Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting
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These Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls are a sweet shortcut for those mornings when you want cinnamon rolls without making dough from scratch. Soft Hawaiian rolls are layered with cinnamon sugar butter, baked until warm, and finished with a generous spread of cream cheese frosting.
They’re a fun addition to a weekend breakfast or holiday brunch and they’re just as good as an afternoon treat!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
There’s no mixing dough, rolling it out, or waiting for it to rise. A package of Hawaiian rolls gives you a head start, and you can keep the rolls together while you slice and fill them.
The cinnamon butter goes both inside and on top, so every roll gets plenty of sweet cinnamon flavor. Then the cream cheese frosting melts slightly over the warm rolls for that classic cinnamon roll finish.
These are a little different from traditional cinnamon rolls: the Hawaiian rolls keep their familiar shape instead of having a spiral. But you still get the cinnamon filling and creamy frosting you’re craving!
Ingredients You’ll Need
You only need a handful of ingredients to make this easy breakfast treat. Scroll down to the recipe card for the full measurements and instructions.
For the cinnamon rolls
- King’s Hawaiian Rolls – Use a 12-ounce package of the original sweet rolls. Keeping the rolls connected makes them easy to slice and fill all at once.
- Butter – Let the butter soften so it mixes easily with the cinnamon and sugar and spreads without tearing the rolls.
- Sugar – Granulated sugar sweetens the cinnamon butter.
- Cinnamon – Ground cinnamon gives the filling its warm, cinnamon roll flavor.
For the cream cheese frosting
- Butter – Bring it to room temperature so it blends smoothly into the frosting.
- Powdered sugar – This sweetens and thickens the frosting without making it grainy.
- Cream cheese – Let it come to room temperature before mixing for a smooth, creamy frosting.
- Vanilla extract – A little vanilla rounds out the flavor.
How to Make Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls
Step 1 – Prepare the rolls. Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray. Slice the Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally, separating the tops from the bottoms. Place the bottom half in the prepared dish.
Step 2 – Mix the cinnamon butter. In a bowl, stir together the softened butter, sugar, and cinnamon until the mixture is evenly combined and spreadable.
Step 3 – Fill the rolls. Spread ¾ of the cinnamon butter evenly over the bottom half of the rolls. Place the top half back over the filling.
Step 4 – Add the topping. Spread the remaining cinnamon butter over the tops of the rolls.
Step 5 – Bake. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for another 10 minutes. The rolls should be warmed through, with the cinnamon butter melted over the tops.
Step 6 – Make the frosting. While the rolls bake, add the room-temperature butter and powdered sugar to a large bowl. Beat with a hand mixer or stand mixer until combined. Add the cream cheese and vanilla and continue beating for about 2 minutes, or until the frosting is fully combined and fluffy.
Step 7 – Frost and serve. Remove the rolls from the oven and let them rest for 5 minutes. Spread the cream cheese frosting over the warm rolls, pull them apart, and serve.
Tips for the Best Cinnamon Rolls
- Keep the rolls together. Slice through the entire package horizontally instead of separating each roll first. It makes spreading the filling much easier.
- Use softened butter. Butter that’s soft enough to spread will help you cover the rolls without pulling at the bread.
- Let the rolls rest before frosting. Five minutes gives them a chance to cool slightly so the frosting softens over the top without disappearing into the rolls.
What to Serve with Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls
For a brunch with both sweet and savory options, serve these alongside our ham, egg, and cheese breakfast sliders. Add fresh fruit and coffee, and breakfast is ready!
If you’re looking for more cinnamon roll ideas, try our cinnamon rolls with heavy cream or make our cinnamon roll French toast casserole for an overnight breakfast. Our carrot cake cinnamon rolls are another fun option with cream cheese frosting.
And if you have another package of Hawaiian rolls, save it for a batch of Philly cheesesteak sliders!
Storage and Reheating
Refrigerate: Store leftover frosted rolls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days.
Reheat: Warm individual rolls briefly in the microwave until heated to your liking. The frosting will soften as the rolls warm. You can also cover the rolls loosely with foil and warm them in a low oven until heated through.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Leave them connected and slice the whole package in half horizontally, just as you would when making a pan of sliders. You can pull them apart after baking.
They have the cinnamon-sugar filling and cream cheese frosting you’d expect from cinnamon rolls, but they start with baked Hawaiian sweet rolls. The finished rolls won’t have the spiral layers of cinnamon rolls made from dough.
Yes. A similarly sized package of soft, connected sweet dinner rolls should work. Hawaiian-style rolls add a slightly sweet flavor that goes well with the cinnamon filling.
Yes. You can make the cream cheese frosting ahead and refrigerate it in a covered container. Let it soften enough to spread before adding it to the warm rolls.
You can use a prepared cream cheese frosting if you’d like a shortcut. Spread it over the rolls after they’ve rested for 5 minutes.
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Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients
Cinnamon Rolls:
- 12 King's Hawaiian Rolls
- ½ cup Butter, softened
- 1 cup Sugar
- 2 tablespoons Cinnamon
Frosting:
- 4 ounces Butter, room temp
- 1 cup Powdered sugar
- 4 ounces Cream cheese, room temp
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or non-stick spray. Slice the Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally, separating the tops and bottoms.
- In a bowl combine the softened butter, sugar, and cinnamon. Stir together until well combined.
- Spread ¾ of the butter mixture over the bottom half of the rolls. Place the top half of the rolls on top.
- Spread remaining butter mixture over the top of the rolls.
- Cover the dish with foil and place in the oven to bake for 20 minutes.
- While the cinnamon rolls bake prepare the cream cheese frosting. In a large bowl combine the butter and powdered sugar. Use a hand mixer or stand mixer to whisk together.
- Add the cream cheese and vanilla extract and continue to whisk for 2 minutes or until fully combined and fluffy.
- After 20 minutes remove the foil from the dish and continue to bake for 10 more minutes.
- When the rolls finish baking remove from oven and let res for 5 minutes before spreading the cream cheese frosting on top.
- Serve warm.
Nutrition
