The 3 Best Ways to Reheat Cinnamon Rolls

All across the United States, cinnamon rolls are consumed as a delicious treat to start the day. The cinnamon dough combined with the sweet icing makes them a favorite among many. However, it is usually recommended to eat them right away. After they cool down the icing becomes hard and the dough loses its fluffy texture. 

The best way to reheat cinnamon rolls is in the oven. This will provide the texture closest to when they originally come out of the oven. For a faster reheating time, the air fryer and microwave can also provide great results when used correctly.

No matter which reheating method you use, the most important thing is to keep your cinnamon rolls from drying out. The best method for this varies depending on which reheating method you use.

Can You Reheat Cinnamon Rolls?

In order to replicate the experience when cinnamon rolls come straight out of the oven, it is important to reheat them before eating them. However, you need to do this the right way or you’ll risk drying out your cinnamon rolls.

The best way to do this is to include an additional source of moisture in the same container as the cinnamon rolls. This could be a wet paper towel or a small dish of water. As the food heats some of the moisture will transfer to the air and reduce the amount of moisture that is sucked out of the cinnamon rolls.

Best Way to Reheat Cinnamon Rolls

The three best ways to reheat cinnamon rolls without drying them out or burning them are reheating in the oven, in the microwave, and the air fryer. Each method has its pros and its cons and will give you slightly different results.

Reheating in the oven will take the longest amount of time but gives the best results. Reheating in the microwave will only take a few short minutes, but it tends to dry the cinnamon rolls out more than other methods.

1. Reheating in the Oven

Reheating your leftover cinnamon rolls in the oven will give you as close to the original texture as possible. It also allows you to heat up the largest amount of cinnamon rolls at the same time. However, it is the method that will take the longest since you have to preheat the oven and are reheating the cinnamon rolls slowly.

Pros Of Reheating In The Oven

• Doesn’t dry out the cinnamon rolls
• Can reheat large amounts of cinnamon rolls
• Very easy

Cons Of Reheating In The Oven

• Takes the longest
• Most prep work
• Does not work well for individual rolls

Reheating Process

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
2. Spread cinnamon rolls out in a baking dish
3. Add icing (optional)
4. Cover cinnamon rolls with foil
5. Heat for about 10 minutes or until they are hot and the icing is melted
6. Remove from oven

Covering the cinnamon rolls with foil helps to prevent the cinnamon rolls from losing moisture. This helps to prevent the cinnamon rolls from losing moisture and becoming dry or crumbly which is a common problem when reheating cinnamon rolls. 

2. Reheating in the Microwave

Reheating your cinnamon rolls in a microwave is a great option for times when you just don’t have the time to preheat your oven and get everything set up for baking. Microwaving also works best for individual cinnamon rolls since you won’t have to dirty an entire baking dish for one roll.

The main downside of reheating in the microwave is that it can dry the cinnamon rolls out. It can also melt the icing too much causing it all to run off the cinnamon rolls.

Pros Of Reheating In Microwave:

• Super fast
• Good for reheating individual rolls
• Minimal dishes required

Cons of Reheating In Microwave:

• Difficult to control the temperature
• Can dry out the cinnamon rolls
• Melts the icing too much

Reheating Process

1. Place cinnamon rolls in a microwave-safe dish
2. Cover cinnamon rolls with a wet paper towel
3. Microwave cinnamon rolls for roughly 30 seconds
   1. Continue microwaving if not hot
4. Remove cinnamon rolls once hot and add icing

Adding a wet paper towel helps to prevent your cinnamon rolls from drying out while you microwave them. The wet paper towels add extra moisture that will be absorbed into the air so the moisture is not sucked out of your cinnamon rolls.

You will need to adjust the heating time depending on how many cinnamon rolls you are heating up.

3. Reheating in the Air Fryer

Of course, it wouldn’t be a cooking article if the air fryer wasn’t mentioned. Air frying has become an extremely popular way to reheat and cook a variety of foods, everything from steak to cupcakes can be cooked in an air fryer.

Air frying is a good middle ground between reheating cinnamon rolls in the oven and the microwave. Using an air fryer is faster than using an oven but provides a better texture than a microwave. 

Pros of Reheating In Air Fryer:

• Fast
• Provides fluffy texture
• Is good for heating individual rolls

Cons of Reheating In Air Fryer:

• Can be messy (icing drips)
• Not good for reheating large amounts of cinnamon rolls

Reheating Process

1. Heat the air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
2. Spray the air fryer basket with non-stick spray
3. Place parchment paper in the bottom of the basket (optional)
   1. Helps keep the icing from dripping into the air fryer
4. Heat for approximately 3 minutes
5. Remove, add icing, and enjoy!

If you are worried about your cinnamon rolls drying out in the air fryer you can always add some extra butter on top of the rolls. This will help to keep them moist during the reheating process.

How to Reheat Frozen Cinnamon Rolls

The best way to reheat frozen cinnamon rolls is in the oven. This will give your cinnamon rolls the most even heat and will allow you to cook them evenly and not be left with a cold center and burnt outer edges.

Reheating Process

1. Thaw the Cinnamon Rolls

The first step in the reheating process is to thaw the frozen cinnamon rolls. If you put the cinnamon rolls directly into the oven without thawing, the outside of the rolls will cook more quickly than the inside. 

2. Preheat the Oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
3. Place cinnamon rolls in the baking dish 
4. Cover with aluminum foil
5. Bake for 10-15 minutes
6. Remove, add icing, and enjoy!

Final Thoughts

Cinnamon rolls are a great treat all year long and actually reheat very well. However, it is important to reheat them correctly to keep them from drying out and maintain their delicious, fluffy texture. 

The best way to reheat a cinnamon roll is in the oven. This will reheat the cinnamon roll evenly and has the smallest chance of drying the rolls out or altering their texture. If you need to reheat them more quickly, you can also reheat your cinnamon rolls in the microwave or air fryer.