These delicious cinnamon swirls have a flaky crust and a buttery cinnamon sugar filling. The best part is that they take only minutes to make, so there's no need to wait for yeast dough to rise. Which means they are great for busy mornings or an afterschool snack.
Jump to:
Save this recipe by clicking on the ❤️ heart on the right-hand side of the screen or in the recipe card.
Cinnamon Swirls with Puff Pastry
These puff pastry cinnamon rolls are sure to become a family favorite. Whether you’re entertaining guests or looking for a snack, cinnamon puff pastry swirls are here to make your day a little sweeter!
The magic of puff pastry means there's no waiting for dough to rise, and the result is a treat that's perfectly crispy on the outside and wonderfully gooey on the inside. Sure to become a family favorite, these cinnamon swirls are here to make any day sweeter, whether you're entertaining guests or just enjoying a cozy snack.
Pro Tip
The key to flaky, perfect puff pastry is keeping it cold. Work smart and if the pastry becomes too soft or sticky, place it in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes to firm up.
Cinnamon Swirls with Puff Pastry
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoon unsalted butter melted 25g
- 3 Tablespoons brown sugar 25g
- 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon 4g
- 1 sheet puff pastry thawed in the fridge
Vanilla Glaze (Optional):
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- ½ Tablespoon milk
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375F.
- Line a backing sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a small bowl mix together butter, cinnamon and sugar.
- Roll the puff pastry sheet out into a 30cm long sheet.
- and spread the mixture over the whole sheet.
- Fold the other half over and cut into 5 strips.
- Take one strip and cut in half leaving about one centimeter intact.
- Now twist the two parts together then roll into a circle tucking the ends under.
- Place on the baking sheet and bake in the center of the oven for 15-20 minutes or until top is golden brown.
Make the glaze:
- In a small bowl whisk together glaze ingredients and set aside.
- Serve warm drizzled with the vanilla glaze.
Notes
- When working with puff pastry, remember to keep it as cold as possible. If it becomes too soft, pop it in the fridge for a few minutes before continuing. This makes the dough easier to handle and ensures those beautiful flaky layers!
- I've found it's best to make these on a silicone baking mat or a piece of wax paper on your work surface, so you don't have to worry about the pastry dough sticking to your cutting board. If you aren't using a baking sheet make sure that you roll out the puff pastry on a lightly floured surface.
- When I'm baking a dessert like this one, I like to line my baking sheet with parchment paper; this helps prevent the bottoms from browning too much. And allows them to bake evenly.
- After they cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, you can also move them to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Nutrition
How to make Puff Pastry Cinnamon Rolls
Gather the ingredients, leth puff sheets thaw in the fridge but keep them cold. I love the deep molasses flavor that brown sugar gives to these swirls. I like to use dark brown sugar, but you can also use light brown sugar.
For an optional glaze you will need powdered sugar and milk or cream. Or you can just brush the rolls before baking with milk and sprinkle some granulated sugar on top.
Take one sheet of thawed, but cold, puff pastry from the fridge then place it on a clean work surface (lightly dusted with flour or lined with wax paper to avoid sticking) and gently unfold it. Using a rolling pin, roll the pastry out into a rectangle about 12 inches (30 cm) long, focusing on lengthening it rather than widening it.
In a small microwave safe bowl (or a saucepan on the stove), melt butter, then stir in brown sugar and ground cinnamon with a fork or whisk until smooth. Spread this cinnamon-sugar mixture evenly over the entire puff pastry sheet, right to the edges, using a spoon, offset spatula, or pastry brush.
Carefully fold one side of the rectangle over to meet the other side, creating a rectangle about half the original size with the filling enclosed inside. Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, slice the folded pastry into 5 equal strips, giving you 5 filled pieces.
Take one strip and lay it flat on your work surface. Using a sharp knife, cut it lengthwise down the center, stopping about 1 centimeter (less than ½ inch) from the top so the strip splits into two connected tails.
Gently lift the two halves of the strip and twist them around each other keeping the connected end intact. Coil the twisted strand into a circular swirl tucking the loose end underneath to secure it. Place the finished swirl on your prepared baking sheet, and repeat the process with the remaining strips, spacing them a couple of inches apart to allow room for expansion while baking.
If desired brush tops with milk or egg wash and sprinkle some granulated sugar over then bake until golden and crispy. You can also skip this step and bake then top with a sugar glaze, or serve as is.
Variations
- Grated orange or lemon zest can add a bright, citrusy twist to your cinnamon swirls. Sprinkle it over the sugar and cinnamon mixture before rolling!
- If you like crunch, finely chopped nuts like pecans, walnuts, or almonds make a fantastic addition. Sprinkle them over the filling before rolling the pastry.
- Experiment with other warm spices like nutmeg, cloves, or cardamom in addition to cinnamon for a richer flavor.
- Switch up the glaze and use Simple Cream Cheese Frosting instead. Mix together cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth, then spread over the warm swirls.
- I also like making savory swirls with this recipe; my favorite is mixing Za'atar, olive oil, and sometimes adding crumbled feta.
Storage and reheating
Refrigerate - Store leftover puff pastry cinnamon swirls in an airtight container or zip-top bag in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Freeze - For longer storage, freeze them in a freezer-safe bag or container and store them in the freezer for up to three months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
Reheat - To enjoy your leftover swirls, simply pop them in the oven at 350°F for about 5 minutes or until warmed through. You can also reheat them in the microwave for about 15-20 seconds per pastry.
Make ahead
These easy cinnamon swirls are best served freshly baked. However, if you want to save a little time, you can prep the swirls ahead of time, cover them with plastic wrap or aluminum foil, and store them in the fridge until you are ready to bake. Bake them the next morning right before serving for a fresh taste.
Related Recipes
Do you love cinnamon as much as my family does? If so, then next time you are craving sweet treats, you are going to want to try this Cinnamon Swiss Roll, or this Cinnamon Bread Pudding recipe.
I absolutely love puff pastry recipes! The flaky, buttery layers create such a delightful texture, and it's incredibly versatile, lending itself to both sweet and savory creations with ease.
Let me know in the comments below what is your best puff pastry recipe, can you share yours?
Would you like to save this post?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Nichole
Just came to say that I’ve made these as soon as I saw them on my email. I had all the ingredients though. They were delicious. Took some to work and everyone was pleased. Served them with homemade cinnamon rolls frosting.