Cinnamon Rolls with Heavy Cream (Tik Tok Recipe) - Olives + Thyme (2024)

I absolutely adore an easy deliciously decadent breakfast recipe. My current favorite ones from the blog are my Banana French Toast, Brioche French Toast Casserole, Apple Fritter Bread and Maple Donuts. After making these viral tik tok cinnamon rolls , I think I may just have a new favorite breakfast recipe! I know you’ll love these heavy cream cinnamon rolls too because:

• Simple pantry ingredients: You only need a handful of basic ingredients to make a batch of quick, simple and simply decadent cream cheese frosted cinnamon rolls.
• Fast and Easy: Grab your favorite refrigerated or frozen cinnamon rolls, heavy cream, brown sugar, butter and ground cinnamon to make the most drool worthy cinnamon rolls right at home. Simply prepare the cinnamon rolls according to the pre-baking package directions, top with heavy cream and brown sugar butter, bake and revel in the deliciousness.
• You love soft and gooey cinnamon rolls: If being super quick and easy to make wasn’t reason enough, these tik tok cinnamon rolls bake up especially soft, moist and gooey. From the heavy cream to the homemade cream cheese frosting for cinnamon rolls, eat bite tastes like the center piece.

Cinnamon Rolls

Gather your preferred canned or frozen cinnamon rolls, heavy cream, brown sugar, butter and ground cinnamon.

Cream Cheese Frosting for Cinnamon Rolls

Gather cream cheese, butter, vanilla extract, powdered sugar and milk.

Making these brown sugar and heavy cream cinnamon rolls are super simple and you probably already have everything you need. Here are my recommended substitutions to make this recipe if you need them.

• Cinnamon Rolls: When I make cinnamon rolls, I love the texture of yeasted dough that needs time to rise. I personally use Rhodes cinnamon rolls which require a few hours for the dough to rise at room temperature. However, any canned or frozen cinnamon rolls such as Pillsbury or Grand’s cinnamon rolls will work well for this recipe.
• Heavy Cream: Using heavy cream will produce the most deliciously gooey cinnamon rolls (think Cinnabon level gooey) so this is recommended. However, half and half, coffee creamer, whole milk or coconut cream will also work.
• Brown Sugar: Maple sugar or regular granulated sugar will also work well. Brown sugar is recommend because it brings a nice caramel note in the background.
• Ground Cinnamon: This is optional, but highly recommended. If you would like to play around with spices, I think apple pie, pumpkin or chai spice blends would taste amazing as well.
• Butter: This is an essential ingredient in the cinnamon and brown sugar topping. Use salted butter or plant based butter if you prefer.
• Cream Cheese Frosting: The homemade cream cheese frosting for cinnamon rolls is completely optional. All store bought, canned or frozen cinnamon rolls come with an icing packet that can be used to top the cinnamon rolls. But let’s be honest, it’s never enough!

Variations

• 11 x 7 pan: This size pan holds 12 cinnamon rolls that bake up as individual rolls. Usually they are spaced about 2 inches apart.
• 9 x 13 pan: This size pan holds 12 cinnamon rolls that bake up nestled very closely together. Usually they are spaced ½ inch apart. This version is the closest to homemade, from scratch cinnamon rolls.
• 8 x 8 or 9-inch circular pans: This size is perfect for baking 6 cinnamon rolls that pull apart when it’s time to enjoy.

1. Prepare the cinnamon rolls for baking according the package directions. For Rhodes cinnamon rolls, place them in a lightly greased baking dish, loosely covered at room temperature for 3 - 5 hours or 8 - 10 hours in the fridge. The cinnamon rolls should double in size when they are ready to bake. For canned cinnamon rolls such as Pillsbury or Grands, the rolls are ready to bake as soon as the oven is preheated. Fully preheat the oven to the package directions. Pour the heavy cream on top of and all around the unbaked cinnamon buns.
2. Make the brown sugar butter by whisking the melted butter with brown sugar and cinnamon until fully combined. Pour on top of each of the cinnamon rolls.
3. Bake the cinnamon rolls according to the package directions. For the Rhodes cinnamon rolls, bake the gooey Cinnabon copycat rolls at 350 F (177 C) for about 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool the cinnamon rolls for about 10 minutes before topping with the homemade cream cheese frosting.

4. Make the cream cheese frosting by whisking melted and cooled butter with cream cheese, vanilla extract and powdered sugar until smooth and well combined. Spread generous dollops on top of each gooey cinnamon roll. Pull a roll out of the pan and enjoy!

Why add heavy cream to cinnamon rolls?

Adding heavy cream to any baked good instantly increases the fat and moisture content and creates wonderfully soft and moist cinnamon rolls.

Is heavy cream the same as heavy whipping cream?

Yes, they are essentially the same thing. The milk fat content should be at least 36%. However, a “light whipping cream” will have around 30% milkfat.

Should canned cinnamon rolls touch while baking?

For taller and softer cinnamon rolls, it is important to space them just enough so they have room to rise and stay soft. Cinnamon rolls spaced further apart will likely spread out rather than up and will have drier edges.

Other Cinnamon Recipes to Try

• Cinnamon Streusel Muffins
• Cinnamon Sugar Donuts
• Apple Cider Cookies

If you try this Cinnamon Rolls with Heavy Cream Recipe please rate the recipe and leave a comment below. Doing so helps other readers decide if this is a great recipe to bake. Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram using @olivesnthyme so I can see what you’re baking! Happy Baking! - M

Cinnamon Rolls with Heavy Cream Recipe

Megan

Cinnamon rolls with heavy cream is a clever and easy to make Tik Tok cinnamon roll hack that transforms canned cinnamon buns into light, fluffy and moist, bakery worthy cinnamon rolls. These deliciously gooey cinnamon rolls are topped with a brown sugar and cinnamon butter before baking and with a luscious cream cheese icing after baking. Grab your favorite store bought cinnamon rolls and make a decadent and easy breakfast treat everyone is sure to love!

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