Imagine this: it’s early morning, the coffee aroma is drifting across the kitchen, you’re still half-asleep… and then — BOOM — the smell of warm cinnamon-sugar pastry hits. Suddenly you’re awake and in a very good mood.
Yep. That’s the power of Crescent Roll Cruffins.
If you’ve never heard of a cruffin, let me break it down. It’s basically what happens when a croissant and a muffin fall in love and decide to have a baby — a soft, flaky hybrid pastry that looks fancy enough to come from a trendy bakery, yet easy enough to whip up while your coffee brews.
And here’s the kicker: these cruffins aren’t made with complicated laminated dough that takes hours. Nope! All you need is canned crescent dough, butter, sugar, and cinnamon. Minimal effort, maximum payoff.
IMO, that’s a breakfast win.
✨ Introduction to the Recipe
At first bite, these cinnamon-coated spirals taste like the best parts of a warm croissant — tender layers, buttery pull-apart texture — but with that sweet, cozy cinnamon-muffin vibe. It’s like a Croissant Twist that decided serving as a basic pastry wasn’t enough and instead became one of the best Sweet Breakfast Options ever.
These cruffins check every delicious box:
- flaky layers
- buttery cinnamon goodness
- melt-in-your-mouth texture
- absolutely addictive
Even better? They require zero special skills. If you can roll up dough, you can make cruffins.
And because they’re made in a muffin tin, they puff up into gorgeous cinnamon clouds. Golden edges. Sugary crust. Soft inside.
Tell me that doesn’t sound heavenly.
❤️ What Makes These Cruffins So Irresistible
Bold fact: these things taste like you spent hours baking — but take less than 40 minutes.
Here’s why they’ll steal your heart:
- Layers on layers — The dough bakes into airy, buttery ripples. Total Flaky Desserts energy.
- That cinnamon-sugar hit — Warm, nostalgic flavor that feels like a hug.
- Low effort, high reward — Thanks to crescent dough, you skip all the croissant work.
- Adaptable AF — Want chocolate? Jam? Nutella? Go wild.
If you’re searching for Croissant Ideas Dinner, brunch pastries, or a midday treat — these cruffins slide right into any occasion.
They look impressive.
They taste outrageous.
They take barely any work.
What’s not to love?
🛒 Ingredient List (With Quick Notes)
You only need a handful of ingredients. Seriously — five if you skip the optional vanilla.
Ingredient Why It Matters Crescent roll dough Shortcut dough that still gives flaky layers — the star of Croissant Roll Dessert Recipes Melted butter Helps rolls brown and gives that rich pastry flavor Sugar Sweetens and caramelizes during baking Cinnamon Adds that warm cozy vibe of a Cinnamon Crescent Vanilla extract (optional) Boosts aroma and adds depth
Pro tip: Want ultimate flakiness? Keep your dough chilled until rolling.
🥐 Step-by-Step: How We Make These Crescent Roll Cruffins
- Prep the pan
- Grease a muffin tin or line it with parchment liners.
- Roll it out
- Lay crescent dough flat.
- Pinch seams together to form a rectangle.
- Brush + sprinkle
- Brush entire sheet with melted butter.
- Sprinkle cinnamon-sugar generously — no timid sprinkling allowed.
- Roll it tightly
- Roll into a log like a cinnamon roll.
- Cut into 12 spirals.
- Bake
- Pop into muffin tin.
- Bake at 375°F (190°C) until puffed and golden, about 20–25 minutes.
- Coat
- While warm, brush lightly with butter and roll in cinnamon sugar.
You now have pastries that look like they came from a bakery, minus the bakery prices.

☕ The Story Behind This Recipe
Let me set the scene.
It was a Saturday morning, I was craving something bakery-level fancy, but:
✔ didn’t want to leave the house
✔ didn’t want a complicated dough situation
✔ wanted something warm + cinnamon-y instantly
Then I remembered this genius concept floating around TikTok: CRUFFINS.
The first attempt? Instant obsession.
The second attempt? I started experimenting with flavor fillings.
And the third?
Friends began texting:
“Are you making those flaky cinnamon swirly muffin things again??”
That’s when I knew this recipe was staying forever.
⭐ Pro Tips for the BEST Cruffins
Bold because it’s important:
- Don’t over-handle the dough. The less you touch it, the flakier it bakes.
- Roll tightly. Looser spirals spread — tight spirals puff upward.
- Butter IS your friend. More butter = more golden edges and crispness.
KEEP AN EYE ON THEM.
Cinnamon sugar goes from golden to burnt real quick.
🔥 Variations to Try (Because Options Are Everything)
Want to unlock pastry genius? Try these:
- Nutella Cruffins — Spread Nutella before rolling.
- Apple Pie Cruffins — Add diced apples + cinnamon.
- Glazed Cruffins — Drizzle with vanilla icing.
- Orange Zest Cruffins — Add zest to cinnamon sugar.
- Churro Cruffins — Roll in cinnamon sugar + dulce de leche.
Using this same dough, you can even build out Ideas For Croissants that work as:
- brunch showstoppers
- bake sale flexes
- holiday breakfast winners
No one ever has to know crescent dough was involved.
Your secret is safe with me. 😉
🍽️ Best Way to Serve Them
Serve warm.
Pair with:
- Coffee (the dream combo)
- Hot tea
- Ice-cold milk
Make them part of a brunch board with fruit, jam, butter, and honey. They look stunning, and nobody will believe they’re this easy.
📦 Storage & Make-Ahead Tips
- Store leftovers in a sealed container at room temp for 3 days.
- Reheat 10 seconds in the microwave or a few minutes in an air fryer for crisp edges.
- Freeze baked cruffins up to 3 months.
Make-ahead hack:
Assemble rolls the night before and refrigerate. Bake fresh in the morning.
❓ Quick FAQ
Can I use puff pastry instead of crescent dough?
Absolutely. Puff pastry = more layers and a more intense flake factor.
How do I keep them from sticking?
Grease the muffin tin or use liners — cinnamon sugar caramelizes!
Can I add fillings?
Yes — chocolate chips, Nutella, jam, lemon curd… anything goes.
✨ Final Thoughts
Cinnamon. Sugar. Butter. Flaky pastry.
These Crescent Roll Cruffins are the perfect blend of simplicity and serious pastry payoff. They take your regular breakfast routine, give it a Croissant Twist, and turn it into something magical.
Whether you need:
- brunch showstoppers
- quick Flaky Desserts
- or easy Croissant Roll Dessert Recipes
…these cruffins deliver.
So next time that craving hits and you want bakery-quality pastry without the drama?
Make these.
Your taste buds will thank you. Print
Irresistible Crescent Roll Cruffins – Warm, Quick & Coated in Cinnamon Sugar
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 12 cruffins 1x
Description
Get ready to fall in love with these warm, buttery spirals. The outside bakes up crispy, while the inside stays soft and tender—basically a perfect mash-up between a croissant and a muffin. And the best part? You only need a handful of simple ingredients and a few minutes of hands-on time. These cinnamon-sugar cruffins are one of those treats that look fancy but are secretly low-effort. Let’s get baking!
Ingredients
- 1 can (8 oz) crescent roll dough or puff pastry (use a halal option if needed)
- ½ cup melted unsalted butter
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (if you want a flavor boost)
- Pinch of salt
Why These Ingredients Work
- Crescent dough or puff pastry: Your shortcut to layers without making laminated dough from scratch.
- Butter: Helps create that golden exterior and adds richness.
- Sugar + cinnamon: The classic duo—sweet, warm, and irresistible.
- Vanilla: Optional, but adds depth and aroma.
Instructions
- Get the pan ready
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a muffin pan or add liners so the cruffins pop out easily after baking.
- Roll out the dough
- Lay your crescent dough (or puff pastry) on a clean surface.
- If using crescent dough, press the seams together to form one solid sheet. Puff pastry can just be unfolded.
- Mix the filling
- In a small bowl, stir together the sugar, cinnamon, and salt until combined.
- Add the buttery base
- Brush melted butter over the entire sheet of dough—cover it completely so the sugar mixture sticks well.
- Coat with cinnamon sugar
- Sprinkle the cinnamon mixture evenly over the buttered dough. Don’t be shy; this is where all that flavor comes from.
- Roll it up
- Starting at one edge, roll the dough into a long log—think cinnamon roll style. Make it tight to keep those layers defined.
- Slice into portions
- Cut the log into 12 equal pieces. Each slice becomes a cruffin.
- Give them a home
- Place each spiral in a muffin cup. You may need to gently twist or tuck the dough so it fits nicely.
- Bake
- Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until the tops turn beautifully golden and crisp.
- Cool and serve
- Let them rest in the pan for about 5 minutes, then move them to a rack to finish cooling. Enjoy while warm—either plain or with an extra sprinkle of cinnamon sugar.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Desserts
Nutrition
- Calories: 300 calories
- Fat: 15 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Protein: 3 g


