I think that these are the best air fryer cinnamon rolls. It’s a great option for an easy recipe when everyone wants to eat. 

You can whip up these fluffy cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning or for a quick breakfast for the kids. I’ve been told time and time again that they’re the perfect treat for any special occasion! 

Plus, using the air fryer means that they’re ready in a fraction of the time. And all you really need to do is head to your local grocery store, grab canned cinnamon rolls, and get started.

You’ll have this delicious treat in less time and less mess. What more could you want?!

Use this simple recipe to make warm cinnamon rolls with ease. Once you air fry cinnamon rolls, you’ll be hooked! I also love to use my air fryer for a more healthy granola.

Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls

If you thought that Pillsbury cinnamon rolls were already easy to prepare, get ready for an even easier air fryer breakfast. 

Pop cinnamon rolls in your air fryer, and they’ll be done before you’re even finished setting the table! There’s no big secret — it’s the same as using your oven, only faster!

I’m not sure who convinced all of us that cinnamon rolls are a breakfast item instead of a dessert, but I’m not complaining! 

Between cinnamon roll monkey bread and my homemade cinnamon rolls copycat Cinnabon recipe, I think I could start every day with that melty, mouthwatering cinnamon goodness. 

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

• Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls – There are a couple of options out there, right? Grands, flaky, and even orange-flavored nowadays!
  
  Any of them will do for this cinnamon rolls air fryer recipe. I’ve tried different brands and these are my favorite.
  
  The icing varies too, with your choice of the original, cream cheese, reduced fat, and extra rich buttercream. Take your pick of those as well! 
  
• (Optional) Vanilla Frosting – Have some on hand if you want extra icing to drizzle or serve alongside air fryer cinnamon rolls. 
  
  Simply microwave the canned version — you’ll find tips on that in the recipe card below!

Tips and Tricks for Making Perfect Cinnamon Rolls in Air Fryer

• Leave space around each roll

Air fryers are all about air circulation. So if the edges of your rolls are covered up, the air can’t reach them and they can’t cook! 

If proper spacing means baking in multiple batches, so be it — For best results it is better to take a bit more time than have an underbaked batch!

• Keep the dough chilled

If you do find yourself frying in multiple batches, then be sure to keep the excess dough chilled until it’s time to go in the air fryer. 

The cooking time is based on chilled dough. Additionally, the rolls will start to droop if left at room temperature for too long, affecting the fluffiness and rise.

• Use parchment paper

While it’s true that you can use either parchment paper or aluminum foil in the air fryer, the best way to get amazing results is to go with parchment paper this time around. 

Aluminum foil heats up and bakes the bottom of your ingredients just a tad more than the edges and the top. 

So unless you want a harder, crisper bottom on your air fryer cinnamon rolls, line with parchment paper! 

Prep Ahead

• Cut parchment to fit air fryer basket
• Preheat the air fryer

Fun Toppings for Cinnamon Rolls from the Air Fryer

• Cream Cheese Frosting – I don’t know about you, but I’m all about cream cheese frosting with my cinnamon treats! 
  
  Use an electric or stand mixer to fluff up a block of cream cheese with 2 cups of powdered sugar. 
  Then, add a little vanilla extract, plus a pinch of salt to balance the sweetness.
  
• Lemon Drizzle – A quick lemon icing will brighten up these air fryer cinnamon rolls in a flash! 
  
  Mix powdered sugar, lemon zest and juice, and just enough milk to get the right consistency. You’ll have a sweet and tangy topping that’s absolutely to die for!
  
• Strawberry Dessert Topping – This one is pretty indulgent, but what’s better than a fruity breakfast? 
  
  These strawberries are boiled with sugar and flavored with vanilla. You can also make this recipe with any fruit you would like!

You can easily top these delicious cinnamon rolls with anything that you want. Melted butter and cinnamon sugar are other great options! 

The best part is that you can let everyone add their own topping as well to make their own perfect cinnamon roll. 

I told you that these fluffy air fryer cinnamon rolls are great! Using simple ingredients keeps it uncomplicated, giving you fun options for these sweet rolls! 

And if you don’t want toppings, you can pair them with fresh fruit for a sweet addition. 

Easy air fryer recipes like this offer so many different ways to enjoy it! You get to pick your favorite way! 

Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls Air Fryer FAQ

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

It’s really best to enjoy Pillsbury air fryer cinnamon rolls from the air fryer while they’re fresh and hot. Over time, they tend to dry out.

That said, if you happen to have any leftover cinnamon rolls, you can always keep leftovers of these easy cinnamon rolls in at room temperature in an airtight container for 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Reheat Pillsbury cinnamon rolls in the air fryer or microwave just until warmed through. 

It can help to add a sprinkle of water (or cover them with a damp paper towel in the microwave) to get some of that moisture back.

Enjoy!

With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.

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Other Easy Air Fryer Recipes

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Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls (Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls)

Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls are the best way to get your sweet cinnamon fix! Try this quick and easy Pillsbury cinnamon rolls air fryer recipe.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Method Air Fryer

Prep Time 3 minutes minutes

Cook Time 7 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 8

Calories 150cal

Author Donna Elick

Equipment

• air fryer

Ingredients

• 8 Pillsbury refrigerated cinnamon rolls 1 8-Count package

Instructions

• Preheat the air fryer to 350° F. Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper.
• Open package and separate rolls. Place rolls in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving space between each for expansion.
• Cook rolls for 6-7 minutes.
• Remove rolls from basket and transfer to a serving plate. Allow cinnamon rolls to cool slightly, then stir the frosting and spread evenly over the rolls.

Notes

For extra icing, add ⅓ to ½ container of vanilla frosting to a microwave-safe bowl. Heat for 20 seconds and stir.
Serve warm with plenty of napkins

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 150cal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 4.5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 350mg | Sugar: 10g | Iron: 0.8mg

Originally published October 2022, updated and republished September 2025

Disclosure: Posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link your price will remain the same and The Slow Roasted Italian will automatically receive a small commission. Thank you for supporting us, it helps us keep creating new recipes.

The post Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls (Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls) appeared first on The Slow Roasted Italian.

Making your own sugar cookie frosting is the perfect way to add flavor and flair! All you need are simple ingredients – and I promise it’s the easiest way to get that glossy finish on top of your cookies! 

You can use this perfect sugar cookie icing to top gingerbread cookies, sugar cookies, and more!

Don’t forget to take it to the edges of the cookies so that you get that additional flavor in every single bite.

This literally is the easiest sugar cookie icing, and it’s what I use when I’m on a mission for decorated cookies. 

This homemade sugar cookie icing is a must for frosted cookies because it’s the perfect type of icing to harden, stay in place, and have great flavor!

Add this to the top of your favorite sugar cookie recipe! 

Sugar Cookie Icing

Sugar cookies are a delightful treat for any special occasion, but I especially enjoy them during Christmas time. 

They are soft, chewy, and slightly crispy on the edges, plus they go perfectly with my best tasting icing recipe.

The best part? This cookie icing recipe comes together in just 5 minutes with a handful of ingredients! It has the right consistency to make the perfect icing! 

Decorating sugar cookies is a great way to get creative in the kitchen and to soak up the magic of the season. 

Put on a festive music playlist in the background and gather your loved ones for some Christmas cookie decorating.

Add them to your dessert table with a few more of my best ever Christmas cookies, or put together treat boxes for your neighbors!

Cookie Icing Recipe Ingredient Notes

• Powdered Sugar – Also known as confectioners sugar or icing sugar, this has the perfect texture for sugar cookie icing.
  
• Whole Milk – This helps to thin the icing and give it the perfect consistency. You can also use low fat milk or even water if you prefer.
  
• Light Corn Syrup – Not only does this help to dissolve the sugar, but it gives your sugar cookie icing a gorgeous glossy appearance!
  
• Almond Extract – In my opinion, the flavor of almond extract balances out the vanilla in the sugar cookies. 
  
  You could also substitute vanilla extract or use a mix of both. Just be sure to use clear vanilla extract if you want a bright white icing. 
  
• Gel Food Coloring – You can use any color that you’d like, or mix different colors together to create the perfect shade. 
  
  A little bit of gel color goes a long way (and won’t change the consistency!), so start with a few drops and add more if needed.

Frosting vs Icing

You may have heard these terms used interchangeably, but they are actually not the same! 

Frosting is known to be thick and fluffy and is commonly spread on cakes or cookies. It can have different textures and consistencies depending on the preparation. 

Buttercream is one of the most popular, but whipped cream and cream cheese frosting are tasty too! You can also try our strawberry glaze.

On the other hand, icing is thinner and glossier than frosting. It dries hard, shiny, and smooth and is typically made with just powdered sugar and liquid. 

It’s often used to decorate cookies or drizzle over pastries.

Homemade icing is also typically used on the top of the cookie and the edge of the cookie, making it a great go-to recipe for adding color and taste quickly to plain sugar cookies. 

How to Make the Best Icing For Decorating

• Eliminate Clumps. Sift your powdered sugar through a fine mesh sieve before mixing it with the liquid ingredients. 
  
  You’ll get perfectly smooth results every single time!
  
• Use Two Consistencies. Pipe a thin line along the outside of the cookie with thicker icing. Then, use a thinner batch to fill the middle (flood) the cookies. 
  
  Aim for the same consistency as corn syrup, so it spreads easily but isn’t too watery.
  
• Make It Glossy! The icing will already dry with a lovely shine, but you can use a heat gun to guarantee that it turns out glossy.
  
• Keep It Covered. Because the sugar cookie icing will start to harden when exposed to air, be sure to cover it when you’re not using it. 
  
  Or, simply store it in squeeze bottles or piping bags until it’s time to decorate!
  
• Dry Completely. Yes, this is a cookie icing that hardens quickly, but I still recommend giving it time to dry overnight. 
  
  Store your cookies in a single layer on cookie sheets, tenting them with foil to keep the bottoms from drying out.

Kitchen Tools You Will Need

• Stand mixer or large mixing bowl with hand mixer.
• Sieve – Great for sifting your powdered sugar to prevent clumps.
• Decorating Squeeze Bottles are perfect for icing cookies and there’s less mess too! 
  
  Or, make your own Piping Bag by filling a plastic storage bag and snipping off the corner opposite from the zippered top. 

Sugar Cookie Icing FAQ 

Enjoy!

With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.

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Fabulous Holiday Cookie Recipes

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Best Ever Sugar Cookie Icing (4-Ingredient Recipe) + Video

This is the best sugar cookie icing! It dries hard but melts in your mouth + tastes great!! This recipe makes icing for decorating cookies.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Method Mixed

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 24 Ounces

Calories 129cal

Author Donna Elick

Ingredients

• 6 cups powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup whole milk, plus more as needed
• 1/4 cup light corn syrup
• 2 teaspoons almond extract or clear vanilla extract
• gel food coloring in desired colors

Instructions

• In the bowl of a stand mixer (or using an electric mixer), combine sugar and ¼ cup milk. Mix until combined, then add more milk, one tablespoon at a time, as needed to create a smooth consistency. Add corn syrup and almond extract.
• To decorate cookies, your outline icing should be the consistency of toothpaste, your flood icing should be the consistency of corn syrup.
• Add food coloring one drop at a time until desired color is reached. Pour into bottles, decorator bags or a cup. Keep unused icing sealed until ready to use.

Video

Notes

The icing will dry hard. It can take up to overnight before I would recommend stacking them. I store mine on cookie sheets tented with foil to keep the cookie bottoms from drying out while they are drying.

 

You absolutely can substitute vanilla extract (or any other extract). Keep in mind, it will give your icing a slightly off white hue but if you are coloring it anyway it won’t matter.

This icing will keep for several weeks on the countertop, in a sealed container. I actually keep mine much longer than that.

We have received some questions about cloudy spots on the iced cookies. I have never had to deal with spots, I live in Arizona and it is a very dry climate and we use air conditioning to cool (which is also very dry). I know that too much humidity can cause icing to get spots. Do you live in a humid climate or use a swamp cooler? I would try a dehumidifier while you are making cookies to help the issue or stick to white icing (actually add white color to the icing) or try working with thicker icing. Or try using thicker icing. That will remove some of the water content and allow the cookies to dry faster. Also make sure the cookies are 100% dry before closing them in a container.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 129cal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 4mg | Sugar: 32g | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 1mg

Originally published December 2013, updated and republished November 2024

Disclosure: Posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link your price will remain the same and The Slow Roasted Italian will automatically receive a small commission. Thank you for supporting us, it helps us keep creating new recipes.

The post Best Ever Sugar Cookie Icing (4-Ingredient Recipe) + Video appeared first on The Slow Roasted Italian.

You can use this to decorate your Christmas cookies or to make homemade icing for any easy cookie recipe. This really is the easiest sugar cookie icing recipe for making decorated cookies!

The fun part is that you can add additional colors and additional flavor easily to new recipes like this to create the perfect iced cookies! 

All you need are a few basic ingredients to get started on this easy recipe – and you’ll have the perfect frosting for the holiday season.

Change up and use vibrant colors or keep this perfect icing just the way it is. All options are good options when it comes to adding this frosting to the top of the cookie! 

Sugar Cookie Frosting 

This tasty sugar cookie frosting recipe is absolutely heavenly and is essential for all of your holiday cookie decorating needs. I could eat it with a spoon!

Spread this frosting on my favorite Christmas Sugar Cookies, which are soft and chewy on the inside and slightly crispy on the edges. 

Or, if you love icing just as much as frosting, you could top these cookies with my delicious Sugar Cookie Icing instead.

My sugar cookie frosting is easy to prepare — ready in just 5 minutes! Simply whip your ingredients together, and you’ll have perfectly soft frosting for cookies in no time at all. 

If you love this Christmas cookie frosting, give my Candy Cane Buttercream Frosting a try next. 

To see us make homemade frosting for cookies from start to finish, watch the video in this post!

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

• Unsalted Butter – I recommend using unsalted butter so that you have more control over how much salt goes into the recipe. 
  
  If you only have salted butter on hand, no worries — you can simply omit the additional salt!
  
• Milk – Whole milk is best to give your cookie frosting a creamy consistency, but you can also use nonfat milk if you prefer.
  
• Powdered Sugar – This is also called confectioners’ sugar. 
  
  Powdered sugar is the key ingredient in this sugar cookie frosting recipe, making it sweet and thickening the mixture. 
  
• Salt – Omit this ingredient if using salted butter.
  
• Almond Extract and Vanilla Extract – These give frosting for sugar cookies a delicious and sweet flavor.
  
• Gel Food Coloring – You’ll only need to add a little bit, and the drops of color won’t affect the consistency. 
  
  You can use any colors of your choice and decorate to your heart’s content!
  
• Sprinkles – While this garnish is optional, adding holiday sprinkles gives your cookies a fun and festive touch. 
  
  For best results, add sprinkles immediately after decorating — they’ll stick easier while the frosting is soft.

Icing vs Frosting for Cookies

A common misconception is that these terms are interchangeable, but they are actually not the same! 

Icing is thin and glossy, often used to decorate cookies or drizzle over pastries. It dries hard, shiny, and smooth and is typically made with just powdered sugar and liquid. 

On the other hand, frosting is known to be thicker and fluffier than icing and is commonly spread on cakes or cookies. 

It can have different textures and consistencies depending on the preparation. 

The buttercream cookie frosting we make here is super popular, but whipped cream and cream cheese frosting are tasty too!

Tips to Make Frosting for Sugar Cookies That Hardens 

• Eliminate clumps. 

Use a sieve to sift the sugar and get rid of any clumps. 

This is one of the best ways to get a perfectly smooth consistency when you cream the butter and sugar!

• Use room temperature butter. 

Softened butter is the easiest to combine with other ingredients and guarantees a soft, fluffy texture for your sugar cookie frosting. 

Avoid using melted butter as it won’t combine properly with the powdered sugar — you’ll get frosting that lacks structure and doesn’t set properly.

• Keep it covered. 

Frosting is easiest to spread and decorate with when it’s soft, so try to keep it covered when you’re not using it!

If your frosting starts to get too hard while you’re decorating, give it another mix or add a little bit of milk to help soften it.

• Dry before stacking. 

While this frosting for sugar cookies will harden, it still takes time! 

Let your treats dry fully in a single layer before storing and stacking them. 

How to Decorate with Cookie Frosting 

Whether you’re hosting a cookie decorating party, packing up sweet treats for family and friends, or simply gathering the kids for a fun holiday activity — there are so many different ways to decorate your cookies.

Find the method that suits the occasion and the tools you have on hand!

Spread by Hand

An offset spatula is the best tool for spreading frosting quickly and easily.

It not only gives you better control over the thickness of the frosting layer, but also creates cleaner edges.

That said, spoons may be a bit easier for small hands to work with. They can scoop with one side and spread with the other, all while minimizing mess!

Use a Piping Bag

A piping bag is a great option that will give your hands more control as you decorate. 

By using bags with various decorator tips, you’ll have plenty of options for creating different textures and fun designs.

The easiest way to fill a piping bag is to place the bag (fitted with a tip) in a tall glass with the pointed side facing downward. 

First, open the top of the bag and roll a cuff over the edge of the glass so that it holds. 

Next, carefully spoon your sugar cookie frosting into the bag, aiming to fill from the bottom up. 

Be careful not to overfill your bag as this might make it more difficult to work with.

Finally, unroll and close the cuffed end of the bag, and remove it from the cup. Simply cut off the tip of the bag and you’re ready to frost!

Try the Double Bagging Method

If you’ll be using several different colors of frosting, there’s an easy method called “double-bagging” that allows you to use the same piping tip over and over.

Just add each color to a different piping bag, and fit your tip onto a separate, empty bag. 

Then, snip off the end of a bag of buttercream and drop it into the bag with the tip.

When you’re ready to change colors, pull the inner bag out and drop in a new one!

You might want to squeeze a small amount of frosting out onto a piece of paper towel first — this will push any remaining old color through the tip.

Kitchen Tools You Will Need

• Stand mixer or large mixing bowl with hand mixer for whipping up your frosting.
• Offset Spatula – This spatula has so many uses and is perfect for smoothing an even layer of buttercream on each cookie.
• Piping Bag – These bags make decorating easy and clean up less messy! 
  
  You can fit different bags with your favorite piping tips, or use the double bagging method for a seamless switch between different colors.
• Decorator Piping Tips – Use different shapes and sizes depending on the design you want to make.

Sugar Cookie Frosting Recipe FAQ

Enjoy!

With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.

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Other Christmas Desserts

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Best Sugar Cookie Frosting (Stackable Recipe) + Video

Sugar Cookie Frosting is soft and sweet! This delicious homemade buttercream cookie frosting will take your holiday cookies to the next level.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Method Mixed

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 40 – 50

Calories 68cal

Author Donna Elick

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter room temperature
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• pinch salt
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Gel food coloring

Garnish

• Sprinkles

Instructions

• In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter with an electric mixer. Add in 1 cup powdered sugar, 2 Tablespoons milk, and a pinch of salt. Beat to combine.
• Add in another cup of powdered sugar, the almond extract, and vanilla extract. Beat to combine.
• Add in an additional cup of powdered sugar. Mix until well combined and smooth. Add additional powdered sugar or milk to get the right consistency.
• Stir in gel food coloring.
• Spread or pipe frosting onto your sugar cookies. Top with sprinkles immediately. Allow it to harden before stacking.

Video

Notes

If you are using multiple colors of food coloring for your cookies, tightly cover your additional frosting with plastic wrap so that it doesn’t dry out.

If your bowl of frosting starts to get hard, add a small amount of milk and mix to get the consistency back to the way you like it.

I recommend sifting your powdered sugar to keep your frosting smooth.

The round cookies were made using a Wilton 2D piping tip and a 12 inch piping bag.

The Christmas tree cookies were made using a Wilton 21 piping tip with a coupler in a 12 inch piping bag.

The fastest way to ice the cookies is probably making a round or square shaped cookie, and using an offset spatula to spread the frosting on.

Why won’t my sprinkles stay on? The frosting may have hardened a little bit before you put the sprinkles on. Tap the sprinkles into your cookie frosting, using a flat hand. This should press the sprinkles softly into the frosting.

Store in an airtight container for about 3 weeks.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 68cal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 1mg | Sugar: 12g | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 1mg

Originally published November 2020, updated and republished November 2024

Disclosure: Posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link your price will remain the same and The Slow Roasted Italian will automatically receive a small commission. Thank you for supporting us, it helps us keep creating new recipes.

The post Best Sugar Cookie Frosting (Stackable Recipe) + Video appeared first on The Slow Roasted Italian.