Last Updated on October 29, 2021 by Chenée Lewis
Quick air fryer cinnamon rolls are so easy! If you’re wondering how long to cook cinnamon rolls in air fryer, you’ve come to the right place — this post covers making Pillsbury cinnamon rolls in the air fryer, as well as air fryer cinnamon rolls from scratch! For more cinnamon roll goodness, check out my Cinnamon Rolls with Apple Pie Filling, my Cinnamon Puff Pastry Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting, or my Pumpkin Spice Cinnamon Rolls!
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Can you use air fryer for cinnamon rolls?
Yes! It’s my new favorite way to make canned cinnamon rolls! It’s so much easier and quicker than baking them in the oven. You can have all the cinnamon roll goodness you’re craving in less than 10 minutes!
What You’ll Need
Just one ingredient — a can of Pillsbury Grands cinnamon rolls — and you’re ready to go! Note that this recipe is for baking a 5-count can of Pillsbury Grands in the air fryer. But if you’ve got an 8-count can of regular-sized Pillsbury cinnamon rolls, I’ve got you covered! Just scroll down to the recipe card for the air fryer cooking time for those. I haven’t tested this method with other brands, but I would imagine if they’re about the same size as the small Pillsbury rolls, then that method would work for them as well.
You’ll also need an air fryer, of course! I recommend at least a 3-quart air fryer to accommodate the size of the rolls. They’ll be a little snug in a 3-quart air fryer, but they’ll fit. Even better would be a 4-quart Air Fryer like this Ninja model.
Do you have to preheat an air fryer?
Generally, preheating your air fryer is advisable because it produces a crispier, more evenly cooked result. Since we’re making cinnamon rolls, however, we’re not going for a particularly crispy result. So you won’t need to preheat your air fryer for too long to air fry cinnamon rolls — I’d say just a few minutes to get it going.
How long do you cook Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls in the Air Fryer?
The question is, how long does it take to cook Pillsbury cinnamon rolls in the air fryer? Well, that depends on which cinnamon rolls you’re making! For Pillsbury Grands in the air fryer, we’ll cook them for a total of 18 minutes, flipping halfway through. And for regular-sized Pillsbury cinnamon rolls, they’ll need about 8-9 minutes to cook — see recipe card for details. Because air fryer cooking speeds vary, you might need to add another few minutes to your cook time — just check your cinnamon rolls for doneness and adjust accordingly.
Why do you use parchment paper in an air fryer?
Parchment paper is typically used to keep smaller pieces of food in place and keep the air fryer basket relatively clean. In this recipe, you won’t need parchment paper unless you prefer it — I find that it slows down baking a bit so if you do use it, you may need to add a bit of extra time!
Can you put foil in an air fryer?
Yes you can! If you would like to use foil, you’d use it the same way as parchment paper.
Will canned cinnamon rolls rise?
In my experience, Pillsbury Grands in the air fryer do get a nice rise. They have a lovely domed top and look great draped in cream cheese icing!
Homemade Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls from Scratch
The question is — can you apply this method to a from-scratch recipe? And the answer is yes! As long as the baking time and temperature fits an air fryer and your air fryer is large enough to accomodate the risen rolls, you should be all good. A good rule of thumb for oven to air fryer conversion is to reduce the baking time by 20% and reduce the temperature by 25-30 degrees. For example, if you’ve got a batch of my Cinnamon Rolls with Apple Pie Filling ready to bake, you’d cook those for about 20 minutes at 320 degrees in the air fryer. Either way, you can definitely air fry cinnamon rolls from scratch!
Reheat Cinnamon Rolls in Air Fryer
You can also use your air fryer to reheat your rolls! If they’ve dried out a bit, just sprinkle on a little water, but otherwise just place them in a lined air fryer basket and cook at 350 degrees for about 3-4 minutes!
More Tips and F.A.Q.
Pillsbury is a classic and it’s the most accessible for most shoppers, so it’s my go-to for these quick air fryer cinnamon rolls. But another favorite (if you have the time to let them rise) are Rhodes cinnamon rolls. They taste just like homemade! Finally, I love Annie’s Cinnamon rolls and especially love the natural ingredients and good quality.
I thought you’d never ask! My favorite trick for canned cinnamon rolls is to top them with homemade cream cheese frosting. The stuff that comes in the can is, let’s just say, not my favorite. And cream cheese frosting is so easy to make! Check out my Cinnamon Puff Pastry Rolls recipe for my go-to simple cream cheese frosting!
These cinnamon rolls will be done when they’re golden brown and no longer sticky or raw looking. To be sure, you can use an instant-read thermometer to make sure the temperature is over 190°F.
If you’re making regular-sized Pillsbury rolls, the cook temp will be 350°F. But for Pillsbury Grands in air fryer, decrease the temperature to 320°F. Check the recipe card below for details!
If you try this recipe, I would love it if you could leave a rating and comment below! It’s so wonderful hearing your feedback! And don’t forget to share your creations with me by tagging @chenee_today on Instagram!
More Cinnamon Roll Recipes to Try
- Cinnamon Puff Pastry Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Pumpkin Spice Cinnamon Rolls
- Cinnamon Rolls with Apple Pie Filling
Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls – How Long to Cook Cinnamon Rolls in Air Fryer
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Ingredients
- 1 can Pillsbury Grands cinnamon rolls - 5-count (see below for 8-count cinnamon rolls cook time)
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 320°F and line air fryer basket with a piece of parchment paper or foil that is slightly smaller than the size of the basket.
- Remove cinnamon rolls from can and place inside air fryer basket.1 can Pillsbury Grands cinnamon rolls
- Cook at 320°F for 9 minutes, then use tongs to carefully flip each cinnamon roll over and replace in the basket.
- Continue cooking for another 8-9 minutes, or until cinnamon rolls are golden brown and baked through.
Video
Notes
- Don’t line your air fryer basket;
- Increase the temperature to 350°F;
- And reduce the baking time to 8-11 minutes total, flipping the rolls halfway through.
Nutrition
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Such a mouthwatering treat! I’d never thought of making cinnamon rolls in the air fryer, thanks so much for all the tips! Can’t wait to give this a try!
You’re welcome! I hope you enjoy them!
Wow, I feel like I’m always learning something new. I would’ve never thought to make cinnamon rolls in the air fryer but it makes it sooo much easier, especially if I only want to make 1 or 2! Plus, helps not to have to preheat the oven and get the house all hot!
Absolutely! I love the convenience of the air fryer!
You’re good at creating “needs,” Now I need to go to Costco and get an air fryer, and I need to try these cinnamon rolls asap.
You really do!! Hope you like them!
This is my go to recipe for cinnamon rolls for busy mornings. Perfect, quick breakfast.
Absolutely! So great for an easy breakfast!
I love cinnamon rolls. However, I find them time consuming to make. This recipe makes making cinnamon rolls so easy and delicious. I loved how the air-fried cinnamon rolls turned out. I’m definitely making this recipe again.
Thank you! I’m so glad you liked them!
I’ve never bookmarked a recipe so fast!! This is definitely happening this weekend. Thank you so much for the recipe 🙂
Hope you enjoy!
I have never tried cinnamon rolls in the air fryer! Great idea! They also look delicious!
Thank you! They’re always a hit over here!
These air fryer cinnamon rolls are delicious! I would never have thought to make them in the air fryer!
I’m glad you liked them!
WOW what can’t you make in an air fryer?! I am so excited to make this recipe – it’s going to be very handy for breakfast when my oven is full with holiday dinner dishes 🙂
Absolutely! It’s perfect for a busy holiday morning!
What an awesome idea! I love that this a quick way to make delicious cinnamon rolls. They look amazing!
Thanks! They’re so good!
I’ll be trying this when my grandchild is here again. They are going to love them!