Easy Bakery-Style Cinnamon Rolls with Heavy Cream
Have you ever wished store-bought cinnamon rolls could taste as soft, gooey, and decadent as the ones from a bakery? With just a little heavy cream and a quick brown sugar mixture, you can take those simple rolls to the next level. This easy trick keeps them moist, sweet, and absolutely irresistible—perfect for a cozy weekend breakfast or a holiday brunch!
10 Days of Christmas Treats
The holidays are a time for sweet aromas, cozy mornings, and treats that bring everyone to the kitchen.
Welcome back to 10 Days of Festive Christmas Treats, where I’m sharing easy, delicious recipes to make your season magical—without hours in the kitchen.
Yesterday, we satisfied our sweet tooth with rich, creamy fudge.
Today, for Day 4, we’re skipping the bakery line and whipping up the ultimate shortcut cinnamon rolls. Imagine soft, fluffy rolls, drenched in heavy cream and topped with caramelized brown sugar. They’re gooey, indulgent, and ready to impress—without all the extra time.
Perfect for a festive breakfast, holiday brunch, or just a cozy treat with your morning coffee. Let’s bake up some magic!
10 Days of Christmas Treats: Day 4 – Bakery-Style Cinnamon Rolls with Heavy Cream and Brown Sugar
Welcome to Day 4 of 10 Days of Festive Treats! Today, we’re taking a store-bought favorite and turning it into something truly special: bakery-style cinnamon rolls made with a few simple upgrades.
By covering the rolls with heavy cream and a generous sprinkle of brown sugar, they bake up soft, gooey, and perfectly caramelized—just like the ones you’d find at your favorite bakery. And the best part? We’re skipping the long rise times and kneading, so you can enjoy warm, fresh cinnamon rolls in no time.
To make them even more irresistible, we’re whipping up a homemade frosting that’s creamy, sweet, and melts perfectly over the warm rolls. Whether you’re serving them for a cozy breakfast, holiday brunch, or a sweet evening treat, these upgraded cinnamon rolls are sure to become a family favorite.
Quick, simple, and absolutely indulgent—this is holiday baking made easy!
Bakery-Style Cinnamon Rolls with Heavy Cream Recipe
These easy bakery-style cinnamon rolls start with store-bought dough and get a delicious upgrade with heavy cream and brown sugar. Soft, gooey, and topped with homemade frosting, they taste like they’re fresh from the bakery—without the extra work. Perfect for holiday mornings or a cozy treat anytime!
Supplies You’ll Need
- Baking Dish: I used a 3-quart round dish, but an 9×9 square dish, or 7x 11 rectangular dish works, too.
- Mixing Bowls: For mixing the brown sugar mixture.
- Handheld Mixer: To blend your icing (a whisk works as well!).
- Measuring Cups and Spoons: For accurate measurements and ingredients
- Spatula: Perfect for spreading icing evenly over your cinnamon rolls.
Ingredients
- Pillsbury Grands! Cinnamon Rolls
- 1 cup whipping cream
- 5 tbsp butter, melted
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 3 oz cream cheese, softened
- 2 tbsp butter, softened
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup powered sugar
- icing from cinnamon roll package
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- In a small bowl, mix together the melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon until well combined. Set aside.
- Lightly grease your baking dish (I used a 3-quart round, but a 9×9 or 7×11 works great, too). Place the cinnamon rolls in the pan and pour the heavy cream evenly over the rolls, letting it fill any cracks and crevices.
- Spoon the brown sugar mixture on top of each roll, spreading it evenly.
- Cover the pan with foil and bake for 30-40 minutes until the rolls are cooked through. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes to brown the tops. *Remember these cinnamon rolls are meant to be on the gooey side.
- While the rolls bake, make the icing: Beat the softened cream cheese and butter on high for 1-2 minutes until fluffy. Add the vanilla and the icing from the cinnamon roll packages, then mix until combined. Gradually add the powdered sugar and beat until smooth.
- Let the cinnamon rolls cool for about 10 minutes before spreading the icing on top. This lets the icing melt in just enough without soaking too much.
Serve warm and enjoy the gooey, bakery-style goodness!
Because warm, gooey cinnamon rolls are always a good idea!
Easy Bakery-Style Cinnamon Rolls with Heavy Cream
- Total Time: 50
- Yield: 5 Cinnamon Rolls 1x
Description
These easy bakery-style cinnamon rolls are made with store-bought dough, heavy cream, and brown sugar for an indulgent, gooey upgrade. Topped with a rich homemade cream cheese frosting, they taste just like they’re fresh from the bakery—without the extra time or effort. Perfect for holiday mornings, brunch, or a cozy treat!
Ingredients
Cinnamon Rolls
- Store bought Pillsbury Grands!
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
Brown Sugar Mixture
- 5 tbsp butter, melted
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Icing
- 3 oz. cream cheese, softened (*see notes below)
- 2 tbsp butter, softened
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- icing from cinnamon roll package
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- In a small bowl, mix together the melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon until well combined. Set aside.
- Lightly grease your baking dish (I used a 3-quart round, but a 9×9 or 7×11 works great, too). Place the cinnamon rolls in the pan and pour the heavy cream evenly over the rolls, letting it fill any cracks and crevices.
- Spoon the brown sugar mixture on top of each roll, spreading it evenly.
- Cover the pan with foil and bake for 30-40 minutes until the rolls are cooked through. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes to brown the tops. *Remember these cinnamon rolls are meant to be on the gooey side.
- While the rolls bake, make the icing: Beat the softened cream cheese and butter on high for 1-2 minutes until fluffy. Add the vanilla and the icing from the cinnamon roll packages, then mix until combined. Gradually add the powdered sugar and beat until smooth.
- Let the cinnamon rolls cool for about 10 minutes before spreading the icing on top. This lets the icing melt in just enough without soaking too much. (** see notes below)
Serve warm and enjoy the gooey, bakery-style goodness!
Notes
*If you’re short on time and your cream cheese isn’t softened, no worries! Just pop it in the microwave on the defrost setting for about 1 minute—worked perfectly for me.
** If you add the icing right away, the heat from the cinnamon rolls will cause it to melt and soak in. To keep that thick, creamy icing on top, let the rolls cool for a bit before spreading it on.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 40
- Category: breaksfast, dessert
- Method: baking
How to Store Bakery Style Cinnamon Rolls with Heavy Cream
If you somehow have leftovers (I won’t judge if you don’t!), here’s how to keep your cinnamon rolls fresh:
Room Temperature
Store them in an airtight container for up to 2 days. A quick 10-15 seconds in the microwave will bring back that fresh-out-of-the-oven warmth.
Refrigerator
For longer storage, keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Just warm them up before serving to get them soft and gooey again.
Freezer
Want to save them for later? Wrap each roll individually and place them in a freezer-safe container. They’ll keep for up to 3 months. Let them thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat in the microwave or oven for that bakery-fresh taste.
P.S. My grandma used to make me cinnamon rolls in college to take and freeze. I promise, they’re still just as delicious after being frozen and reheated.
That’s a Wrap for Day 4!
These easy bakery-style cinnamon rolls with heavy cream prove that a little heavy cream and brown sugar can turn store-bought rolls into something magical. Perfect for cozy mornings, holiday brunches, or anytime you’re craving something sweet and indulgent.
Don’t forget to pin this recipe to save for later and make it again and again!
If you missed yesterday’s recipe, we whipped up a rich, creamy homemade fudge—a holiday favorite that’s perfect for gifting or sneaking a bite while wrapping presents!
Be sure to follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube so you don’t miss the rest of the 10 Days of Festive Christmas Treats.
Tomorrow, for Day 5, I’m sharing an easy, kid-friendly recipe that the whole family will love. Trust me, it’s one you’ll want to make again and again!
If you give today’s recipe a try, tag me – @TandraNicoleHome, I’d love to see your delicious creations!
Wishing you cozy mornings and sweet treats. – Tandra
