Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls: Your Quick & Gooey Breakfast Delight

Indulge in the ultimate breakfast treat with these **Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls**. Sweet, incredibly soft, and wonderfully gooey, each roll is generously slathered with a rich, aromatic cinnamon-sugar filling and crowned with an irresistible tangy cream cheese glaze. The best part? This delightful recipe comes together in under 30 minutes, making it perfect for busy mornings or whenever a craving for homemade cinnamon rolls strikes without the hassle of traditional yeast dough.

Author’s Note

The Story Behind My 30-Minute Gooey Cinnamon Rolls!

Like many of you, I first encountered a viral version of these Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls on social media. The concept of creating such a beloved breakfast pastry in significantly less time than traditional methods immediately piqued my interest. As a fan of quick, delicious recipes that don’t compromise on flavor or texture, I knew I had to put my own spin on them.

My goal was to elevate the “gooey factor” and enhance the overall richness. I experimented with a few key adjustments: upping the amount of cinnamon-sugar for a bolder flavor, swapping melted butter for softened butter in the filling (which makes a huge difference in spreadability and texture!), and developing a perfectly balanced, tangy cream cheese glaze instead of a basic frosting. These small tweaks transformed a good idea into an extraordinary one.

The very first batch was devoured by my family in record time – a true testament to their irresistible appeal! Now, these quick cinnamon rolls have become a cherished weekend tradition. They offer all the warmth and comfort of homemade cinnamon rolls without the long proofing times or complicated dough work. My kids adore pulling them apart, savoring each sweet, individual piece, and I love how effortlessly I can bring such a delightful treat to the table. This recipe was such a hit, it even inspired me to create a delicious pumpkin cinnamon roll version for fall!

Why You’ll Love These Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls

• **Effortlessly Quick:** Forget yeast dough and long proofing times! These cinnamon rolls are ready from start to finish in less than 30 minutes, making them perfect for unexpected guests or sudden cravings.
• **Unbelievably Gooey & Soft:** Thanks to the sweet Hawaiian rolls and generous cinnamon-sugar butter, every bite is a dream of soft, melt-in-your-mouth goodness.
• **Rich Cream Cheese Glaze:** A luscious, tangy cream cheese glaze perfectly complements the sweet rolls, adding that iconic cinnamon roll finish.
• **Family Favorite:** Both kids and adults adore these pull-apart rolls. They’re fun to eat and a fantastic way to brighten any morning.
• **Simple Ingredients:** Made with readily available pantry staples, you likely have most of what you need already!

Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Roll Ingredients: What You’ll Need

Creating these heavenly cinnamon rolls requires just a handful of simple ingredients. Quality matters here, especially for that signature gooey texture and rich flavor.

For the Gooey Cinnamon Rolls:

• Hawaiian Sweet Rolls (12-count package): The star of our show! Choose a fresh, soft pack for the best, most tender texture. Their inherent sweetness makes them the perfect base for these quick rolls.
• Unsalted Butter: Crucial for a rich filling and glaze. It’s vital that the butter for the filling is **softened to room temperature, not melted**. This ensures a thick, spreadable mixture that adheres beautifully to the rolls and creates that wonderful gooeyness.
• Light Brown Sugar: Provides deep, molasses-rich sweetness and helps create the signature sticky, gooey texture in the filling. Always use fresh, soft brown sugar for optimal mixing and flavor.
• Ground Cinnamon: The heart of any cinnamon roll! Adjust the amount to your personal preference for a subtle hint or a bold burst of spice. Freshly ground cinnamon will yield the most vibrant aroma and taste.
• Salt (1/8 teaspoon): Just a pinch in the filling enhances all the other flavors, balancing the sweetness and adding depth.

For the Tangy Cream Cheese Glaze:

• Cream Cheese: For a truly luxurious glaze, use full-fat, brick-style cream cheese. Ensure it’s softened to room temperature to guarantee a smooth, lump-free consistency.
• Unsalted Butter (softened): Adds richness and a silky texture to the glaze, complementing the cream cheese beautifully.
• Powdered Sugar (Confectioners’ Sugar): Creates the smooth, sweet base of the glaze. Sift it if you’re prone to lumps for an extra silky finish. You can add more for a thicker glaze if desired.
• Milk (whole milk recommended): Helps achieve the perfect pourable or spreadable consistency for the glaze. Adjust the quantity incrementally to reach your preferred thickness.
• Vanilla Extract: Pure vanilla extract adds warmth and depth, elevating the overall flavor profile of the glaze.
• Salt (1/8 teaspoon): A tiny dash brightens the flavors in the glaze, preventing it from tasting overly sweet and enhancing the cream cheese tang.

How To Make Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls: A Step-by-Step Guide

Get ready to whip up these incredible cinnamon rolls in mere minutes! Follow these simple steps for a truly delightful breakfast or dessert.

1. Prepare Your Pan & Oven: Begin by generously greasing a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Then, spread about 1 tablespoon of softened butter evenly across the bottom of the pan. This adds an extra layer of richness and ensures the rolls don’t stick. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Craft the Cinnamon-Sugar Filling: In a medium-sized bowl, combine the remaining 8 tablespoons of softened unsalted butter (which is typically one full stick) with the light brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and the tiny pinch of salt. Using a hand mixer, beat these ingredients together until the mixture is thick, smooth, and wonderfully aromatic. The consistency should be easily spreadable.
3. Slice & Fill the Rolls: Carefully slice the entire slab of Hawaiian sweet rolls horizontally through the middle, ensuring that the individual rolls remain connected. Place the bottom half of the rolls into your prepared baking pan. Spread just under half of the cinnamon-sugar butter mixture evenly over the bottom layer. Then, gently place the top half of the rolls back on, creating a sandwich. Now, spread the remaining cinnamon-sugar mixture generously over the top and down the sides of the rolls. Make sure to cover all surfaces except the very bottom for maximum flavor and gooeyness.
4. Bake to Golden Perfection: Place the pan in your preheated oven and bake for 11-13 minutes. You’re looking for the rolls to be lightly golden on top, and the cinnamon-sugar mixture should be bubbly and gooey. While the rolls are baking, it’s the perfect time to prepare your luscious cream cheese glaze.
5. Whip Up the Cream Cheese Glaze: In a separate bowl, combine the softened cream cheese and softened unsalted butter. Beat them with a hand or stand mixer until the mixture is completely smooth and free of lumps. Next, add the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, milk, and salt. Continue to beat until the glaze is smooth, light, and wonderfully fluffy. If you prefer a thinner glaze, add a touch more milk, a teaspoon at a time. For a thicker glaze, you can add a bit more powdered sugar.
6. Glaze & Serve: Once you remove the hot, fragrant cinnamon rolls from the oven, let them cool for just about a minute. This brief cooling period helps the glaze adhere beautifully without completely melting away. Spoon the freshly made cream cheese glaze generously over the warm rolls, ensuring it seeps into all the crevices. For an extra indulgent experience, you can apply a second layer of frosting once the rolls have cooled slightly more. Serve these Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls warm for the absolute best gooey, sweet experience!

Essential Recipe Tips for Perfect Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls

Achieving perfectly gooey and delicious Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls is simple with these expert tips:

• Softened Butter is Key, Not Melted: For the cinnamon-sugar filling, it is absolutely crucial that your butter is softened to room temperature, not melted. Softened butter creams together beautifully with the brown sugar, creating a thick, uniform paste that spreads evenly and creates that signature gooey texture as it bakes. Melted butter will simply run off the rolls.
• Even Coating is Everything: When spreading the cinnamon-sugar mixture, ensure you apply it generously and evenly to all sides of the rolls, except for the very bottom. This guarantees every bite is packed with sweet, spiced flavor and develops that desirable gooey crust.
• Use Fresh, Soft Rolls: The quality of your Hawaiian sweet rolls directly impacts the final texture. Opt for a fresh, soft pack for the most tender, pull-apart results. Stale rolls will result in a drier, tougher cinnamon roll.
• Mind the Baking Time: Keep a close eye on your rolls during baking. They only need 11-13 minutes to become lightly golden and gooey. Over-baking can dry them out and make them less tender.
• Glaze When Slightly Cooled: Don’t wait for the rolls to be completely cold before applying the glaze. Spreading the cream cheese glaze over slightly warm rolls allows it to melt just enough to coat beautifully and adhere well, creating that perfect shiny, gooey finish.
• Serve Warm for the Best Experience: These cinnamon rolls are truly at their peak when served warm from the oven. The warmth enhances the gooey texture, melts the glaze slightly, and brings out all the comforting cinnamon aromas.

Variations and Customizations for Your Cinnamon Rolls

While this classic Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Roll recipe is perfect as is, feel free to get creative with these delicious variations:

• Nutty Crunch: Sprinkle chopped pecans or walnuts over the cinnamon-sugar filling before baking for added texture and a nutty flavor.
• Seasonal Spices: In autumn, swap out a quarter teaspoon of cinnamon for a pumpkin pie spice blend for a festive twist. Or add a pinch of nutmeg or cardamom for a different aromatic profile.
• Citrus Zest Glaze: For a brighter, tangier glaze, add a teaspoon of fresh orange or lemon zest to the cream cheese glaze mixture.
• Chocolate Drizzle: After glazing, drizzle a little melted chocolate over the top for an extra decadent touch.
• Apple Pie Filling: Gently fold a quarter cup of finely diced, cooked apple into your cinnamon-sugar mixture for an apple pie cinnamon roll hybrid.

Pin Recipe
Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 6 votes

Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls

By
Chelsea Lords

Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls are soft, sweet, and irresistibly gooey, topped with a tasty cream cheese glaze. Ready in just 30 minutes!

Prep Time:
15 minutes

Cook Time:
13 minutes

Total Time:
28 minutes

Servings:
12 cinnamon rolls

Video

Equipment

• 9 x 13-inch baking pan
• Hand mixer

Ingredients

• Cooking spray

Cinnamon Rolls

• 12-count package Hawaiian sweet dinner rolls
• 9 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided, softened to room temp; do not melt!
• 2/3 cup light brown sugar, soft, gently packed
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon salt

Cream Cheese Glaze

• 2 ounces cream cheese, softened, see note 1
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk (whole milk recommended)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon salt

Instructions

Cinnamon Rolls

1. Grease a 9×13-inch pan with cooking spray. Spread 1 tbsp softened butter on the base of the pan. (I like to put a small plastic bag on my hand like a mitt and spread). Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Ensure all butter is at room temperature (see note 2).

2. In a medium bowl, combine the remaining 8 tbsp butter (one stick), brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Beat with a hand mixer until you have a thick and smooth mixture.

3. Slice the entire slab of rolls horizontally, keeping individual rolls connected. Place the bottom half in the prepared pan. Spread just under half the butter mixture evenly over it. Place the top half of the rolls on and spread the remaining butter mixture on the top and sides. (Cover all parts of rolls except the bottom.)

4. Bake for 11–13 minutes or until the rolls are lightly golden on top and the filling is bubbly. Prepare the glaze while the rolls are baking.

Cream Cheese Glaze

1. Beat the cream cheese and butter with a hand or stand mixer until smooth and creamy. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, milk, and salt; mix until smooth. Continue to beat until the frosting is light and fluffy.

2. After removing the rolls from the oven, let them cool for about a minute. Then spoon the frosting generously over them, ensuring it fills all crevices. For extra indulgence, you can apply a second layer of frosting once they cool a bit more. Enjoy them warm!

Recipe Notes

Note 1: For the best glaze consistency, use brick-style, full-fat cream cheese. Ensure it’s fully softened before mixing. You can gently microwave (unwrapped) in very short bursts (5-10 seconds) to help soften and avoid lumps.

Note 2: To soften butter, let it sit at room temperature for about an hour. If you’re short on time, microwave it in very short bursts (5 seconds), flipping between bursts, until soft but not melted. It should be pliable but still hold its shape.

Storage: These are best enjoyed fresh. For any leftovers, cool them completely, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Reheat gently in the microwave or oven.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving
|
Calories: 268 kcal
|
Carbohydrates: 33 g
|
Protein: 3 g
|
Fat: 14 g
|
Saturated Fat: 9 g
|
Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5 g
|
Monounsaturated Fat: 3 g
|
Trans Fat: 0.4 g
|
Cholesterol: 43 mg
|
Sodium: 136 mg
|
Potassium: 33 mg
|
Fiber: 0.4 g
|
Sugar: 21 g
|
Vitamin A: 393 IU
|
Vitamin C: 0.02 mg
|
Calcium: 28 mg
|
Iron: 0.2 mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I use regular dinner rolls instead of Hawaiian rolls?

While you can use other types of dinner rolls, Hawaiian sweet rolls are highly recommended. Their unique sweetness and extra soft texture contribute significantly to the signature flavor and gooeyness of this recipe. Other rolls might yield a less sweet or slightly drier result.

Can I prepare these cinnamon rolls ahead of time?

Yes, you can! To prepare them ahead, assemble the rolls in the baking dish as directed, but do not bake. Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, let them sit at room temperature for about 20-30 minutes while your oven preheats, then bake as instructed. Prepare the glaze fresh just before serving.

Why is my cream cheese glaze lumpy?

A lumpy glaze usually happens if your cream cheese and butter aren’t sufficiently softened. Ensure both are at room temperature (soft to the touch) before you start mixing. You can gently warm them in the microwave for a few seconds if needed, but be careful not to melt them.

Can I freeze Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls?

While best fresh, you can freeze baked cinnamon rolls (without the glaze) in an airtight container for up to 1-2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator, then reheat and glaze before serving. You can also freeze individual baked and glazed rolls, but the glaze might become slightly watery upon thawing.

What’s the difference between softened and melted butter in this recipe?

Softened butter (room temperature) is crucial for the filling because it creams together with the sugar and cinnamon to form a thick, cohesive paste that adheres to the rolls and creates a rich, gooey layer. Melted butter would simply soak into the bread or run off, preventing that desirable gooey cinnamon roll texture.

Conclusion: Your New Favorite Quick Cinnamon Rolls!

There you have it – a recipe for Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls that promises to deliver pure, unadulterated comfort and joy in under 30 minutes! This recipe is a game-changer for anyone craving the classic taste and gooey texture of homemade cinnamon rolls without the time commitment. Whether it’s for a special breakfast, a delightful brunch, or a quick dessert, these sweet, soft, and richly glazed rolls are guaranteed to become a family favorite. So go ahead, gather your ingredients, and treat yourself to this wonderfully simple yet incredibly satisfying creation. Happy baking!