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Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls {No Knead!}

These ooey gooey no-knead cinnamon rolls can be baked in an air fryer or a traditional oven
a knife with frosting and a tray of cinnamon rolls

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Make perfect Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls in under an hour! These ooey gooey no-knead cinnamon rolls can be baked in an air fryer or a traditional oven.

a plate of 9 small batch cinnamon rolls

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If you’re obsessed with our overnight cinnamon rolls, but you don’t need a big pan of them, you’ll love these small batch cinnamon rolls. Even better…you don’t have to knead them and they can be baked in an oven or an air fryer!

Can I Let These Rise Overnight?

Absolutely! Once you’ve made and cut the rolls, place them in an airtight container that has been buttered or lined with parchment, and let them rise in the fridge overnight. You can bake directly from the fridge but will have the best results if they’re allowed to sit at room temperature for 30-60 minutes.

Ingredient Substitution

If you can’t tolerate/don’t eat dairy or eggs, I’ve got your back! You can use non-dairy milk or even water in this dough. 

The milk and egg do help make the dough softer and fluffier, but you’ll still have delicious (but less fluffy) cinnamon rolls without them. You could also make these Cinnamon Pretzel Bites which are vegan.

4 process shots showing how to make no knead cinnamon rolls

How to Freeze Cinnamon Rolls

Allow the cinnamon rolls to do the second rise in a freezer-safe container that has been buttered or lined with parchment. Then, simply press a piece of plastic wrap over them.

Tightly wrap the pan in foil and transfer to a freezer bag (if possible), and freeze unbaked rolls for up to two months. To thaw: place in the fridge overnight. Bake as normal.

Pro Tips/Recipe Notes

a knife with frosting and a tray of cinnamon rolls
a knife with frosting and a tray of cinnamon rolls
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5 from 3 ratings

Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls {No Knead!}

Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time10 mins
Resting Time25 mins
Total Time45 mins
These ooey gooey no-knead cinnamon rolls can be baked in an air fryer or a traditional oven

Ingredients

Dough

  • 1/2 cup milk {warmed to ~110 degrees F}
  • 2 & 1/4 tsp Instant/rapid rise yeast
  • 1 tbsp butter {melted and slightly cooled}
  • 1 egg {room temperature}
  • 1 & 3/4 cup all-purpose flour {plus more for rolling}
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt
  • 1 tbsp sugar

Filling

Icing

Instructions

  • In a bowl, combine warmed milk, yeast, 1 tbsp melted butter, egg, salt, flour, and sugar. Stir until it forms a ball. If the dough is overly sticky, add additional flour 1 tbsp at a time.
    1/2 cup milk, 2 & 1/4 tsp Instant/rapid rise yeast, 1 tbsp butter, 1 egg, 1 & 3/4 cup all-purpose flour, 1/4 tsp sea salt, 1 tbsp sugar
  • Allow dough to rest, uncovered for 15 minutes.
  • On a well-flour surface, roll dough with a floured rolling pin into a rectangle approximately 12 inches long and 7 inches wide. Dough will be about ¼ inch thick.
  • Spread softened butter over the dough, leaving a ½ inch perimeter. Sprinkle with brown sugar and ground cinnamon.
    2 tbsp butter, 1/3 cup brown sugar, 2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • Starting with the long edge of the dough furthest from you, tightly roll the dough towards you until you have a solid "roll".
  • Cut into 9, 1.5 inch rolls. Pro tip: using a bread knife will create the cleanest cuts.
  • Fit the air fryer basket with foil folded in a way where the edges are up to create a little "pan". Place cinnamon rolls on foil and let rest for 10 minutes.
  • Bake at 300 degrees F for 10 minutes, checking at minute 8.

Frosting

  • Combine butter and cream cheese in a bowl and blend with a hand mixer.
    2 tbsp cream cheese, 2 tbsp butter
  • Slowly incorporate powdered sugar and vanilla extract. If you want a pourable frosting, add milk 1 tsp at a time until it is your desired consistency.
    1/3 cup powdered sugar, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, 2 tbsp milk
  • Spread/pour over warmed cinnamon rolls.

Notes

Oven-baking: butter a 9×9 baking dish or a pie plate and add cinnamon rolls. Allow to rest for 20 minutes, then bake at 350 degrees F for 23 minutes or until the tops are lightly golden brown. 
Nutrition Facts
Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls {No Knead!}
Amount Per Serving (1 roll)
Calories 229 Calories from Fat 81
% Daily Value*
Fat 9g14%
Saturated Fat 5g31%
Cholesterol 40mg13%
Sodium 148mg6%
Potassium 70mg2%
Carbohydrates 34g11%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 15g17%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 289IU6%
Calcium 41mg4%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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6 comments on “Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls {No Knead!}”

  1. This is just the thing if you want cinnamon rolls and don’t want to wait 3 hours or don’t have space in your fridge to rise them overnight. My newly minted 7 year old was delighted with her birthday breakfast – thanks Sarah!5 stars

  2. Today is sticky buns day in the US…  who knew???  I’m not in the states, but decided to jump on the bandwagon when I woke up early this morning. So freaking good. And gooey. And I added in some nutmeg and cloves because I could. And rolled them out with my arm as I have no rolling pin. Yum-fu(king-no. 5 stars

    • I feel like every day should be sticky bun day. 🙂

      Love the addition of nutmeg and cloves! I do believe arm rolling might be a first for this recipe. I love the innovation!

  3. Awesome recipe!!! I really appreciate how you put multiple methods of cooking, we have an air fryer but I wanted to bake in the oven to compare to my tried + true cinnamon roll recipe.
    Thanks for making Saturday morning yummy!!!5 stars