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Flaky, buttery pastry caramelized with a cinnamon sugar mixture, these puff pastry Cinnamon Swirls are baked to a buttery, flaky, gooey caramelized perfection, then drizzled with an orange glaze, ready in under 30 minutes!
You guys, when I made these Cinnamon Swirls for the first time, I was certain the recipe was a complete fail.
The sugary cinnamon butter mixture I spread on the puff pastry basically just melted out of the swirls while baking.
Little did I know that this actually made them perfect. The bottoms were gooey and caramelized. I spooned the buttery goodness from the baking sheet over the top while still hot.
And then I slathered them in a sweet orange glaze. They are perfection. Albeit a little messy. But if you want to eat well, sometimes you have to get your hands dirty.
And if you like these, you'll for sure love these air fryer churros!
You may also want to try these Lemon Ricotta Pancakes or this Thai Fried Chicken and Waffles for a fun brunch idea.
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Why This Recipe Works
There is no rising required as puff pastry is used to make the cinnamon swirls super simple to make. If you prefer traditional cinnamon rolls, check out these Homemade Cinnamon Rolls.
They are done in under 30 minutes making this recipe very doable any time.
The butter and brown sugar caramelize the cinnamon swirls, making them gooey and delicious.
The orange glaze adds the perfect amount of light citrus flavor to complement the cinnamon.
Using frozen puff pastry makes this recipe SO EASY. You may also want to try these treats made with frozen puff pastry:
- Cuban Guava Pastries
- Caramel Apple Puff Pastry
- Ham and Cheese Tart
- Mushroom Tart
- Banana Nutella Pastries
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Step By Step Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350F degrees. Combine the butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and orange zest in a bowl.
Mix thoroughly to combine into a paste.
Lay the puff pastry on a lightly floured surface.
Spread the cinnamon sugar mixture on top of the puff pastry.
Gently roll up the edges and continue rolling, as lightly as you can. You may need to lightly moisten the edges with water or a bit of egg wash to make them stick.
Using a sharp knife, cut the rolled up pastry in 1 to 1 ½" pieces.
Place the cut pieces on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. This is important as without the parchment paper, the cinnamon sugar will adhere to the pan you're using.
Brush the tops of the pastry with the egg wash, then sprinkle with the coarse sugar and sea salt.
Bake the cinnamon swirls for 20-25 minutes until golden brown. The cinnamon sugar mixture will have leaked into the pan, but that it ok.
Remove and spoon the melted cinnamon sugar mixture from the pan over the top of the cinnamon swirls. Let cool for 5 minutes and place on a wire rack to finish cooling.
**They can be warmed slightly in a toaster oven if you prefer a warm pastry.
The bottom will be perfectly caramelized with the cinnamon, sugar and butter mixture. Drizzle with the orange glaze and serve.
How to Make Orange Glaze
Combine the orange juice, orange zest, cream and powdered sugar in a bowl and mix to combine.
**Make sure the powdered sugar has been sifted or mix well to eliminate lumps. Otherwise you end up with a lump glaze.
Expert Tips
- If the cinnamon sugar mixture is too soft, pop it in the fridge for 10 minutes to allow it to firm up. It's easier to spread when it's more firm.
- If the puff pastry does not stick together when rolling, use a touch of water or egg wash to wet the edges.
- Spoon the melted cinnamon sugar butter over the top of the cinnamon swirls right after they come out of the oven.
- Let the cinnamon swirls cool slightly (5 minutes) before removing them from the baking sheet.
- Make sure the powdered sugar has been sifted or mix well to eliminate lumps. Otherwise you end up with a lumpy glaze.
- If the glaze is still lumpy, place it in a blender or food processor for a few seconds to smooth it out.
- They can be warmed slightly in a toaster oven if you prefer a warm pastry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make Cinnamon Swirls in advance? Yes, these can be made ahead of time. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days (before glazing).
When ready to serve, heat them briefly in a toaster oven until warm and drizzle with orange glaze. The orange glaze should be stored in the fridge.
Can I freeze Cinnamon Swirls? Yes. You can freeze the rolls before baking by placing them on a baking sheet directly in the freezer for 3 hours. Then store them in a freezer bag for up to one month.
Let thaw at room temperature for 20-30 minutes then bake according to the instructions.
Freeze after baking using the same method. Reheat in a toaster oven until warm, about 2-3 minutes. Make the orange glaze and drizzle on top.
Tools Used
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Rate the recipe and leave a comment to let me know how it turned out!
Recipe
Puff Pastry Cinnamon Swirls
Ingredients
- 1 sheet puff pastry thawed
- ½ cup salted butter softened
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- 1 egg for egg wash
- 1 tablespoon coarse sugar to sprinkle on top
- 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
Orange Glaze
- ¼ cup orange juice
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons cream
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F degrees
- Combine the butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and orange zest in a bowl and mix to combine.
- Lay the puff pastry flat on a lightly floured surface.
- Spread the cinnamon sugar mixture on top of the puff pastry.
- Gently roll up the edges and continue rolling, as lightly as you can. You may need to lightly moisten the edges with water or a but of egg wash to make them stick.
- Using a sharp knife, cut the rolled up pastry in 1 to 1 ½" pieces.
- Place the pieces on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
- Brush the tops of the pastry with the egg wash, then sprinkle with the coarse sugar and sea salt.
- Bake the cinnamon swirls for 20-25 minutes until golden brown. The cinnamon sugar mixture will have leaked into the pan, but that it ok.
- Remove and spoon the melted cinnamon sugar mixture from the pan over the top of the cinnamon swirls. Let cool for 5 minutes and place on a wire rack to finish cooling.
- The bottom will be perfectly caramelized with the cinnamon, sugar and butter mixture. Drizzle with the orange glaze and serve.
Orange Glaze:
- Combine the orange juice, orange zest, cream and powdered sugar in a bowl and mix to combine.
Expert Tips:
- If the cinnamon sugar mixture is too soft, pop it in the fridge for 10 minutes to allow it to firm up. It's easier to spread when it's more firm.
- If the puff pastry does not stick together when rolling, use a touch of water or egg wash to wet the edges.
- Spoon the melted cinnamon sugar butter over the top of the cinnamon swirls right after they come out of the oven.
- Let the cinnamon swirls cool slightly (5 minutes) before removing them from the baking sheet.
- Make sure the powdered sugar has been sifted or mix well to eliminate lumps. Otherwise you end up with a lumpy glaze.
- If the glaze is still lumpy, place it in a blender or food processor for a few seconds to smooth it out.
- They can be warmed slightly in a toaster oven if you prefer a warm pastry.
Nutrition
Jacquelyn Hastert says
These would be perfect for Saturday breakfast! Pinning for later so I can enjoy this deliciousness!
Danielle says
Definitely! Hope you get a chance to make them 🙂
Natalie says
Wow this is like super easy to make. And looks beyond delicious. I love cinnamon swirls and I bet I will love these too. I'm saving this recipe to give a try.
Danielle says
They are soooo easy Natalie - I hope you give them a try 🙂
Charity says
Using puff pastry like this is awesome. I love that it gets me something delicious to munch on so quickly!
Danielle says
Right? Puff pastry is the greatest 🙂
Sara says
I love puff pastry. Using it for cinnamon rolls is genius! So yummy! I am definitely going to try this recipe for brunch next week!
Danielle says
Thanks Sara! I hope you love them!
Markus Mueller says
Great idea! I 've used puff pastry to make similar dessert before, but not cinnamon rolls!
Danielle says
Thanks Markus! It's a quick and easy way to make cinnamon rolls.
Heather says
These are so easy to make and adding orange is such a delightful touch. So many cinnamon swirls look so heavy, these are flaky and light and a great addition to the breakfast table. Great combination of flavors and the perfect way to start ANY morning!
Danielle says
These are definitely lighter than your typical cinnamon roll - and the puff pasty makes them so easy!