Cinnamon rolls have always been one of those pleasures of life that you have to fight for. You can pay premium prices and get one that’s hit or miss from your favorite diner. You can hope your grandma makes them when you go to visit. Or you can make them yourself when you have a mere 4 hours to spare.
Mix..knead…rise…shape…rise…bake…frost.
But it was okay, because that was the way we earned those calories. And it kept us from eating them every weekend.
But now, my friends, I have some terrible and wonderful news for you.
You can make cinnamon rolls with a homemade taste using pre-made Hawaiian dinner rolls. Why didn’t we think of this sooner? They take care of the mix…knead…rise…shape…rise…AND bake steps for us!
As TikTok* promises, each rolls tastes like a center roll.
Here’s how you do it!
Easiest Hawaiian Cinnamon Rolls Digest
- Melt 6 tablespoons of butter. Pour about 1 tablespoon into a greased 9×13 inch baking dish.
- To the rest of the butter, add 1/4 cup brown sugar and 1 tablespoon cinnamon.
- Cut an entire package of Hawaiian rolls (such as Kings) in half horizontally (like a giant sandwich.) Place the bottom half of the rolls in the baking dish. Spread that layer with half of the sugar mixture..
- Top with the remaining half of the rolls. Using your fingers, break a small hole in the top of every roll. Spread with the remaining sugar mixture.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes.
- While those are cooling make a buttercream frosting using 3 tablespoons of butter, 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, a pinch of salt, and 1/4 tsp. vanilla. Blend until fluffy, adding milk or powdered sugar to adjust the texture as needed.
- Spread the frosting over the rolls.
- Delightful! Makes 12 small rolls.
*Full disclosure, I found these on Instagram “Reels,” rather than TikTok
Easiest Hawaiian Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients
- 1 package Hawaiian sweet dinner rolls
- 6 tbsp butter, melted
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
- 3 tbsp butter, softened
- 1 ½ cup powdered sugar
- dash salt
- ¼ tsp vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°.
- Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish and pour about 1 tablespoon of melted butter into the bottom. Combine the remaining melted butter with brown sugar and cinnamon.
- Cut the entire package of rolls in half horizontally, like a giant sandwich. Place the bottom half of the rolls in the baking dish. Spread with half of the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Place the top half of the rolls on top. Poke holes in the top of each roll. Spread with the rest of the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
- Bake for 12 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes.
- While the rolls are cooling, prepare the frosting. In a bowl, mix the softened butter, powdered sugar, salt, and vanilla. Add milk or powdered sugar to adjust the texture as needed. Frost the rolls.
