Cinnamon Sugar Fried King’s Hawaiian Rolls

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If you’ve got a pack of King’s Hawaiian rolls and a little oil, you’re about ten minutes away from the easiest donut hack around. These fried King’s Hawaiian rolls get deep fried until crispy, tossed in cinnamon sugar, and drizzled with vanilla icing, and I’m telling you, they taste JUST like fresh donuts! Crispy on the outside, soft and pillowy inside, with that sweet cinnamon coating and a little vanilla glaze. You might’ve seen the fried Hawaiian roll thing take off after Disney started selling them at the BoardWalk, and yeah, they live up to the hype. Don’t sleep on these!

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This one earned a spot in 54 Game Day Food Ideas With an Asian Twist too.

What Makes These Fried King’s Hawaiian Rolls So Good

It’s the donut thing, plain and simple. King’s Hawaiian rolls are already soft, buttery, and a little sweet, so when you fry them, the outside crisps up while the inside stays fluffy, exactly like a fresh cake donut. The cinnamon sugar clings to the crispy shell, the vanilla icing melts into the nooks, and each bite is warm, sweet, and crunchy. It’s honestly kind of unreal how close they get to the real thing.

If you love that cinnamon sugar moment, you’ll also want to check out these Easy Baked Apple Cider Donuts, baked cake donuts rolled in cinnamon sugar with real apple cider in the batter.

And the best part is there’s no dough to make, no rising, no rolling. You’re basically hacking a donut out of a bag of rolls. If you love turning these rolls into desserts, I did a no-fry donut version too. My Boston cream King’s Hawaiian rolls stuff the rolls with vanilla custard and dip them in chocolate for that Boston cream donut vibe, no fryer needed.

Tips for Making Fried King’s Hawaiian Rolls

1. Keep the oil around 350F

I can’t stress this one enough. Too cool and the rolls soak up grease and go heavy. Too hot and the outside browns before the inside warms through. A kitchen thermometer keeps you right at that sweet spot so they fry up golden and crisp.

2. Let them sit before you judge the crunch

Straight out of the oil they feel soft, and I know that looks off, but it’s totally normal. They won’t actually turn crispy until they sit and cool for a few minutes on a paper towel or wire rack. So don’t panic and crank the heat, just give them a minute.

3. Roll in cinnamon sugar while they’re warm

The cinnamon sugar sticks best while the rolls are still warm and a touch greasy from frying. Toss them right after they’ve drained a bit, and the coating grabs on evenly instead of sliding off.

4. Get the icing drizzle-able

You want the icing thin enough to drizzle but thick enough to set. Start with 2 tablespoons of milk and add another splash if it’s too stiff. It’s the same easy powdered-sugar icing I drizzle over my King’s Hawaiian apple pie cinnamon rolls, so if you’ve made those, you already know the move.

What Temperature Do You Fry King’s Hawaiian Rolls At?

Fry King’s Hawaiian rolls at about 350F. That temperature is the sweet spot for deep frying: hot enough to crisp and brown the outside fast, but not so hot that the sugar in the sweet rolls burns before the centers heat through. Use a small pot with about an inch of oil and a kitchen thermometer clipped to the side so you can keep it steady. If the oil dips too low between batches, the rolls turn greasy, so let it come back up to temp before you drop the next one in.

Can You Make These in an Air Fryer?

You can, though it’s a different result. An air fryer won’t give you that true deep-fried donut crunch, but it’s a lighter, less messy option. Brush the rolls with melted butter, air fry at 350F for about 5 to 6 minutes until golden, then toss them in cinnamon sugar and drizzle with icing. They come out more like a toasted, cinnamon-sugar roll than a crispy donut, but they’re still really good and use way less oil. If deep frying feels like a hassle, this is the shortcut I’d reach for.

Storage & Leftovers

These are hands-down best fresh, when the outside is still crisp and the icing is glossy. If you have leftovers, keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a day. They’ll soften as they sit, so to bring back some crunch, warm them in an air fryer or oven for a couple of minutes. I wouldn’t refrigerate them, since the cold dries the rolls out fast.

Equipment

• Small pot
• Kitchen thermometer
• Mixing bowls
• Whisk
• Kitchen tongs
• Wire cooling rack

Ingredients

• 6 King’s Hawaiian Rolls
• Vegetable Oil (for frying)
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp Cinnamon

Icing

• 3/4 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp Unsalted Butter (melted)
• 1/8 tsp sea salt
• 2 to 3 tbsp milk
• 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract

Substitutions and Swaps

• The rolls. King’s Hawaiian original or sweet rolls both work, and any soft, sweet dinner roll will do in a pinch. The King’s Hawaiian fluff is really what makes these taste like donuts though, so I’d start there if you can.
• The icing. Skip it and just do cinnamon sugar for a simpler churro-style roll, or swap in a maple glaze or a chocolate drizzle if you want a different donut flavor.
• The cinnamon sugar. A little nutmeg or pumpkin pie spice mixed into the sugar is a cozy fall twist. You can also toss them in plain powdered sugar instead for a beignet vibe.
• Deep frying. If you’d rather not deep fry, use the air fryer method above. It’s lighter and less messy, just not quite as crispy.
• The milk. Any milk works in the icing, dairy or not. Use a little less if you want a thicker glaze, a little more for a thin drizzle.

Instructions

1. Mix the granulated sugar and cinnamon together in a bowl to make the cinnamon sugar. In a separate bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, melted butter, salt, milk, and vanilla to make the icing. Set both aside.
2. Fill a small pot with oil about an inch deep. Heat the oil to roughly 350F and deep fry the rolls until they brown and look crispy on the outside. Set them aside on a paper towel or wire rack (they won’t actually turn crispy until they sit for a few minutes).
3. Roll each one in the cinnamon sugar while they’re still warm.
4. Drizzle with the icing and enjoy!

These are one of those desserts that make you look like a genius for basically no effort, which is exactly my kind of recipe. They’re perfect for a weekend treat, a party, or those late-night moments when I want something sweet and warm and I want it NOW. Warm bread, cinnamon sugar, and vanilla icing all in one crispy bite, it’s SO good!

And if you want another 20-minute King’s Hawaiian dessert to try next, my King’s Hawaiian roll cream cheese danishes fill the rolls with a sweet cream cheese filling and bake until gooey.

If you want something in the cinnamon-roll lane, these Easy Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Buns use the same King’s Hawaiian rolls and come together in about 30 minutes, no dough-making needed.

Would you fry up a batch of these King’s Hawaiian rolls? Give them a try and leave a star rating on the recipe card, then let me know in the comments if they took you back to the donut shop! 🙌

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