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Easy and Adorable Heart Shaped Cinnamon Rolls

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As a former culinary teacher, I’ve always loved discovering and sharing simple ways to make holidays extra special, and this Heart Shaped Cinnamon Rolls recipe is a perfect example. By using refrigerated dough, you skip the time-consuming steps of making yeast dough from scratch, like proofing and kneading, while still achieving that warm, freshly baked goodness everyone loves.

Heart shaped cinnamon rolls on a white cake plate.
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The result is a beautifully golden, sweet treat that not only tastes amazing but also doubles as a charming centerpiece for Valentine’s Day breakfast or brunch. It’s the ideal balance of convenience and creativity, perfect for busy families or anyone looking to add a little love to their breakfast table.

Whether you’re making these sweet cinnamon rolls with kids, for a partner, or simply for yourself, it’s a fun and meaningful way to spread love. Plus, the simplicity of using pre-made dough leaves more time to enjoy the company of your loved ones—something that every holiday celebration should center around.

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What goes into this Recipe

The ingredients needed to make heart shaped cinnamon rolls.
  • Grands Cinnamon Rolls: These Pillsbury cinnamon rolls are the perfect starting point for this easy recipe. I specifically use Pillsbury Grands because they’re nice and big, making them ideal for shaping into hearts. They also already have the melted butter, cinnamon and brown sugar rolled inside the bread dough.
  • Valentine Sprinkles: While any sprinkles will work, I love using festive valentine sprinkles to make these sweet heart rolls extra special. Red and pink jimmies or heart-shaped sprinkles are my favorites for these adorable cinnamon rolls.

See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How to make Heart Shaped Cinnamon Rolls

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and prepare your cookie sheet by lining it with parchment paper or a silicone mat. To make the heart shape, start by carefully unrolling each cinnamon roll into one long strip of dough. Leave the center coiled up {this will be one side of your heart}.
  2. Take the unrolled end and coil it inward to match the other side.
Unrolling one side of the cinnamon roll and making two rolls on each side.
  1. Gently pull down the middle of the strip between the two coils to create a point, forming the shape of a heart. Make sure to give the point a little pinch to help it keep its shape while baking.
  2. Place your sweet heart rolls on the prepared cookie sheet, leaving enough room between each one for them to rise and expand.
Creating a heart shape with the dough and placing on a baking sheet.
  1. Bake for 14-16 minutes, or until your sweetheart cinnamon rolls are a beautiful golden brown.
  2. While they’re still warm, spread the included original frosting over each heart. l golden brown.
  3. While they’re still warm, spread the included original frosting over each heart. You could also use a delicious cream cheese frosting that is homemade. Top with valentine sprinkles right away so they stick to the warm frosting.
Baking the cinnamon rolls and topping with frosting and sprinkles.

Expert Tips

  • Use quality Pillsbury Grands cinnamon rolls. The larger size of Grands cinnamon rolls makes them perfect for shaping into hearts. Regular sized cinnamon rolls can work too, but the hearts will be smaller and may be trickier to shape.
  • Don’t skip the parchment paper. While it might be tempting to just use a greased baking sheet, parchment paper ensures your cinnamon rolls won’t stick to the pan. This is especially important since we’re reshaping the dough, which can make it more likely to stick.
  • Keep the dough cold. Work with your cinnamon rolls straight from the refrigerator. Cold dough is much easier to unroll and shape without stretching or tearing. If the dough starts getting too warm while you’re working with it, pop it back in the fridge for a few minutes.
  • Watch your bake time carefully. Since we’re changing the shape of these sweet heart rolls, they may bake slightly differently than regular cinnamon rolls. Start checking them at the earliest suggested bake time to ensure you get flaky cinnamon rolls and don’t overbake.
  • Add sprinkles immediately. Don’t wait to add your valentine sprinkles – they need to be added while the frosting is still warm and soft so they’ll stick properly. Have them ready to go as soon as you frost the rolls.

Storage and Freezing Instructions

Store: These adorable heart-shaped cinnamon rolls are best enjoyed fresh from the oven, but can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Be sure to layer them carefully to maintain their heart shape and prevent the frosting from sticking.

To enjoy warm rolls after refrigerating, microwave individual rolls for 15-20 seconds. The frosting will become melty and delicious, just like when they’re fresh from the oven!

Freeze: While these heart-shaped rolls can be frozen, I don’t recommend it since the texture of the frosting and dough won’t be quite the same after thawing. If you do need to freeze them, store them without frosting in a freezer-safe container for up to 1 month. Thaw completely at room temperature, then warm slightly and add fresh frosting before serving.

Recipe FAQs

Can I make these with homemade cinnamon roll dough?

While you can definitely use your favorite cinnamon roll recipe, the beauty of this easy recipe is using canned cinnamon rolls for a quick and foolproof result. If using homemade dough, make sure it’s well-chilled before shaping into hearts.

Why won’t my rolls hold their heart shape?

The most common reason is that the dough has become too warm. Keep the cinnamon roll dough cold until you’re ready to shape each one, and make sure to pinch the bottom of the heart firmly. If the dough gets too warm while you’re working with it, pop it back in the refrigerator for a few minutes.

Can I make these ahead?

For the best results, I recommend shaping and baking these heart rolls just before serving. However, you can shape them the night before, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight. Just let them sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes before baking in the morning.

Serving heart shaped cinnamon rolls on plates with strawberries.

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Heart shaped cinnamon rolls on a white cake plate.

Easy Sweetheart Cinnamon Rolls

These easy to make heart shaped cinnamon rolls start with refrigerated cinnamon rolls and are topped with frosting and sprinkles.
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 18 minutes
Total Time: 28 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 200kcal
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Ingredients

  • 1 can refrigerated cinnamon rolls {Pillsbury® Grands Cinnamon Rolls}
  • 1 Tablespoon valentine sprinkles

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper {or a silicone mat}. Set aside.
  • Carefully unwind each roll into a long strip of dough, leaving the center coiled. Coil unrolled end of each strip in toward center, making two equal coils. Pull the middle of the strip down to make a point, forming a heart shape; pinch point. Place on a prepared pan.
  • Bake for 14 to 16 minutes or until golden brown. Carefully spread the frosting over the top of the hearts and add sprinkles.  These are best fresh from the oven but can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Notes

Work with cold dough straight from the refrigerator for the easiest shaping and best results.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 200kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 225mg | Potassium: 49mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Calcium: 76mg | Iron: 2mg
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