Can I make these with homemade dough instead of crescent rolls?

Absolutely! If you have a favorite croissant or puff pastry recipe, feel free to use that instead. You'll need about the equivalent of two 8-ounce cans of crescent dough, which is roughly 1 pound of homemade dough.

Why did my cruffins unravel during baking?

This usually happens if the strips weren't rolled tightly enough or if they weren't placed properly in the muffin tin. Make sure to roll them firmly and tuck the end underneath when placing them in the tin.

Can I make these the night before and bake in the morning?

I don't recommend assembling these completely the night before as the dough may become soggy. However, you can mix the cinnamon sugar mixture ahead of time and have all your ingredients ready to go for a quicker morning assembly.

Are there any dairy-free alternatives I can use?

Yes! You can substitute the butter with a plant-based butter alternative. Just make sure it's one that's suitable for baking and has a similar fat content to real butter for best results.

Cinnamon Sugar Cruffins Recipe

Name: Cinnamon Sugar Cruffins Recipe
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 50 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cans crescent roll dough; 2-3 Tbsp flour, for rolling; 2 Tbsp butter, melted; 2 Tbsp granulated sugar; 1 Tbsp light brown sugar; 1 tsp ground cinnamon

These Cinnamon Sugar Cruffins are the perfect blend of croissants and muffins – crispy on the outside, soft and flaky on the inside, with swirls of warm cinnamon sugar in every bite. Ready in under an hour, these delightful pastries will fill your kitchen with an irresistible aroma that’ll have everyone rushing to the breakfast table. They’re simple enough for baking novices but impressive enough to make you feel like a pastry chef!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

No Fancy Equipment Required: Uses store-bought crescent roll dough, so you don’t need a mixer, special pastry tools, or advanced baking skills.
Quick Weekend Treat: While traditional croissants take hours or even days, these cruffins come together in less than an hour from start to finish.
Crowd Pleaser: The combination of buttery layers and cinnamon sugar creates an irresistible treat that everyone from kids to grandparents will adore.
Versatile: Perfect for breakfast, brunch, dessert, or an afternoon coffee companion.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Crescent Roll Dough: The shortcut that makes this recipe possible! It gives you those lovely, flaky layers without the work of making pastry from scratch.
Butter: Adds richness and helps the cinnamon sugar mixture stick to the dough. It also creates that golden, crispy exterior.
Granulated Sugar: Provides the classic sweetness and helps create that crystallized exterior texture.
Light Brown Sugar: Adds depth of flavor with its subtle molasses notes that pair beautifully with cinnamon.
Ground Cinnamon: The star spice that gives these cruffins their warm, aromatic flavor. Fresh cinnamon makes a noticeable difference!
Flour: Just a bit for dusting your work surface to prevent sticking during rolling.

Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Variations

Want to customize your cruffins? Try these delicious twists:

Nutty Cruffins: Add finely chopped pecans or walnuts to the cinnamon sugar mixture.
Orange Spice: Add 1 teaspoon of orange zest to the cinnamon sugar mixture for a citrusy note.
Chocolate Lovers: Sprinkle mini chocolate chips between the layers of dough before rolling.
Cream Cheese Stuffed: Place a small cube of cream cheese in the center of each cruffin before baking.
Apple Pie Cruffins: Add finely diced apples tossed with a bit of cinnamon to the filling.

How to Make Cinnamon Sugar Cruffins

Step 1: Prepare for Baking

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Spray a standard muffin tin with cooking spray or lightly grease with butter to ensure easy removal.

Step 2: Prepare the Dough

On a lightly floured surface, carefully unroll both cans of crescent roll dough. Gently press the perforations together to create two solid rectangles. This step is crucial – make sure those seams disappear!

Step 3: Create the Filling

In a small bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon until well combined. Brush one rectangle of dough lightly with melted butter, then sprinkle with half of the cinnamon sugar mixture, spreading it evenly to the edges.

Step 4: Layer and Cut

Place the second rectangle of dough directly on top of the first, creating a sandwich. Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, slice the layered dough into strips about 1-inch wide.

Step 5: Form the Cruffins

Take each strip and roll it up, similar to how you’d roll a cinnamon roll, creating a spiral. The tighter you roll, the more defined your layers will be.

Step 6: Coat with Goodness

Dip each rolled strip into the remaining melted butter, then roll it in the remaining cinnamon sugar mixture until coated on all sides.

Step 7: Bake to Perfection

Place each sugar-coated roll into your prepared muffin tin. Bake for approximately 20 minutes, or until they’ve puffed up and turned a beautiful golden brown.

Step 8: Cool Slightly

Let the cruffins cool in the pan for about 5 minutes before removing them. This brief cooling period helps them set up while still keeping that wonderful warm-from-the-oven experience.

Pro Tips for Making the Recipe

Keep Dough Cold: If your kitchen is warm, refrigerate the dough for 10 minutes before working with it to make handling easier.
Even Distribution: Make sure your cinnamon sugar mixture covers the dough evenly for consistent flavor throughout.
Don’t Overfill: Leave a little room in each muffin cup for the dough to expand while baking.
Visual Doneness: Look for a deep golden brown color rather than relying solely on the timer. The edges should be crispy and caramelized.
Rotate the Pan: For even baking, rotate your muffin tin halfway through the baking time.

How to Serve

These cruffins are absolutely delightful served warm, when they’re at their most fragrant and the layers are still slightly soft. Here are my favorite serving suggestions:

Simple Companions:

Pair with fresh berries and a cup of coffee or tea for a perfect weekend breakfast.

Elevate It:

Drizzle with a simple vanilla glaze (powdered sugar mixed with a splash of milk and vanilla) for extra sweetness.

Make It Special:

Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a decadent dessert that contrasts warm pastry with cold, creamy ice cream.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store completely cooled cruffins in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 days. They’ll lose some crispness but will still be delicious.

Freezing

These freeze beautifully! Place completely cooled cruffins in a freezer-safe container, separating layers with parchment paper. Freeze for up to 1 month.

Reheating

For the best texture, reheat frozen or leftover cruffins in a 300°F oven for 5-7 minutes until warmed through. This revives some of that fresh-baked crispness that microwaving can’t achieve.

FAQs

Can I make these with homemade dough instead of crescent rolls?

Absolutely! If you have a favorite croissant or puff pastry recipe, feel free to use that instead. You’ll need about the equivalent of two 8-ounce cans of crescent dough, which is roughly 1 pound of homemade dough.
Why did my cruffins unravel during baking?

This usually happens if the strips weren’t rolled tightly enough or if they weren’t placed properly in the muffin tin. Make sure to roll them firmly and tuck the end underneath when placing them in the tin.
Can I make these the night before and bake in the morning?

I don’t recommend assembling these completely the night before as the dough may become soggy. However, you can mix the cinnamon sugar mixture ahead of time and have all your ingredients ready to go for a quicker morning assembly.
Are there any dairy-free alternatives I can use?

Yes! You can substitute the butter with a plant-based butter alternative. Just make sure it’s one that’s suitable for baking and has a similar fat content to real butter for best results.

Final Thoughts

These Cinnamon Sugar Cruffins bring a touch of bakery-style indulgence right to your kitchen without the fuss. They’re the perfect weekend project when you want something special but don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen. The beautiful spiral layers, crispy edges, and warm cinnamon flavor create a treat that feels fancy but is actually incredibly simple. Give them a try this weekend – I promise you’ll be amazed at how impressive these little pastries turn out!