Everyone loves a warm cinnamon roll, but sometimes I just don’t have the patience for traditional yeast dough. On busy mornings, I want something quick and simple that still brings those cozy breakfast vibes to the table. That’s exactly why these crescent roll cinnamon rolls have become my go-to recipe.
Using store-bought crescent rolls might feel like cheating, but I’ve learned that sometimes the best kitchen shortcuts lead to the happiest families at breakfast time. These rolls come together in just minutes, and they fill the house with that familiar cinnamon-sugar smell that gets everyone out of bed.
When my kids smell these baking in the oven, they race downstairs faster than when it’s Christmas morning. And honestly, I can’t blame them – there’s something magical about warm, gooey cinnamon rolls that bring everyone to the table with smiles on their faces.
Why You’ll Love These Crescent Roll Cinnamon Rolls
- Quick shortcut method – Using crescent roll dough instead of making traditional yeast dough saves you hours of prep time – these rolls are ready in just 30 minutes!
- Budget-friendly ingredients – With just a few basic pantry staples and refrigerated crescent rolls, you can create warm, homemade cinnamon rolls without spending much at all.
- Perfect for beginners – No special baking skills needed here – if you can unroll dough and spread butter, you can make these foolproof cinnamon rolls.
- Great for small batches – This recipe makes a smaller portion that’s perfect when you don’t need a huge batch of traditional cinnamon rolls.
What Kind of Crescent Roll Dough Should I Use?
Regular refrigerated crescent roll dough from the grocery store works perfectly for this recipe, and you’ll find it in the dairy section near the butter and eggs. While name brands like Pillsbury are popular choices, store brands work just as well and often cost less. Look for the “original” style rather than butter-flavored or other variations – this gives you the best base for your cinnamon rolls. Just make sure to let the dough come to room temperature for about 15 minutes before unrolling it, which helps prevent tears and makes it easier to work with. When unrolling, try to press the perforations together to create one solid sheet of dough.
Options for Substitutions
This quick cinnamon roll recipe can be adapted with several simple swaps:
- Crescent roll dough: While crescent roll dough is the base of this recipe, you can use pizza dough or puff pastry sheets instead. Just be sure to roll them thin enough to work with.
- Light brown sugar: Dark brown sugar works just as well, or you can use regular white sugar mixed with a teaspoon of molasses. In a pinch, plain white sugar will do, though you’ll miss some of that caramel flavor.
- Cream cheese: For the frosting, you can use mascarpone cheese or Greek yogurt as alternatives. If using Greek yogurt, strain it first to remove excess moisture.
- Salted butter: Unsalted butter works fine – just add a small pinch of salt. You can also use margarine, though the flavor won’t be quite as rich.
- Vanilla essence: Feel free to swap vanilla with almond extract (use half the amount) or maple extract for a different flavor profile.
- Confectioners’ sugar: If you’re out of powdered sugar, blend regular granulated sugar in a food processor until fine. Just make sure it’s completely smooth before using.
Watch Out for These Mistakes While Baking
The biggest challenge when making crescent roll cinnamon rolls is managing the dough temperature – working with dough that’s too warm will make it sticky and hard to handle, so keep it chilled until you’re ready to roll. When spreading your butter-sugar mixture, leave a small border around the edges to prevent the filling from oozing out during baking, and make sure the butter is softened but not melted, as melted butter will make rolling much messier. For the perfect spiral shape, roll the dough tightly but don’t press too hard, as this can cause the layers to fuse together and prevent that classic pull-apart texture. To avoid dry, overcooked rolls, keep a close eye on them during baking – they’re done when golden brown on top, typically around 12-15 minutes, and remember that they’ll continue cooking slightly after you take them out of the oven.
What to Serve With Crescent Roll Cinnamon Rolls?
These quick and easy cinnamon rolls are perfect for breakfast or brunch, and they pair wonderfully with a hot cup of coffee or tea. For a complete breakfast spread, serve them alongside some crispy bacon or breakfast sausage to balance out the sweetness. A bowl of fresh fruit like strawberries, blueberries, or sliced bananas adds a nice fresh element to the plate and cuts through the richness of the rolls. If you’re hosting brunch, consider adding some scrambled eggs or a veggie frittata to make it a more filling meal.
Storage Instructions
Keep Fresh: These crescent roll cinnamon rolls taste best when eaten fresh, but you can keep any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. If you want them to last a bit longer, pop them in the fridge where they’ll stay good for up to 5 days.
Make Ahead: Want to prep these for tomorrow’s breakfast? You can assemble them the night before, cover with plastic wrap, and store in the fridge overnight. Just let them come to room temperature for about 20 minutes before baking in the morning.
Warm Up: To enjoy leftover rolls, just pop them in the microwave for 15-20 seconds – they’ll taste almost like fresh-baked! If you stored them with frosting, you might want to add a fresh dollop of cream cheese frosting after warming them up.
| Preparation Time | 10-15 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 20-25 minutes |
| Total Time | 30-40 minutes |
| Level of Difficulty | Easy |
Estimated Nutrition
Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):
- Calories: 1200-1400
- Protein: 10-15 g
- Fat: 70-80 g
- Carbohydrates: 150-160 g
Ingredients
- 1 package crescent roll dough
- 1/4 cup softened salted butter
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1/2 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup softened cream cheese
- 2 tablespoons softened salted butter
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence
- 1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
Step 1: Prepare the Dough
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Roll out the crescent roll dough onto a flat surface.
Spread butter evenly over the entire surface of the dough.
Step 2: Add Cinnamon-Sugar Mixture
In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and cinnamon, mixing them thoroughly.
Evenly sprinkle this mixture on top of the buttered dough.
Use your hands to gently rub the cinnamon-sugar mixture into the butter, ensuring full coverage.
Step 3: Roll and Slice the Dough
Carefully roll the dough up tightly, starting from one end, forming a log shape.
Trim off about 1 inch from each end to ensure evenness.
Proceed to cut the remaining rolled dough into 9 equal slices, each roughly 1 inch thick.
Step 4: Arrange and Bake Cinnamon Rolls
Arrange the 9 slices into a small, greased baking dish.
For additional flavor, sprinkle extra cinnamon on top of the rolls.
Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, ensuring that the middle cinnamon roll is fully cooked through by checking if it’s settled and firm.
Step 5: Prepare the Cream Cheese Glaze
While the cinnamon rolls are baking, prepare the cream cheese glaze.
In a bowl, combine cream cheese, butter, vanilla extract, and powdered sugar.
Mix until the glaze is smooth and creamy.
Step 6: Glaze and Serve the Cinnamon Rolls
Once the cinnamon rolls are out of the oven, generously spread the cream cheese glaze over the top while they are still warm.
Allow the warmth of the rolls to help melt and distribute the glaze evenly.
Serve immediately and enjoy your freshly baked cinnamon rolls!
