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air fryer cinnamon rolls with homemade cream cheese yogurt frosting

Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls

The best soft and fluffy air fryer cinnamon rolls topped off with a homemade cream cheese yogurt frosting. This beginner's cinnamon roll recipe is super easy to make since it only requires 1 rise. The perfect treat!
5 from 18 votes
Prep Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Serving 8 rolls

Ingredients
 

The Dough:

The Filling:

  • 2 tbsp softened butter, (unsalted or salted, but add ¼ tsp salt if using unsalted!)
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • ¼ cup dark or light brown sugar , packed
  • 1.5 tsp 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 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • For thinner frosting: 1 – 2 tbsp 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.
    side by side on how to proof cinnamon roll dough
  • 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 1/4 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.
    step by step on how to roll 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!
    cooked cinnamon rolls in air fryer
  • 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

Yeast: I highly reccomend using instant (rapid) yeast for best results.
Milk: You can use full-fat oat milk too. I love Oatly. Almond milk will also work.
Butter: You can use vegan, dairy-free butter too. I recommend Earth Balance sticks – they are the best for baking. Or you can use melted coconut oil.
Cream Cheese: You can use Neufchatel cream cheese instead, which is reduced fat. Or you can use dairy-free cream cheese.
Dark Brown Sugar: You can use light brown sugar or coconut sugar too.
Pumpkin Spice Cinnamon Rolls: If you want pumpkin spiced cinnamon rolls, substitute the cinnamon with pumpkin pie spice.
Cardamom Cinnamon Rolls: If you want cardamom spiced cinnamon rolls, add one teaspoon of cardamom alongside the cinnamon.
Make them Vegan: Read the instructions above in the post.
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!
Nutritional information is for 1 cinnamon roll with icing. This recipe makes 8 rolls.

Nutrition

Calories: 296kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 363mg | Potassium: 128mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 355IU | Vitamin C: 0.02mg | Calcium: 74mg | Iron: 2mg
Course Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert
Cuisine American
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Please leave a comment and star rating on this post and tag @HealthfulBlondie on Instagram & hashtag it #healthfulblondie!