Cinnamon Sugar Cruffins Recipe
If you’ve ever dreamed of having the best of both worlds – flaky, buttery croissants and the sweet, comforting charm of cinnamon rolls – then this Cinnamon Sugar Cruffins Recipe is about to become your new kitchen obsession. I remember the first time I made these; the smell alone was enough for my whole house to come wandering into the kitchen. Light, flaky layers dusted generously with cinnamon sugar, and the perfect handheld size make cruffins ideal for breakfast, brunch, or a special weekend treat.
What makes this Cinnamon Sugar Cruffins Recipe so special is how easy it is to transform simple crescent roll dough into something magical. You don’t need fancy ingredients or complicated techniques, just a bit of patience rolling and layering. Whether you’re hosting friends or just need a sweet pick-me-up on a rainy afternoon, these cruffins are a crowd-pleaser that anyone can make at home.
Why This Recipe Works
- Simple Ingredients: Using pre-made crescent roll dough cuts down prep time without sacrificing flaky layers.
- Layering Technique: Butter and cinnamon sugar spread evenly create that signature cruffin swirl and crunch.
- Perfect Portioning: Baking in muffin tins ensures individual servings with crispy edges.
- Quick Bake Time: Ready in under an hour, making it ideal for same-day indulgence or last-minute guests.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Each ingredient in this Cinnamon Sugar Cruffins Recipe is chosen for simplicity and flavor balance – the crescent dough gives you that buttery base, butter adds richness, and cinnamon sugar brings the nostalgic warmth we all love.
- Crescent Roll Dough: Make sure to pick refrigerated tubes without perforations or seal the seams well; it’s the key to perfect layered texture.
- Unsalted Butter: Softened butter spreads easily and melds beautifully with sugar and cinnamon, creating those irresistible layers.
- Granulated Sugar: Classic and simple, it caramelizes during baking adding a sweet crunch.
- Ground Cinnamon: Fresh ground cinnamon is best for bold flavor; it pairs perfectly with butter and sugar for that cozy, spicy note.
Tweak to Your Taste
I love playing around with this Cinnamon Sugar Cruffins Recipe — sometimes throwing in a bit of vanilla extract into the butter, or swapping plain sugar for brown sugar for a deeper caramel taste. Don’t hesitate to make this your own!
- Variation: Adding chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts inside the rolled dough adds an amazing crunch that my family adores.
- Dietary Mods: You can try dairy-free butter alternatives if you want a vegan version, and it still bakes beautifully.
- Seasonal Flavors: Adding a pinch of nutmeg or cardamom to the cinnamon sugar mix gives a cozy twist perfect for autumn.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Cinnamon Sugar Cruffins Recipe
Step 1: Prep Your Baking Gear and Dough
First things first, preheat your oven to 350°F and spray a 12-cup muffin tin with nonstick spray. When I started, I didn’t spray enough, so some of my cruffins stuck—don’t make that mistake! Then, roll each tube of crescent roll dough into a 12×16-inch rectangle on a lightly floured surface, making sure to seal any seams if your dough is perforated. Tight seams mean flaky layers, so take your time here.
Step 2: Butter Up and Sugar It Down
Spread 2 tablespoons of softened butter evenly over each dough rectangle. Then mix your cinnamon and sugar in a small bowl. Sprinkle ¼ cup of this cinnamon sugar over the butter, pressing it gently so it sticks into the dough. Save a little cinnamon sugar for the finishing touch after baking — that’s the secret to maximum flavor and crunch!
Step 3: Roll, Cut, and Shape Your Cruffins
Start by rolling the dough from the long side into a tight log. Once rolled, cut the log in half, and then slice each half lengthwise, giving you four strips. Repeat for both dough sheets to get 12 strips total. Now for the fun part: take each strip and carefully roll it up into a tight spiral with the layered side facing out. Tuck the ends underneath and place each cruffin into your muffin tin.
Step 4: Bake to Golden Perfection
Bake your cruffins for 18-20 minutes until they’re golden brown and puffed up beautifully. I usually peek at the 18-minute mark because ovens vary—too long and they dry out, too short and they won’t crisp. As soon as they come out, roll each cruffin in the remaining cinnamon sugar for that irresistible finishing touch.
Pro Tips for Making Cinnamon Sugar Cruffins Recipe
- Work Quickly: The dough gets sticky fast, so keep your work surface lightly floured and move efficiently.
- Butter Consistency: Use softened butter, not melted; it spreads evenly but won’t soak through the dough.
- Seal Perforations: Pinch seams tightly if using perforated dough to prevent sugar leakage during baking.
- Watch Your Bake Time: Oven temps vary, so start checking a few minutes before time’s up to avoid overbaking.
How to Serve Cinnamon Sugar Cruffins Recipe
Garnishes
I usually just enjoy the cruffins as-is since that final cinnamon sugar coating is perfect, but for a little extra flair I like to dust them lightly with powdered sugar or drizzle a thin glaze made from powdered sugar and milk. Sometimes a small pat of butter melting on top is just heavenly too.
Side Dishes
These cruffins are fantastic alongside a hot cup of coffee or chai. They also pair well with fresh fruit or a simple yogurt parfait for a balanced brunch spread. On busy mornings, I like serving them with scrambled eggs to add protein without much hassle.
Creative Ways to Present
For special occasions, I arrange the cruffins on a tiered serving tray for a show-stopping brunch centerpiece. Wrapping each one in a small napkin or placing a tiny cinnamon stick next to them adds charm when serving guests. I’ve even used them as edible place card holders at a casual gathering—it’s a fun conversation starter!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Leftover Cinnamon Sugar Cruffins keep beautifully in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 days. I’ve found that keeping them in a sealed box preserves their flaky texture better than wrapping them tightly in plastic wrap, which can soften the crisp edges.
Freezing
If you want to freeze cruffins, let them cool completely first, then freeze in a single layer on a baking sheet. Once frozen solid, transfer them to a resealable freezer bag. This way, they’ll last for up to 2 months and thaw without sticking together.
Reheating
To reheat, I pop cruffins in a 350°F oven for about 5-7 minutes to refresh their flakiness and warmth. Avoid microwaving if possible—it tends to make them soggy. A quick oven reheat brings back that crisp cinnamon sugared crust we all love.
FAQs
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Can I use homemade croissant dough instead of crescent rolls?
Absolutely! Homemade croissant dough would make these cruffins even more buttery and flaky, but keep in mind the prep time will increase significantly. Using crescent roll dough is great for a quick and easy version.
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What should I do if my cruffins stick to the muffin tin?
Make sure to liberally oil or spray your muffin tin before adding the dough. Nonstick cooking spray with flour works wonders. Also, letting the cruffins cool a few minutes helps them release more easily.
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Can I prepare the cruffins dough ahead of time before baking?
Yes! You can assemble the cruffins and refrigerate them in the muffin tin covered tightly with plastic wrap overnight. Just add a couple extra minutes to the bake time when you’re ready to bake.
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How can I make these cruffins vegan?
Use vegan crescent roll dough if available and swap the butter for a plant-based alternative. The texture might be slightly different but you’ll still get a delicious cinnamon sugar treat.
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What’s the best way to enjoy Cinnamon Sugar Cruffins fresh?
Fresh out of the oven, these are best enjoyed slightly warm with a cup of coffee or tea. The layers are at their flakiest, and the cinnamon sugar will still be perfectly crisp.
Final Thoughts
This Cinnamon Sugar Cruffins Recipe has genuinely become one of my go-to recipes when I want something impressive yet foolproof. They’re quick to make but feel like a bakery treat, which always brings smiles to my family and friends. I really encourage you to give this recipe a try — once you have that first warm, sugary bite, I know you’ll be hooked just like I am. It’s snack time, elevated.
Print
Cinnamon Sugar Cruffins Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Delight in these homemade Cruffins, a perfect blend of croissant and muffin made with flaky crescent roll dough, buttery cinnamon sugar, and baked to golden perfection. Ideal for breakfast or a sweet snack, these treats offer a crispy, layered texture with a delightful cinnamon kick.
Ingredients
Dough and Butter
- 3 tubes (8 ounces each) refrigerated crescent roll sheets
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened, divided
Cinnamon Sugar Mixture
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Muffin Tin: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Lightly spray a standard 12-cup muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray and set it aside to ensure easy removal of the cruffins after baking.
- Roll Out Dough: On a lightly floured work surface, unroll each tube of crescent roll dough and gently roll it out into a 12×16-inch rectangle. If using perforated dough, pinch the seams to seal the dough sheet into one piece to prevent filling leakage.
- Butter the Dough: Spread 2 tablespoons of the softened unsalted butter evenly over each rectangle of dough, covering the entire surface to ensure rich flavor and flaky layers.
- Prepare Cinnamon Sugar: In a small bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon until well combined to create the cinnamon sugar mixture.
- Add Cinnamon Sugar to Dough: Sprinkle about ¼ cup of the cinnamon sugar mixture evenly over the buttered dough sheets, gently pressing it into the dough to help it stick. Reserve the remaining cinnamon sugar for topping after baking.
- Roll Dough into Logs: Starting at the long edge of the dough sheet, tightly roll it up into a log shape, ensuring a snug roll to create layered swirls inside the cruffin.
- Slice Logs into Sections: Cut each rolled log in half lengthwise, then cut each half into two lengthwise strips, creating four sections per dough sheet. Repeat this process for all three dough sheets to yield twelve sections.
- Shape the Cruffins: Take each section with the layered side facing out and roll it tightly into a cinnamon roll shape, tucking in the dough end to secure. Place each shaped cruffin into the prepared muffin tin cups.
- Bake: Bake the cruffins in the preheated oven for 20 minutes or until they turn golden brown and puffed up, ensuring they are cooked through and flaky.
- Coat with Cinnamon Sugar: Upon removing the cruffins from the oven, immediately roll each one in the remaining cinnamon sugar mixture to coat the outside well for extra sweetness and crunch.
- Serve and Enjoy: Allow cruffins to cool slightly before serving. Enjoy warm or at room temperature as a delightful breakfast treat or snack.
Notes
- If using crescent roll dough with perforations, be sure to pinch seams to prevent filling leakage.
- You can substitute unsalted butter with salted butter if preferred; reduce additional salt in other recipes accordingly.
- For an extra treat, drizzle cream cheese icing over cooled cruffins.
- Ensure the dough is evenly rolled out to create consistent layers and uniform baking.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days; reheat briefly for best texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cruffin
- Calories: 220 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 210 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg
