Freezing do-it-yourself cinnamon rolls is a useful technique to prep forward for a particular breakfast or brunch. Right here I’m sharing 3 dependable strategies to freeze the pan at totally different levels—after shaping, after par-baking, or after totally baking—so you’ll be able to select what works greatest in your schedule. Irrespective of which methodology you employ, you’ll have heat, fresh-tasting rolls with minimal effort when it’s time to serve.
At this time I’m strolling you thru one of the best methods to freeze do-it-yourself cinnamon rolls. As a result of nothing beats the scent (and style!!) of freshly baked candy rolls, particularly when a lot of the work is already finished for you.
Whether or not you’re prepping for a vacation morning, brunch with household and/or buddies, or simply indulging in a weekend deal with, having cinnamon rolls prepared within the freezer means much less stress and scrambling at breakfast time. My staff and I’ve examined a number of strategies, and as we speak I’m sharing the 3 most dependable methods to freeze cinnamon rolls at totally different factors within the course of.
These strategies work for any of my do-it-yourself candy roll recipes together with traditional do-it-yourself cinnamon rolls, chocolate candy rolls, orange rolls, and extra.

6 Min. Video: Learn how to Freeze Cinnamon Rolls
These Are The three Strategies:
- Technique 1: Freeze after shaping, earlier than second rise.
- Technique 2: Par-bake the rolls then freeze.
- Technique 3: Freeze totally baked rolls.
Whichever methodology you employ, the utmost time to freeze cinnamon rolls is 3 months. Any longer than that, and you might start to style a distinction. Moreover, make the icing recent. You possibly can completely style the distinction between recent and frozen icing.
Earlier than I stroll you thru the steps, let’s speak concerning the provides you want.
Technique 1: Freeze After Shaping (Earlier than 2nd Rise)
That is my most well-liked methodology as a result of the rolls rise proper earlier than baking, which can all the time provide the softest, fluffiest rolls. If time permits, select this methodology.
- Put together the dough, let it rise, and form the rolls per your recipe.
- As an alternative of letting the formed rolls rise, cowl tightly with plastic wrap.
- Label a chunk of aluminum foil with the date (I often put the use-by date 3 months from now), and a few transient baking directions for your self.
- Freeze for as much as 3 months.
- After freezing, thaw in fridge in a single day, rise at room temp for 1.5–2 hours. Bake at 350°F till cooked by, round 25–half-hour relying in your recipe.
This methodology produces one of the best outcomes as a result of the rolls rise proper earlier than baking.

Technique 2: Par-Baking the Cinnamon Rolls Earlier than Freezing
The second methodology requires you to par-bake the cinnamon rolls earlier than freezing. This methodology saves you time on baking day for the reason that rises are already finished.
- Form the rolls per your recipe, allow them to rise per your recipe, after which bake for simply 10 minutes. They need to look set on prime, however not browned but. (See picture subsequent.)
- Cool utterly, after which cowl with a layer of plastic wrap.
- Label a chunk of foil with the date or use-by date 3 months from now, and a few transient directions for your self.
- Freeze for as much as 3 months.
- After freezing, thaw within the fridge in a single day. Let rise/come to room temperature for round half-hour, then end baking at 350°F cooked by, round 15-20 minutes relying in your recipe.
That is what par-baked cinnamon rolls appears to be like like:


How Do I Know When Cinnamon Rolls Are Completed?
Tip: Since these freezing strategies work for a wide range of cinnamon roll and candy roll recipes, your baking directions could also be totally different. I discover that baking beforehand frozen cinnamon rolls, irrespective of which methodology you freeze them, a 350°F oven is right. To find out doneness, use an instant-read thermometer. Rolls are finished when the middle of the pan reads as 195°F (90°C).
Technique 3: Totally Bake, Then Freeze the Cinnamon Rolls
This methodology requires essentially the most time upfront, however is the quickest when it’s time to serve.
- Totally put together and bake cinnamon rolls as instructed in your recipe. Nevertheless your recipe says to organize, form, and bake the cinnamon rolls, observe it.
- Cool utterly, then cowl with a layer of plastic wrap.
- Label a chunk of foil with the date or use-by date 3 months from now, and a few transient directions for your self.
- Freeze for as much as 3 months.
- After freezing, thaw within the fridge in a single day. Let rise/come to room temperature for round half-hour, then loosely re-cover with a recent layer of foil, and bake at 350°F till warmed by, about 20 minutes.


No Matter Which Technique You Select…
My most vital tip is to make the icing recent the day you propose to serve them. It tastes SO significantly better recent than frozen/thawed.
Now that you’ve 3 tried-and-true strategies to freeze cinnamon rolls, you’ll be able to plan forward with confidence and luxuriate in recent, heat cinnamon rolls!
Cinnamon Roll Recipes To Use
Description
Select between the three strategies beneath, relying on what your schedule permits. Technique 1 requires the least period of time up entrance and the rolls have an increase after thawing. Technique 2 requires par-baking the rolls, so there may be extra time upfront and fewer after freezing. Technique 3 requires essentially the most period of time upfront, however the least after freezing. Comply with your cinnamon roll recipe for preparation and preliminary rises, however use the freezing directions beneath.
- Technique 1: That is my most well-liked methodology as a result of the rolls rise proper earlier than baking, which can all the time provide the softest, fluffiest rolls. If time permits, select this methodology. Put together the dough per your recipe, let it rise, and form the rolls as your recipe instructs. Place them in a freezer-safe dish. As an alternative of letting the formed rolls rise, cowl tightly with plastic wrap. Label a chunk of aluminum foil with the date (I often put the use-by date 3 months from now), and a few transient baking directions for your self. Freeze for as much as 3 months. After freezing, thaw within the fridge in a single day, rise at room temp for 1.5–2 hours. Bake at 350°F till cooked by, round 25–half-hour relying in your recipe.
- Technique 2: The second methodology requires you to par-bake the cinnamon rolls earlier than freezing. This methodology saves you time on baking day for the reason that rises are already finished. Form the rolls per your recipe, place them in a freezer-safe dish, allow them to rise per your recipe, after which bake for simply 10 minutes. They need to look set on prime, however not browned but. Cool utterly, after which cowl with a layer of plastic wrap. Label a chunk of foil with the date or use-by date 3 months from now, and a few transient directions for your self. Freeze for as much as 3 months. After freezing, thaw within the fridge in a single day. Let rise/come to room temperature for round half-hour, then end baking at 350°F cooked by, round 15-20 minutes relying in your recipe.
- Technique 3: This methodology requires essentially the most time upfront, however is the quickest when it’s time to serve. Totally put together and bake cinnamon rolls as instructed in your recipe, utilizing a freezer-safe baking dish. Nevertheless your recipe says to organize, form, and bake the cinnamon rolls, observe it. Cool utterly, then cowl with a layer of plastic wrap. Label a chunk of foil with the date or use-by date 3 months from now, and a few transient directions for your self. Freeze for as much as 3 months. After freezing, thaw within the fridge in a single day. Let rise/come to room temperature for round half-hour, then loosely re-cover with a recent layer of foil, and bake at 350°F till warmed by, about 20 minutes.
- Whichever methodology you select, make the icing/topping recent. You possibly can completely style the distinction between recent and frozen icing.
Notes
- Whichever methodology you employ, the utmost time to freeze cinnamon rolls is 3 months. Any longer than that, and you might start to style a distinction. The minimal time to freeze is just a few days.