beautifully with savory options like a tater tot breakfast casserole, a Kentucky hot brown sandwich, or deviled eggs to balance the sweetness. They’re also great with fresh fruit, so give it a try with a berry fruit salad.
For drinks, serve them with hot coffee, whipped dalgona coffee, or biscoff cookie butter latte. If you’re serving them for dessert, warm them slightly and top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
Other Recipes to Try
- Cinnamon Roll Casserole
- Pumpkin French Toast Casserole
- Cinnamon Honey Butter Recipe
- Blueberry French Toast Casserole
- Mixed Berry Yogurt Parfaits
Hungry for more easy, home-cooked, delicious recipes?
Sign up for my free recipe club to get family-friendly recipes in your inbox each week! Find me sharing daily meal-time inspiration on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram.
Hawaiian Rolls Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients
- 8 tablespoons salted butter, softened
- ⅔ cups light brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided
- 12 count package Hawaiian rolls
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup heavy cream or milk
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350° F.
- To a bowl add the butter, sugar, cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Mix with a hand mixer on medium speed until combined. Set aside.
- Line a 9×13 baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cut the rolls in half long ways. Set the tops off to the side.
- Use a spatula to evenly spread 3/4 of the sugar mixture on the bottom of the buns.
- Place the tops on top of the buns.
- Spread the remainder of the sugar mixture on top of the buns.
- Bake for 10 minutes.
- Gently place an aluminum foil tent on top.
- Bake for an additional 10 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and place on a cooling rack for 5 to 20 minutes. The longer the cinnamon rolls cool, the thicker the icing will be.
- While the cinnamon rolls are cooling in a bowl, add the cream cheese, heavy cream, and the remainder of the vanilla extract. With a clean hand mixer, over medium speed mix for at least 1 minute or until smooth and creamy.
- Add the powdered sugar. Use the hand mixer to mix for at least 2 minutes or until fluffy.
- Spread the icing on top of the cinnamon rolls. If you like it less sweet you can use less icing.
Want to Save this Recipe?
Enter your email below & we’ll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you’ll get great new recipes from us every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Soulfully Made.
Notes
- Soften your ingredients first: Make sure to let butter and cream cheese sit out for about 30 minutes so they mix smoothly without lumps.
- Don’t skip the foil: Tent the rolls with foil halfway through baking to prevent the tops from getting too dark and the centers from becoming too soft.
- Want to add Nuts: Top with chopped pecans, walnuts, or slivered almonds before baking for extra texture and flavor.
- Don’t want to use cream cheese? Use 8 tablespoons of softened butter instead for a simple, sweet glaze.
Nutrition Information
Nutritional Disclaimer
Soulfully Made is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
©️Soulfully Made
