Have you ever had Oreo cinnamon rolls? These Cookies and Cream Cinnamon Rolls are deliciously sweet and undeniably irresistible! It’s safe to say traditional cinnamon rolls are delicious, but add the fine crumbs of crushed Oreos along the vanilla glaze and they will make your warm rolls that much better! For another delicious sweet treat, try my Peach Cobbler Pound Cake! If you prefer a more savory breakfast treat, I highly recommend IHOP Hash Browns or these delicious Southern Home Fries!
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👩🏽🍳Why This Recipe Works
Delicious combo: A classic cinnamon roll is already delicious on its own, but adding Oreo cookies to the mix elevates the taste, taking it to the next level! For more cookies and cream goodness, you'll have to give these Cookies and Cream Cookies a try.
Easy shortcut recipe: These cinnamon rolls do not need a fancy, homemade dough - pre-made pizza dough does the trick! These are easy and accessible, but equally as soft and delicious. I am all for shortcuts when it comes to dessert, like my boxed mix Cosmic Brownie Cookies!
Melts in Your Mouth: These cinnamon rolls have adecadent cream cheese frosting that will instantly melt in your mouth, creating the ultimate comfort food experience.
🥘Ingredients
- Pizza dough: Refrigerated or frozen dough has the same effect as homemade dough. You can use either or.
- Salted butter: The salt from this salted butter is meant to balance out the sweetness of the cream.
- Dark brown sugar: This kind of sugar has a higher molasses content and it is much better for caramelization.
- Cream cheese: This is your go-to frosting for cinnamon rolls! Cream cheese has a higher fat content, which creates a richer taste.
A full list of ingredients with measurements is located on the recipe card, below.
📖Substitutions
- Pizza dough: You can use canned pizza dough, homemade pizza dough, rolled out crescent dough rolls, if you don’t know how to make it from scratch or have no other option—or simply love crescent roll dough!
- Salted butter: You can unsalted butter if that’s what you have or prefer.
- Dark brown sugar: You can also use light brown sugar if that’s what you have on hand.
- Confectioner’s sugar: You can blend granulated sugar to make confectioners sugar.
- Oreo cookies: You can substitute with golden oreos, or your favorite sandwich cookies!
⏲️ Step-by-Step Instructions
Prep Work Before Cooking
Collecting all your ingredients - This will make cooking so much easier. Gather all the spices you will need, and keep them nearby.
Crush Oreos - Add all of the Oreos (for both the rolls and the frosting) into a large ziploc bag. Using a rolling pin or any heavy object, crush the Oreos into Oreo crumbs. [photo 1]
Mix together the brown sugar and cinnamon in a small mixing bowl, and set aside.
On a floured surface, roll out the pizza dough until it is approximately ⅛” thick, and a 12”x18” rectangle. [photo 2]
Spread the softened butter in a thick and even layer onto the pizza dough, using a rubber spatula or clean hands. Sprinkle the brown sugar & cinnamon mixture on top of the dough in an even layer. Top with half of the crushed Oreo cookies. [photos 3, 4 & 5]
Roll the dough into a long log, keeping the rolls tight. You will want to roll from the long edge of the dough, to form a longer log with the right amount of layers in the roll. Push the ends of the log in when you are done rolling, so the log is the same thickness throughout. [photo 6]
Using a sharp knife or unflavored dental floss, cut the log into 8 even pieces. If you are using dental floss, slip the floss under the log of dough, and cross it over on top to cut through the dough.
Arrange the rolls in a lined air fryer basket. You can use parchment paper, or a silicone air fryer liner. Cover the basket with a towel, and let the dough rest for 10-15 minutes. [photo 7]
While the dough is resting, prepare the cream cheese frosting. Add the butter and cream cheese to the bowl of a stand mixer, or a mixing bowl if you are using a handheld mixer. Whip them together until they are combined. Add the powdered sugar to the bowl, and continue to whip until combined. Finish with vanilla extract and the other half of the oreo cookies. If you want a thinner frosting, add in 2 tablespoon of milk. [photo 8]
Air fry the cinnamon rolls at 350°F for 12 minutes uncovered. Air fry for an additional 10-12 minutes, with foil covering the top of the cinnamon rolls. Carefully remove the rolls from the air fryer basket, using a spatula. At this point they should look golden brown.
Spread the cream cheese frosting on the rolls while warm, place rolls on a serving plate, and enjoy!
💭 Expert Tip
If you are using frozen pizza dough, let the dough defrost and rise at room temperature before using it. This will help to make light and fluffy cinnamon rolls.
If you prefer a thinner frosting you can add a few spoons of cream to the frosting mixture. This will thin it out in consistency.
If you forgot to soften your butter and cream cheese, place the unwrapped butter/cream cheese in a bowl and microwave in 10 second increments, on 50% power.
🍽 Make Ahead & Storage
Make Ahead Instructions
You can easily crush the Oreo crumbs ahead of time. The crushed oreos will last up to two weeks before going stale once the Oreo package is first opened.
In addition, the cream cheese frosting can be made 3-5 days in advance, and kept refrigerated until you are ready to use it.
Storing Leftovers
Store leftover cinnamon rolls in an airtight container. They will stay good at room temperature for up to 48 hours. The rolls will last in the refrigerator for up to two weeks and in the freezer for up to two months if stored properly. You can also use plastic wrap, however, I’d suggest using two layers to ensure it’s airtight.
⭐ Recipe FAQs
Too much flour. Be sure to follow the exact measurements in the recipe card below to ensure you achieve the best results.
Put the rolls in the microwave with a mug of water (for moisture) for 30 seconds. If that doesn’t work, you may want to make a new batch and try again!
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Cookies and Cream Cinnamon Rolls
Equipment
Ingredients
- 16 oz Pizza dough
- ½ cup Salted butter - softened [1 stick]
- ½ cup Dark brown sugar
- 2 tablespoon Ground cinnamon
- 20 Oreo sandwich cookies
Cream Cheese Frosting
- ½ cup Salted butter - softened [1 stick]
- 8 oz Cream cheese - softened
- 3 ½ cups Confectioners sugar
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
Instructions
- Add all of the Oreos (for both the rolls and the frosting) into a large ziploc bag. Using a rolling pin or any heavy object, crush the Oreos into Oreo crumbs. Divide the crumbs in half.20 Oreo sandwich cookies
- Mix together the brown sugar and cinnamon in a small mixing bowl, and set aside.½ cup Dark brown sugar, 2 tablespoon Ground cinnamon
- On a floured surface, roll out the pizza dough until it is approximately ⅛” thick, and a 12”x18” rectangle.16 oz Pizza dough
- Spread the softened butter in a thick and even layer onto the pizza dough, using a rubber spatula or clean hands. Sprinkle the brown sugar & cinnamon mixture on top of the dough in an even layer. Top with half of the crushed oreo cookies.½ cup Salted butter
- Roll the dough into a long log, keeping the rolls tight. You will want to roll from the long edge of the dough, to form a longer log with the right amount of layers in the roll. Push the ends of the log in when you are done rolling, so the log is the same thickness throughout.
- Using a sharp knife or unflavored dental floss, cut the log into 8 even pieces. If you are using dental floss, slip the floss under the log of dough, and cross it over on top to cut through the dough.
- Arrange the rolls in a lined air fryer basket. You can use parchment paper, or a silicone air fryer liner. Cover the basket with a towel, and let the dough rest for 10-15 minutes.
- While the dough is resting, prepare the cream cheese frosting. Add the butter and cream cheese to the bowl of a stand mixer, or a mixing bowl if you are using a handheld mixer. Whip them together until they are combined. Add the powdered sugar to the bowl, and continue to whip until combined. Finish with vanilla extract and the other half of the oreo cookies. If you want a thinner frosting, add in 2 tablespoon of milk.½ cup Salted butter, 8 oz Cream cheese, 3 ½ cups Confectioners sugar, 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- Air fry the cinnamon rolls at 350°F for 12 minutes uncovered. Air fry for an additional 10-12 minutes, with foil covering the top of the cinnamon rolls. Carefully remove the rolls from the air fryer basket, using a spatula. At this point they should look golden brown.
- Spread the cream cheese frosting on the rolls while warm, place rolls on a serving plate, and enjoy!
✱Recipe Notes
- If you are using frozen pizza dough, let the dough defrost and rise at room temperature before using it. This will help to make light and fluffy cinnamon rolls.
- If you prefer a thinner frosting you can add a few spoons of cream to the frosting mixture. This will thin it out in consistency.
- If you forgot to soften your butter and cream cheese, place the unwrapped butter/cream cheese in a bowl and microwave in 10 second increments, on 50% power.
Irene Christodoulou
Hi, what’s the alternative if we don’t have an air fryer?
Sunena Anand
Hi Irene! You can make these cinnamon rolls in the oven as well. Instead of air frying, you can bake them in a 9x9 pan and follow a similar baking time/method. I haven't tested these specifically in the oven, so I would keep an eye on them around the halfway point when baking 🙂