Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls are one of our favorite shortcuts when the kids want Cinnamon Rolls but we don’t have time to make dough from scratch. There’s no yeast, kneading, rolling, or rising time, so we can get warm, soft, gooey cinnamon rolls on the table in a fraction of the time.
We love making these for holiday breakfasts, brunches, sleepovers, and weekend breakfasts. The Hawaiian sweet rolls stay soft and fluffy, while the brown sugar cinnamon butter melts into every little nook and cranny and the cream cheese frosting makes them even better. So easy and so delicious!
For more shortcut rolls, try our 1 Hour Cinnamon Rolls, Cinnamon Bites, and Cinnamon Roll Cake.
Why you’ll love it + Why it works:
- Ready Fast. Get cinnamon roll flavor without making dough, kneading, or waiting for anything to rise.
- Soft + Gooey. Hawaiian rolls stay fluffy while the brown sugar cinnamon butter melts into every bite.
- Easy Cream Cheese Frosting. The homemade frosting melts slightly over the warm rolls for the best finish.
- Great for Sharing. One package makes 12 easy rolls for brunch, holidays, sleepovers, or weekend breakfasts.
- Simple Shortcut. Keeping the rolls connected makes filling and assembling the whole batch quick and easy.
Ingredients
- Brown sugar (⅔ cup): Adds sweetness and that gooey caramel flavor. Light or dark brown sugar both work, but dark brown sugar will give the filling a slightly deeper molasses flavor.
- Ground cinnamon (2 teaspoons): Gives the rolls classic cinnamon roll flavor.
- Butter, softened, divided (9 tablespoons): Makes the cinnamon filling spreadable and adds richness to both the rolls and frosting.
- Salt, divided (¼ teaspoon): Balances the sweetness in the filling and frosting.
- Hawaiian sweet rolls (1 package, 12 count): Creates the soft, fluffy shortcut base for the cinnamon rolls. King’s Hawaiian is our go-to, but another soft Hawaiian-style sweet roll works too.
- Cream cheese, softened (3 ounces): Makes the frosting creamy, tangy, and smooth.
- Vanilla extract (1 teaspoon): Adds warm flavor to the frosting.
- Powdered sugar, sifted (1 cup): Sweetens and thickens the frosting so it spreads beautifully.
How to Make Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls
PREP. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and set aside.
Using a serrated knife, slice the Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally.
The easiest method: We keep all 12 rolls connected and slice the entire package in half horizontally. It is much faster than cutting each roll individually and gets plenty of cinnamon butter into every roll.
FILLING. In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, cinnamon, 8 tablespoons of butter, and ⅛ teaspoon salt until smooth and spreadable.
Spread about ¾ of the cinnamon butter mixture evenly over the bottom halves of the rolls. Place the tops back on, then spread the remaining cinnamon butter over the tops.
BAKE. Place the rolls in the prepared baking dish and bake for 14-20 minutes, or until warmed through and lightly golden on top.
Let the rolls sit for 5 minutes before frosting.
FROSTING. While the rolls bake, beat together the remaining 1 tablespoon butter, cream cheese, remaining salt, vanilla, and powdered sugar until smooth and creamy. Frosting too thick? Beat in a small splash of milk, one teaspoon at a time, until it reaches your preferred consistency.
Spread the icing over the warm rolls, letting it melt into all the nooks and crannies. Serve warm.
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- Use a serrated knife to slice the whole pack of rolls in half without pulling them apart. It’s the easiest way to cut them!
- Make sure the butter is softened so the cinnamon butter spreads easily.
- Let the rolls sit for 5 minutes after baking so the frosting melts just enough without sliding off completely.
- Go-to Variations:
- Pecan: Sprinkle chopped pecans over the cinnamon filling before replacing the tops.
- Maple: Add a little maple extract to the frosting (it’s incredible!)
- Extra cinnamon: Sprinkle additional cinnamon sugar over the tops before baking.
Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls Recipe
Ingredients
Rolls
- ⅔ cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 9 tablespoons butter softened, divided
- ¼ teaspoon salt divided
- 1 12-count package Hawaiian sweet rolls
Frosting
- 3 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup powdered sugar sifted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and set aside.
- Using a serrated knife, slice the Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally. The easiest method: We keep all 12 rolls connected and slice the entire package in half horizontally. It is much faster than cutting each roll individually and gets plenty of cinnamon butter into every roll.
- In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, cinnamon, 8 tablespoons of butter, and ⅛ teaspoon salt until smooth and spreadable.
- Spread about ¾ of the cinnamon butter mixture evenly over the bottom halves of the rolls. Place the tops back on, then spread the remaining cinnamon butter over the tops.
- Place the rolls in the prepared baking dish and bake for 14-20 minutes, or until warmed through and lightly golden on top.
- Let the rolls sit for 5 minutes before frosting.
- While the rolls bake, beat together the remaining 1 tablespoon butter, cream cheese, remaining salt, vanilla, and powdered sugar until smooth and creamy.
- Spread the icing over the warm rolls, letting it melt into all the nooks and crannies. Serve warm.
Notes
- Use a serrated knife to slice the whole pack of rolls in half without pulling them apart.
- Make sure the butter is softened so the cinnamon butter spreads easily.
- Spread most of the cinnamon butter inside the rolls and the rest on top for extra flavor.
- Let the rolls sit for 5 minutes after baking so the frosting melts just enough without sliding off completely.
- Make-ahead tip: mix the cinnamon butter and frosting ahead of time, then assemble and bake the rolls fresh when ready to serve.
Nutrition
Recipe FAQ
Assemble the rolls with the cinnamon butter, cover, and refrigerate overnight. When ready to serve, bake as directed, adding a few extra minutes if needed, then frost while warm.
Reheat individual rolls in the microwave for about 10 to 15 seconds. For several rolls, cover loosely with foil and warm in a low oven until heated through.
Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Warm individual rolls in the microwave for a few seconds until soft. Freeze unfrosted baked rolls for up to 2 months, then thaw, warm, and add frosting before serving.
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This recipe was first shared October, 2026.
