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Looking for viral recipes that are as fun to make as they are to eat? These Hawaiian Cream Cheese Cinnamon Rolls are a sweet twist on a classic favorite. Using soft King’s Hawaiian rolls as the base, you’ll learn how to make cinnamon rolls with a shortcut method that’s gooey, creamy, and absolutely irresistible. Perfect for brunch, holiday mornings, or a dessert that will have everyone asking for the recipe!
These decadent and creamy Hawaiian cream cheese cinnamon rolls are the perfect shortcut to get soft and creamy cinnamon rolls from oven to table in less than 30 minutes.
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Pin It NowWhy You’ll Love This Recipe
- Uses store-bought King’s Hawaiian rolls for a quick and easy base.
- A rich cream cheese filling makes them extra decadent.
- Perfect for beginners who want to learn how to make cinnamon rolls without yeast dough.
- Shareable, pull-apart style that makes them a party-ready treat.
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the rolls:
- King’s Hawaiian original sweet rolls
- salted butter
- brown sugar
- ground cinnamon
- vanilla extract
For the cream cheese filling:
- 1 large egg
- 1 (8-ounce) brick full-fat cream cheese, softened
- 3 Tablespoons granulated sugar
How to Make Hawaiian Cream Cheese Cinnamon Rolls
Preheat and prepare. Preheat your oven to 375°F and grease a 9×13 baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.
Prepare the rolls. Prepare the Hawaiian rolls by placing them into your prepared casserole dish. Use a small knife to carefully cut a small square in the top of each roll, but make sure you don’t cut all the way through to the bottom of the bread. Pull out a small amount of the bread and set it aside.
Make the butter mixture. In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla.
Make the filling. In a mixing bowl, add the softened cream cheese and beat with an electric hand mixer for 1-2 minutes until the mixture is fluffy and creamy. Add the granulated sugar and egg, mixing until well incorporated.
Fill the rolls. Use a pastry brush to brush the mixture over the tops and insides of each roll. Make sure you get in all the nooks and crannies and be generous with the butter. Spoon generous heaps of the filling into the well of each roll.
Bake. Bake for 15 minutes, or until the rolls are a deep golden color and the cream cheese filling has set. Let the rolls cool in the dish for about 5 minutes before slicing them into individual portions and serving warm.
Tips & Variations
- Add a simple glaze of powdered sugar and milk for extra sweetness.
- Sprinkle chopped pecans or walnuts on top for crunch.
- Serve with fresh fruit or coffee for a brunch-worthy spread.
Storage & Reheating
Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheat: Warm in the microwave for 15–20 seconds or in the oven at 300°F until soft again.
More Hawaiian Roll Recipes
Hawaiian Cream Cheese Cinnamon Rolls Recipe
Hawaiian Cream Cheese Cinnamon Rolls
Equipment
- 9×13 baking dish
- Non-Stick spray
- pastry brush
- mixing bowls
- Electric mixer or whisk
- small knife
- spoon
Ingredients
For the Rolls:
- 1 12 Count Package King’s Hawaiian original sweet rolls
- ½ cup butter, melted
- 3 Tablespoons dark brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Cream Cheese Filling:
- 1 8-ounce brick full-fat cream cheese, softened
- 3 Tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare. Preheat your oven to 375°F and grease a 9×13 baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.
- Prepare the rolls. Prepare the Hawaiian rolls by placing them into your prepared casserole dish. Use a small knife to carefully cut a small square in the top of each roll, but make sure you don’t cut all the way through to the bottom of the bread. Pull out a small amount of the bread and set it aside.
- Make the butter mixture. In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla. Use a pastry brush to brush the mixture over the tops and insides of each roll. Make sure you get in all the nooks and crannies and be generous with the butter.
- Make the filling. In a mixing bowl, add the softened cream cheese and beat with an electric hand mixer for 1-2 minutes until the mixture is fluffy and creamy. Add the granulated sugar and egg, mixing until well incorporated.
- Fill the rolls. Spoon generous heaps of the filling into the well of each roll.
- Bake. Bake for 15 minutes, or until the rolls are a deep golden color and the cream cheese filling has set. Let the rolls cool in the dish for about 5 minutes before slicing them into individual portions and serving warm.
