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When making cinnamon rolls from scratch isn’t in the cards, these simple tips and tricks will show you how to make a can of cinnamon rolls taste homemade. No one will know your secret!
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Pin RecipeEveryone gets excited when cinnamon rolls are on the table for breakfast. The cozy aroma wafting through the house as they bake is so inviting—it’s no wonder everyone comes running to the table! But let’s be real: we can’t always make homemade cinnamon rolls. They’re a lot of work!
Good thing that with a few simple adjustments, you can turn a can of refrigerated cinnamon rolls into a tasty treat. These tips for how to make canned cinnamon rolls taste homemade will make everyone think you spent all day in the kitchen!
1. Add Heavy Cream
If you are on TikTok, chances are you’ve seen this hack in action. The simple addition of heavy cream will make your cinnamon rolls extra tender and pillowy soft. All you have to do is add the heavy cream to the bottom of the baking pan and cook the cinnamon rolls according to the package. It’s the easiest way to upgrade your store-bought cinnamon rolls.
2. Make a Buttery Brown Sugar Drizzle
If you want to take your cinnamon rolls up a level, this idea will be right up your alley. The hack builds upon the heavy cream by adding melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. After pouring the heavy cream on top of the cinnamon rolls, make a mixture of the melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Then, drizzle that right over the top. It takes everything in the cinnamon rolls and magnifies it to enhance the flavor tenfold.
3. Upgrade Your Icing
While the packet of icing that comes with the cinnamon rolls is okay, it can be SO much better. My cream cheese frosting recipe will turn the cinnamon rolls into a super decadent treat. You can also use a mixture of powdered sugar, milk or heavy cream, and vanilla extract to make a simple yet sweet glaze.
4. Add Some Mix-Ins
Cinnamon rolls are pretty perfect on their own, but one of my favorite things to do is switch up the flavors inside the cinnamon rolls. Use these pumpkin cinnamon rolls and caramel pecan cinnamon rolls for some inspiration. While getting the flavors inside the cinnamon rolls may be more complicated, you can also drizzle caramel, nuts, chocolate, or crushed Oreos in the bottom of the pan before placing the cinnamon rolls inside.
5. Make Them Fruity
Mixing in fruit is one of the easiest ways to make a can of cinnamon rolls taste homemade. Adding in fresh fruit like strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries is an excellent way to upgrade basic cinnamon rolls. You can also use pie fillings, curds and jams, or a frozen fruit mixture to spread on the bottom of the pan before baking the cinnamon rolls to switch up the flavor.
Cinnamon Roll Tip
Follow the directions on the canned cinnamon rolls for temperature and time, but be flexible and keep an eye on them, especially if you add mix-ins. The baking time might be a little longer, so just add a few minutes until they are ready!
My Favorite Homemade Cinnamon Roll Recipes
These hacks are great for when you want to doctor up a can of homemade cinnamon rolls. However, if you have the time, making a batch of cinnamon rolls from scratch is so worth it. These cinnamon roll recipes always knock it out of the park!
- Prep these Overnight Cinnamon Rolls before you go to bed and bake them up in the morning!
- Cinnamon Roll Cake has the flavor of the breakfast favorite in dessert form.
- This Easy Cinnamon Roll French Toast Casserole is a great choice for holiday brunches!
