King’s Hawaiian Cinnamon Rolls
King’s Hawaiian Cinnamon Rolls are the easiest gooey cinnamon rolls with a buttery, brown sugar filling and a sweet, homemade cream cheese frosting!
20-MINUTE CINNAMON ROLLS
After making these simple King’s Hawaiian Cinnamon Rolls, I’m not sure I want to make cinnamon rolls any other way now, ha! I’ve made these so many times since first trying them. They’re just so stinking easy and crazy good! While made from scratch cinnamon rolls are delicious, these Hawaiian Cinnamon Rolls are definitely a new favorite of mine. No waiting for the dough to rise or needing to knead or roll out any dough is always a plus in my book!
Oh my goodness! I absolutely love your homemade cinnamon rolls recipe so I had to try this shortcut version! These were so, so delicious! The best recipe when you are craving some yummy, warm cinnamon rolls but want something just a bit quicker than the usual. Thank you so much for sharing this!
– Leslie
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
I found the most “traditional” cinnamon roll look was achieved by cutting a spiral into each roll. It wasn’t difficult and it allowed the sugar mixture to penetrate deeper into the rolls. You do not have to do this though, you can just cut some slits (see next question below.)
Two additional ways to cut the rolls:
Cut them in half horizontally. Then pour half the sugar mixture over the bottom half and remaining sugar over the top before baking.
Cut an X into the top of each roll and then pour the mixture over the top.
These are traditional style cinnamon rolls, but you could make several varieties of rolls with just a tweak and addition to the sugar mixture… Pecans in the mixture for pecan rolls, maple extract and a drizzle of maple syrup in the icing for Maple rolls, etc.
You could grab a container of cream cheese frosting or butter cream frosting if you want to make this even easier to make. Don’t forget about the sugar crunchies that are made as the sugar mixture that’s left on the parchment is baked. Throw them on top of the rolls before frosting them, or after!
Did you know you can actually warm up the Hawaiian Rolls in the packaging they come in? Not the plastic wrap obviously, ha, but the little paper like tray they come in. I did not know that years ago and honestly, it’s such a time saver. You could keep these rolls in the tray when making these, but, you’d still need to put a baking tray underneath to catch any of the butter sugar mixture that melts out of the tray. Also, taking it out of the package gives you a bit more room to work but it can be done. Honestly, this recipe only takes 20 minutes as is, so it’s pretty quick, but this may help shave off another minute or two.
These cinnamon rolls are best the first day that you make them. You can cover any leftover Hawaiian Cinnamon Rolls for up to 3 days.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)
- Original King’s Hawaiian Rolls – you don’t have to specifically use this brand. If there is a store brand or another brand you prefer, then you can certainly use those.
- unsalted butter – you could definitely use salted butter if that is all you have on hand. There really is so little salt in salted butter that it’s not really going to throw other flavors off here.
- dark brown sugar – you can use light brown sugar as well.
- ground cinnamon
- cream cheese– softened to room temperature. Don’t worry, if you forget to pull it out to soften earlier in the day, use these Tips to Soften Cream Cheese Quickly.
- unsalted butter– softened to room temperature. Need Tips to Soften Butter Quickly too? I have them as well.
- powdered sugar
- heavy cream – you can use milk but if you have the heavy cream, go for it! It makes the best frosting!
HOW TO MAKE KING’S HAWAIIAN CINNAMON ROLLS
Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper. Remove the rolls from the package and place them on the baking sheet. Make sure not to break them apart. Use a sharp steak or paring knife to cut a spiral into each roll. Start in the center of the roll and cut in a circular fashion until you reach the edge of the roll. Place 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter, brown sugar and cinnamon into a small, microwave safe bowl.
Microwave until the butter is melted. Stir vigorously until the sugar mixture is thick and fully combined with the melted butter.
Use a large spoon to evenly spread the mixture. Use your knife to gently retrace the spiral cuts and edges of rolls to allow for the mixture to seep deeper into the rolls. Let the rolls sit for 10-15 minutes to further absorb the butter sugar mixture. Preheat the oven to 350F degrees. Bake the rolls (on the middle oven rack) for about 10 minutes or until the rolls are golden brown, then remove and allow to cool.
Add the softened cream cheese and 2 Tablespoons butter to a medium mixing bowl. Beat on medium using a hand or stand mixer until it is smooth and creamy. Add in the vanilla and powdered sugar and beat until smooth. Add the heavy cream a little at a time as needed, until the frosting is fluffy and smooth. Spread frosting over the rolls.
Serve and enjoy!
CRAVING MORE RECIPES?
- Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls
- Tik Tok Cinnamon Rolls
- Cinnamon Rolls
- Pie Crust Cinnamon Rolls
- Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls
- Pecan Cinnamon Rolls
- Crock Pot Cinnamon Rolls
King’s Hawaiian Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients
- 12 count package of Original King’s Hawaiian Rolls
- 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- ⅔ cup dark brown sugar (can use light brown)
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
For the frosting:
- 4 ounces (½ block) cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 Tablespoon heavy cream (more if needed – can use milk)
Instructions
- Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper. Remove 12 count package of Original King’s Hawaiian Rolls from the package and place them on the baking sheet. Make sure not to break them apart.
- Use a sharp steak or paring knife to cut a spiral into each roll. Start in the center of the roll and cut in a circular fashion until you reach the edge of the roll. Set aside.NOTE: If you find it easier, just make a large "X" cut into each cinnamon roll. The spiral just makes it look a little nicer when it's all done but it's not necessary.
- Place 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter, 2/3 cup dark brown sugar and 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon into a microwave safe bowl.
- Microwave in short bursts until the butter is melted. Stir vigorously until the sugar mixture is thick and fully combined with the melted butter.
- Use a large spoon to evenly spread the mixture.
- Use your knife to gently retrace the spiral cuts and edges of rolls to allow for the mixture to seep deeper into the rolls. You can gently push the mixture down into the spirals.
- Let the rolls sit for 10-15 minutes to further absorb the butter sugar mixture.
- Preheat the oven to 350F degrees. Bake the rolls (on the middle oven rack) for about 10 minutes or until the rolls are golden brown, then remove and allow to cool.
- Add 4 ounces (½ block) cream cheese, softened to room temperature and 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened to room temperature to a mixing bowl. Beat on medium speed using a hand or stand mixer until it is smooth and creamy. Add in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1 ½ cups powdered sugar and beat until smooth.
- Add 1 Tablespoon heavy cream and mix, if needed at a little more at a time until it reaches a thick and creamy consistency (or to your preference.)
- Spread over the rolls and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Please refer to my FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) and ingredient list above for other substitutions or for the answers to the most common questions.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Ridiculously good!!
Oh my goodness! I absolutely love your homemade cinnamon rolls so I had to try this shortcut version! These were so, so delicious! The best recipe when you are craving some yummy, warm cinnamon rolls but want something just a bit quicker than the usual. Thank you so much for sharing this!