Ready in just 25 minutes, these simple cinnamon rolls are made with King’s Hawaiian sweet rolls, filled with a creamy cheesecake-like center, and topped with buttery cinnamon sugar. They’re soft, gooey, and unbelievably easy — perfect for lazy weekend mornings, holiday brunches, or even dessert!
Why You’ll Love These Rolls
These aren’t your typical cinnamon rolls — they’re faster, easier, and outrageously delicious.
- Quick and Easy: No dough to make, no long rise times. Just hollow, fill, bake.
- Bakery-Worthy Flavor: The sweet, fluffy Hawaiian rolls pair perfectly with the rich cream cheese filling and buttery cinnamon topping.
- Crowd-Pleaser: They’re a guaranteed hit. I’ve seen people sneak extras when they thought no one was looking!
Last Christmas, I brought a batch to brunch, and my sister-in-law literally hid two in her purse to take home. That’s when I knew I had something special.
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the Rolls
- 1 (12-count) package King’s Hawaiian Original Sweet Rolls
- 6 tbsp salted butter, melted
- 2 tbsp brown sugar (light or dark)
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
For the Filling
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 egg (room temperature)
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prep Your Rolls
Preheat your oven to 375°F and lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish. Place the Hawaiian rolls into the dish, still connected. Use a small serrated knife to carefully cut a square into the top of each roll and scoop out some of the bread to make room for the filling. Don’t toss the insides — they make great snacks!
2. Make the Cinnamon Butter
In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Tip: Don’t use hot butter — warm is best so it doesn’t make the rolls soggy. Brush the mixture generously over the tops and into the cavities of each roll.
3. Mix the Filling
In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the sugar and egg, mixing until creamy and lump-free. Pro Tip: Room temperature ingredients will give you the smoothest filling.
4. Fill and Bake
Spoon or pipe the cream cheese mixture into each roll cavity until almost full. Bake for 15 minutes, or until the tops are golden and the filling is just set. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving — the centers will stay gooey, but not runny.
Tips from My Kitchen
- Grease the dish well: These rolls can stick!
- Don’t overfill: They puff up, so leave a little space at the top.
- Tent with foil if the tops are browning too fast.
- Use fresh cinnamon: It makes a big difference in flavor.
Fun Twists to Try
- Add a fresh raspberry or chocolate chip to the center before baking.
- Drizzle with caramel or cream cheese glaze after baking.
- Sprinkle a pinch of flaky sea salt on top before baking to balance the sweetness.
Perfect Pairings
These rolls are rich and sweet, so they go great with:
- Hot coffee or espresso
- Fresh fruit salad
- A cold glass of milk (for kids and adults)
Make-Ahead Tips
You can totally prep parts of this ahead of time:
- Mix the filling the night before and store in the fridge.
- Hollow out the rolls and cover tightly to keep fresh.
- Reheat leftover rolls in the microwave for 10–15 seconds.
Storage Tip: These are best fresh but will keep in the fridge (tightly covered) for up to 2 days. Freezing isn’t recommended — the texture just doesn’t hold up.
Final Thoughts
These King’s Hawaiian Cream Cheese Cinnamon Rolls are one of those recipes that looks impressive but takes hardly any effort. Whether it’s Christmas morning or just a random Saturday, they bring that extra special touch to the table. The sweet rolls, the creamy filling, the cinnamon sugar on top… it’s comfort food bliss.
And trust me — once you make these, they’ll become your most-requested brunch treat, too. 💛
Quick Recipe Recap
Easy Hawaiian Cinnamon Rolls
Soft Hawaiian rolls filled with sweet cream cheese and topped with cinnamon-sugar butter.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 6 (12 rolls)
Difficulty: Easy
Cuisine: American
Dietary: Vegetarian