Looking for a fun and festive treat to celebrate the 4th of July or any patriotic occasion? Star Shaped Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls are the perfect easy dessert or brunch idea!
Using a cookie cutter and refrigerated dough to bake these fun treats. Then top them with cream cheese icing and patriotic sprinkles!
Check out even more cinnamon roll recipes made with refrigerated or homemade yeast dough!
This easy-to-make recipe transforms refrigerated Pillsbury cinnamon rolls into star-shaped treats, perfect for patriotic holidays and summer parties.
It's an easy, kid-friendly project clear, step-by-step instructions that anyone can bake for a sweet, crowd-pleasing celebration.
Looking for more 4th of July Foods? Check out my 4th of July Cupcake Recipe or my 4th of July Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Table of Contents
- Easy Tips for Baking and Decorating Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls
- Tips for Adding Icing and Sprinkles
- Helpful Kitchen Tools
- My Kitchen Tools Essentials
- Main Ingredients Needed
- Substitutions and Variations
- Step-by-Step Photos
- Baking Instructions
- Decorating Instructions
- Before You Begin!
- Recipe FAQ's
- How to Store, Freeze, and Reheat
- More Patriotic Recipes
- Celebrate Summer with the Red, White & Delicious Recipes eBook!
- 📖 Recipe Card
- 💬 Comments
Easy Tips for Baking and Decorating Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls
Use parchment paper: Lining your baking sheet with parchment paper helps prevent sticking and makes cleanup a breeze.
Bring icing to room temperature: Set the icing packet aside while the rolls bake so it spreads smoothly over warm rolls.
Flatten gently: If you’re shaping or decorating the rolls (like with cookie cutters), flatten the dough gently so it still puffs up nicely during baking.
Don’t overbake: Since oven temps vary, start checking the rolls 2–3 minutes before the recommended time to avoid overbaking. You want golden brown edges and a soft center.
Tips for Adding Icing and Sprinkles
Cool slightly before icing: Let the rolls cool for 5–10 minutes before adding icing so it doesn't melt completely off the rolls.
Dress them up: Add festive sprinkles, crushed nuts, or extra cinnamon sugar on top of the icing for extra flavor and fun!
Helpful Kitchen Tools
For a full list of kitchen tools used in this recipe, be sure to check the recipe card below. You can also browse my Favorite Kitchen Tools by clicking the photo below.
Check out my list...
My Kitchen Tools Essentials
Tools that will make your time easier and faster in the kitchen!
Main Ingredients Needed
Here's a quick overview of the ingredients for this recipe. Find the exact amounts and click the Instacart button to easily add them to your cart – all in the printable recipe card below!
Substitutions and Variations
Air fryer option: In a hurry? You can bake Pillsbury cinnamon rolls in the air fryer at 330°F for 6–8 minutes—perfect for small batches.
Change the shape: Use other cookie cutter shapes to fit different holidays—hearts for Valentine’s Day, pumpkins for Halloween, or trees for Christmas.
Flavor the icing: Stir a drop of vanilla, maple extract, or almond extract into the icing packet before drizzling for extra flavor.
Color the icing: Add a drop or two of food coloring to the icing to match the theme of your event (red, white, and blue for 4th of July!).
Step-by-Step Photos
This section provides step-by-step photos and instructions to guide you through the recipe. For the complete printable version, scroll down to the recipe card below.
Step 1:Lightly flatten each roll with the back of a spatula until it’s large enough to fit your star-shaped cookie cutter. If you need to, you can spray the back of the spatula with non-stick baking spray.
Step 2: Press the cookie cutter into the center of each roll to cut out star shapes. I used a small sized star shaped cookie cutter.
Baking Instructions
Step 3: You can also use a larger cookie cutter to vary the shapes. Press the dough scraps into it to form more stars.
Step 4: Transfer the rolls to the oven and bake according to package directions. Keep an eye on them—they may bake a bit faster since they're smaller than regular rolls.
Decorating Instructions
Step 5: Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the pan for 10 to 15 minutes. Drizzle the cream cheese frosting over each of the stars and top with festive sprinkles.
Before You Begin!
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Recipe FAQ's
To view the answers, simply click on the down arrow (⬇) next to each question. If you have any other questions not answered here, please leave a comment!
Yes, gently flattening the rolls makes it easier to fit the cookie cutter and get a nice star shape.
Most Pillsbury cinnamon rolls bake best at 350°F for soft, evenly baked results. Baking at 375°F can brown them too quickly and may cause drying—350°F is the safer choice, especially for star-shaped rolls.
Absolutely! Press the scraps into the cutter on the baking sheet to form more stars.
How to Store, Freeze, and Reheat
Refrigerate: Store any leftover cinnamon rolls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Freezer: Allow the rolls to cool completely, then place them in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze for about an hour. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container. They’ll keep well for up to 2 months.
Thaw and Reheat: When ready to enjoy, thaw rolls overnight in the refrigerator or at room temperature for a few hours. Reheat in the microwave for 10–15 seconds or warm them in a 300°F oven for a few minutes until heated through.
More Patriotic Recipes
Try my other Patriotic Star Shaped Cereal Treats or Firecracker Marshmallow Pops.
Celebrate Summer with the Red, White & Delicious Recipes eBook!
This beautifully designed digital cookbook features 10 fun and festive dessert recipes perfect for the 4th of July, Memorial Day, or any red, white, and blue celebration.
📖 Recipe Card
Star Shaped Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat your oven according to the temperature listed on the package of cinnamon rolls.
- Open the package and arrange the rolls a few inches apart on a greased or parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Set the icing packet aside to come to room temperature.
- Lightly flatten each roll using the back of a spatula until the dough is large enough to fit your cookie cutter. Tip: Spray the spatula with non-stick spray to prevent sticking.
- Press a star-shaped cookie cutter into the center of each roll to cut out star shapes.
- Use the leftover dough scraps to create additional stars. Place the cutter on the baking sheet and press the extra dough pieces inside to form more stars. You can use different sizes of cutters if you’d like.
- Bake the star-shaped cinnamon rolls in the preheated oven, following the package directions. Since the stars are smaller, watch closely—baking time may be slightly shorter.
- Remove from the oven and let cool on the baking sheet for 10–15 minutes.
- Drizzle icing over the cooled stars.
- Immediately add festive sprinkles and enjoy!
Nutrition
Notes
- Line the pan: Use parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easy.
- Soften the icing: Let the icing packet sit at room temperature while the rolls bake for easier drizzling.
- Flatten with care: Gently flatten the dough if using cookie cutters, so the rolls still puff up while baking.
- Watch the bake time: Check the rolls 2–3 minutes early to prevent overbaking. Look for golden edges and a soft center.
- Cool before icing: Allow rolls to cool for 5–10 minutes before adding icing to keep it from sliding off.
- Tip: The number of cinnamon stars you’ll get depends on the size of your star-shaped cookie cutters. Smaller cutters will yield more stars, while larger cutters will create fewer—but equally festive—treats!
Debra | Gma’sPhoto says
Oh my, this is an easy recipe and quick to bake and serve. I will be with my grand girls the month of July. This will be one project we can do. Looking forward to it. Thank you for sharing this easy recipe! Pinned.
Take care and best wishes.
Debra
Lois says
That sounds so special—what a fun project to do with your grand girls! I hope you all have a great time baking (and enjoying!) it together. Thank you so much for your kind comment and for pinning the recipe!