There is something truly magical about the combination of flaky pastry and sweet cinnamon sugar swirls that make this Cinnamon Sugar Cruffin Recipe an absolute standout treat. If you’ve been on the hunt for a show-stopping, yet surprisingly easy pastry to elevate your breakfast or afternoon snack game, you’re in the right place. This recipe transforms simple refrigerated crescent dough into tender, flaky cruffins that boast a caramelized cinnamon-sugar coating. Trust me, once you try making and enjoying these warm cruffins fresh from the oven, you’ll want to make them again and again!
Ingredients You’ll Need
This Cinnamon Sugar Cruffin Recipe calls for a handful of staples that you probably already have in your kitchen, yet each plays an essential role in delivering taste, texture, and that irresistible golden color. The magic here is in the balance—a buttery dough, perfectly spiced cinnamon sugar, and the simple technique that turns these humble ingredients into pure indulgence.
- Refrigerated crescent roll sheets (3 tubes, 8 ounces each): These form the buttery, flaky base that makes the cruffins easy to shape and bake.
- Unsalted butter (6 tablespoons, softened): Spread generously on the dough to create layers of rich flavor and flaky texture.
- Granulated sugar (1 cup, 200 g): Sweetens and caramelizes beautifully when combined with cinnamon.
- Ground cinnamon (1 tablespoon): Adds that iconic warm and spicy kick essential to the coating and flavor profile.
How to Make Cinnamon Sugar Cruffin Recipe
Step 1: Preheat and Prepare Your Bakeware
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). While it warms up, lightly spray a standard 12-cup muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray to make sure your cruffins don’t stick and come out perfectly intact.
Step 2: Roll Out the Dough
On a lightly floured surface, unroll each tube of crescent roll dough and gently roll it into a 12 by 16-inch rectangle. If your dough has perforations, pinch all the seams well to seal them. This ensures they hold together beautifully as you roll them up later.
Step 3: Spread the Butter
Generously spread 2 tablespoons of softened unsalted butter evenly across each rectangle of dough. This step is essential to getting that tender, flaky texture, as well as infusing each bite with buttery richness.
Step 4: Prepare Cinnamon Sugar Mix
In a small bowl, whisk together granulated sugar and ground cinnamon until fully combined. This simple mixture will become the star coating that adds sweetness and that classic cinnamon flavor to your cruffins.
Step 5: Sprinkle the Cinnamon Sugar
Evenly sprinkle ¼ cup of the cinnamon sugar mixture over the buttered dough, gently pressing it into the surface. This helps the sugar stick and infuses every inch of dough with flavor as it bakes.
Step 6: Roll Into Logs
Beginning at the long edge, tightly roll the dough into a log. This careful rolling creates the signature layers that puff up and separate during baking, offering that delightful crunch followed by softness.
Step 7: Cut Logs Into Sections
Cut each log in half, then cut each half lengthwise into two sections, yielding four long strips from each dough sheet. Repeat this for all three sheets, giving you 12 sections in total to shape.
Step 8: Shape the Cruffins
Take each dough section and roll it up into a cinnamon roll shape, with the layered, cinnamon-coated side facing outward. Tuck the ends in as you roll so nothing unravels when baking.
Step 9: Place and Bake
Arrange the shaped cruffins gently into the prepared muffin tin cups. Bake in the preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes or until they puff up gloriously and turn a beautiful golden brown on top, signaling they are perfectly cooked and flaky.
Step 10: Coat With Remaining Cinnamon Sugar
Right after baking, while the cruffins are still warm, roll each one in the remainder of your cinnamon sugar mixture. This final step adds an irresistible sweet crunch that takes these cruffins over the top.
How to Serve Cinnamon Sugar Cruffin Recipe
Garnishes
To add a lovely finishing touch, you can dust a bit of powdered sugar on top or drizzle some warm vanilla glaze. Fresh berries or a dollop of whipped cream also complement the cinnamon perfectly and brighten the presentation.
Side Dishes
These cruffins pair wonderfully with a steaming cup of coffee or chai tea for breakfast or afternoon treats. They also go well alongside fresh fruit salad or a creamy yogurt parfait for a balanced and satisfying spread.
Creative Ways to Present
Try serving your cinnamon sugar cruffins in colorful cupcake liners or arrange them on a tiered dessert stand to make them party-ready. You can also slice one vertically and fill it with cream cheese or chocolate spread for a decadent twist.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you have leftovers (and you might!), store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. This keeps the cruffins soft yet still slightly crisp on the outside.
Freezing
For longer storage, freeze unbaked shaped cruffins in the muffin tin covered tightly with plastic wrap for up to a month. When ready to bake, thaw overnight in the fridge and bake as usual. You can also freeze fully baked cruffins wrapped well to enjoy later.
Reheating
To enjoy cruffins fresh-tasting, reheat them in a warm oven (about 300°F) for 5 to 7 minutes, or briefly in the microwave at 30-second intervals to gently melt any lingering butter and refresh the texture.
FAQs
Can I use homemade dough instead of crescent roll sheets?
Absolutely! If you have a laminated pastry dough like puff pastry or croissant dough, you can use that instead. Just ensure it’s rolled to similar thickness for best results with layering and baking times.
What can I do if I don’t have a muffin tin?
You can bake the rolled cruffins on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them apart to give them room to expand. The shape will be a bit different, but still delicious and flaky.
Is it possible to make this recipe gluten-free?
You could try using gluten-free crescent dough if available, but keep in mind the texture may vary. Butter and cinnamon sugar are naturally gluten-free, so it mainly depends on the dough choice.
How sweet are these cruffins?
The balance of cinnamon and sugar creates a moderately sweet pastry that isn’t overpowering. The sugar caramelizes beautifully giving each bite a delightful crunch with warm spice.
Can I add fillings like chocolate or jam?
Definitely! Adding a thin layer of chocolate chips, Nutella, or fruit jam before rolling the dough adds a lovely surprise inside. Just don’t overstuff to keep them rolling nicely.
Final Thoughts
Making this Cinnamon Sugar Cruffin Recipe is such a rewarding experience because it turns a few simple ingredients into a bakery-worthy treat you’ll be proud of. Whether you’re impressing guests or just spoiling yourself, these warm, flaky, and sweet cruffins bring joy with every bite. I can’t wait for you to whip up a batch and share the deliciousness!
Print
Cinnamon Sugar Cruffin Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings
- Category: Breakfast, Snack, Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Cinnamon Sugar Cruffin recipe combines the flaky layers of crescent roll dough with a buttery cinnamon sugar coating, baked into delightful individual pastries. These cruffins are easy to prepare, perfect for a comforting breakfast or a sweet snack, featuring a golden, crispy exterior with a soft, spiced interior.
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 3 tubes (8 ounces each) refrigerated crescent roll sheets
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened and divided
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prepare muffin tin: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly spray a standard 12-cup muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray and set it aside to prepare for baking the cruffins.
- Roll out dough: On a lightly floured surface, unroll each tube of crescent roll dough and gently roll it out into a 12×16-inch rectangle. If using perforated crescent dough, pinch seams well to seal them.
- Butter the dough: Spread 2 tablespoons of softened butter evenly over the entire surface of each dough sheet to ensure a rich buttery flavor and flakiness in the final product.
- Mix cinnamon sugar: In a small bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon until fully combined to create the sweet, spiced coating for the cruffins.
- Sprinkle cinnamon sugar: Evenly sprinkle ¼ cup of the cinnamon sugar mixture on top of each buttered dough sheet, pressing it gently into the dough to help it adhere and infuse flavor.
- Roll dough into logs: Starting from the long edge, tightly roll each dough sheet into a log shape to create multiple layers ready for slicing into portions.
- Cut logs into sections: Cut each dough log in half to create two shorter logs, then cut each shorter log lengthwise into halves, yielding four long sections per dough sheet.
- Repeat for all sheets: Perform the rolling and cutting process with all three dough sheets, resulting in a total of 12 dough sections.
- Shape the cruffins: Take each dough section and carefully roll it up with the layered side facing outward into a cinnamon roll shape, tucking in the ends to secure the spiral.
- Place in muffin tin: Arrange each rolled cruffin section into the prepared muffin tin cups, spacing them evenly.
- Bake the cruffins: Bake the cruffins in the preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes or until they are puffed up and golden brown on top, indicating they are cooked through and flaky.
- Coat with remaining cinnamon sugar: Immediately after removing the cruffins from the oven, roll each one in the reserved cinnamon sugar mixture to add an extra layer of sweetness and crunch.
Notes
- Ensure the crescent roll sheets are well sealed to prevent dough from opening during baking.
- Use softened butter for easy spreading and even coverage.
- Pressing the cinnamon sugar gently into the dough helps enhance flavor and stickiness.
- For best texture, serve cruffins fresh and warm.
- You can add a dusting of powdered sugar or drizzle icing for additional sweetness.
