How Long Do Cinnamon Rolls Last and How To Store Them

Bought or baked too many cinnamon rolls? Then you’re probably wondering how to store cinnamon rolls and how long they last.

Or maybe you’re considering buying more at your favorite bakery, so that you can enjoy them a couple of days later. But you’re not sure how long they are good for.

Perhaps you even considered freezing extra cinnamon rolls, but you’re not sure how that pans out.

If any of these ring a bell, this article is for you. In it, we’re going to talk about storage, shelf life, and throwing out old cinnamon rolls.

Interested? Let’s dive in.

How Long Do Cinnamon Rolls Last?

Cinnamon rolls keep quality for 1 to 2 days on the counter and 4 to 5 days in the fridge. If you need more time than that, freezing is an option too.

Cinnamon rolls don’t keep for that long, especially if you let them sit at room temperature and not tightly sealed.

If you know right away that some of your rolls will have to sit around for a couple of days before you get to them, you have two options.

The first one is to refrigerate them.

The downside is that you still have to eat them within those 4 to 5 days to enjoy the best quality possible. And that they take space in your fridge, which might be a scarce resource (at least for me).

The other option is freezing them, and that’s what I recommend.

Once those cinnamon rolls are in the freezer, you don’t have to worry about them losing quality or remembering to eat them in a couple of days.

Do what works best for the circumstances you’re in.

	Counter	Fridge	Freezer
Cinnamon Rolls	1 – 2 days	4 – 5 days	1+ month

How To Store Cinnamon Rolls

You can store cinnamon rolls on the counter or in the fridge. To prevent them from drying, store them in a freezer bag or airtight container.

A tight seal is pretty much a must if you refrigerate your cinnamon buns. Otherwise, they will dry out and go stale rather quickly. Plus, they might pick up some odors, which can easily ruin the eating experience.

If your cinnamon rolls sit on the counter, at least make sure they’re covered so that they don’t collect dust. A paper bag you got them in is also good enough if you roll its top.

An airtight bag is a nice touch but won’t make that much of a difference if you’re going to eat them the same day.

Let’s talk about the third option for storing cinnamon rolls – freezing.

How To Freeze Cinnamon Rolls

Freezing cinnamon rolls is a two-step process. First, you divide the rolls into portions, then you wrap each one and freeze.

Here’s how to freeze cinnamon buns:

1. Decide portions. We’re going to freeze each portion individually and defrost it whole in one go. If you have no idea how many rolls you’re going to need at a time, you can treat each one as a separate portion. Otherwise, go with 2 – 3 rolls per portion or what makes sense for you or your family.
2. Wrap each portion individually. If you’re going to freeze the rolls for a limited period, like a couple of weeks or so, placing them in a freezer bag should be enough. Otherwise, wrap them in food wrap, and then put them in the bag. A double wrap helps them keep quality for longer. Squeeze out the air before you seal the freezer bag. No matter if you single- or double-wrap, watch out that you don’t spread the frosting all over the place.
3. (Optional) Place the bags in an airtight container. If you’re worried that your cinnamon buns will get squashed in the freezer before they freeze solid, put them into a container.
4. Freeze. If you like, label the bag with the name and date.

This way, you can keep the leftover cinnamon rolls in the freezer for at least a couple of months.

When it comes to defrosting, do that on the counter. After about an hour (depending on the size), cinnamon rolls should be good to go. You can warm them up in the oven (covered) afterward if you prefer them warm.

Alternatively, you can quickly thaw them in the microwave. Place a small amount of butter on each roll (so that it doesn’t dry out completely), and microwave in 20 – 30 second increments until they’re warm enough to your liking.