Heavenly Shortcut Cinnamon Sugar Cruffins Recipe

Flaky, buttery pastries meet pure indulgence in this irresistible cheater cinnamon sugar cruffins recipe that combines the best of croissants and muffins.

Bakers have fallen head over heels for this delightful fusion of bakery magic.

The secret lies in a clever shortcut that makes creating these golden, sugar-coated treats surprisingly simple.

Store-bought puff pastry becomes your best friend in crafting these decadent delights.

Each cruffin boasts a crispy exterior and a soft, melt-in-your-mouth interior that promises pure breakfast bliss.

Dust these beauties with a generous coating of cinnamon sugar, and watch as they become the star of any morning spread.

Prepare to wow everyone with minimal effort and maximum flavor.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 min

Cook Time: 50 min

Total Time: 1 hr 5 min

Calories: 206 kcal

Servings: 13

What You’ll Need for Cinnamon Sugar Cruffins

• Puff Pastry: Delivers flaky, cloud-like layers that create dramatic texture and luxurious mouthfeel, choose all-butter variety for richer flavor.
• Flour: Helps prevent sticking and ensures smooth rolling of pastry, use light dusting to avoid drying out the dough.

• Butter: Provides rich, creamy undertones and helps create golden, crispy exterior, select high-quality unsalted butter at room temperature.
• Cinnamon Sugar: Brings warm, sweet complexity and aromatic depth, mix fresh ground cinnamon with fine granulated sugar for best results.

• Egg: Creates glossy, golden-brown sheen and helps seal pastry layers, use fresh room-temperature eggs for best consistency.
• Extra Cinnamon Sugar: Provides final sweet coating that adds crunch and intensifies flavor, sprinkle generously while cruffins are still warm.

Tools for Crafting Cruffins

• Muffin Tin: Standard 12-cup tin for baking cruffins, lightly greased to prevent sticking.
• Rolling Pin: Essential for rolling out puff pastry into a thin, even rectangle.
• Sharp Knife: Used to slice puff pastry roll length-wise and create individual cruffin pieces.
• Pastry Brush: Perfect for applying egg wash to create a golden, shiny exterior.
• Measuring Spoons: Helps accurately measure butter and cinnamon sugar mixture.
• Baking Sheet: Optional surface for rolling out pastry if needed.
• Cooling Rack: Helpful for allowing cruffins to cool evenly after baking.

Instructions for Baking Sugar-Dusted Cruffins

Pastry Base Selection

Choose a high-quality puff pastry sheet from the refrigerated section, ensuring it’s completely thawed and soft for smooth rolling.

Workspace Preparation

Set up a clean, cool surface with light flour dusting to prevent sticking during the pastry manipulation process.

Buttery Layer Creation

Gently spread softened butter across the entire pastry surface, creating a rich and smooth foundation for the sweet coating.

Spiral Shaping

Carefully roll the pastry into a tight spiral, slicing lengthwise to create delicate, intricate sections that will transform into beautiful cruffin shapes.

Muffin Tin Arrangement

Curl each pastry section into a snail-like form, nestling them carefully into a greased muffin tin, allowing space for beautiful expansion.

Golden Transformation

Bake in a preheated oven until the exterior turns a rich, deep golden brown, signaling a perfectly crisp and flaky texture.

Final Touch

Allow the cruffins to cool slightly, then generously coat with a sweet cinnamon sugar mixture, creating an irresistible crackly exterior.

Serving Suggestion

Present these delightful pastries warm, optionally paired with a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream for an extra indulgent experience.

Sweet Ideas to Customize Your Cruffins

• Mix ground cardamom, nutmeg, or ginger into the cinnamon sugar for a unique twist that adds depth and warmth to the traditional recipe.
• Place the muffin tin on the lowest oven rack to ensure crisp, golden bottoms and even baking throughout the cruffins.
• Incorporate small amounts of cream cheese, fruit preserves, or chocolate chips inside the pastry roll before shaping for surprise center fillings that delight.
• Prepare the rolled and shaped cruffins up to 24 hours in advance, refrigerate, and bake directly from the cold state for maximum convenience and equally impressive results.

How to Serve Fresh Cinnamon Cruffins

• Sweet Breakfast Companion: Pair these cruffins with a steaming cup of coffee or hot cocoa for a delightful morning treat that melts in your mouth.
• Morning Brunch Centerpiece: Arrange the cruffins on a rustic wooden board surrounded by fresh berries and mint leaves to create an Instagram-worthy presentation that will impress guests.
• Dessert Transformation: Transform these cruffins into an elegant dessert by serving them warm with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream and a light drizzle of rich chocolate sauce, creating a decadent after-dinner indulgence.
• Gifting Delight: Package cooled cruffins in clear gift bags tied with a ribbon for a homemade treat that shows someone you care, perfect for holiday gifts or special occasions.

Cruffin Storage Tips for Sweet Success

• Fresh Shelf Life: Cinnamon sugar cruffins taste best within 24 hours of baking, maintaining their crispy exterior and soft interior during this time.
• Refrigeration Strategy: Store cooled cruffins in an airtight container, placing parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking. Refrigerate for up to 3 days without compromising taste or texture.
• Freezer Friendly Option: Wrap individual cruffins tightly in plastic wrap, then store in freezer-safe bags. Frozen cruffins can last up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature for 1-2 hours before enjoying.
• Reheating Magic: Revive day-old cruffins by warming in a preheated oven at 300°F for 5-7 minutes. This restores their original flaky crispness and brings back that fresh-baked warmth and aroma.

Foolproof Cinnamon Sugar Cruffins Recipe

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4.8 from 9 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hr 5 min
• Yield: 13 1x

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Description

Pastry chefs adore this innovative Cheater Cinnamon Sugar Cruffins recipe, blending croissant and muffin techniques. Crisp layers of buttery dough sprinkled with sweet cinnamon sugar invite passionate bakers to create bakery-worthy delights at home.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 sheets frozen puff pastry, thawed
• ¼ cup (4 tbsps) butter, softened
• 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 1 teaspoon cream or milk

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and thoroughly spray 8 muffin tin cavities with non-stick cooking spray.
2. Pastry Preparation: Unfold thawed puff pastry on flour-dusted surface, gently stretching into a thin, elongated rectangle while maintaining cool temperature and even thickness.
3. Flavor Layering: Spread softened butter across entire pastry sheet, then uniformly distribute cinnamon sugar mixture, ensuring complete coverage from edge to edge.
4. Shaping: Roll pastry tightly from longest edge into a compact cylinder, then slice lengthwise and divide into four equal spiral-shaped segments, carefully nestling each into prepared muffin tin cavities.
5. Finishing Touch: Brush pastry surfaces with egg wash to create a lustrous golden exterior, then bake for 40-50 minutes until achieving a deep caramelized color and ensuring thorough internal cooking.
6. Serving: Allow cruffins to rest in tin for ten minutes, then transfer and generously coat with additional cinnamon sugar mixture. Serve warm, optionally accompanied by vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce drizzle for an indulgent presentation.

Notes

• Pastry Temperature Tip: Keep puff pastry cold to maintain its flaky, layered structure and prevent sticking during preparation.
• Butter Spreading Technique: Use softened butter at room temperature for seamless, even distribution across the pastry surface.
• Rolling Precision: Apply consistent, gentle pressure when rolling to create uniform layers and prevent air pockets.
• Baking Watch-Out: Monitor cruffins closely during the last 10 minutes to prevent over-browning and ensure perfect golden color.

• Prep Time: 15 min
• Cook Time: 50 min
• Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 13
• Calories: 206
• Sugar: 15 g
• Sodium: 55 mg
• Fat: 11 g
• Saturated Fat: 7 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 24 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 31 mg