Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls are sweet, soft, gooey, and topped with an incredible cream cheese glaze. Ready in under 30 minutes!

Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls stacked on top of each other.

Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls Are…

  1. Quick and easy: They’re ready in 30 minutes, simple to prepare!
  2. Gooey and delicious: We pack ’em with cinnamon-sugar sweetness.
  3. Rich cream cheese glaze: Slather on tons of glaze for every roll.
  4. Versatile: Great for a fun breakfast or dessert.
  5. Customizable: Mix it up with your favorite add-ins.
  6. Crowd-pleasing: Everyone loves ’em!

Image showing all the ingredients in this recipe prepped out for easy assembly.

Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Roll Ingredients

  • Hawaiian sweet rolls: Choose a fresh pack for the best softness.
  • Unsalted butter: Soften to room temperature for easy spreading; don’t melt.
  • Light brown sugar: Fresh is best for soft sugar that mixes well with butter.
  • Ground cinnamon: Customize the amount to personal preference.
  • Cream cheese: Soften before use to ensure a smooth glaze.
  • Powdered sugar: Add more for a thicker glaze.
  • Milk: Adjust quantity for the glaze consistency you prefer.
  • Vanilla extract: Use pure extract for better flavor.
  • Salt: A pinch boosts sweetness and balances flavors.

Sugar, butter, cinnamon, and salt being combined for the filling and outside of the rolls in these Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls.

How To Make Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls

  • Preheat and grease: Heat oven to 350°F. Grease pan.
  • Mix butter and sugar: Blend butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
  • Layer rolls: Slice the rolls horizontally into one large slap. Place the bottom half in the pan, spread butter mix, top with the other half, and apply the remaining mix.
  • Bake: Heat for 11-13 minutes until golden.
  • Make the glaze: Beat cream cheese and butter; add powdered sugar, vanilla, milk, and salt.
  • Frost: Cool rolls briefly, and then glaze. Enjoy!

The cinnamon sugar mixture being spread over everything and it all being baked.

Recipe Tips

  • Softened butter, not melted: Otherwise, it won’t spread well.
  • Coat evenly: Apply butter mixture on all sides except the bottom of the rolls.
  • Use fresh soft rolls: They’ll yield the best texture and flavor.
  • Watch the baking time: Avoid over-baking.
  • Glaze when slightly cooled: Spread on the glaze before the rolls are fully cooled. This helps the glaze stick well.
  • Serve warm: For the best gooey cinnamon roll experience!

Butter, cream cheese, salt, vanilla, and powdered sugar being combined for the glaze on these Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls.

Storage

Leftover Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls?

These are best fresh, but if you’ve got leftovers…

  • Refrigerate: Cool fully then store in an airtight container for up to a week.
  • Reheat: Warm briefly in the microwave before serving.

Photo showing the inner layers of the roll and glaze.

More Cinnamon-Sugar Goodness:

I discovered this recipe on Instagram and have been tweaking it to create our ideal quick cinnamon roll. I switched from frosting to a glaze, increased the sugar and cinnamon, and used softened instead of melted butter.

5 from 3 votes

Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls

Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls are soft, sweet, and irresistibly gooey, topped with a tasty cream cheese glaze. Ready in just 30 minutes!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 13 minutes
Total Time: 28 minutes
Servings: 12 cinnamon rolls

Equipment

  • 9x13-inch baking pan
  • Hand mixer

Ingredients 
 

  • Cooking spray

Cinnamon Rolls

  • 12-count package Hawaiian Sweet Rolls
  • 9 tablespoons unsalted butter divided, softened to room temp; do not melt!
  • 2/3 cup soft light brown sugar gently packed
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt

Cream Cheese Glaze

  • 2 ounces cream cheese softened, see note 1
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons milk I use whole milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt

Instructions 

Cinnamon Rolls

  • Grease a 9x13-inch pan with cooking spray. Spread 1 tbsp softened butter on the base of the pan. (I like to put a small plastic bag on my hand like a mitt and spread). Preheat oven to 350ยฐF. Bring butter to room temp (see note 2).
  • In a medium bowl, combine 8 tbsp butter (thatโ€™s 1 stick), brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Beat with a hand mixer until you have a thick and smooth mixture.
  • Slice the entire slab of rolls horizontally, keeping individual rolls connected. Place the bottom half in the prepared pan. Spread just under half the butter mixture evenly over it. Place the top half of the rolls on and spread the remaining butter mixture on the top and sides. (Cover all parts of rolls except the bottom.)
  • Bake for 11โ€“13 minutes or until the rolls are lightly golden on top. Prepare the glaze while baking.

Cream Cheese Glaze

  • Beat the cream cheese and butter with a hand or stand mixer until smooth. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, milk, and salt; mix until smooth. Continue to beat until the frosting is light and fluffy.
  • After removing the rolls from the oven, let them cool for a minute. Then spoon the frosting over them, ensuring it fills all crevices. Optionally apply a second layer of frosting once they cool a bit more. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Note 1: Use brick-style, full-fat cream cheese. Soften (unwrapped) in the microwave to avoid lumps in the glaze.
Note 2: Let the butter sit at room temperature for about an hour or microwave it in short bursts. To microwave, heat for 5 seconds, flip, another 5 seconds, flip again, and then a final 5 seconds if needed. Be careful not to melt it at all.
Storage: These are best fresh, but for leftovers, cool fully, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 268kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 43mg | Sodium: 136mg | Potassium: 33mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 393IU | Vitamin C: 0.02mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 0.2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Meet Chelsea


Hello, and welcome to Chelseaโ€™s Messy Apron! Iโ€™m Chelsea, the recipe developer, food photographer, and writer behind the site. Iโ€™m passionate about creating simple, reliable, and delicious recipes that anyone can make.

Thanks for stopping byโ€”I hope you find something delicious to make!

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5 from 3 votes (1 rating without comment)

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8 Comments

  1. Kuchengirl says:

    Great idea..think Iโ€™ll try it with just a couple of rolls in a small pan!

    1. Chelsea says:

      I love how you can customize it! ๐Ÿ™‚ Enjoy!

  2. Debbie says:

    5 stars
    Shared with all my foodies. Thank
    you Chelsea. It’s a winner.

    1. Chelsea says:

      Ahh I am so happy to hear this! Thanks so much Debbie! ๐Ÿ™‚

  3. Debbie says:

    I made these and liked them soooo much. Share

    1. Chelsea says:

      So thrilled to hear this!

  4. Jessica says:

    5 stars
    These were delicious! My niece loves cinnamon rolls, so I made these as a treat for her. The entire family enjoyed them, and I plan to make them again and perhaps add nuts, apple pieces, or a caramel drizzle in lieu of the glaze icing. However, it’s so delicious as is that I may not change it at all. Thank you for the great recipe!

    1. Chelsea says:

      I am seriously so thrilled to hear this! Making cinnamon rolls like this has been a game changer for us! So glad you’re enjoying! ๐Ÿ™‚