Name: Cinnamon Sugar Cruffins Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 40 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3 tubes (8 ounces each) refrigerated crescent roll sheets; 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened, divided; 1 cup granulated sugar; 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Jump to Recipe· 4.7 from 37 reviews

If you’ve ever dreamed of combining the flaky, buttery layers of a croissant with the sweet, nostalgic flavor of cinnamon sugar, you’re going to love this Cinnamon Sugar Cruffins Recipe. These delightful treats are essentially cinnamon roll meets muffin in the most fabulous way, resulting in a warm, golden-crisp pastry that’s perfect for breakfast or an indulgent snack. Trust me, once you try making these, you’ll want to keep the ingredients on hand for those lazy weekend mornings or anytime you crave a little cozy comfort.

What I love most about this Cinnamon Sugar Cruffins Recipe is how approachable it is — no complicated dough to make from scratch, just refrigerated crescent roll sheets transformed into something truly special. Plus, it fills your kitchen with that amazing scent of cinnamon and baking butter, which is honestly half the joy. Whether you’re making these for family brunch or surprising friends, they impress every time without a ton of effort.

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Why This Recipe Works

Simple Ingredients: Uses easy-to-find refrigerated crescent dough for convenience without sacrificing taste.
Layered Texture: The rolling technique creates flaky, buttery layers reminiscent of croissants.
Perfect Cinnamon Sugar Balance: The cinnamon sugar butter spread inside and on top gives that classic, crave-worthy flavor.
Versatility: Great for breakfast, brunch, or a sweet treat anytime you want.

A close-up image shows six cinnamon sugar rolls shaped like roses, placed on a black plate. Each roll has tightly coiled layers of golden brown dough dusted with fine white sugar crystals, creating a crunchy texture on the outside. The surface of the rolls has a slightly rough, sugary coating, and the layers spiral from the center outward, giving a flower-like appearance. The background is a white marbled surface with some cinnamon sticks in soft focus. The lighting highlights the warm tones of the rolls, making them look fresh and appetizing. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

The ingredients in this Cinnamon Sugar Cruffins Recipe are straightforward but carefully chosen to complement each other perfectly. Using refrigerated crescent roll dough saves so much time, while the butter and cinnamon sugar combine for that rich, indulgent flavor we all crave.

Refrigerated crescent roll sheets: These provide a flaky, buttery base that’s easy to work with — look for sheets without perforations or seal the seams tightly to keep the layers intact.
Unsalted butter: Softened butter spreads smoothly and adds moisture and richness without overpowering sweetness.
Granulated sugar: Classic white sugar balances the cinnamon’s warmth and gives a nice crunch when caramelized on baking.
Ground cinnamon: Adds that signature warmth and spice, a must-have for any cinnamon sugar treat.

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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.

Make It Your Way

I like to keep my Cinnamon Sugar Cruffins Recipe pretty classic, but one of the fun things is how customizable it is. You can easily add a drizzle of glaze or swap the cinnamon sugar for other flavors to mix things up — it’s your breakfast, so why not play around with it?

Variation: I’ve tried adding a bit of pumpkin pie spice during fall for an extra cozy twist, and honestly, it made these cruffins even more addictive!
Dietary tweak: For a dairy-free option, you can substitute the butter with a vegan spread—just make sure it’s softened so it spreads easily.
Sweet additions: Sometimes I sprinkle chopped nuts or mini chocolate chips inside before rolling for added texture and indulgence.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Cinnamon Sugar Cruffins Recipe

Step 1: Prep and Butter Your Dough Sheets

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and greasing your muffin tin; this step is important so your cruffins slip right out after baking. Take your refrigerated crescent roll sheets and carefully roll each out on a lightly floured surface to a 12×16-inch rectangle. I find this gives the perfect thickness for layering. If your dough has seams (like perforations), pinch them tightly closed so none of the buttery air pockets escape during baking. Next, spread 2 tablespoons of softened unsalted butter evenly over each sheet—this is where the magic truly begins.

Step 2: Sprinkle Cinnamon Sugar and Roll Up

Mix your granulated sugar and ground cinnamon in a small bowl, then sprinkle about ¼ cup of this mixture evenly over the buttered dough, gently pressing it in so it sticks well. This ensures every bite has that perfect cinnamon-sugar glaze. Starting at the long end, tightly roll the dough into a log—this tight roll gives those beautiful layers and texture. Once rolled, cut each log in half, then slice each piece lengthwise to create four sections. This process might seem fiddly at first, but it’s worth it for that gorgeous flaky texture.

Step 3: Shape and Bake Your Cruffins

Take one dough section at a time, and with the cinnamon-sugar layers on the outside, roll it like a cinnamon roll, tucking the tail end under to secure its shape. Place each shaped cruffin upright in your greased muffin tin—be sure to give them enough room as they’ll puff up during baking. Bake for 18-20 minutes until golden brown and irresistible smelling. Right after they come out of the oven, roll each one in the remaining cinnamon sugar mixture, which gives a delightful final crisp and sparkle. You’ll want to enjoy them warm, but if you’re like me, you might have to resist snacking until they cool just a bit!

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Tips from My Kitchen

Sealing the Dough: Make sure to firmly pinch the seams if your dough has perforations, or you risk having your layers leak apart during baking.
Room Temperature Butter: Softened butter spreads smoothly—don’t substitute with cold butter or it will tear the dough.
Rolling Tight: Roll each section tightly but gently to maintain those beautiful croissant-like layers without squashing the dough.
Immediate Cinnamon Sugar Coating: Rolling the hot cruffins in cinnamon sugar right out of the oven helps the sugar stick perfectly and adds a lovely crunch.

How to Serve Cinnamon Sugar Cruffins Recipe

Seven cinnamon sugar swirls sit closely on a black cast iron pan with a slight shine and textured surface. Each swirl is made of multiple thin layers of golden brown crispy dough, spiraled from the center outward, with some edges darker and caramelized. The dough layers are coated evenly with a light dusting of fine white sugar and cinnamon powder, adding a grainy texture on top. The background shows a dark wooden surface partially covered by a dark purple cloth and a round wooden bowl filled with more cinnamon sugar. The overall scene has warm tones and a cozy feel. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Garnishes

I usually keep it simple and sprinkle a little extra cinnamon sugar on top right after baking. Sometimes I dust a light coating of powdered sugar for a festive look. If I want to make them extra special, I drizzle a quick vanilla glaze or even a bit of cream cheese frosting—perfect for weekend brunch parties.

Side Dishes

These cruffins pair beautifully with a cup of strong coffee or chai tea. For a complete brunch spread, I like serving them alongside fresh fruit, scrambled eggs, or even a savory frittata to balance the sweet treat.

Creative Ways to Present

When I’ve brought these cruffins to gatherings, I love arranging them in a tiered pastry stand decorated with fresh herbs or edible flowers—it makes an impressive centerpiece. Wrapping a few individually in parchment paper and twine is also great for gifting your friends or coworkers.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

If you have leftovers (which honestly, rarely happens!), store the Cinnamon Sugar Cruffins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. I find they stay soft and fresh enough if you keep them sealed well away from humid air.

Freezing

These cruffins freeze wonderfully! Wrap each one tightly in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer-safe bag for up to 2 months. When you want a treat, thaw them overnight in the fridge or leave at room temperature for a few hours.

Reheating

I like to reheat leftovers in a 325°F oven for about 8–10 minutes to bring back that fresh-baked crisp exterior and warm, buttery layers inside. Microwave works in a pinch but sometimes makes the texture a bit chewy, so I save that for quick fixes only.

FAQs

Can I use homemade croissant dough for this Cinnamon Sugar Cruffins Recipe?

Absolutely! If you have homemade croissant dough, it’s a fantastic upgrade to this recipe and will yield even flakier layers. Just make sure your dough is chilled and rolled out to the right size before spreading butter and cinnamon sugar.
What if I don’t have a muffin tin?

If you don’t have a muffin tin, you can bake the rolled dough on a parchment-lined sheet, spacing them apart to allow room for rising. The shape won’t be as uniform, but they’ll still be delicious!
Can I make the cruffins vegan?

You can! Use a dairy-free crescent dough (some brands offer these), and swap the butter with your favorite vegan margarine or coconut oil. The flavor might be slightly different, but still tasty.
How much cinnamon sugar do I need in total?

You’ll use about ¾ cup total — ½ cup mixed into the buttered dough and about ¼ cup leftover for rolling the baked cruffins. This ensures your cruffins are bursting with sweet cinnamon goodness inside and out.

Final Thoughts

This Cinnamon Sugar Cruffins Recipe holds a special place in my heart because it’s the perfect combination of simplicity and indulgence. It’s one of those recipes that looks impressive but is genuinely achievable by anyone willing to give it a try. I hope you’ll enjoy making and sharing these warm, flaky pastries just as much as I do—because nothing says comfort like buttery layers rolled up with cinnamon sugar. Go ahead, treat yourself and those you love!