Lazy Cinnamon Buns
on Dec 07, 2022, Updated Dec 12, 2023
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These lazy cinnamon buns will satisfy every sweet breakfast craving you have. This recipe is for those of you who don’t feel like spending all morning in the kitchen, but still want to enjoy the great taste of a cinnamon bun. These perfect cinnamon buns are not only sticky and delicious, but they are also in the shape of a 🎄 Christmas tree, which is perfect for the Holiday season.
Why You’ll Love Lazy Cinnamon Buns
You’re going to love the ease of making this recipe. First, I use my favorite King’s Hawaiian sweet rolls which make the most perfectly soft and fluffy bun. Then I add a sweet and buttery brown sugar mixture on top of the buns that give them their tasty cinnamon flavor. Finally, I add a smooth cream cheese icing on top. This is everything you want in a breakfast treat, and more. Trust me when I say you won’t have any cinnamon buns left after you make this one!
Not only are these cinnamon buns easy to prepare and super tasty, but they are also so fun to make with kids! You can let the kids help brush the butter mixture on the buns, or you can have them help you ice the buns and add the sprinkles once they’re 🧊 cooled down.
How to Prepare Lazy Cinnamon Buns
🔥 Preheat the oven to 400F.
🧈 Cream together softened, room-temperature butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon until smooth and creamy.
🍞 Separate Hawaiian sweet rolls and arrange them on a baking sheet to shape a Christmas tree.
⭐ Brush or spread the creamy butter mixture on top, sides, and all over the buns.
♨️ Bake the buns uncovered for 15-20 minutes until the butter and sugar mixture is melted.
❄️ Let the buns cool for at least 10 minutes while you make the icing.
🥣 Mix cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla to create icing.
🌀 Then, once the buns have cooled, spread the icing on top of each one, creating a swirl if desired.
💛 Add gold sprinkles and other decorations for presentation. Enjoy these festive easy cinnamon buns!
Nonna’s Tip
Feel free to pipe the icing onto the buns if you find it easier.
Variations and Substitutions for Lazy Cinnamon Buns
Feel free to mix and match these variations and substitutions to create your own unique and delicious Cinnamon Buns!
- Add a layer of fruit jam 🍓 between the rolls for a fruity option.
- Feel free to experiment with different extracts like almond or 🥥 coconut in the icing for a different flavor.
- Choose gluten-free sweet rolls or bread to accommodate a gluten-free diet.
- Customize your buns by using other toppings such as shredded coconut, 🌰 chopped nuts, or even a drizzle of caramel sauce.
More Christmas Tree Holiday Recipes
If you love how festive this time of year is and want your food to match, then I have you covered! And of course, don’t forget the easy gingerbread cookies for 🎅 Santa!
Garlic Bread Christmas Tree
30 mins
Puff Pastry Christmas Tree
35 mins
Christmas Tree Cheese Ball
20 mins
Easy Cinnamon Buns are Best Served With
- Coffee or Tea 🫖
- Other breakfast items like eggs, fruit, or breakfast meat like bacon or my Homemade Breakfast Sausage
- A healthy and protein-filled option would be something like my Zucchini Egg Bake
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Baking Essential
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My Favorite Parchment Paper
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This silicone spatula can be used to mix or stir thick batters, yet is flexible enough for scraping sauces or scrambling eggs!
This is the parchment paper that I use for all my recipes!
Baking sheets are essential in the kitchen. These are great!
Common Questions
Yes, if you want to melt the butter and make sure it’s cooled down, you are more than welcome to but I like using softened butter instead.
Feel free to pipe the icing onto the buns if you find it easier.
You are more than welcome to cut the buns in half and add the brown sugar mixture on the inside as well.
You don’t have to shape the buns into a Christmas tree if you don’t want to. I am leaving it as an option for the Holidays as it would be wonderful to bring to a party.
Serve the buns fresh if you’re able, but they’re delicious the next day as well. You can prepare everything the night before and bake it fresh the following day.
If the buns are warm/hot the icing will melt so do not add the cream cheese frosting to hot buns.
Lazy Cinnamon Buns
Equipment
Ingredients
The Buns:
- 1 stick of softened unsalted butter
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 pack King's Hawaiian original sweet rolls, 12 rolls
The Cream Cheese Icing:
- 1 container cream cheese, (1 cup)
- ½ cup icing sugar, also known as powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Optional Ingredients:
- festive gold sprinkles, mini white edible pearls, edible rose petals, anything festive will work
Instructions
- Cream the softened room temperature butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon together. You can also slightly melt the butter if you need to. Mix it with a spatula until smooth and creamy.
- Take one pack of Hawaiian sweet rolls and separate the rolls. If you feel like being festive, you can arrange them onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and form a christmas tree. I add 4 buns, then 3, 2, 1 and two on the bottom as the base.
- Spread the creamy butter mixture on top, sides, and all over.
- Preheat the oven to 400F. Bake the rolls uncovered for 15-20 minutes or until the butter and sugar mixture is melted. Let it cool for at least 10 minutes.
- Firstly, mix the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla together to make the icing. Once the buns have cooled down, you can spread the icing on top of each one. Though it's optional, I like to create a swirl pattern with my spatula.
- Add gold sprinkles and anything else you like for presentation and enjoy.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Wow !!!!!
HERE WE GO AGAIN!!!!
These were amazing!!!!! Followed the recipe exactly and they turned out sooooo good!!! Thank you!!!
yayyyyy