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Looking for the easiest way to make cinnamon rolls that taste homemade? Give these cinnamon rolls with heavy cream (AKA the famous “TikTok cinnamon rolls”) a try! They’re so good, no one will guess you didn’t make them from scratch.

Overhead view of 3 white plates, each with a frosted cinnamon roll on it.
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Every once in a while a recipe will show up on my TikTok FYP that I have to make immediately. Most recently, it was the ultra-viral TikTok Cinnamon Rolls. 

I kept seeing multiple variations that Stephie (my right-hand woman) and I both tested and we finally landed on what we think is the absolute perfect version made with Rhodes Frozen Cinnamon Rolls. However, this recipe also works pretty well with a couple of cans of cinnamon rolls.

Trust the process because when you watch the video, you might be a little skeptical like me and think, “Where the heck does the heavy cream go?” But I promise you it works and you end up with cinnamon roll perfection without the hassle of making your own dough.

Truly the only thing that kicks these up a notch is a homemade cream cheese icing, but the one that comes in the Rhodes bag is pretty darn delicious. 

I have made these no less than 5 times in the past month and not one person questioned if they were homemade. 

We loved them so much, we reheated them for dessert and served them alongside a scoop of vanilla or cinnamon ice cream!

Frosted cinnamon roll with heavy cream on a white plate. A second cinnamon roll and a cup of coffee are in the background.
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The Famous TikTok Cinnamon Rolls

I’ve been inspired by my TikTok FYP a few times before. It was because of TikTok that I gave both brown butter chocolate chip cookies and cheesy ranch pull-apart bread a try. There’s just something about that app that knows what I’m going to end up craving.

So when I saw someone pour heavy cream over a can of Pillsbury cinnamon rolls before baking them, you know I was intrigued.

And then a few days later, I saw someone do the same thing with Rhodes frozen cinnamon rolls. 

Ingredients for tiktok cinnamon rolls, aka cinnamon rolls with heavy cream, arranged on a marble countertop.

Now, I’ve used Rhodes frozen bread dough before to make my easy pecan sticky buns and pepperoni bread, so seeing someone dress up their frozen cinnamon rolls really piqued my interest. 

I gave both versions a try and let me tell you – TikTok doesn’t lie. This is one simple way to make pre-made cinnamon rolls taste homemade!

Our family prefers the frozen cinnamon roll version of this recipe, but the Pillsbury version is super quick and still delicious in a pinch. I’ll walk you through how to make both!

Frozen cinnamon rolls in a white baking dish, ready to thaw and rise.

How to Make Cinnamon Rolls with Heavy Cream

I love my overnight cinnamon rolls, but these cinnamon rolls with heavy cream are going to be my new stand-in when I just don’t have the time or energy to make a yeast dough. 

I took the method I saw on TikTok and gave it my own MBA twist. These cinnamon rolls are rich and decadent and the simplest things ever.

The combination of the heavy cream and the brown sugar syrup make the rolls fluffier than normal and creates a sticky syrup on the bottom that keeps the cinnamon rolls nice and moist. They’re like a cross between a cinnamon roll and a sticky bun!

Ingredients you’ll need

To make this recipe, you will need:

  • A bag of Rhodes Thaw, Rise and Bake Cinnamon Rolls: These are also sometimes labeled as “Bake ‘N Serv” cinnamon rolls. The Rhodes brand rolls are pretty widely available, but other brands should work fine if you can’t find Rhodes.
  • Heavy whipping cream: This will get poured directly over the thawed rolls before baking.
  • Salted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon & vanilla: These will get mixed together to go on top of the cinnamon rolls before baking.
  • The frosting that comes with the cinnamon rolls: The cream cheese frosting that came with the rolls won’t go to waste – we’ll use that after the cinnamon rolls are baked!

Recipe Tip

If you want to really take these cinnamon rolls with heavy cream up a notch, you can use a homemade frosting instead. I would recommend using the cream cheese frosting from my pumpkin spice cinnamon rolls.

Tiktok cinnamon rolls, aka cinnamon rolls with heavy cream, assembled and ready to be baked in a white baking dish.

Making this recipe

You can make these cinnamon rolls all on the same day or start them the night before.

Place all 12 of the frozen cinnamon rolls in a greased 13×9-inch baking pan and cover the pan with plastic wrap.

Let the rolls thaw overnight in the refrigerator (for 8-16 hours) or on the counter for 3-5 hours.

Once the rolls have thawed and doubled in size, pour the heavy cream directly onto the rolls. Let this rest for 5 minutes.

While the rolls rest, whisk together the butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla. Pour this over the tops of the rolls. Use a spatula to spread it out evenly.

Bake the rolls for 30-35 minutes or until the cinnamon rolls are golden brown. Let them cool for about 10 minutes before topping with the cream cheese frosting and serving.

Baked cinnamon rolls with heavy cream in a white baking dish, set on a tea towel to cool.

Using Pillsbury cinnamon rolls instead of frozen cinnamon rolls

Like I said, I’ve made both versions of these cinnamon rolls with heavy cream. While our family prefers the frozen cinnamon rolls version because we think they taste more like homemade cinnamon rolls, I’ll definitely make the Pillsbury version again in a pinch!

It’s a great way to really elevate a can of cinnamon rolls.

To make the Pillsbury version, grab two 8-count cans of Pillsbury Grands Original Cinnamon Rolls. Place the rolls in the greased baking dish, cover with the heavy cream, and continue with the recipe as written.

Since you don’t have to factor in the thawing and rising time, this version is much faster to make!

Frosted cinnamon rolls with heavy cream in a white baking dish, resting on a tea towel to cool.

Storage and Reheating

Store any leftover cinnamon rolls with heavy cream covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

These cinnamon rolls are best when they’re warm, so I recommend reheating leftovers. Place a cinnamon roll on a microwave-safe plate and microwave for 30-60 seconds before eating. 

White plate holding a tiktok cinnamon roll. A cup of coffee and a second cinnamon roll are in the background.

More Make-Ahead Breakfast Recipes

If you’re anything like me, you’re always on the hunt for easy make-ahead breakfast recipes that can be prepared the night before (or even days before!). If you like these TikTok cinnamon rolls, you should give these other make-ahead breakfasts a try:

Two cherry turnovers on a white plate. One of the turnovers is cut in half with the cherry filling facing the camera

Cherry Turnovers

Homemade cherry turnovers are made with just a handful of ingredients! Bake these right away or freeze them to bake later whenever a craving strikes.
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Maple syrup being poured over the top of a slice of banana coffee cake

Make-Ahead Banana Coffee Cake

Bisquick mix is the secret ingredient to this banana coffee cake! Bake it the same day or prep it overnight to bake in the morning.
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Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole

If you love eggs and hash browns, you'll love this hash brown breakfast casserole. Mix it together the night before and bake it the next morning for a filling breakfast that everyone will love.
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Stacked slices of pumpkin french toast casserole topped with butter and syrup on a white plate

Pumpkin French Toast Casserole

If you love french toast but hate frying all of the pieces, this pumpkin french toast casserole is for you! Easy to make ahead, this sliceable french toast is bursting with fall flavors for a perfect cozy breakfast.
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Slice of make-ahead breakfast casserole on a white plate.

Make-Ahead Breakfast Casserole

This recipe is my all-time favorite make-ahead breakfast casserole! Make it as written or swap in some of your favorite veggies to make it your own.
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Copycat Starbucks Breakfast Sandwiches

If you love the Starbucks breakfast sandwiches, you'll adore this homemade version! Make these on the weekend and freeze them for the week ahead.
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Peanut Butter Overnight Oats Recipe

Peanut Butter Overnight Oats are the perfect make-ahead breakfast for busy mornings! Prepare a ton in advance, get them ready the night before and enjoy a nutritious breakfast on the go.
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Three white plates with tiktok cinnamon rolls set on a marble countertop next to a baking dish of cinnamon rolls.
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Cinnamon Rolls with Heavy Cream (TikTok Cinnamon Rolls)

By: Jamie Lothridge
4.55 from 178 ratings
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Thaw/Rise Time: 3 hours
Total: 3 hours 40 minutes
Servings: 12 rolls
Looking for the easiest way to make cinnamon rolls that taste homemade? Give these cinnamon rolls with heavy cream (AKA the famous “TikTok cinnamon rolls”) a try! They’re so good, no one will guess you didn’t make them from scratch.

Ingredients

Instructions 

  • Spray a 9×13-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Arrange all 12 of the cinnamon rolls into the prepared pan. Cover the pan with plastic wrap sprayed with cooking spray to prevent the rolls from sticking to the plastic wrap while rising. 
  • Choose your preferred thaw and rise method from the back of the Rhodes bag. The regular method will take 3-5 hours and the refrigerator method can be done overnight for 8-16 hours. 
  • Once the rolls have doubled in size, preheat the oven to 350°F. Pour the heavy cream directly over the rolls and allow it to seep into the rolls for about 5 minutes.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the melted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and vanilla. Pour this mixture directly over the rolls and use an offset spatula to spread it evenly. 
  • Bake uncovered in preheated oven for 30-35 minutes or until the rolls are golden brown. Allow the rolls to cool for about 10 minutes before frosting with the cream cheese icing frosting that is included in the Rhodes Thaw, Rise and Bake Cinnamon Rolls.

Video

Notes

If you want an even quicker way to make this recipe, use 2 (8-count) cans of Pillsbury Grands Original Cinnamon Rolls. Place the rolls in the greased baking dish, eliminate the thaw and rise steps, and follow the recipe starting from preheating the oven. Bake for 25 minutes. 
Adapted from TikTok – original creator unknown.
4.55 from 178 votes (175 ratings without comment)

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42 Comments

  1. Becky says:

    5 stars
    Hi, my niece suggested using the Rhodes cinnamon rolls. We used an 18 x 10 aluminum pan and followed the recipe. The rolls rose beautifully and tasted amazing! Thank you

  2. jean says:

    I loved this recipe. I bought the inexpensive Aldi brand cinnamon rolls, which are a little dry and small. the cream puffed them up and the butter/sugar/cinnamon spread added decadence. yum yum. we couldn’t stop eating them!

  3. Sherlyn says:

    These were SOOOO good! My rolls thawed in the refrigerator, but didn’t rise, so I put them in the oven with the light on and that did the trick. I make homemade sticky rolls, and I’ll use this recipe for regular cinnamon rolls! Thank you for this recipe!

    Sherlyn

  4. Cindy says:

    I’m thinking to use the Pillsbury Grands. Instead of 10 can I add 2 extra rolls to the 9×13 so I have a full dozen or would the pan be too stuffed to accommodate 2 extra rolls? Thanks so much!

  5. Marsha Manning says:

    We had the Pillsbury on Christmas morning. They were so delicious. Tomorrow I am using the frozen Rhodes cinnamon rolls. Can’t wait.

    1. Jamie says:

      So glad to hear you enjoyed the recipe! Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving your feedback.
      -Jamie

  6. Sally says:

    Has anyone tried this with coconut cream instead of heavy cream?

  7. Mari says:

    I’ve always used a glass dish but my husband insisted I should be using metal. What do other people use?

    1. Jamie says:

      I have honestly used both, but most of the time I use metal.

    2. Marsha Manning says:

      @Mari, My Pampered Chef Stoneware!

  8. Jana says:

    I know I’m late to the party, but I heard about this recipe and tried it once I found your version. Oh my goodness!! Over the top good! I’m rolling pin challenged, so the chances of me making these from scratch is about 0.05 percent. Cant wait to surprise our guests visiting over the holidays.

    1. Jamie says:

      Hello!
      I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed this recipe. Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving your feedback.
      -Jamie

  9. DonnaR says:

    Hi Jamie — About 40 years ago a co-worker gave me a similar cinnamon roll recipe that used Rhoades dinner rolls and a Bundt pan. The frozen rolls were coated with melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon that had been combined in a saucepan, and then layered in a buttered Bundt pan. After the rolls had risen, heavy cream was poured over the dough then baked. The pan was turned onto a plate and served.

  10. Kelli says:

    I have tried adding heavy cream twice to cinnamon rolls and the cream boils over and spills onto the oven. What trick am I missing?

    1. Jamie says:

      Hi Kelli – I haven’t had that issue with this recipe, so I’m not sure what might be happening for you. Make sure you’re using a standard 9×13-inch pan (about 2 inches high on the sides) and you might want to check your oven temperature to see if it’s running too high.
      Jamie

    2. DonnaR says:

      @Kelli, After adding the cream, I’ve had to use a chopstick to separate the dough a little where they touch each other to allow the cream to flow to the bottom of the pan. I also use the chopstick along the sides of the pan if the cream is pooling there too. If the cream goes down the sides of the pan or between the rolls, the cream won’t boil over.