Quick And Delicious Crescent Roll Cinnamon Rolls Recipe
The warm, buttery aroma of crescent roll cinnamon rolls baking in the oven is pure comfort, especially on a busy morning. With just 30 minutes, premade crescent dough and a handful of ingredients, you can enjoy soft, golden rolls filled with sweet cinnamon goodness.
Using store-bought crescent dough makes this recipe effortless while still delivering that classic homemade taste.
Each bite is packed with a rich, melty cinnamon-sugar filling and topped with a luscious cream cheese frosting. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a cozy treat, these rolls are simple enough for me as a beginner yet satisfying for everyone. Let’s grab our ingredients and bake something delicious!
Great Reasons You Will Want to Make These Crescent Roll Cinnamon Rolls
These cinnamon crescent rolls are my go-to breakfast treat. They’re warm, comforting, and packed with cozy cinnamon flavor, the perfect way to start my day on a sweet note. Plus, they’re quick to make with minimal prep, so I can enjoy serving homemade-style breakfast even on the busiest mornings.
- Incredible flavor: Soft, buttery, and packed with warm cinnamon-sugar goodness. It’s everything you love about classic cinnamon rolls without all the time and effort.
- Easy for anyone: When you use store-bought dough, you don’t have to worry about kneading or rising. Just roll, sprinkle, and bake. I have my young grandkids help with this one!
- Quick and convenient: Ready in 30 minutes, this delicious recipe is perfect for busy mornings or last-minute treats.
- Budget-friendly: With simple ingredients like butter, sugar, and cinnamon, you likely already have them on hand. I also used store brand crescent rolls dough. This makes the recipe easy on the budget.
Key Ingredients For Crescent Roll Cinnamon Rolls
Here’s a quick overview of the key ingredients for this recipe. For the full list of ingredients and exact measurements, be sure to check the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Crescent roll dough: Look for a tube of buttery crescent rolls dough.
- Butter: Use salted butter for the best flavor balance. Let it soften at room temperature for easy spreading or microwave it for a few seconds.
- Sugar: Brown sugar will be used for the cinnamon roll filling. Then, you will need powdered sugar for the frosting.
- Cinnamon: Opt for fresh, high-quality cinnamon. If your cinnamon has been sitting in the pantry for years, it might be time for a fresh jar.
- Cream cheese: Use full-fat cream cheese for the creamiest frosting. To soften quickly, cut it into small cubes and let it sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes. Room temperature cream cheese makes the glaze ultra-smooth.
- Vanilla extract: A pure vanilla extract (instead of imitation) makes a big difference in flavor.
Both will work, but crescent roll dough is already perforated, making it easier to divide quickly. If you prefer a seamless option, go with the crescent dough sheet.
Before You Get Started
How To Make Crescent Roll Cinnamon Rolls
Step 1: Prepare The Dough And Cinnamon Mixture
Start by spreading warm butter in your baking dish and then set it aside. In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar and cinnamon until well combined.
Open the tube of crescent rolls and carefully unrolling it. Separate it into individual pieces and lay them flat on a clean, smooth surface.
Step 2: Spread With Butter
Using a pastry brush, spread the softened butter evenly over each crescent roll. Don’t skip this step because it helps the cinnamon-brown sugar mixture stick and creates that melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Step 3: Sprinkle With Cinnamon-Sugar Mixture
Sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar mixture generously over the buttered dough, making sure to cover each piece from edge to edge. Lightly pat it down with your fingers so it adheres well and doesn’t fall out while rolling.
Step 4: Roll And Bake
Start from the small pointed end of each crescent roll and gently roll it up, tucking in the edges as you go. Roll them snugly but not too tight to help them bake evenly without unraveling and place in baking dish.
Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through.
Pro Tip: If the tops are browning too quickly but the centers still look doughy, loosely cover the dish with foil for the last few minutes of baking.
Step 5: Make The Frosting
While the rolls are baking, let’s whip up the frosting. In a small bowl, mix the softened cream cheese, butter, vanilla extract, and powdered sugar until smooth. If you prefer a thinner glaze, add a teaspoon of milk at a time until it reaches your desired consistency.
Pro Tip: For a next-level frosting, swap vanilla extract for maple extract or stir in a pinch of cinnamon for extra warmth.
Step 6: Frost And Serve
Once the cinnamon rolls are done baking, let them cool for about 5 minutes. This helps the glaze spread more smoothly without melting too fast. Then, generously spread the cream cheese frosting over the warm rolls.
Tips and Variations
- Sprinkle mini chocolate chips inside before rolling up the crescent dough for a gooey, chocolatey bite.
- Mix in chopped pecans or walnuts for extra texture.
- Arrange the unbaked rolls with space in between so they crisp up more or put them close together so they stay extra soft and gooey in the center.
Storage And Reheating Instructions
Leftover cinnamon rolls can be refrigerated for up to 4 days.
Unfrosted cinnamon rolls can be frozen in a sealed, freezer-safe bag; I suggest frosting them after they are thawed and rewarmed.
To reserve, choose any of these reheating methods. Just note the frosting will melt so you might want to save a little to reapply.
- Microwave (quick and easy): Heat individual rolls for 20 seconds until warm and soft. Cover with a damp towel to keep them from drying out.
- Oven (best texture): Bake the leftover rolls in a preheated oven at 300°F (150°C) for 5-10 minutes until warm. Cover loosely with foil if needed to prevent over-browning.
- Toaster oven (crispy edges): Reheat at 325°F (163°C) for 7 minutes for a slightly crispier texture while keeping the inside soft.
Frequently Asked Questions
Soggy centers usually mean the cinnamon rolls aren’t fully baked. Be sure to follow the baking time, and if needed, tent with foil and bake a few extra minutes until the centers are set.
Serving Ideas
Make It A Meal: To create a well-rounded breakfast, serve these cinnamon rolls alongside these protein-packed Cottage Cheese Egg Bites and a creamy Oat Milk Latte.
Similar Recipes: If you’re craving more delightful breakfast treats similar to these cinnamon rolls, you might enjoy Baked Applesauce Fritters which offer a moist and tender bite. Cranberry Orange Muffins offers an orange glaze to add a fruity twist to your breakfast spread, while 7 Up Biscuits similarly use a biscuit baking mix to create quick dough.
Make-Ahead Tip: To streamline your morning routine, prepare the cinnamon rolls the night before by assembling them to the baking step. Cover and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, allow them to come to room temperature while preheating the oven, then bake as directed.
Crescent Roll Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients
For the Cinnamon Rolls
- 1 tube crescent roll dough
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1/2 tablespoon cinnamon
- 1/4 cup salted butter softened
For the Cream Cheese Glaze
- 1/4 cup cream cheese softened
- 2 tablespoons salted butter softened
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
Prep
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 8×8 inch baking dish with 1 tablespoon of melted butter over the bottom and up the sides.
Prepare Dough
- Open the crescent roll dough and separate it into individual pieces. Lay them flat on a clean surface.1 tube crescent roll dough
- Mix brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Spread softened butter over each crescent roll, then sprinkle with the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Lightly pat it down to help it stick.1/4 cup light brown sugar, 1/2 tablespoon cinnamon, 1/4 cup salted butter
- Roll each crescent dough piece starting from the small pointed end, tucking it in as you roll. Secure the roll and place it seam-side down in the buttered dish. Sprinkle extra cinnamon on top if desired.
Bake
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown and fully cooked.
Make Cream Cheese Frosting
- While baking, mix cream cheese, butter, vanilla extract, and powdered sugar until smooth.1/4 cup cream cheese, 2 tablespoons salted butter, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- Allow cinnamon rolls to cool for 5 minutes and then spread the frosting over the cinnamon rolls and serve immediately.
Notes
- Sprinkle mini chocolate chips inside before rolling up the crescent dough for a gooey, chocolatey bite.
- Mix in chopped pecans or walnuts for extra texture.
- Arrange the unbaked rolls with space in between so they crisp up more or put them close together so they stay extra soft and gooey in the center.
