In summary: There are three ways to reheat cinnamon rolls: in the oven, in the microwave, or in an air fryer. Each method requires adding some moisture and heating for a few minutes.
Delicious cinnamon rolls are the perfect dessert at any time of the day. They are almost like a comfort food every time you feel bad. One warm cinnamon roll will be just a perfect start to the day.
Delicious, soft, with a delicate cinnamon aroma and a pleasant smell of freshly baked dough, you can hardly resist them. Yet, they are only that good when they are warm and fresh.
As soon as they stand for a while at room temperature or in the refrigerator, cinnamon rolls start to dry out and become hard and not tasty. That is why we mostly avoid making larger quantities at once.
I always freeze raw cinnamon rolls and then bake only as many pieces as I need. However, the key to enjoyment is in good reheating that will make them as delicious as in the beginning. You can reheat cinnamon rolls fresh in any of your preferred ways.
Reheating Cinnamon Rolls In The Oven
There are three ways to reheat cinnamon rolls that work best: in the oven, the microwave or in an air fryer. If you have a little more time, my recommendation would be to opt for an oven as the result will be a bit better than in other two methods.
You can get around the problem of dry rolls by regaining their moisture and softness. Here are the tricks how to reheat leftover cinnamon rolls.
Step 1: Preheat the Oven to 350 °F
Set the oven to a medium temperature of 350 degrees F and let it preheat.
Remember, if you have had frozen cinnamon rolls, they need to be thawed first and then reheated. You can do this by moving them from the freezer to the fridge overnight for a gradual thawing.
Step 2: Restore Moisture of Cinnamon Rolls with Butter or Water
You can skip this step if you find that your cinnamon rolls are moist and juicy enough and don’t need extra help. If they have become dry and hard though, be sure to do the following.
When you put the dry cinnamon rolls on the baking tray, coat them with melted butter. If you do not want to put butter, you can spray a little water on the rolls. Don’t overdo it. You don’t need to soak them in water, just spray.
After that, wrap the cinnamon rolls in aluminum foil to retain moisture and to soften them as they bake.
Step 3: Bake for up to 15 Minutes
Now is the time to place cinnamon rolls on the heat. Put them in the oven and leave them like that for a minimum of 10 minutes.
After that, you can take them out and check the condition. If necessary, return them for an additional few minutes of baking. Once ready, take the rolls out of the oven. Let them rest for a few minutes and serve.
Heating Cinnamon Rolls In A Microwave
A faster method of reheating cinnamon rolls is in the microwave. As with all other dishes, it will only take you a few minutes to complete the job. However, you must be careful not to heat the rolls in the microwave for too long as they will become tight and hard.
In this method, you can also restore some of the moisture if they are too dry. The microwave will be your natural choice if you only need one reheated cinnamon roll.
Step 1: Place Cinnamon Rolls on a Plate and Add Moisture
Choose a dish that you can safely use in the microwave, then arrange the cinnamon rolls on a microwave safe plate. Do not stack the rolls on top of each other. If you have too many rolls, heat them in several rounds.
Coat the rolls with butter or sprinkle lightly with water. Of course, in the case of a microwave, never wrap the rolls in foil, but leave them as they are or use a damp paper towel instead to cover them.
Step 2: Heat Cinnamon Rolls for about 15 Seconds
Put cinnamon rolls in the microwave and heat them for 15 seconds—no longer than that. Then, take them out and check how warm cinnamon rolls inside are.
If necessary, return them back for an additional 10 seconds. Be careful to use very short heating intervals to avoid losing control.
The rolls could become inedible if you overdo it. Once they’re done, serve them and enjoy immediately.
Warming Cinnamon Rolls In An Air Fryer
If you have an air fryer in the kitchen, it will be just as fast and reliable a heating method as the previous one.
Some people prefer to have a fryer or a microwave, and some have all the possible appliances they can think of to make cooking easier.
When it comes to leftover cinnamon rolls, it really doesn’t matter which method you choose. The result will be quite similar. Here’s what to do.
Step 1: Preheat the Air Fryer to 350 °F
Like with a toaster oven, the temperature should be medium-high, around 350 degrees. This will be ideal to reheat the cinnamon without burning the crust at the same time.
Wait until the device is fully heated. In those few minutes, you can prepare the rolls in the air fryer basket.
Step 2: Place the Rolls in a Basket
If you have a baking dish that fits perfectly in the air fryer, you can use it. If not, feel free to line the bottom of the basket with aluminum foil or parchment paper to prevent moisture from leaking through the grates.
Then put the cinnamon rolls in the basket so that there is a little space between each one. If you have too many rolls, it is better to distribute the heating in several stages.
Now is the time to restore moisture. As in the previous methods, you can use melted butter or sprinkle water on each piece.
Step 3: Cook for 3 Minutes
You have to be careful that the time reheating cinnamon rolls does not get out of control. Turn on the fryer for 3 minutes. That should be quite enough for a thorough warm-up.
However, if the rolls were a bit bigger, it may take an extra minute or two. Check the result after the first 3 minutes and decide on additional heating.
FAQs
Can I freeze baked cinnamon rolls?
Yes, you can definitely freeze already baked cinnamon rolls. That way, you will have a perfect and quick breakfast or treat every time you want. You just need to defrost and reheat them, and they will be perfect as if they were freshly baked. Freeze cinnamon rolls on the same day you prepared them for better results.
If you know you want freshly baked cinnamon rolls for breakfast, take them out of the freezer and put them in the fridge the night before. By morning, they will be ready to warm up.
What is the best way to freeze baked cinnamon rolls?
Let the cinnamon rolls cool completely before placing them in the freezer. It will be best if you store each one separately so that you can get the exact number of rolls you need in the future. So, put each cinnamon roll in a separate cooler bag and squeeze the air out as much as you can. Then store cinnamon rolls properly in the freezer. Don’t go reheating cinnamon rolls unfrosted.
How long are cinnamon rolls good for?
The biggest problem with cinnamon rolls is not that they will spoil down but will dry out too much and become so hard that you can no longer enjoy them. For this reason, the duration at room temperature is likely to be one to two days, but maybe a few days longer in the fridge but not significantly. Storing cinnamon rolls for a few days is just not a good idea.
If you want to store them safely for a long time, it is safe to freeze them. It will last up to 4 months, and you can take out one or two cinnamon rolls at any time and reheat.
How do you soften cinnamon rolls after baking?
To soften cinnamon rolls after baking, you can microwave them for a few seconds to warm them up, or you can cover them with foil and place them in the oven at a low temperature (around 250°F or 120°C) for a few minutes until they become soft and gooey again.
Conclusion
Homemade cinnamon rolls are an adored and perfect dessert for most people. However, they are best when fresh and still warm. It is important to know how to reheat fresh cinnamon rolls properly so that you can always enjoy this sweet dish.
You can choose between an oven, an air fryer and a microwave, depending on how much time you have or what appliance you have. A slightly better result will be in the oven, but the microwave or an air fryer will also serve nicely and heat the rolls to enjoy them.
Tanja is great lover of healthy eating and lifestyle, she has been editing TV series about nutrition and health for years. She also engaged in food production in the family business, mainly focused on fruit processing without destroying vitamins and minerals. She believes that quality nutrition is one of the key ingredients of a happy and healthy life.
