These are the best soft and fluffy air fryer cinnamon rolls, topped with a homemade cream cheese yogurt frosting. This easy, beginner-friendly recipe makes the perfect sweet treat!
These are seriously the best air fryer cinnamon rolls ever! The dough is super soft, fluffy, and light, and they're topped with a yummy homemade cream cheese frosting. So, so good.
They're just like classic cinnamon rolls, but instead of baking them in the oven, you cook them in the air fryer for only 8 minutes. Yep, just eight!
This is the easiest cinnamon roll recipe because (1) you only have to let the dough rise once, (2) everything's mixed in one bowl, and (3) you knead the dough by hand-no mixer needed. I even included step-by-step pictures to make it extra easy.
Love air fryer baking? Try my easy air fryer cake recipe, too.
Why you'll love this recipe:
- Seriously soft & doughy: The rolls are extra fluffy, gooey in the middle, and melt-in-your-mouth good.
- Air fryer recipe: These cinnamon rolls come out super soft, fluffy, and golden-no oven needed!
- Healthier frosting: Topped with a sweet and creamy four-ingredient yogurt cream cheese frosting.
- Egg-free & vegan-friendly: No eggs needed, so it's easy to make these vegan!
- So easy: One bowl, one rise, no mixer. Even first-time bakers can nail it.
Ingredients
Milk. Whole milk or oat milk works best. Almond milk is okay too! Just make sure it's warm (not too hot).
Instant Yeast. Helps the dough rise faster. You can use regular yeast too, but it'll take longer.
Sugar. This helps the dough rise and makes it a little sweet.
Butter. Makes the rolls soft and moist. You'll use it in the dough and in the filling.
Flour. All-purpose flour gives the rolls their soft and fluffy texture; just like my air fryer biscuits.
Vanilla. Adds that classic sweet flavor we all love.
Brown Sugar. Mix this with the soft butter and cinnamon to make the yummy cinnamon filling.
Cinnamon. You can't make cinnamon rolls without cinnamon!
Cream Cheese. For the frosting. You can use regular or light cream cheese.
Vanilla Greek Yogurt. Use vanilla yogurt (not plain) to make the frosting creamy and flavorful. Any kind works-0%, 2%, or 5%.
Maple Syrup. We use this to sweeten the frosting instead of regular sugar.
How to make air fryer cinnamon rolls
Air fryer cinnamon rolls are so easy to make, but let's walk through the process step-by-step together. Here are detailed directions with pictures for visual reference:
Make the dough by mix it up, then knead it with your hands for about 5 minutes. It should feel soft, smooth, and not sticky.
Place the dough ball into a lightly oiled bowl. Cover it with a towel and let it rest somewhere warm (I use the microwave-not turned on!).
Let it sit for about 1 hour until it doubles in size.
Roll the dough into a rectangle on a floured surface-about ¼ inch thick.
Spread cinnamon butter all over the dough.
Roll it up tightly from the long side.
Seal the edge.
Cut into 8 rolls (about 1 inch each).
Preheat your air fryer to 390°F. Air fry rolls for 5 minutes, flip, and cook 2-3 more minutes until golden and crispy.
Let them cool for 5 minutes and then spread cream cheese frosting on while they're still warm. Enjoy every gooey bite!
Top Tips
- Don't burn your milk. When you're heating the milk in the microwave, do it in short intervals and keep an eye on it. Burnt milk won't taste good and can mess up the flavor of the dough.
- Make sure your yeast is fresh and use instant yeast. If your yeast is expired, the dough won't rise at all. I recommend using instant yeast for the best results. Dry yeast can work too, but it's not quite as reliable-so follow the instructions carefully.
- Let the dough rise for at least 1 hour. Proofing is super important! This step gives your rolls that soft and fluffy texture. I like putting the dough in the microwave (turned off, of course) to help it rise faster in a warm spot.
- Cook in batches. If your air fryer is small, air fry these cinnamon rolls in batches. Do not overlap them, or else they will not cook properly!
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Large Mixing Bowl
- Medium Mixing Bowl
- Whisk
- Spatula
- Measuring Tools
Substitutions & Variations
- Make it Gluten-Free: I haven't tested this myself, but a good 1:1 gluten-free baking flour should work. Do not use coconut flour, oat flour, or almond flour-they won't work for this recipe.
- Make it Dairy-Free: Use vegan butter sticks instead of regular butter and swap in a coconut-based yogurt for the frosting.
- Milk: You can use full-fat oat milk-I love Oatly! Almond milk will also work just fine.
- Butter: Vegan, dairy-free butter is a great option. I recommend Earth Balance sticks-they're the best for baking. You can also use melted coconut oil if needed.
- Cream Cheese: Neufchâtel cheese (a lighter, reduced-fat version of cream cheese) works great. You can also use a dairy-free cream cheese.
- Dark Brown Sugar: Light brown sugar or coconut sugar will work as substitutes.
- Pumpkin Spice Cinnamon Rolls: Want a fall twist? Swap the cinnamon for pumpkin pie spice.
- Cardamom Cinnamon Rolls: For a cozy cardamom version, add 1 teaspoon of ground cardamom along with the cinnamon.
How to Store & Freeze
Storing: If you have leftover cinnamon rolls, simply store them at room temperature for 3 - 4 days in an air-tight container. You can also store leftovers in the fridge.
Freezing: Store them in a freezer-safe bag for up to 2 months. Don't freeze them with frosting on top; it just won't taste good when you eat them. To reheat, let the rolls thaw in the fridge overnight or reheat them in the microwave for 30 - 45 seconds!
Frequently Asked Questions
They're warm, sweet, buttery, and sticky with cozy cinnamon-sugar flavor. The dough is soft and slightly sweet, and once air fried, the rolls turn golden and crisp on the outside while staying super fluffy and gooey on the inside. Don't worry if they look a little dark-that's normal!
That's totally okay! Air fryers brown things quickly. The outside may look golden or even a bit dark, but the inside will still be soft and doughy. Check the pictures in the post if you're unsure!
Yes! You must proof the dough for at least 1 hour so it can rise properly. Skipping this step will make your cinnamon rolls dense and dry instead of soft and fluffy.
Yes, absolutely. After rolling and cutting your cinnamon rolls, place them in a pan, cover with foil, and freeze for up to 2 months. When you're ready to bake, let them thaw overnight in the fridge, then bring to room temp for about 45 minutes before air frying.
Yes! Just scroll up to the "Substitutions & Variations" section to see how to swap in vegan butter, plant-based milk, and dairy-free cream cheese.
Air fry them at 390°F for about 7-8 minutes. Flip them halfway through so both sides cook evenly and get that perfect golden finish.
Did you make this recipe?
If you make this recipe, be sure to comment and rate it down below. Also, don't forget to tag me @healthfulblondie on Instagram and use the hashtag #healthfulblondie so I can see your delicious creation and share it with my followers!
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients
The Dough:
- ½ cup whole milk or full-fat oat milk
- 1 pack instant yeast
- 2 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoon melted unsalted butter
- 2 cups all-purpose flour, (reserve ¼ cup) spooned & leveled
- 1 teaspoon salt
The Filling:
- 2 tablespoon softened butter, (unsalted or salted, but add ¼ teaspoon salt if using unsalted!)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ¼ cup dark or light brown sugar , packed
- 1.5 teaspoon ground cinnamon
The frosting:
- 8 oz cream cheese, (regular or neufchatel), room temperature
- ¼ cup vanilla Greek yogurt, room temperature
- ¼ cup real maple syrup, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- For thinner frosting: 1 - 2 tablespoon of milk or oat milk
Instructions
- Make the dough: In a large microwave-safe mixing bowl, add the milk. Microwave in three 20-second increments, so it is warm to about 110°F (not hot). Whisk and add instant yeast sugar. Then whisk in melted butter and salt. Add 1 & ¾ cup of flour & mix with spatula. It will be sticky, but it should not be stuck to the bowl. Use the extra ¼ cup of flour to dust your surface with flour and knead the dough for 5 minutes until it can form a smoother ball. It should be soft, smooth, and not sticky by the end.
- Proof the dough: Lightly oil a clean mixing bowl and place the dough ball into it. Cover with a dish towel and place somewhere relatively warm (I love the inside of the microwave). Let sit for an hour to rise, or until it doubles in size.
- Make the filling: Meanwhile, make your cinnamon butter by mixing the softened butter, brown sugar & ground cinnamon together.
- Roll out cinnamon rolls: On a lightly floured surface, roll the proofed dough out into a rough rectangle with a rolling pin, about ¼ inch in thickness. Do not overwork the dough. Spread the cinnamon butter mixture all over the dough. Then, Roll the dough up from the long end (hot-dog style) and seal the edge gently. This recipe makes 6 - 8 thick cinnamon rolls.
- Air fry the cinnamon rolls: Preheat your air fryer to 390°F and add parchment to the bottom of the basket. Evenly space out the cinnamon rolls, so they don't overlap; sides touching is ok. Air fry the cinnamon rolls for about 5 minutes until golden. FLIP. Air fryer for another 2 - 3 more minutes until they will look very golden and borderline overcooked. They will be crispy on the outside and super soft on the inside, trust me… PERFECT!
- Make the frosting: Meanwhile, make the frosting by placing all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and beating with a handheld electric mixer on medium for 1 - 2 minutes until fluffy and smooth. You can also you a stand mixer with a paddle attachment.
- Spread the cream cheese frosting over the cinnamon rolls while they are still warm. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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Sandy Mayle says
Could these be made with GF flour
Tati Chermayeff says
Unfortunately I have not tested it so I can't promise it will be good. I think the texture will be different.
Judy says
Okay, so I cook / bake vegan since 2016, and 90% of the vegan recipes simply never turn out as good (and good looking) as I would expect, or the recipe says. This one DOES. Thank you, thank you, thank you for this, the dough came together is so gorgeously, they are tasty and look absolutely like something from a pastry shop! Huge thank you!!!!
Tati Chermayeff says
So happy to hear that, Judy! Thanks for leaving a review 🙂 We love these air fryer cinnamon rolls...
Olivia says
i don’t have an air fryer but i like this recipe. what temperature and how long should these go in the oven? also is there a way to substitute the sugar for honey or maple syrup?
Tati Chermayeff says
Hi Olivia! This recipe is very similar, and you can bake them. https://healthfulblondie.com/healthy-cinnamon-rolls/