When you are craving a warm, gooey, bakery style breakfast but absolutely do not have the patience to wait for yeast dough to rise or an oven to preheat, these Easy Cinnamon Roll Waffles are the ultimate morning lifesaver. This incredibly brilliant, viral breakfast hack takes standard refrigerated canned cinnamon rolls and completely transforms them in your waffle maker. The result? A perfectly golden, crispy exterior with deep waffle pockets that act as the ultimate trap for a thick, luscious layer of warm cream cheese icing.
Finding a highly fun, crowd pleasing breakfast that gets the entire family running to the kitchen on a Saturday morning can be a massive challenge. If your kids usually complain about standard cereal or plain toast, the sweet, caramelized aroma of these waffle pressed cinnamon rolls will completely blow them away before they even take their first bite.
Whether you need a lightning fast breakfast treat before school, a spectacular centerpiece for a massive holiday brunch, or a late night sweet craving fix, these Cinnamon Roll Waffles deliver absolute perfection in under five minutes!
Why This Waffle Recipe Works So Well
The true brilliance of this mouthwatering breakfast hack lies in its magnificent textural contrast and absolutely foolproof assembly. When you bake a standard canned cinnamon roll in the oven, it stays soft and doughy. However, when you press that exact same dough in a blazing hot waffle iron, the sugars instantly caramelize on the grates, creating a highly addictive, crispy, buttery crust while leaving the inside perfectly tender and steamy.
Furthermore, the waffle iron creates those iconic, deep squares that are highly essential for holding massive pools of the included cream cheese icing! Instead of the icing just sliding right off a round roll, it melts directly into the waffle divots, ensuring you get a perfect burst of sweet, tangy glaze in absolutely every single bite.
If you absolutely love brilliant, time saving kitchen hacks that yield restaurant quality results, this 2 ingredient recipe will completely change your weekend breakfast routine forever.
Essential Ingredients
You only need literally one or two items from the grocery store to pull this magnificent, crispy, sweet breakfast together.
For the Waffles:
-
Refrigerated Cinnamon Rolls: One can (usually 8 count) of refrigerated cinnamon rolls that comes with the tub of icing. Grands or jumbo sized rolls work beautifully, but standard size is perfect for mini waffle makers!
-
Cooking Spray: A quick spritz of non stick cooking spray or melted butter is highly essential so the caramelized cinnamon sugar doesn’t stick to your waffle grates.
For the Upgraded Cream Cheese Glaze (Optional):
-
The Included Icing: Use the small tub that comes directly in the can!
-
Extra Cream Cheese & Milk: If you want to elevate the store bought icing to taste like a high end bakery, whisk the provided icing with 2 tablespoons of softened cream cheese and a tiny splash of milk until it is incredibly fluffy and pourable.
Step by Step Instructions
-
Prep the Waffle Iron: Plug in your waffle maker (a standard, Belgian, or mini waffle maker all work perfectly) and let it preheat completely. Once hot, lightly coat both the top and bottom grates with non stick cooking spray.
-
Place the Rolls: Open the can of cinnamon rolls and set the tub of icing aside. Place one raw cinnamon roll directly in the center of the waffle iron. (If you are using a large, 4 square Belgian waffle maker, you can place one roll in the center of each quadrant).
-
Press and Cook: Close the lid firmly, pressing down slightly so the dough spreads into the grates. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the waffle is deeply golden brown, crispy on the edges, and cooked through the center.
-
Warm the Icing: While the waffles are cooking, remove the foil lid from the included icing tub and pop it in the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds until it is warm, silky, and easily pourable.
-
Serve and Glaze: Carefully remove the hot cinnamon roll waffles from the iron using silicone tongs or a fork. Transfer to a plate and immediately drench them in the warm cream cheese icing while they are still steaming. Serve immediately!
Cinnamon Roll Waffles with Cream Cheese Icing
Ingredients
- 1 tube (8 count) refrigerated canned cinnamon rolls icing included
- 1 spray non-stick cooking spray
- 2 tablespoons cream cheese, softened optional, for icing
- 1 teaspoon milk optional, for icing
Instructions
- Plug in your waffle maker and let it preheat completely.
- Open the can of cinnamon rolls and set the provided tub of icing aside.
- Lightly coat the top and bottom grates of the hot waffle maker with non-stick cooking spray.
- Place one cinnamon roll in the center of the waffle maker or one in each section if using a large Belgian waffle maker.
- Close the lid, pressing down slightly so the dough spreads. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes until golden brown and crispy.
- While the waffles cook, remove the foil lid from the icing tub and microwave for 10 to 15 seconds until warm.
- For a richer glaze, whisk the warm icing with softened cream cheese and milk until smooth and fluffy.
- Carefully remove the hot waffles with tongs or a fork.
- Drizzle the warm cream cheese icing generously over the waffles and serve immediately.
Notes
What to Serve With Cinnamon Roll Waffles
While these sweet, gooey waffles are the absolute star of your morning, you will need a fantastic menu plan for the rest of your day! For a heavy hitting, deeply savory dinner to balance out the sugar rush, try whipping up a towering Viral Cornbread Cowboy Casserole or a massive, decadent pan of Honey Pepper Chicken Mac and Cheese.
Looking for something a little lighter and more vibrant for an afternoon lunch? A sweet and savory pan of Teriyaki Pineapple Chicken and Rice Stuffed Peppers pairs wonderfully with a highly crunchy, fresh Summer Corn Salad with Avocado or a tangy Tasty Broccoli Pasta Salad Recipe.
If you are hosting a massive holiday weekend brunch and need a spectacular dessert spread to follow up your epic breakfast, you are in incredible luck! Warm up a deeply comforting skillet of Bananas Foster Cobbler, serve a gorgeous, sliceable Red White and Blue Marble Cake Recipe, or lean into nostalgic, fluffy comfort with a massive bowl of the Classic Ambrosia Salad Recipe!
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the cinnamon sugar ruin my waffle maker? Not if you prep it correctly! The sugars will caramelize and get sticky, so using non stick cooking spray before each roll is crucial. When you are done cooking, simply unplug the waffle maker and lay a damp paper towel inside while it is still slightly warm. The steam will loosen up the baked on sugar, allowing you to easily wipe it clean in seconds!
Can I use Jumbo or Grands cinnamon rolls? Absolutely! Jumbo rolls make incredible, massive Belgian style waffles. Because the dough is thicker, they may need an extra 1 to 2 minutes in the waffle iron to ensure the very center of the dough is fully cooked and not raw.
Can I make these ahead of time? These are absolutely best served fresh and hot right out of the iron when the edges are perfectly crisp. However, if you have leftovers, you can store them in the fridge and pop them in the toaster to quickly reheat and re crisp them!