Soft and fluffy cinnamon rolls baked in the air fryer certainly make this world a better place. Imagine how dull a morning would be but for indulgent treats like these rolls? With the advent of the air fryer oven, baking these warm pillows of yum have become easier and more fun.
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It has been raining in sheets this week. And I found baking these gorgeous cinnamon + brown butter slathered rolls to be the antidote to gloomy mornings.
While I usually do not frost them, this time, I went to town since my little girl is home.
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Ingredients
This recipe is a three step process. The first one is to make the dough. Next, we make the filling while the dough proofs and finally, we whip up the frosting.
For the dough, you will need-
- Warm milk – hot milk will kill the yeast while cold milk will not allow it to proof well.
- Instant Yeast – I recommend this but active dry yeast will work too.
- Sugar- use fine sugar for quicker dissolving.
- Bread flour – swap with all purpose flour if you do not have bread flour.
- Melted butter
Ingredients for filling-
- Melted butter
- Soft brown sugar- any other sugar does not work as well here.
- Ground cinnamon
For the frosting-
- Softened cream cheese
- Melted butter
- Vanilla
- Milk
- Powdered sugar
Make ahead, shelf life and storage
In my humble opinion, these rolls should be declared as the official Christmas breakfast. Warm and fluffy, the earthy notes of cinnamon are a delight to look forward to.
Make these rolls 3 days ahead. However, frost them only just before serving. Store unfrosted rolls in a covered and air tight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Freezing
You can also freeze unfrosted rolls for up to 3 months. Place each roll on a baking sheet and wait for it to freeze fully. When done, transfer to a freezer safe bag, label and return to the freezer.
Thaw by popping it into the air fryer and defrost at 175C (345C) for 4 to 6 minutes. When warm, frost as desired and serve.
Variations
Vegan cinnamon rolls
Use unsweetened almond milk in place of dairy milk. Similarly, replace regular butter with vegan butter. Skip the frosting or use a simple nut milk and sugar glaze.
- Make them into chocolate rolls– use Nutella or your favorite spread instead of the cinnamon filling.
- You can also use other fillings like Biscoff spread instead of the one mentioned here.
- For a kid-friendly fun version, add crushed Oreos along with the cinnamon butter mixture.
- Use store bought pizza dough or biscuit dough instead of making it all from scratch for a quick and effortless version.
Recipe Notes
- Always test if your yeast is alive before baking bread.
- For successfully proofing the yeast, the milk has to be warm.
- Use a weighing scale to weigh all the ingredients for best results.
- You can bake these rolls in a Ninja Foodi air fryer or any regular air fryer, air fryer oven or a traditional oven.
- If you have a small air fryer, I suggest baking these in two batches.
- For smaller air fryer baskets, a 7 inch round springform pan or cake pan will work well.
- This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled.
- For a smooth textured frosting, the cream cheese has to be softened and at room temperature.
Method
Proof the yeast
In a mixing bowl, add warm milk, instant yeast and sugar. Whisk well.
Let it sit for 20 minutes until frothy and bubbly on the surface.
Making the dough
To the bowl of your stand mixer, add the bread flour, melted butter, salt and the frothy yeast mixture.
Knead till you have a smooth, non sticky and soft dough. You can also do this by hand. When you knead by hand, you will have to do it for about 5 to 7 minutes from start to finish.
Proofing the dough
Grease a mixing bowl with a thin layer of melted butter. Place the dough ball in this. Cover with a shower cap.
Allow the dough to double in volume by placing it in a warm place. This may take anywhere between 40 mins to 2 hours, depending on the weather.
How to proof bread dough in the Instant Pot?
Alternatively, you can proof the dough in the Instant Pot using YOGURT setting. This is especially useful if you are living in a cold place.
Insert the inner pot into the Instant Pot. Add 1 cup water to the pot. Place a trivet into the pot. Now, place bowl of dough on the trivet.
Cover with a transparent glass lid. I strongly recommend the INSTANT POT LID since this fits snugly. Plug in the IP, press YOGURT and set the timer to 1 hour.
Allow the YOGURT cycle to complete. After 1 hour, you will see that the dough has doubled beautifully.
Rolling the dough
Punch the proofed dough down. Knead this for 1 to 2 minutes gently.
Turn it onto a floured work surface. Now, roll the dough out into a 10 by 10 inch square.
Making the filling
Combine brown sugar, ground cinnamon and melted butter in a mixing bowl until smooth. It should resemble a paste.
Shaping the rolls
Spread the filling into an even layer, leaving an 1 inch gap around the edges.
Roll the dough tightly into a log. Using a piece of thread, cut the log into 9 equal pieces.
Alternatively, you may also use a bench scraper or a sharp knife to cut the log of dough. Place each piece into a greased 8 by 8 inch square pan, leaving an inch gap between each piece.
Second proofing
Now, cover the pan with a shower cap. Allow this to rise for 20 minutes.
Preheating
Towards the end of the second rise, preheat your air fryer at 320 F (160C). If you are going to bake them in the oven, preheat your oven at 350 F (180C).
Instant Vortex Air Fryer Oven
You do not need to preheat the Instant Vortex Air Fryer oven since it works differently. Just when you are ready to bake, press BAKE, set the temperature at 320F (160C) and wait for the display to read ADD FOOD.
Proceed to place the rolls in the air fryer oven, set the timer to 8 minutes and wait for the cooking cycle to complete.
Air fryer instructions for cinnamon rolls
In case you are baking these rolls in a regular air fryer, you will need to bake the rolls in a 9 inch round springform pan.
If your air fryer basket is small, you can line it with parchment paper and place the rolls directly in them and bake.
Temperature and timings– Bake at 320 F (160C) for 8 minutes or until the rolls are golden on the top. Keep an eye on the rolls after 7 mins to prevent burning.
Oven instructions
These rolls can be baked in a preheated regular oven at 350F (180C) for 20 minutes or until the tops are golden.
Cream cheese frosting
While the rolls are baking, let’s make the frosting. To the bowl of your stand mixer, add softened cream cheese, melted butter, milk, vanilla and sugar.
Whip on medium high speed until soft peaks form. This takes about 7 mins. When done, let it sit in the fridge until ready to frost.
Frosting
For a uniform frosting, I recommend frosting these rolls while they are warm.
Spread an even layer of the cream cheese frosting over the rolls using a silicon spatula. Serve immediately.
Air fryer cinnamon rolls
Equipment
- 1 Mixing bowl
- 1 Stand mixer You can also knead by hand.
- 1 set measuring cups and spoons or a weighing scale
- 1 Rolling Pin
- 1 8 by 8 inch square baking pan
- 1 Spatula
Ingredients
For the dough
- 4.5 oz warm milk (1/2 cup +1 tbsp)
- 2.25 tsp Instant Yeast
- 3 tbsp fine sugar
- 14 oz bread flour (1.75 cups)
- 3 tbsp butter melted
- 1/2 tsp salt
For the filling
- 3 tbsp butter softened
- 1/4 cup soft brown sugar
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
For the cream cheese frosting
- 4 oz cream cheese softened
- 2 tbsp powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp milk
- 2 tbsp melted butter
- 1 tsp vanilla
Instructions
Proof the yeast
- In a mixing bowl, add warm milk, instant yeast and sugar. Whisk well.
- Let it sit for 20 minutes until frothy and bubbly on the surface.
Making the dough
- To the bowl of your stand mixer, add the bread flour, melted butter, salt and the frothy yeast mixture.
- Knead till you have a smooth, non sticky and soft dough. This takes 4 to 5 minutes.
- You can also do this by hand. When you knead by hand, you will have to do it for about 5 to 7 minutes from start to finish.
Proofing the dough
- Grease a mixing bowl with a thin layer of melted butter. Place the dough ball in this. Cover with a shower cap.
- Allow the dough to double in volume by placing it in a warm place. This may take anywhere between 40 mins to 2 hours, depending on the weather.
How to proof bread dough in the Instant Pot?
- Alternatively, you can proof the dough in the Instant Pot using YOGURT setting. This is especially useful if you are living in a cold place.
- Insert the inner pot into the Instant Pot. Add 1 cup water to the pot. Place a trivet into the pot. Now, place bowl of dough on the trivet.
- Cover with a transparent glass lid. I strongly recommend the INSTANT POT LID since this fits snugly. Plug in the IP, press YOGURT and set the timer to 1 hour.
- Allow the YOGURT cycle to complete. After 1 hour, you will see that the dough has doubled beautifully.
Rolling the dough
- Punch the proofed dough down. Knead this for 1 to 2 minutes gently. Turn it onto a floured work surface. Now, roll the dough out into a 10 by 10 inch square.
Making the filling
- Combine brown sugar, ground cinnamon and melted butter in a mixing bowl until smooth. It should resemble a paste.
Shaping the rolls
- Spread the filling into an even layer, leaving an 1 inch gap around the edges.
- Roll the dough tightly into a log. Using a piece of thread, cut the log into 9 equal pieces.
- Place each piece into a greased 8 by 8 inch square pan, leaving an inch gap between each piece.
Second proofing
- Now, cover the pan with a shower cap. Allow this to rise for 20 minutes.
Preheating
- Towards the end of the second rise, preheat your air fryer at 320 F (160C). If you are going to bake them in the oven, preheat your oven at 350 F (180C).
Instant Vortex Air Fryer Oven
- When you are ready to bake, press BAKE, set the temperature at 320F (160C) and wait for the display to read ADD FOOD.
- Proceed to place the rolls in the air fryer oven, set the timer to 8 minutes and wait for the cooking cycle to complete.
Air fryer instructions for cinnamon rolls
- In case you are baking these rolls in a regular air fryer, you will need to bake the rolls in a 9 inch round springform pan.
- If your air fryer basket is small, you can line it with parchment paper and place the rolls directly in them and bake.
Temperature and timings
- Bake at 320 F (160C) for 8 minutes or until the rolls are golden on the top. Keep an eye on the rolls after 7 mins to prevent burning.
Oven instructions
- These rolls can be baked in a preheated regular oven at 350F (180C) for 20 minutes or until the tops are golden.
Cream cheese frosting
- To the bowl of your stand mixer, add softened cream cheese, melted butter, milk, vanilla and sugar.
- Whip on medium high speed until soft peaks form. This takes about 7 mins. When done, let it sit in the fridge until ready to frost.
Frosting
- Spread an even layer of the cream cheese frosting over the rolls, while warm. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Always test if your yeast is alive before baking bread.
- For successfully proofing the yeast, the milk has to be warm.
- Use a weighing scale to weigh all the ingredients for best results.
- You can bake these rolls in a Ninja Foodi air fryer or any regular air fryer, air fryer oven or a traditional oven.
- If you have a small air fryer, I suggest baking these in two batches.
- For smaller air fryer baskets, a 7 inch round springform pan or cake pan will work well.
- This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled.
- For a smooth textured frosting, the cream cheese has to be softened and at room temperature.
For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes
Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.
Disclaimer
Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.
Nutrition
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