How To Reheat Cinnamon Rolls

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I love a fresh batch of warm cinnamon rolls, right out of the oven. The rolls are soft and sweet with the right amount of stickiness. If you are like me and buy cinnamon rolls in bulk or make them in large batches, then your cinnamon rolls need to be stored properly so that they still taste great when you reheat them. There are a couple of ways to reheat cinnamon rolls so that they taste as fresh and delicious as possible.

How To Reheat Cinnamon Rolls in the Oven

This is easily one of the best ways to reheat cinnamon rolls as the rolls come out soft and evenly heated and the texture is as good as new.

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Sprinkle a little water, no more than 1 tablespoon (depending on the size of the cinnamon roll) on each cinnamon roll you’re going to heat up.
  3. Cover the cinnamon rolls with aluminum foil and let them bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes.
  4. Once done, take them out, remove the foil and enjoy.

Quick tip: you can also add some butter, icing, or cream cheese on top of your cinnamon rolls before heating them. It gives the cinnamon roll not just some extra flavor but also helps keep them moist.

We use aluminum foil to cover the cinnamon rolls as the foil prevents moisture from escaping during the heating process.

The oven method ensures the best results when reheating cinnamon rolls. The rolls are heated evenly, and they do not dry out, plus you can heat multiple rolls at the same time. The only disadvantage of this process is that it is rather time-consuming and does require a good bit of prep work.

How To Reheat Cinnamon Rolls in the Microwave

The microwave is the fastest and easiest way to reheat cinnamon rolls. But baked goods usually end up getting soggy or dried out in the microwave.

  1. Place the cinnamon roll on a microwave-safe dish.
  2. Place a damp paper towel on top and heat the cinnamon rolls in 15-second intervals.
  3. You can add spread some butter or icing on the cinnamon rolls before heating to keep them soft and moist.

Quick tip: You can heat a small cup of water in the microwave first, then add the plate of cinnamon rolls and heat the cinnamon rolls along with the cup of water. The steam from the water helps keep the cinnamon rolls moist and prevents them from drying out.

The biggest upside of microwaving cinnamon rolls is the speed and ease with which you can do that. It is simple and straightforward. The downside is that first, you can only heat one cinnamon roll at a time if you want the rolls to heat evenly. And, secondly, the microwave tends to either dry out the rolls or make them soggy, so there is usually a change in texture.

How To Reheat Cinnamon Rolls in the Air Fryer

Reheating cinnamon rolls in the air fryer is an easy and quick job. The rolls get warmed evenly while retaining the taste, however, there is a discernible difference in the texture.

  1. Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees F.
  2. Splash a little bit of water on each cinnamon roll.
  3. You can also add some butter, icing, or cream cheese to the cinnamon rolls.
  4. Place the cinnamon rolls on the lined air fryer baskets.
  5. Cook the rolls for 4-6 minutes.

The biggest upside of using the air fryer is that it is a really convenient way to reheat any leftover cinnamon rolls, the rolls come out nice and toasty. The problem with reheating cinnamon rolls in the fryer is that the crust gets harder and drier than required.

How To Reheat Cinnamon Rolls in the Skillet

While this is not ideal, it still can get the job done. You will need a deep pan or skillet.

  1. Heat your pan or skillet over low to medium heat.
  2. Add a small helping of butter or oil to the pan.
  3. Once it is nice and hot, add the cinnamon rolls.
  4. You can sprinkle some water on the cinnamon rolls to make sure it doesn’t dry out.
  5. Let your cinnamon roll heat for a couple of minutes and then flip it over and heat on the other side. It is best if your roll is not frosted, but if you are using frosted cinnamon rolls, expect things to get a little messy.
  6. Before taking the cinnamon rolls off the heat, you can optionally dab some butter, icing, or cream cheese on top of the cinnamon rolls. The heat from the skillet will soften it up.
  7. Take the rolls of the heat and enjoy.

So, the skillet doesn’t give you the perfect consistency you expect from a warm cinnamon roll but rest assured there is no compromise to the taste. The crust does begin to harden a bit, which is why it is best to heat on low or medium heat. High heat can cause the cinnamon roll to burn. The biggest drawback of the skillet method is that you have to keep a close eye on it the whole time, as the cinnamon roll could burn otherwise.

How To Reheat Cinnamon Rolls in a Panini Press

You can also reheat cinnamon rolls in a panini press, sandwich maker, or grill. It is a pretty straightforward method, similar to making a sandwich.

  1. Preheat your panini press.
  2. Once it has heated up, place the cinnamon roll in it and close and press down.
  3. Take it off the heat and you can add your icing, butter, or cream cheese to it.

So, this process is as simple as it sounds. There is no extra prep to it, but you will have a fair bit of clean up though, especially if the cinnamon roll is frosted. The heat does harden the sugar on top, while the frosting also melts in the heat, so you do end up with a gooey, crumbly roll. The upside is that you do have a perfectly warmed cinnamon roll.

How best to store cinnamon rolls?

Cinnamon rolls are best when they are eaten warm and fresh. If they have any type of frosting, refrigerate them as soon as possible. Having said that cinnamon rolls do have a pretty good shelf life. They will stay good in the pantry or at room temperature for about two days. Make sure they are wrapped in foil and then stored in an airtight container. The cinnamon rolls will be fine in the paper bag or box they came in, but the more they are exposed to air the harder and drier they become.

To store them in the fridge, wrap them in foil or place them in an airtight container. They will stay good in the fridge for about 2 weeks.

To extend their shelf life, even more, you can store the cinnamon rolls in the freezer. Wrap them tightly in foil and then place them in a freezer-safe, airtight container and then store them in the freezer. Double wrapping them, prevents any freezer burn and ensures that the rolls stay safe. They will stay good for 3-5 months.


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