Pillsbury cinnamon rolls in the air fryer bake in 10 minutes at 320°F. They’re golden on top and pillowy soft on the inside. That’s for the regular 8-count can. Pillsbury Grands and Cinnabon rolls take 16 minutes at the same temperature, flipped halfway. I keep the heat lower than most air fryer recipes do, because hotter air browns the tops long before the centers cook.
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ℹ️ Introduction
Nothing beats the smell of cinnamon rolls baking on a slow weekend morning.
When I don’t have time to make them from scratch, I open a can of Pillsbury, and they’re usually gone within minutes of coming out of the air fryer.
There’s no oven to heat up, and the whole thing takes about 15 minutes, icing included.
For more breakfast from the air fryer, try my frozen biscuits, Texas toast and sour cream coffee cake, or browse my list of the best frozen foods to cook in the air fryer.
Shyla says ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Came out perfect. The timing is spot on. Thanks for posting!
🧂 Ingredients for Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls
💡 Ingredient and Recipe Tips
Cinnamon Rolls
I use the regular 8-count can of Pillsbury cinnamon rolls. The icing comes in a little tub inside the can, so set it aside before the rolls go in the basket.
Annie’s canned cinnamon rolls work at the same 320°F, but they may need another 2 minutes. For a store brand, start with the same time and check them 2 minutes early.
Keep the can in the fridge until the air fryer is preheated.
Pillsbury Grands and Cinnabon
Grands come 5 to a can and are much taller than the original rolls. Air fry them at the same 320°F for 16 minutes, and flip them at the halfway mark.
Pillsbury’s Cinnabon cinnamon rolls cook exactly like Grands. Unlike regular canned cinnamon rolls, I flip both of these halfway through.
Temperature and Doneness
I cook most premade foods at 400°F, but cinnamon rolls do better low and slow. At higher temperatures the tops will burn before the middle has cooked through, and you’ll end up with a cinnamon roll that’s dark on the outside and doughy on the inside. At 320°F the center has time to finish cooking.
For perfect results, use an instant-read thermometer. The center of the roll should read 180°F, for both the original rolls and Grands.
Air Fryer Setup
Preheat the air fryer before the rolls go in. My Cosori has a preheat button; otherwise, run it empty at 320°F for 3 minutes.
Set the cinnamon rolls in a single layer with a little space between them so the hot air reaches all sides. Depending on the size of your basket, all 8 may fit at once. If they don’t, cook them in two batches rather than overcrowding them.
❓ FAQs
Cook the rolls for 10 minutes at 320°F for the regular 8-count can, and 16 minutes at 320°F for Pillsbury Grands or Cinnabon rolls, flipping them halfway. Preheat the air fryer first, and check on them 2 minutes early the first time you make them.
There’s no need to flip the regular-size rolls. They cook evenly without turning. If the bottoms look pale when the time is up, flip them and air fry for 2 to 3 more minutes. Grands and Cinnabon rolls do need to be flipped halfway through.
No, I don’t oil the basket. If they stick in your air fryer, line the basket with parchment paper or foil and poke a few holes in it so the air can still circulate.
Your air fryer is running too hot, or the rolls sit too close to the heating element. Lower the temperature, add a few minutes, and flip them so the bottoms cook. Using a liner such as parchment paper without holes can block airflow, so poke a few holes in the liner. They’re done when the center reads 180°F.
Yes. Use the same time and temperature with the Instant Pot air fryer lid, Duo Crisp or Pro Crisp, or a Ninja Foodi. I tested this recipe in a Cosori basket air fryer and an Instant Pot Duo Crisp.
They’re best eaten right away. Store leftovers unfrosted in an airtight container. To warm them up, microwave them for a few seconds, since the air fryer tends to dry them out.
⏲️ How to Make Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls
- Preheat the air fryer to 320°F for 3 minutes. Keep the cinnamon rolls in the fridge until it’s ready.
- Open the can, set the icing aside, and place the rolls in the basket in a single layer with a little space between them.
- Air fry for 10 minutes at 320°F. For Grands or Cinnabon rolls, air fry for 16 minutes and flip them halfway through.
- Check the bottoms. If they’re pale, flip the rolls and air fry for 2 to 3 more minutes. The center should read 180°F.
- Move the rolls to a platter and spread the icing over them while they’re warm, or dust them with powdered sugar.
Air Fryer Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients
- 1 tube cinnamon rolls 8 count [See Note 1]
Instructions
Air Fryer Instructions
- Place the empty air fryer basket in the air fryer and preheat at 320 degrees Fahrenheit for 3 minutes.
- Add the cinnamon rolls to the air fryer in a single layer, without overcrowding. Set the icing aside. [See Note 2]
- Air fry for 10 minutes at 320 degrees Fahrenheit, until golden brown and cooked through. [See Notes 3-5]
- Transfer the cinnamon rolls to a serving platter and frost the warm cinnamon rolls with enclosed icing. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
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I am not a certified nutritionist. I provide my best estimate of nutritional information merely as a courtesy to my readers. If you depend on nutritional information for dietary or health reasons, I suggest using your favorite online nutrition calculator to confirm the nutritional value of this recipe based on the actual ingredients that you use.
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Rebecca Stanley says
Copycat recipe you see across several food blogs. All of them use the same temp and time. For me, I’ve had to adjust my temp and time several times. By the time the rolls were cooked through the top was burnt. Very disappointed that food ended up being wasted.
Neena Panicker says
Hi Rebecca, I’m sorry to hear you had issues. Sounds like your air fryer runs hotter than mine. Or your heat source is closer to the food. You probably need to reduce the temperature and increase the cook time.
Shyla says
Came out perfect. The timing is spot on. Thanks for posting!
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Shyla, thanks for sharing!