How To Reheat Cinnamon Rolls [I Try 5 Methods]

This article is all about how to keep your cinnamon rolls tasting as fresh as possible, for as long as possible.

I’ve personally experimented with five different reheating methods, to find out which one delivers the best tasting cinnamon roll.

In a rush? Here’s the short answer.

The best way to reheat cinnamon rolls is in the oven. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of water over the cinnamon roll or put a small pat of butter on top. Cover the cinnamon roll in foil and cook at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes. Adding water prevents the cinnamon rolls from drying out.

Related: how to reheat hot cross buns

A note about my experiment

There’s a lot of confusing and downright rubbish information online when it comes to reheating cinnamon rolls. 

In order to clear up the confusion and save you the grief of ruining one of your precious cinnamon rolls, I decided to test every method.

The reheating methods I tested include:

• In the oven (the best method)
• In the microwave (great for stale rolls)
• In an air fryer (good and quick)
• In a George Foreman style grill (meh!)
• In a frying pan (fun and tasty)

Each cinnamon roll was reheated and sampled immediately. I’ve based my judgment on how the cinnamon roll tasted, the texture (how soft they were), and how easy the method was.

How to reheat cinnamon rolls in the oven

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C).
2. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of water on each cinnamon roll and add a small pat of butter.
3. Cover the cinnamon rolls with foil.
4. Place the cinnamon rolls on a baking tray and reheat in the oven for 10-15 minutes.
5. Add extra icing before serving if you have any.

The water helps to create steam in the oven which will rehydrate the cinnamon roll as it reheats. The foil is to trap the steam, but if you like a crispy to to your cinnamon roll you can remove the foil for the last for minutes of reheating.

Butter or extra cream cheese aren’t necessary, but I find that they add even more moisture to the rolls and help revive the flavor.

Pros: this was my favorite way to reheat cinnamon rolls. In my tests, the oven produced the softest and least dry cinnamon rolls. And you can reheat lots of cinnamon rolls at ones.
Cons: it’s slower and there’s a little extra work involved with the foil, but I think it’s worth it.

How to reheat cinnamon rolls in the microwave

The microwave is great for reheating and softening stale cinnamon rolls.

1. Place a single cinnamon roll on a microwave-safe plate and place a small pat of butter on top of it.
2. Dampen a single paper towel and cover the cinnamon roll with it (using toothpicks if you don’t want it to touch the icing).
3. Microwave on full power in 10-second increments. Most cinnamon rolls will be fully reheated in 20-30 seconds.
4. Remove the cinnamon roll from the microwave, ice it, and let it sit for 60 seconds before serving (it will be very hot).

Adding butter before microwaving allows it to melt right down into the roll and introduce lots of extra moisture. It’s delicious!

The paper towel should be fairly wet – but not dripping. And avoid wrapping the whole roll, because otherwise you’ll end up with a soggy bottom!

I didn’t have any issue with the paper towel sticking to my icing, but if you’re worried about it stick some toothpicks in the roll and rest the paper towel on top of that.

Pro tip: eat the roll as soon as possible after it comes out of the microwave. If you leave it too long the cinnamon roll will dry out and become like cardboard.

I also tested the glass of water trick, but I think the paper towel performed better.

Pros: the microwave is super quick and convenient and the cinnamon roll turned out soft and delicious (even the more stale ones).
Cons: you need to eat the cinnamon roll really quickly after you microwave it because it dries up FAST, therefore it’s only really suitable for reheating one roll.

How to reheat cinnamon rolls in the air fryer

1. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of water over each cinnamon roll and spread some extra butter on top to taste.
2. Optional: place a sheet of parchment paper underneath the cinnamon rolls to catch any residual icing/butter drips.
3. Reheat the cinnamon rolls in the air fryer at 352°F for 4 to 5 minutes.
4. Serve immediately.

Warning: the cinnamon rolls will be VERY hot to the touch out of the air fryer, especially if you added extra butter.

I tend to tongs tongs to lift the rolls out, but you can also get creative with two forks.

Don’t forget about the rolls because they’ll over heat and dry out very quickly!

Pros: if you love crispy things out of the air fryer, you’ll love air-fried cinnamon rolls. The air frying is also quick and easy.
Cons: the rolls were a touch to dry for my liking, and I wasn’t a fan of the crispy top (but you might be!).

How to reheat cinnamon rolls in a toastie maker

This method only really works for un-iced cinnamon rolls. If your cinnamon rolls are iced, void this method!

1. Preheat your chosen cooking device (any grill or toastie maker) for 5 minutes.
2. Gently place your un-iced cinnamon roll(s) on the grill.
3. Reheat the cinnamon rolls for 2 minutes.
4. Once piping hot, remove from your cooking device and let cool.
5. Optional: add additional icing or butter to taste.

I use a George Foreman grill for my tests, but sandwich toasters and generic panini presses work in the same way. You could even try a waffle maker.

I tested this method with already iced cinnamon rolls but the sugar quickly burnt and became very hard to eat. Think super-sticky gloop that your dentist would shudder at.

Hence my advise to only use it for un-iced rolls (although you can try scraping the icing off first and then re-icing later).

Pros: it’s delicious and crispy, if that’s the effect you’re going for. But it wont be to everyones taste.
Cons: it’s pretty messy and isn’t good for pre-iced rolls.

Bonus method: how to reheat cinnamon rolls in a frying pan

For a decadent treat, try reheating cinnamon rolls in the frying pan. Melt some butter in a pan on medium heat, and then place the cinnamon roll in bottom side down. Cover the pan with a lid and heat for 2-3 minutes.

The lid will trap the heat, so the top of the roll heats up too. If you want, you can flip the roll over for 30 seconds at the end.

But be aware if the icing might burn if you do this!

Pros: the bottom of the cinnamon roll came out super crispy using this method, and it was pretty tasty
Cons: it’s messy

How to store cinnamon rolls

Cinnamon rolls can be kept at room temperature for up to 48 hours. Store the cinnamon rolls in an airtight container to prevent them from drying out. For longer-term storage, cinnamon rolls can be frozen in a heavy-duty freezer bag, where they’ll last up to 1 month. Avoid refrigerating.

Make sure the rolls are completely cool before you store them, because any condensation in their container will render them soggy.

I always line my container with a paper towel to help get rid of any excess moisture.

While you can technically refrigerate the cinnamon rolls, it’s not recommened. They tend to go quite tough after being in the fridge for a few hours.

If your cinnamon rolls have cream cheese frosting on, the storage requirements are a little different. I discuss this in more detail further down the page.

How to freeze cinnamon rolls

To freeze already-baked cinnamon rolls, first, ensure that they’re fully cool. Next, individually wrap each cinnamon roll in plastic wrap. Place the wrapped cinnamon rolls into a labeled airtight freezer bag. Remove any excess air and freeze for up to one month.

The best way to remove air from a freezer bag is to use a straw.

Close the bag except for a little hole where you can stick a straw in. Suck until all the air has gone then pull the straw out and seal the bag as quickly as possible.

You can also squeeze the air out with your hands

Tips to keep your cinnamon rolls fresh

Here are my top tips to help you keep your cinnamon rolls fresh for as long as possible:

• Ensure the storage container is airtight, air is the enemy. For best results, individually wrap the cinnamon rolls tightly in plastic wrap.
• Eat the cinnamon rolls within 24 hours of baking for best results. If storing for longer, freeze the cinnamon rolls to retain the most moisture.
• For best results keep the cinnamon rolls unfrosted until just before you’re going to eat them. If you know you’re going to be reheating your rolls, hold off until the icing until after you’ve reheated them.
• When reheating, sprinkle on a tablespoon or two of water on each cinnamon roll to help remoisturize them.
• If the cinnamon rolls are already a little dry and stale, lathering on extra butter works wonders at masking the stale texture.

How to reheat Cinnabon cinnamon rolls

The best way to reheat Cinnabon cinnamon rolls is in the microwave. First, ensure the Cinnabon cinnamon roll has fully thawed. Next, place it on a microwave-safe plate and heat on full power for 15-20 seconds. Increase the reheating time by 4-6 seconds for each additional roll. Serve immediately.

How to reheat Pillsbury cinnamon rolls

The best way to reheat Pillsbury cinnamon rolls is in the microwave. Place the Pillsbury cinnamon roll on a microwave-safe plate and heat on full power for 20-25 seconds. Increase the reheating time by 6-8 seconds for each additional roll. Add any additional leftover icing and serve immediately.

The BEST Way To Reheat Cinnamon Rolls

I take you through the best way to reheat cinnamon rolls.

5 from 4 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Snack

Cuisine: Danish

Keyword: cinnamon rolls, reheat cinnamon rolls

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Servings: 1 person

Calories: 436kcal

Equipment

• Tupperware
• Plastic wrap
• Foil

Ingredients

• 1 portion cinnamon rolls
• 1 sprinkle water
• 1 tbsp icing or butter (optional)

Instructions

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C).
• Sprinkle (or spray) approximately 1 tablespoon of water on each cinnamon roll. The water allows the roll to rehydrate while it reheats.
• Optional: add additional icing or butter to taste. I personally love cream cheese icing – but feel free to adapt. I find that adding icing before reheating adds additional moisture to the cinnamon roll.
• Cover the cinnamon rolls completely with foil. This prevents the tops from burning and prevents moisture from escaping. It’s key to not drying them out.
• Place the foil-wrapped cinnamon rolls on a baking tray and reheat in the oven for 10-15 minutes.

Nutrition

Serving: 100g | Calories: 436kcal