These homemade air fryer cinnamon rolls bake at 390°F in about 8 minutes. Crispy on the outside, soft and gooey on the inside, finished with a cream cheese yogurt frosting. No big oven required!
Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls At A Glance
- ✅ Recipe Name: Gooey Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls (From Scratch!)
- 🕒 Ready In: 1 hour 20 minutes (about 8 minutes of that in the air fryer)
- 👪 Serves: 8 rolls
- 🍽 Calories: ~296 per roll with frosting
- 🥣 Main Ingredients: All-purpose flour, instant yeast, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, cream cheese, Greek yogurt, maple syrup
- 📖 Dietary Info: Vegetarian, egg-free, vegan-friendly with swaps
- ⭐ Why You'll Love It: A real from-scratch yeasted dough, not canned dough, scaled down to a small batch of 8 so you're not stuck with two dozen rolls. The cream cheese frosting is made with Greek yogurt and maple syrup instead of a pile of powdered sugar.
SUMMARIZE & SAVE THIS CONTENT ON
Honestly, I just love air frying. I make almost everything in mine, so cinnamon rolls were the natural next experiment, and I keep making them this way for speed.
Traditional cinnamon rolls can eat up half your morning, but these are done in about half the time, with only one rise and 8 minutes in the basket instead of a long oven bake.
If you'd rather use your oven, my classic healthy cinnamon rolls are the from-scratch version with the same Greek yogurt frosting. And for more air fryer baking, I make my air fryer cake and air fryer peanut butter cookies on repeat.
Jump to:
- Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls At A Glance
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients You'll Need
- Ingredient Substitutions & Variations
- How to Make Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls (Step-by-Step)
- Video Tutorial (Step-by-Step)
- Tips for Soft, Fluffy Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls
- How to Store, Freeze, and Reheat
- Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls FAQs
- More Air Fryer Treats You'll Love
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Half the time of traditional cinnamon rolls. One rise instead of two, and 8 minutes in the air fryer instead of a long oven bake. You can have warm rolls in about 80 minutes.
- No big oven required. The air fryer acts like a small convection oven, so you're not heating the whole kitchen for a batch of 8.
- Made from scratch, not from a can. Real yeasted dough, but kept beginner-friendly: one bowl, no stand mixer, kneaded by hand.
- A frosting that's actually tangy. I used my delicious, healthy cream cheese frosting, which is sweetened with maple syrup, not powdered sugar.
- Small batch. Eight rolls means a fresh treat without two dozen going stale on the counter.
- Easy to make vegan. Egg-free dough with simple dairy-free swaps that readers have tested and loved.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I've baked vegan since 2016, and 90% of vegan recipes never turn out as good as I'd expect. This one does. The dough came together gorgeously, and they look like something from a pastry shop.
- Judy
Ingredients You'll Need
You only need a handful of simple ingredients, most of which you probably already have. Here's what each one does and why it matters.
- Milk. Warmed to about 110°F to activate the yeast. Whole or oat milk works best; almond milk is fine too.
- Instant yeast. Gives the rolls their rise without a long proof. Active dry works too; it just takes a little longer.
- Granulated sugar. Feeds the yeast and adds a touch of sweetness to the dough.
- Butter. Used in both the dough and the filling for a soft, tender crumb.
- All-purpose flour. The base of the dough is the same flour I use for my air fryer buttermilk biscuits. Spoon and level it, scooping packs in too much, which makes the rolls dense.
- Vanilla. Rounds out the flavor in the dough and the frosting.
- Brown sugar. Mixed with butter and cinnamon for the gooey filling.
- Cinnamon. The whole point and key to the flavor.
- Cream cheese. The base of the frosting. Regular or light both work.
- Vanilla Greek yogurt. Makes the frosting creamy and tangy without a pile of powdered sugar.
- Maple syrup. Sweetens the frosting naturally.
Scroll to recipe card for quantities!
Ingredient Substitutions & Variations
- Make it dairy-free: Use vegan butter sticks (Earth Balance works well) in place of regular butter, and swap the cream cheese and Greek yogurt for dairy-free versions. Almond or oat milk keeps it dairy-free, too.
- Make it gluten-free: I haven't tested it myself, but a good 1:1 gluten-free baking flour should work. Skip coconut, oat, and almond flours; they won't hold the dough together.
- Milk: Whole milk and full-fat oat milk give the softest dough. Almond milk works fine as a 1:1 swap. Just warm it to about 110°F first.
- Butter: Vegan butter sticks are the best dairy-free option for baking. Melted coconut oil works in a pinch, though it slightly changes the flavor.
- Cream cheese: Neufchâtel (reduced-fat cream cheese) works great, as does any dairy-free cream cheese.
- Brown sugar: Light or dark, both work. Coconut sugar is a lower-glycemic alternative if you want to cut back on refined sugar.
- Pumpkin spice cinnamon rolls: Swap the cinnamon for pumpkin pie spice for a fall version.
- Cardamom cinnamon rolls: Add 1 teaspoon of ground cardamom alongside the cinnamon for a cozy, slightly floral twist.
- Add-ins: Sprinkle chopped pecans or walnuts over the filling before rolling, or mix in raisins or dried cranberries for fruit-studded rolls.
How to Make Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls (Step-by-Step)
These come together with one rise and minimal cleanup. Here's how to do it:
- Step 1: Make the dough. Mix the dough, then knead it by hand for about 5 minutes. It should feel soft, smooth, and not sticky.
- Step 2: Proof the dough. Place the dough ball into a lightly oiled bowl. Cover it with a towel and let it rest somewhere warm (I use the microwave, turned off, of course).
- Step 3: Let it double in size. Let it sit for about 1 hour, until it doubles in size.
- Step 4: Roll out the dough. On a floured surface, roll the dough into a rectangle about ¼ inch thick.
- Step 5: Add the filling. Spread the cinnamon butter all over the dough.
- Step 6: Roll up the dough. Roll it up tightly from the long side.
- Step 7: Seal the edge. Pinch the seam closed so the rolls hold their shape.
- Step 8: Cut into rolls. Cut into 8 rolls, about 1 inch each.
- Step 9: Air fry. Preheat your air fryer to 390°F. Air fry the rolls for 5 minutes, flip, then cook 2 to 3 more minutes until golden and crispy.
- Step 10: Cool and frost. Let them cool for 5 minutes, then spread cream cheese frosting on while they're still warm. Enjoy every gooey bite.
Video Tutorial (Step-by-Step)
Tips for Soft, Fluffy Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls
These are the things I learned from making these enough times to get them right, including the mistakes that taught me what not to do.
- Flip them halfway. Air fryers heat from the top, so my first batch scorched up there while the centers stayed doughy. Flipping at the 5-minute mark fixed it completely; the tops stop burning, and the centers actually cook.
- Don't crowd the basket. When I packed the rolls in to fit them all at once, the ones touching came out pale and steamed instead of golden. Give them a little space, and cook in two batches if your air fryer is small.
- Spoon and level your flour. My rolls kept turning out dense, and I blamed the yeast, but it was the flour. Scooping from the bag packs in about 20 extra grams per cup. Spoon it in and level the top instead.
- Warm the milk to 110°F, not hotter. I killed a batch of yeast once with milk straight off the stove, and the dough never rose. Aim for comfortable bathwater, warm on your wrist, never hot.
How to Store, Freeze, and Reheat
- To store: Keep leftover cinnamon rolls in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 to 4 days, or in the fridge if you prefer them chilled.
- To freeze: Freeze the rolls without frosting in a freezer-safe bag for up to 2 months. Frosting doesn't freeze well, so add it after reheating. Thaw overnight in the fridge before warming.
- To reheat: Microwave a single roll for 30 to 45 seconds, or pop it back in the air fryer at 350°F for 2 to 3 minutes until warm.
- To make ahead: Shape and cut the rolls, then cover and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, let them sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes while your air fryer preheats, then cook as directed. Frost just before serving.
Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls FAQs
For these from-scratch rolls, 390°F is the sweet spot. Air fry for 5 minutes, flip, then cook 2 to 3 minutes more until golden. If you're using canned dough instead, drop to around 340°F since it browns faster.
Usually, the basket was too crowded, or they didn't get flipped. Air fryers heat from the top, so rolls that touch or aren't turned will look done on the outside while staying raw inside. Give them space and flip halfway.
Yes. The one-hour rise is what makes them soft and fluffy. Skip it, and you'll get dense, tight rolls. I let mine rise in the microwave (turned off) since it's a warm, draft-free spot.
Not this recipe, the yeast is what gives them their classic pull-apart texture. If you want a no-yeast version, you'd need a Greek yogurt or biscuit-style dough, which is a different recipe altogether.
Absolutely. Skip the dough steps, place the canned rolls in a single layer, and air fry at about 340°F for 8 to 9 minutes, flipping halfway. Frost with the icing they came with or my Greek yogurt frosting.
Yes. The dough is already egg-free. Use vegan butter, a dairy-free cream cheese, and a non-dairy yogurt for the frosting. Readers have made the vegan version with great results; just like my vegan monkey bread!
Yes. Bake at 350°F for 20 to 25 minutes until golden. For a full oven version with the same Greek yogurt frosting, see my classic healthy cinnamon rolls with icing.
More Air Fryer Treats You'll Love
If you loved these cinnamon rolls, here are a few more sweet air fryer recipes to try next:
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, (2¼ tsp)
- 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 bowl, warm the milk in three 20-second intervals until it reaches about 110°F (warm, not hot). Whisk in the yeast and sugar, then the melted butter and salt. Add 1¾ cups flour and stir with a spatula. The dough will be sticky but shouldn't stick to the bowl. Use the reserved ¼ cup flour to dust your surface and knead for 5 minutes, until soft, smooth, and no longer sticky.
- Proof the dough. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a towel, and set somewhere warm (I use the microwave, turned off). Let rise about 1 hour, until doubled in size.
- Make the filling. Mix the softened butter, brown sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon into a smooth paste.
- Roll and fill. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into a rectangle about ¼ inch thick. Spread the filling evenly over the dough. Roll up tightly from the long side and pinch the seam closed.
- Cut. Slice into 8 rolls, about 1 inch each.
- Air fry. Preheat the air fryer to 390°F and line the basket with parchment. Place the rolls in a single layer, not overlapping (sides barely touching is fine). Air fry 5 minutes, flip, then cook 2 to 3 minutes more, until deeply golden and crisp outside, soft inside.
- Make the frosting. Beat all frosting ingredients with a hand or stand mixer on medium for 1 to 2 minutes, until smooth and fluffy.
- Frost and serve. Let the rolls cool 5 minutes, then spread frosting on while still warm. Enjoy.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Recipe tested and developed by Tati Chermayeff, creator of Healthful Blondie. A former Division I rower, Ironman triathlete, and recipe developer based in Austin, TX - Tati creates high-protein and healthy recipes that actually taste like the real thing.
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/