🥐 Cinnamon Sugar Croissants
Buttery, flaky, golden, and coated in fragrant cinnamon sugar, these easy Cinnamon Sugar Croissants are a delicious shortcut treat made with puff pastry or refrigerated crescent dough. They’re perfect for breakfast, brunch, afternoon coffee, or a quick sweet snack.
⏱ Recipe Information
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 15–20 minutes
Total Time: About 35 minutes
Yield: 8–10 croissants
Difficulty: Easy
🛒 Ingredients
🥐 Croissants
- 1 sheet puff pastry or 1 tube refrigerated crescent dough
- ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons (45 g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon milk
- Extra cinnamon sugar, for coating
Instructions
🔥 1. Prepare the Oven
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
If using frozen puff pastry, thaw it according to the package directions while keeping it cold.
🍬 2. Make the Cinnamon Sugar
In a small bowl, combine:
- Granulated sugar
- Ground cinnamon
Mix well and set aside.
Reserve some of the mixture for coating the finished croissants.
🥐 3. Prepare the Pastry
If Using Puff Pastry
Place the puff pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface.
Roll it gently into a slightly larger rectangle if necessary.
Brush the surface evenly with the melted butter.
Sprinkle generously with the cinnamon sugar mixture.
If Using Crescent Dough
Unroll the dough and separate it into triangles along the perforated lines.
Brush each triangle lightly with melted butter.
Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
Keep the dough cold while working. Cold pastry gives you a flakier finished croissant.
🔪 4. Cut the Puff Pastry
If using puff pastry, cut the sheet into 8–10 triangles.
Each triangle should have a wide base and a pointed tip.
🌀 5. Roll the Croissants
Starting at the wide end of each triangle, roll the dough toward the pointed tip.
Roll gently but firmly enough to keep the shape together.
Place each croissant on the prepared baking sheet with the pointed tip tucked underneath.
Curve the ends slightly inward if desired.
🥚 6. Make the Egg Wash
In a small bowl, whisk together:
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon milk
Brush a thin layer of egg wash over the tops of the croissants.
Try not to let the egg wash pool around the bottoms, as this can interfere with the pastry puffing.
🍬 7. Add More Cinnamon Sugar
Sprinkle the tops generously with the reserved cinnamon sugar.
For an especially sweet crust, gently press a little cinnamon sugar onto the surface.
❄️ 8. Chill Before Baking
Place the prepared croissants in the refrigerator for 10–15 minutes.
This helps the butter stay cold and encourages better puffing during baking.
🔥 9. Bake
Bake for approximately 15–20 minutes, or until the croissants are:
- Deep golden brown
- Puffy
- Crisp around the edges
- Fully cooked in the center
If they’re browning too quickly, loosely tent them with foil during the final few minutes.
✨ 10. Finish & Serve
Remove from the oven and allow them to cool for 5–10 minutes.
For an extra cinnamon-sugar finish, brush the warm croissants lightly with melted butter and toss or sprinkle them with additional cinnamon sugar.
Serve warm.
⭐ Chef’s Tips
Keep Puff Pastry Cold
Warm pastry becomes difficult to handle and won’t puff as beautifully.
Don’t Overfill
Too much cinnamon sugar can leak out during baking. A generous but even layer is ideal.
Seal the Tip
Place the pointed tip underneath the croissant when baking so it doesn’t unravel.
Use Real Butter
Butter gives the croissants a richer flavor and helps create a beautifully crisp exterior.
Bake Until Deep Golden
Underbaked puff pastry can remain doughy inside, so don’t remove the croissants while they’re still pale.
🍎 Delicious Variations
Cinnamon Apple
Add a thin strip of cooked apple filling before rolling.
Chocolate Cinnamon
Sprinkle mini chocolate chips over the cinnamon sugar.
Pecan Cinnamon
Add finely chopped toasted pecans.
Cream Cheese
Spread a very thin layer of sweetened cream cheese over the dough before adding cinnamon sugar.
Orange Cinnamon
Add finely grated orange zest to the cinnamon sugar mixture.
Maple Glaze
Drizzle cooled croissants with a simple glaze made from powdered sugar and maple syrup.
☕ Serving Ideas
Serve these warm with:
- Coffee
- Cappuccino
- Hot chocolate
- Chai
- Fresh fruit
- Vanilla ice cream
- Whipped cream
They’re especially delicious when served warm and crisp straight from the oven.
🧊 Storage
Store cooled croissants in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
For the best texture, reheat them in a 350°F (175°C) oven or air fryer for a few minutes.
❄️ Freezing
Freeze fully baked croissants in an airtight freezer-safe container for up to 1 month.
Reheat directly from frozen in a 350°F (175°C) oven until warmed through and crisp.
🥐✨ Recipe Summary
These Cinnamon Sugar Croissants turn simple puff pastry or crescent dough into a bakery-style treat with flaky layers, buttery richness, warm cinnamon, and a crisp sugar coating.
They’re incredibly easy to make and perfect whenever you’re craving something sweet and freshly baked.
Buttery, flaky, cinnamon-sweet, and ready in about 35 minutes! 🥐🤎✨