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I Tried the Viral Pillsbury Hack That Makes Regular Cinnamon Rolls Taste Exactly Like a Cinnabon

Patty Catalano
Patty CatalanoFood Editor at The Kitchn
The only subject that has ever held my attention has been food, because there’s no end to what you can taste, smell, learn, and cook. I patchworked my way to recipe development and food writing by earning degrees in Family & Consumer Sciences (you may have known it as Home Ec) and Food, Nutrition, and Culinary Science, and working anywhere that would take me: university food services, local bakeries, and the set of Good Eats on Food Network. Early on, I asked my mom how she knew what a cookbook recipe (with no pictures) would look and taste like. While my mom was there to teach me, I realized that not everyone has someone to turn to for trusted cooking guidance. I try every day to be that person for The Kitchn’s readers by sharing smart recipes they can feel proud to serve. Recipe development is the most fun job I can imagine, but it also comes with a lot of dirty dishes and hours spent in the grocery store. I’ve found that I actually really love grocery shopping — especially at Costco and Aldi — and it brings me such joy to share my finds with The Kitchn readers.
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published Aug 16, 2023
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Credit: Patty Catalano

As the primary cook in my house, I’m always looking for smart shortcuts that deliver delicious results. While I adore homemade cinnamon rolls, the time and effort involved means I reserve them for lazy weekend baking projects or holidays. For all other times, I reach for a tube of refrigerated cinnamon rolls.

If you’ve been anywhere near TikTok or Instagram lately, you’ve likely seen cascades of heavy cream poured over refrigerated rolls in kitchens across the country. I first saw this hack from MacKenzie Smith of @grilledcheesesocial. She credits @mississippi_kween and @manthacancook with the inspiration, but it’s still not clear where this sensation started. The claim is that pouring heavy cream over place-and-bake breakfast pastries turns them into decadent Cinnabon-style cinnamon rolls. Could it be that easy? I took to the kitchen to find out.

How to Make the Viral TikTok Cinnamon Rolls with Heavy Cream

Making these mall-inspired pastries is easier than finding a parking space during the holiday rush. Arrange a package of refrigerated cinnamon rolls in a buttered baking dish. Pour 1/2 cup heavy cream over the rolls and bake according to package directions. Once the cinnamon rolls are puffed and brown, frost them with the included icing and serve. 

Credit: Patty Catalano

My Honest Review of the Viral TikTok Cinnamon Rolls with Heavy Cream

I’ve always believed that the best part of refrigerated cinnamon rolls was the icing. The rolls themselves were always oddly dry and and without much flavor. Baking the rolls with heavy cream changed all of that — but with a few caveats!

While MacKenzie makes a double batch, with two tubes of dough and one cup of cream, I baked half that amount — one tube of rolls and a half-cup heavy cream — for my family of four. I feared that the underside of the rolls would be soggy, but the rolls soaked up most of the cream. The resulting rolls were plush, soft, and rich, just like Cinnabon’s! With a few rolls leftover, I set them aside at room temperature to see how they would hold up. The next morning the rolls were still soft and, once warmed, were immediately gobbled up.

If You’re Going to Try the Viral TikTok Cinnamon Rolls, a Few Tips

  • Use Grands cinnamon rolls. I tested this hack twice (you know, for science). First I baked regular-sized Pillsbury cinnamon rolls, then the larger Grands-style rolls. The size and texture of the Grands cinnamon rolls resembled the Cinnabon rolls much more closely than the regular rolls.
  • Do not underbake. The heavy cream can slow the bake time, so even if you’re used to pulling refrigerated rolls from the oven a minute or two early (as I am), you’ll want to shoot for the middle of the recommended baking time. If you’re worried about over-browning, cover the top with foil once they turn golden.
  • Wait before icing. Let the cinnamon rolls cool for two minutes before adding the icing. If the icing is added to pipin’ hot rolls, it will melt and glaze them. Waiting a bit will ensure the icing goes on like a thick, rich frosting.

This post was originally published on Kitchn. Read it there: I Tried the Viral Pillsbury Hack and Will Never Bake Cinnamon Rolls Any Other Way