Ingredients:

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1x

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Cinnamon Buns

•   1 Package Hawaiian Sweet Rolls
•   6 Tbsp Unsalted Butter (melted)
•   1/2 Cup White Granulated Sugar
•   1 1/2 Tbsp Ground Cinnamon
•   Pinch of Salt

Cream Cheese Frosting (this was good!)

•   4 Oz Cream Cheese (Softened to Room Temperature)
•   6 Tbsp Unsalted Butter (Melted and slightly cooled)
•   1 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar
•   1/4 Cup Milk
•   1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
•   1 Tsp Ground Cinnamon
•   Pinch of Salt

Ingredients are subject to availability at local stores. Unavailable items will be automatically substituted at best-effort.

1. Prepare the baking dish. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a baking dish with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
2. Make the cinnamon sugar filling. In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Mix until well combined.
3. Prepare the Hawaiian rolls. Arrange all 12 Hawaiian rolls in your parchment-lined baking dish. Carefully slice into each roll without cutting all the way through, creating a pocket for the cinnamon sugar filling.
4. Fill the rolls. Spoon the cinnamon sugar mixture into each roll, spreading it evenly. Keep an eye on how much filling you’re adding! You don’t want to overstuff them because the buttery cinnamon sugar can spill out and collect at the bottom of the pan.
5. Bake. Transfer the rolls to the oven and bake for 8–10 minutes, or until warmed through and lightly golden.
6. Make the cream cheese frosting. While the rolls bake, beat the softened cream cheese and slightly cooled melted butter until smooth. Add the powdered sugar, milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt. Mix until everything is creamy and well combined. You can use a hand mixer or stand mixer. My wrist-flicking skills aren’t what they used to be, so I had to bring out my KitchenAid! 😂
7. Frost the cinnamon buns. Remove the rolls from the oven and immediately spread the cream cheese frosting over the warm buns. Allow the frosting to melt into all those cinnamon sugar layers.
8. Serve warm and enjoy!

Whitney’s Tips

• Don’t overstuff the rolls. Add the cinnamon sugar filling gradually. A little goes a long way, and too much can leave a buttery puddle at the bottom of your dish.
• Line your pan with parchment paper. It makes cleanup much easier, especially with the melted cinnamon sugar.
• Use room-temperature cream cheese. This helps create a smooth frosting without lumps.
• Bring out the mixer! A KitchenAid or hand mixer works perfectly for whipping up the cream cheese frosting.
• Don’t overbake. Hawaiian rolls are already baked, so they only need enough time to warm through and absorb that buttery cinnamon filling.
• Frost while warm. The frosting melts right into the rolls for that gooey cinnamon bun finish.