How To Reheat Cinnamon Rolls – Step By Step Guide

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Just hearing the word “cinnamon rolls” makes my stomach growl with anticipation for these heavenly, creamy, and rich sugar rolls that are filled with cinnamon powder and butter. I mean, the idea of not literally devouring the whole pack of cinnamon rolls containing 9-12 rolls is a challenge on its own. And I am sure you feel the same way, who wouldn’t?

That’s why I am pretty positive a lot of people are faced with the dilemma of storing the leftover cinnamon rolls, particularly freezing them. Cause we can’t really always eat the whole pack, unfortunately. The point is, I made it my job to show you all the ways you can store your cinnamon rolls, in addition to, the five best ways on “How to reheat cinnamon rolls” so that you can get to enjoy them later on.

A side note:

So, I have done an extensive research on the best ways of reheating the cinnamon rolls. And let me tell you, there are plenty of them. I couldn’t just blindly write them all, that’s why, I took it upon myself to try each one separately and compare them according to the outcome’s texture, effort spent, and of course taste. I managed to narrow them down to just five. All you have to do now is to just pick whatever way suits you best.

  • Using a microwave and a damp towel
  • Using a microwave with a glass of water
  • Using an oven
  • Using an air fryer
  • George foreman style grill.

I will start first with ways to store your cinnamon rolls.

How can I store cinnamon rolls?

Storing cinnamon rolls depends on the length of time you are going to leave them for. For example, if you are willing to keep them just until the next day, then you don’t have to freeze them. All you need to do is just wrap them tightly in an air-tight container after making sure they are cool and dry enough so that moisture doesn’t render them mushy.

That’s it, they can last for 48 hours. To store them for a longer period of time then you need to essentially make sure they are dry and definitely not warm. Wrap them in a freezer bag, preferably individually with a paper towel to soak up any moisture formed, and leave them in the freezer for up to a month after removing all the excess air in the bag. But of course, you will need to the thaw the frozen rolls first before reheating them.

An easy way to remove the air from the freezer bag is by closing the whole bag except for a small hole where you will insert a straw to soak up all the air and close the bag afterward.

Refrigeration just straight up dries the cinnamon rolls. I personally don’t prefer it.

These rules don’t apply to cinnamon rolls with cream cheese icing, unfortunately. As the USDA doesn’t really encourage eating any food with no preservative containing cream cheese that was left for more than two hours without refrigerating.

Now, it’s time to explain all the best ways where you can heat up the cinnamon rolls:

1. Using the microwave:

When I first started reading about this method it wasn’t clear enough. People were torn between covering the cinnamon rolls with damp paper towels in the microwave or just leaving a glass filled with water with the cinnamon roll inside the microwave. So, of course, I had to try them both and judge for myself. Believe it or not, the damp paper towel was significantly better in saving the moisture in the cinnamon roll and the outcome was much better than that made with the glass filled with water.

It could be due to numerous variables, ranging from the size of the glass to the amount of water added. Point is, using just a simple damp paper towel to cover the cinnamon roll is perfect.

How can I reheat cinnamon rolls in the microwave?

  1. On a microwavable plate, place an individual cinnamon roll. It’s better to ice the cinnamon roll with cream cheese or even butter so that it gives off extra moisture and enhance the flavor.
  2. Cover the cinnamon roll with a damp paper towel. Don’t go overboard with wetting the paper, just damp it.
  3. Let it heat on maximum power for 10 seconds, then check it, and leave it for another 10 seconds and so on, till it is reheated enough. It should take from 20 to 30 seconds.
  4. Rest for 60 seconds only and enjoy!

My opinion:

Anything reheated using the microwave is guaranteed to be done quickly and effortlessly. These are exactly the advantages of reheating our delicious cinnamon rolls using the microwave. However, the cinnamon rolls stay fresh for only a few minutes before they start drying and crisp up losing their tender and moist texture. So unless you are going to finish up the whole thing immediately after taking it out of the microwave, then I recommend you the oven method.

2. Using an oven:

How can I reheat cinnamon rolls in the oven

I always prefer using an oven when I reheat anything not just cinnamon rolls, consequently, this became my preferred method when it comes to the delicious cinnamon rolls. However, I do understand why some people might not share the same opinion as me, and I am going to state why in the end.

How can I reheat cinnamon rolls in the oven?

  1. Align your cinnamon rolls on a baking tray. Sprinkle little droplets of water on each cinnamon roll so that when they go in the oven this water helps keep them moist and soft.
  2. One extra step before you move the rolls to the oven is adding butter on top of the cinnamon rolls or even spreading some cream cheese icing. This provides an extra richness to the reheated rolls.
  3. An essential step is covering the tray containing the cinnamon rolls tightly with aluminum foil to prevent any moisture loss.
  4. Transfer the tray to a preheated oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes and enjoy!

My opinion:

I already stated how much I love using the oven. It doesn’t only allow me to reheat my cinnamon roll in batches, but it also results in a soft and creamy cinnamon roll that is the closest result to the freshly made one. But of course, there is a downside to this method, which is the fact that it is time-consuming in comparison to the other methods. Waiting for the oven to reheat and for the actual rolls to be ready requires some patience. Trust me. The outcome is worth the wait really.

3. Using the Air fryer:

How can I reheat cinnamon rolls in an Air fryer

I figured I should give this one a go. I mean, what’s the worst that could happen right?

How can I reheat cinnamon rolls in an Air fryer?

  1. Before you begin to align your rolls on the Air fryer tray, spread parchment paper on the bottom so that you won’t have to clean the tray after using it.
  2. Spray some water followed by a bit of butter or icing cream cheese.
  3. Transfer the tray to your air fryer and heat it for 4-6 minutes or until it is hot enough. Enjoy immediately.

My opinion:

Well, from my previous recipe you would know how much I adore using an air fryer in any and everything. It is easy, convenient, and can do pretty much anything. Unfortunately, not this time. I am saying this with a heavy heart, it failed me this time. Sure, it is fast and easy, yet the outcome is kind of disappointing. The rolls somehow dried out when I used the air fryer. So yea, I am not happy.

4. Using George foreman grill:

This method isn’t exclusive to using just this type of grill, in fact, you can use any type you prefer, ranging from sandwich toasters to any Panini press type.
It is better not to ice your cinnamon rolls before adding them to the grill so that they won’t harden and lose their flavor.

How can I reheat my cinnamon rolls using a George Foreman grill?

  1. Place your not-iced cinnamon roll on whatever type of grill you are using after first preheating it for five minutes.
  2. Allow each cinnamon roll to heat for two minutes on one side, then flip it to reheat the other side for two minutes as well.
  3. Once they are hot enough, remove them from the heat, and spread the butter or icing mix on top quickly so that it could melt on it. Enjoy.

My opinion:

My least favorite method for sure. It was random really, so I figured why not just try it. But, no, honestly, I didn’t like the outcome at all. Definitely prefer to stick with any of the previous ones.

Can I reheat Cinnabon cinnamon rolls?

Yes, of course you can. Believe it or not, the best method of actually reheating readymade Cinnabon cinnamon rolls is using the microwave!

All you got to do is just place the rolls after thawing on a microwavable plate and transfer them in the microwave for 15-20 seconds. That’s it. Additional rolls added require an extra 4-6 seconds.

Can I reheat Pillsbury cinnamon rolls?

Again, of course you can. Also in the microwave, following the same exact method as the Cinnabon one. But, it will require some extra time in the microwave. 20-25 seconds, with an extra 6-8 seconds for any extra rolls.

Finally, I am going to share with you the recipe to the best way with its ingredients that you can follow to reheat your delicious leftover cinnamon rolls.

Some tips to prevent your cinnamon rolls from drying out and keep them fresh:

  • Freezing is the best way of storing your cinnamon rolls if you aren’t going to finish them within the first 24 hours after baking them.
  • It is better to wrap each cinnamon alone in a plastic bag after making sure to release any excess air.
  • Add a tiny bit of water to each cinnamon roll when you reheat them to help retain the moisture.
  • Covering the cinnamon roll when you reheat them also prevents the escaping and evaporation of water and keeps them moist and fluffy.
  • If the rolls are a bit dry don’t worry, spread some butter or an icing cream cheese on top and enjoy.

Best Ways to Reheat Cinnamon Rolls!

Learn all the best ways that you can follow with steps toreheat your leftover cinnamon rolls so that you can enjoy just like the freshlymade ones.
Prep Time5 minutes
Active Time15 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: Snack
Cuisine: Danish
Keyword: how to reheat cinnamon rolls, how to reheat cinnamon rolls without microwave, how to reheat cinnamon rolls without oven
Yield: 1
Calories: 410kcal

Materials

  • A portion of cinnamon rolls
  • Sprinkle of water
  • A tablespoon of Icing mix or butter

Instructions

  • Align your cinnamon rolls on a baking sheet. Sprinkle some droplets of water on each cinnamon roll so that when they go in the oven this water helps keep them moist and soft.
  • One extra step before you move the rolls to the oven is adding butter on top of the cinnamon rolls or even spreading some cream cheese icing. This provides an extra richness to the reheated rolls.
  • An essential step is covering the tray containing the cinnamon rolls tightly with aluminum foil to prevent any moisture loss.
  • Transfer the tray to a preheated oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes.
  • Serve immediately and enjoy!

 

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