If you adore the comforting swirl of cinnamon rolls but crave a flaky, buttery croissant texture, you are going to fall head over heels for this Cinnamon Roll Cruffins Recipe. Imagine the delicate layers of a croissant combined with that iconic cinnamon sugar sweetness, all baked into perfectly sized, golden cruffins. This recipe is a brilliant remix of two beloved pastries, offering a decadent yet approachable treat that brings café vibes right into your kitchen. Whether you’re serving brunch, a cozy afternoon tea, or just satisfying your sweet tooth, these cruffins are pure magic.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Gathering these simple yet essential ingredients sets the stage for cruffins bursting with flavor and flaky texture. Each component plays a vital role, from the buttery dough to the creamy glaze, ensuring every bite is a perfect harmony of sweetness, spice, and richness.
- 3 tubes (8 ounces each) refrigerated crescent roll sheets: Convenient and flaky, these form the buttery base that yields layers of deliciousness.
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter (softened): Adds richness and helps the cinnamon sugar mixture meld beautifully into the dough.
- 1 cup (200 g) light brown sugar (packed): Provides caramel-like sweetness and moisture, essential for that gooey cinnamon roll feel.
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon: The quintessential spice that brings warmth and depth to the flavor profile.
- 4 ounces cream cheese (softened): Creates a luscious, tangy glaze that balances the sweetness perfectly.
- ½ cup (62.5 g) confectioners’ sugar: The base for the glaze’s smooth sweetness and ideal consistency.
- 1-2 tablespoons whole milk (as needed for consistency): Helps thin the glaze to a perfect drizzling texture.
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract: Adds aromatic depth that rounds out the glaze beautifully.
How to Make Cinnamon Roll Cruffins Recipe
Step 1: Prep Your Oven and Muffin Tin
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F, the perfect temperature to achieve a golden, flaky crust. Lightly spray a 12-cup muffin tin with nonstick spray so your cruffins release easily after baking. This step ensures a flawless finish and hassle-free cleanup.
Step 2: Roll Out the Dough Sheets
On a lightly floured surface, roll out each crescent roll sheet to roughly 12 by 16 inches. This broad surface allows for generous layering of butter and cinnamon sugar, helping your cruffins develop those irresistible swirls and flaky layers. Remember to pinch any perforated seams closed so the filling stays secured as you roll.
Step 3: Make the Cinnamon Sugar Butter Spread
In a small bowl, blend the softened butter, light brown sugar, and cinnamon until they form a smooth, spreadable paste. This luscious mixture is what gives your cruffins their signature sweet and spicy kick. Spreading it evenly over each dough sheet ensures every bite is bursting with cinnamon goodness.
Step 4: Roll Up Your Dough Logs
Starting from the long side, roll each sheet tightly into a log. This tight rolling traps those cinnamon sugar layers inside, setting the stage for the perfect swirl pattern you’ll see once sliced and baked. The more compact your roll, the better the layers will hold up during baking.
Step 5: Slice the Dough into Sections
Cut each log in half crosswise, then slice each half lengthwise so you expose the layers—this creates four pieces per log, totaling twelve. These exposed layers are key to capturing the croissant-like flakiness and the eye-catching swirl that makes a Cinnamon Roll Cruffins Recipe so special.
Step 6: Shape Your Cruffins
With the cut, layered side facing out, roll each section into tight swirls, tucking the ends neatly underneath. Placing these swirls into the prepared muffin tin cups allows them to maintain their shape and bake evenly, giving you those perfect individual cruffins full of delightful layers.
Step 7: Bake to Golden Perfection
Bake for 18 to 22 minutes or until the tops turn a beautiful golden brown and feel set to the touch. If your oven doesn’t bake evenly, rotate the pan halfway through cooking to ensure all twelve cruffins bake up uniformly delicious.
Step 8: Prepare the Cream Cheese Glaze
While the cruffins are baking, whip together the softened cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar, vanilla extract, and enough milk to reach a smooth, drizzling consistency. This tangy glaze will add a dreamy finishing touch that complements the sweet cinnamon notes perfectly.
How to Serve Cinnamon Roll Cruffins Recipe
Garnishes
Sprinkle a few cruffins with a pinch of flaky sea salt, chopped toasted pecans, or even a dash of ground nutmeg for extra warmth. These little details enhance texture and flavor, elevating your Cinnamon Roll Cruffins Recipe to a show-stopping treat perfect for sharing.
Side Dishes
Pair these cruffins with a cup of strong coffee or a creamy latte to balance the sweetness. Freshly sliced fruit like strawberries or apples adds a refreshing contrast, making your sweet breakfast or brunch feel even more vibrant and complete.
Creative Ways to Present
Serve your Cinnamon Roll Cruffins Recipe on a rustic wooden board with a dusting of powdered sugar for a cozy, inviting look. You can also create a tempting dessert platter with small bowls of extra glaze and cinnamon sugar for dipping, turning the experience into a fun, interactive treat for family and friends.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Leftover cruffins will keep beautifully in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. This keeps them soft and moist without drying out, so you can enjoy them fresh like they just came from the oven.
Freezing
If you want to make these ahead for busy mornings, freeze baked and cooled cruffins in a zip-top bag or container for up to 2 months. When you’re ready, simply thaw at room temperature or warm gently to enjoy that fresh-baked allure.
Reheating
Reheat cruffins in a 325°F oven for 5 to 7 minutes, or microwave briefly for about 20 seconds. This revives their flaky texture and warm cinnamon aroma, making them taste like you just pulled them from the oven once again.
FAQs
Can I make Cinnamon Roll Cruffins Recipe with homemade dough?
Absolutely! While using refrigerated crescent roll dough is convenient and yields great flaky layers, homemade croissant or puff pastry dough will elevate the texture even more if you have the time and skill. Just be sure to roll and layer carefully for the best results.
What can I use instead of cream cheese in the glaze?
If you prefer a simpler glaze, mix confectioners’ sugar with a bit of milk and vanilla extract instead. It won’t have the rich tang of cream cheese but will still provide a lovely sweet finish to your cruffins.
Are Cinnamon Roll Cruffins Recipe suitable for freezing before baking?
You can freeze them shaped in the muffin tin. Just cover tightly once assembled and freeze. When ready to bake, thaw in the fridge overnight and then bake as directed. This method is perfect for preparing ahead without compromising freshness.
Can I add nuts or raisins to the filling?
Definitely! Adding chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts or a handful of raisins can add wonderful texture and flavor contrasts. Sprinkle them over the cinnamon sugar butter before rolling for a delightful surprise in every bite.
How do I prevent the cruffins from sticking to the muffin tin?
Lightly spraying the muffin tin with nonstick spray is key, but you can also line cups with parchment paper strips or use silicone muffin cups for an even easier release. This helps your cruffins keep their shape and look as beautiful as they taste.
Final Thoughts
Trust me, once you try the Cinnamon Roll Cruffins Recipe, it will become a go-to favorite for breakfast or brunch gatherings. The dance of flaky layers and cinnamon sugar sweetness is pure comfort in every bite. So grab your crescent dough, prep that luscious cinnamon butter, and get ready to wow your friends and family with these irresistible treats. Happy baking!
Print
Cinnamon Roll Cruffins Recipe
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 18-22 minutes
- Total Time: 43-47 minutes
- Yield: 12 cruffins
- Category: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Delight in these Cinnamon Roll Cruffins, an irresistible hybrid of croissants and muffins that combines flaky layers with the sweet, spicy flavors of cinnamon rolls. Made from refrigerated crescent roll dough filled with a cinnamon-sugar butter spread, baked until golden, and topped with a creamy vanilla glaze, these cruffins make a perfect treat for breakfast or dessert.
Ingredients
For the Cruffins
- 3 tubes (8 ounces each) refrigerated crescent roll sheets
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (200 g) light brown sugar, packed
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
For the Glaze
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup (62.5 g) confectioners’ sugar
- 1–2 tablespoons whole milk, as needed for consistency
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly spray a standard 12-cup muffin tin with nonstick spray and set it aside to prepare for the cruffins.
- Prepare Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out each refrigerated crescent roll sheet to about 12×16 inches. If your dough has perforations, pinch the seams tightly to seal the sheets, creating three separate solid dough sheets.
- Make Cinnamon Butter Mixture: In a small bowl, combine the softened unsalted butter, light brown sugar, and ground cinnamon until smooth and well mixed. This sweet paste will add the signature cinnamon roll flavor.
- Spread Mixture on Dough: Evenly spread one-third of the cinnamon butter mixture over each crescent dough sheet, ensuring full coverage for maximum flavor in every bite.
- Roll the Dough: Starting from the long edge, roll each sheet tightly into a log shape, forming three logs total.
- Slice the Logs: Cut each dough log in half crosswise. Then slice each half lengthwise to reveal the cinnamon layers, giving you four pieces per log and twelve pieces total.
- Form the Cruffins: With the cut, layered side facing outward, roll each dough piece into a tight swirl, tucking the end underneath to keep its shape. Place each rolled piece into the prepared muffin tin cups.
- Bake: Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake the cruffins for 18–22 minutes until they turn golden brown and the tops are set. You may rotate the pan halfway through baking to ensure even cooking.
- Prepare the Glaze: While the cruffins bake, in a medium bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar, vanilla extract, and 1 tablespoon of milk. Add more milk as needed until the glaze reaches a smooth, drizzle-able consistency.
- Glaze and Serve: When the cruffins have cooled slightly but are still warm, drizzle or spread the cream cheese glaze over the top. Serve warm for the best gooey, flavorful experience.
Notes
- Ensure the butter in the cinnamon mixture is softened to easily spread over the dough.
- Pinching the crescent dough seams prevents filling leakage and helps maintain the swirl shape.
- You can substitute whole milk in the glaze with any milk alternative if desired.
- Leftover cruffins can be stored in an airtight container and reheated gently before serving.
- For extra crunch, sprinkle chopped nuts over the glaze before it sets.
