Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls

Introducing Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls! They're easier to make than traditional cinnamon rolls and just as amazing to eat. Their soft, pillowy texture combined with a butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon filling, a decadent brown sugar glaze, and an amazing cream cheese frosting make them a perfect breakfast, snack, or dessert. Quick and easy 30-minute cinnamon rolls!

What makes these cinnamon rolls extra tantalizing is their brown sugar glaze! This unique brown sugar glaze not only lines the pan under the rolls but is also drizzled on the top before baking them, giving them an extra level of melt in your mouth sweetness. Everyone raves over these rolls and for good reason - they're irresistibly divine!

If you're a cinnamon roll enthusiast, try these Muffin Pan Cinnamon Rolls. They're also easy to make (no yeast required!) and are a nice change of pace.

Hawaiian Rolls aren't just served as a side anymore! They make great sliders as well. Next time you'd like a unique breakfast twist, give these Hawaiian Roll Breakfast Sliders a try. They're an easy to make, filling breakfast that'll keep you going till lunch!

Ingredients You'll Need

Here are all the ingredients you'll need for the filling, topping, and icing! Measuring out all the ingredients before you begin helps the process flow more smoothly.

Hawaiian rolls - King's brand is what I used for this recipe. You'll need a 12-count package. For a larger crowd, just double the recipe.

The filling - melted butter, sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon. The filling is a buttery, caramel-like sweetness from the brown sugar, with a big kiss of warm cinnamon.

The caramel glaze - melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon (for under and on top of the rolls!). Believe me, this glaze makes a huge difference in the flavor of these rolls. You'll be hooked after one bite!

Finally, the decadent frosting - cream cheese, butter, sugar, and vanilla extract. Creamy and sweet with a hint of vanilla for the best cinnamon roll frosting!

More Cinnamon Roll Recipes

Since you’re a fan of cinnamon rolls, I have three more scrumptious recipes I think you’ll be a fan of:

Banana Cinnamon Rolls (tastes like Banana Bread)

Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls (uses canned cinnamon rolls!)

Quick and Easy Muffin Pan Cinnamon Rolls (no yeast dough)

Ingredient Substitutions

1. Hawaiian Rolls:
   • If you can't find Hawaiian rolls, you can substitute them with any soft, sweet dinner rolls. Brioche rolls or even plain white dinner rolls will work well.
2. Cinnamon:
   • If you're out of cinnamon, you can use other warm spices such as ground nutmeg, allspice, or pumpkin pie spice. Keep in mind that the flavor(s) will change depending on the substitution.
3. Butter:
   • Butter is the top choice for this recipe because of its flavor and browning qualities. But if you must find a substitute, margarine, coconut oil, or vegetable shortening, in equal amounts, can be used.
4. Light Brown Sugar:
   • Light brown sugar can be substituted with dark brown sugar in equal amounts. Alternatively, you can use granulated sugar mixed with a small amount of molasses to mimic the flavor of brown sugar.
5. Sugar (for the filling):
   • Granulated sugar can be used interchangeably with light brown sugar in the filling. It will provide sweetness without the caramel-like flavor of brown sugar.
6. Cinnamon (for the filling):
   • If you're looking to switch up the flavor, you can experiment with other spices such as cardamom, ginger, or cloves in place of cinnamon. Adjust the amount according to your taste preferences.
7. Cream Cheese (for the frosting):
   • You could use sour cream or yogurt instead of the cream cheese, but the flavor and texture will be different; you may need to add more powdered sugar to thicken it up.
8. Vanilla Extract (for the frosting):
   • If you don't have vanilla extract on hand, you can substitute it with other extracts such as almond extract, maple extract, or even rum extract for a unique flavor twist. Alternatively, you can scrape the seeds from a vanilla bean for a natural vanilla flavor.

How to Make Hawaiian Cinnamon Rolls

Step 1 - Slice the entire bundle of rolls in half horizontally.

Step 2 - Make the brown sugar glaze and spread on the bottom of a pan or dish.

Step 3 - Place bottom half of rolls in the pan. Brush melted butter on the rolls. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture.

Step 4 - Place the top half of the rolls on top of the cinnamon sugar mixture. Pour the remaining brown sugar glaze on top!

Step 5 - Bake the cinnamon rolls. Prepare cream cheese icing and frost the rolls while still hot.

Recipe Tips

When slicing the bundle of rolls in half, try not to get the bottom half too thin. I like to place toothpicks along the center cutting line to use an a guide for the knife.

Use a 9x13-inch pan. If you double the recipe, use either two 9x13-inch pans or a larger baking dish such as an 11x15-inch pan.

Make sure the cream cheese icing isn't too thick or too thin...it should be the consistency of honey.

How to Accurately Measure the Ingredients

• For the granulated and powdered sugar, use a measuring cup specifically for dry ingredients. Spoon the sugar(s) into the measuring cup slightly overfilling it. Then use the back of a knife to level it off.
• For the brown sugar, spoon it into the measuring cup then use the back of the spoon to lightly pack the sugar down until the measuring cup is full.
• For the cinnamon, fill the measuring spoon to the top, then level if off with the back of a knife.
• For the vanilla extract, use an actual measuring spoon and not a spoon from your utensil drawer (yes, I know but it makes a difference). Fill the measuring spoon to the top!

Lessons Learned

Do not let the baked cinnamon rolls completely cool in the baking pan; transfer them to a serving platter immediately after icing them. Why? As the caramel-like glaze cools off, it slightly hardens causing the rolls stick to the pan. However, don't toss out that hardened caramel glaze -- scrape it out and enjoy it as candy! Oh yeah!!

Serving Suggestions

Pair your Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls with a hot cup of coffee or a tall glass of cold milk. Garnish with chopped pecans for an added nutty crunch. I would turn down of scoop of vanilla ice cream next to one of these rolls!

Make Ahead

To make the cinnamon rolls in advance, simply prepare the rolls up to the point of baking, then cover and refrigerate overnight. When ready to bake, remove them from the refrigerator and allow them to come to room temperature before baking as directed.

Storing Leftovers and Reheating

To store leftovers, simply wrap the cooled cinnamon rolls tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and store them in the refrigerator for up to three days. To reheat, simply pop them in the microwave for a few seconds or warm them in the oven until heated through. Alternatively, you can freeze rolls for up to one month, then thaw and warm in the microwave.