Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls

Name: Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls (30-Minute)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 12 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted; 1/2 cup brown sugar; 1 tbsp ground cinnamon; 1 (12-count) package Hawaiian sweet rolls; 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened; 2 oz cream cheese, softened; 1 cup powdered sugar; 1 tbsp heavy cream; 1 tsp vanilla extract

Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls are a shortcut version that uses store-bought Hawaiian sweet rolls instead of homemade dough, delivering gooey, fluffy results in under 30 minutes with a rich cinnamon-butter filling and tangy cream cheese frosting.

🌍American 🏷️Cinnamon rolls 🏷️Hawaiian rolls 🏷️Sweet rolls 🏷️Breakfast Brunch

🏷️

🏷️Dessert

-0:00

moribyanonTikTok

Total

20 min

Servings

12

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$19–$31

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok · by moribyan

-0:00

moribyanonTikTok

Ingredients

1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tbsp ground cinnamon
1 (12-count) package Hawaiian sweet rolls
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tbsp heavy cream
1 tsp vanilla extract

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Instructions

1
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2
In a microwave-safe bowl or measuring cup, melt 1/2 cup of unsalted butter.
3
To the melted butter, add the brown sugar and ground cinnamon. Mix well until it forms a smooth, paste-like mixture.
4
Place the slab of Hawaiian rolls on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
5
Using a sharp knife, cut a swirl pattern into the top of each roll, going about three-quarters of the way through the roll.
6
Pour the cinnamon butter mixture evenly over the tops of the rolls, making sure it seeps into the cuts.
7
While the rolls soak, prepare the frosting. In a medium bowl, combine the softened 1/4 cup of butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla extract.
8
Using a hand mixer, beat the frosting ingredients until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
9
Bake the rolls for about 10 minutes, or until they are golden brown and the filling is bubbly.
10
Remove the rolls from the oven and let them cool slightly for a few minutes.
11
Spread the cream cheese frosting generously over the warm rolls.
12
Serve immediately and enjoy.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Gently unroll or separate the Hawaiian rolls without tearing them—they're delicate. If rolls resist, let the package sit at room temperature for 2-3 minutes first.
Brush the cinnamon-sugar mixture evenly into every crevice of the rolls for maximum flavor distribution; uneven application leads to bland spots.
Frost the rolls while they're still warm from the oven so the cream cheese frosting softens and sinks into the warm cinnamon swirls.
Don't skip the softened butter in the filling mixture—it creates the signature gooey texture. Cold butter won't coat the rolls properly.

Substitutions

Brown sugar → white sugar (slightly less molasses flavor, but rolls will still be sweet)
Cream cheese frosting → buttercream frosting made with butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla (lighter, less tangy result)
Heavy cream → whole milk in frosting (frosting will be slightly thinner; reduce amount to 2 tsp)

Storage & make-ahead

Store covered at room temperature for 2 days, or refrigerate for up to 5 days. Reheat uncovered in a 300°F oven for 5-7 minutes until warm.

Common Questions

How do you make cinnamon rolls from Hawaiian rolls?

Unroll or separate the Hawaiian sweet rolls, brush with melted butter mixed with brown sugar and cinnamon, reassemble, and bake until golden. The rolls are already leavened, so no proofing is needed.