Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls

Overhead view of air fried cinnamon rolls in a round cake pan.

These soft and fluffy Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls with cream cheese frosting are small-batch with no yeast and ready in just 25 minutes!

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword air fryer, cinnamon buns, small batch

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 9

Total Time 24

Servings rolls

Calories 406kcal

Author Leanne

Ingredients

For the filling:

½ cup brown sugar packed
1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
3 tablespoons unsalted butter melted

For the dough:

1 cup all-purpose white flour plus 2-3 tablespoons for work surface
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ cup unsalted butter cold and cubed
½ cup buttermilk cold
½ teaspoon vanilla extract

For the frosting:

½ cup cream cheese room temperature
½ cup powdered sugar sifted
2 teaspoons milk

Instructions

Preheat the air fryer on 400F for 5 minutes and grease an 8-inch round cake pan.
Make the filling by stirring together the brown sugar, cinnamon and melted butter. Set aside to cool slightly.
In a large bowl, start making the dough by whisking together 1 cup of flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
Add in the cold cubes of butter and use a pastry cutter or your fingers to incorporate the butter into the flour mixture until it's crumbly with pieces of butter throughout.
Stir the vanilla into the buttermilk and add to the dry ingredients. Stir together until just combined. The dough will be shaggy and sticky.
Add 2 tablespoons of flour to your work surface and then fold out the dough. Start kneading and folding it over a few times to incorporate the flour from the work surface until it's firm and less sticky. (If it's still sticky, knead in a little more flour).
Ensure your work surface and rolling pin are well floured, then use the rolling pin to roll out the dough into a rough rectangular shape that is ¼ inch thick.
Spread the cinnamon filling out on the dough.
From the short edge, roll the dough into a log, folding in the dough at both ends to ensure the filling doesn’t come out.
Slice the log into 6 even pieces.
Arrange the slices in a single layer in the prepared cake pan.
Air fry on 400F for 9 minutes, or until the rolls are browned on top.
While the rolls are air frying, make the frosting. Use an electric mixer to beat together the cream cheese, powdered sugar and milk until smooth.
Let the cinnamon rolls cool for a few minutes, then spread on the frosting and enjoy warm.

Notes

The air frying time is based on a Cosori 5.8 quart air fryer. As different brands and models vary, you may need to adjust the air frying time slightly.
To ensure the butter and buttermilk are cold enough, place the cubed butter and ½ cup of buttermilk in the freezer for 5 minutes just before they're required in the recipe.
Make sure you properly measure the flour by using the spoon and level method. You don’t want the flour packed into the measuring cup.
Make sure the cinnamon filling has time to cool a little. If the filling is too warm, it will melt through the butter pieces in the dough. It should be cool but still a spreadable consistency.
Do not roll the dough too thin as it will not hold the filling and holes may form as you start to roll the dough. I find the ideal thickness is ¼-inch.
Resist the urge to open the air fryer and check on the rolls multiple times as this will affect how well they rise and bake. If you think they may over bake, take a quick look at them at around 7 minutes.

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