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Ingredients:
For the Rolls
1 package Hawaiian sweet rolls, 12 count
6 tablespoons salted butter, melted
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
For the Cream Cheese Filling
8 ounces full fat cream cheese, softened to room temperature
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 large egg
Instructions:
Preheat the oven and prepare your baking dish
Preheat your oven to 375°F.
Lightly grease a 9 by 13 inch baking dish with butter or nonstick cooking spray. Make sure the bottom and sides are coated so the rolls can bake up soft without sticking.
Prepare the Hawaiian rolls
Place the Hawaiian sweet rolls into the prepared baking dish, keeping them together in their original 3 by 4 shape.
Using a small sharp knife, carefully cut a shallow square into the top of each roll. The square should be about 1 inch wide. Gently lift out the center piece of bread from each roll to create a small pocket for the filling.
Be careful not to cut all the way through the bottom of the rolls. You want each roll to hold the cream cheese filling without leaking. The little bread pieces you remove can be saved for snacking, toasted with extra cinnamon butter, or used as small breadcrumbs.
Make the cinnamon butter mixture
In a small bowl, add the melted salted butter, brown sugar, and ground cinnamon.
Stir well until the cinnamon is evenly mixed into the butter and the brown sugar begins to dissolve. The mixture should look glossy, rich, and slightly thick, with a warm cinnamon aroma.
Brush the rolls with cinnamon butter
Using a pastry brush, generously brush the cinnamon butter over the tops of the rolls.
Make sure to get the mixture inside each hollowed out center as well. This step is what gives the rolls their deep cinnamon roll flavor, so do not rush it. Try to coat every surface, including the edges and the little pockets where the cream cheese filling will go.
Make the cream cheese filling
Place the softened cream cheese in a medium mixing bowl.
Beat it with an electric hand mixer on medium speed until it becomes smooth, creamy, and free of lumps. This should take about 1 minute.
Add the granulated sugar and the egg. Continue mixing until everything is fully combined and the filling looks silky and creamy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl if needed so there are no hidden lumps of cream cheese.
Fill the rolls
Spoon the cream cheese filling into the center of each roll.
You can use a small spoon, a piping bag, or a zip top bag with the corner snipped off. Fill each roll generously, until the filling is level with the top or slightly mounded. Try to divide the filling evenly so every roll gets that rich, creamy center.
Bake the rolls
Place the baking dish on the middle rack of the oven.
Bake for about 15 minutes, or until the tops of the rolls are golden brown and the cream cheese filling looks set. The filling should no longer jiggle when you gently move the pan.
Keep an eye on them near the end of baking, because Hawaiian rolls are already soft and sweet, so they can brown quickly.
Cool and serve
Remove the rolls from the oven and let them cool in the pan for about 5 minutes.
Serve them warm while the rolls are soft, buttery, and slightly gooey in the center. They are perfect for breakfast, brunch, dessert, or anytime you want something sweet and comforting without making dough from scratch.
Storage
Store any leftover rolls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
To reheat, place one roll in the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds, just until warm and soft again.
