Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls

Light and fluffy air fryer cinnamon rolls drenched in cream cheese frosting is the easy holiday brunch of my dreams.

We all love a cinnamon roll and this air fryer cinnamon roll recipe is going to become a firm favorite, guaranteed. I love having easy recipes like this one up my sleeve for the festive season. This recipe delivers 6 perfectly fluffy cinnamon rolls but you can absolutely double it if you wish.

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Warm milk. I used whole milk/full cream milk but use any milk of your choice.
• Instant yeast.
• Sugar.
• Egg.
• Flour. I used all purpose flour. Cake flour and bread flour can be substituted but bread flour will require a longer proofing time.
• Salt.
• Softened butter. I always bake with salted butter but unsalted butter can be substituted.
• Heavy cream.
• For the cream cheese frosting: room temperature cream cheese, powdered sugar/icing sugar, vanilla extract or paste and a teaspoon of lemon juice. For Christmas I always make a chai-spiced frosting by adding a pinch of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and clove to the frosting.

How to cook cinnamon rolls in the air fryer

1. Make the dough by combining the warmed milk, sugar and instant yeast in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook. Allow to stand for 5 minutes until foamy. Mix in the egg then add the flour and salt. Knead until a shaggy dough forms then add the softened butter and knead in.
2. Transfer the dough to a greased bowl then cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise for 2 hours at room temperature but ideally overnight in the fridge.
3. Combine softened butter, brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. If your cinnamon roll dough has been in the refrigerator, remove and allow to come to room temperature for 1 hour.
4. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface. You want the dough to be approximately 1cm thick. Spread the cinnamon sugar butter mixture over the dough in an even layer. 
5. Slice the dough into 2-inch/5cm slices (you should get 6 cinnamon rolls out of this dough) then roll each strip up. Transfer the cinnamon rolls to a greased, heat proof dish that will fit in your air fryer basket. If your basket is on the smaller side, you might need to cook the rolls in batches. Cover with a tea towel then allow to proof for 30 minutes.
6. Pour the cream over the proofed buns. Preheat the air fryer to 350°F/180°C. Add the cinnamon rolls to the air fryer then air fry for 20-25 minutes until golden brown on the top and cooked through. If the buns brown too quickly, reduce the heat and add a sheet of foil to the top.
7. Make the cream cheese frosting while the cinnamon rolls are cooking. 
8. Remove the rolls from the air fryer and allow to cool for 15 minutes then spread over the cream cheese frosting and serve.

Can I make this ahead?

The dough is best made the day before. This improves flavor AND makes it a great dish to prepare ahead (perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas). Leftover cinnamon rolls can be kept in an airtight container for up to 3 days at room temperature. Reheat in the microwave for 10 seconds before serving.

Cinnamon Roll Recipes