Cinnamon Rolls with Puff Pastry and Two Glaze Options

Having experimented with numerous sweet roll recipes throughout the years, I am continually reminded of my deep affection for them. From classic overnight cinnamon rolls to delightful cranberry-orange and strawberry variations, I simply can’t get enough.

One major drawback of making sweet rolls is the time it typically takes, primarily because of the necessary dough rising period. While I enjoy making cinnamon rolls using heavy cream as a quick shortcut, even my favorite rendition of them usually demands an overnight wait. However, with these puff pastry cinnamon rolls, you’ll have them assembled and ready for the oven before it has even preheated!

What are puff pastry cinnamon rolls?

Did you know that you can whip up cinnamon rolls using puff pastry? I hadn’t considered it until recently, but I adore puff pastry for various dishes like apple turnovers, chicken pot pie casserole, and cinnamon sugar knots. Occasionally, you simply crave cinnamon rolls without the hassle, and that’s where these puff pastry rolls come in.

They’re incredibly quick to assemble. In fact, I prepped them and got them ready to go into the oven just as my oven finished preheating. Add a quick bake time of 30 minutes, and you’ll have warm, fluffy, buttery cinnamon rolls ready to enjoy in under an hour! To top it off, I’ve included two glaze options—powdered sugar glaze and cream cheese glaze—because you never know what you might be in the mood for.

How to make puff pastry cinnamon rolls

These are among the easiest cinnamon rolls you will ever make, and you won’t believe how delicious they turn out—my children and neighbors absolutely love them!

Ingredients you’ll need

For the cinnamon rolls, you will require:

• ⅓ cup light brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• A pinch of salt
• 2 sheets thawed puff pastry
• 3 tablespoons melted unsalted butter

If you’re out of brown sugar, you can easily substitute with a brown sugar replacement. Additionally, you may want to familiarize yourself with how to soften brown sugar in case it hardens while in storage.

While the recipe offers a delightful cinnamon flavor, consider enhancing it further by swapping cinnamon for another spice blend, such as pumpkin pie spice, apple pie spice, or chai spice blend.

For the powdered sugar glaze, gather:

• 1 tablespoon melted unsalted butter
• 1 ¼ cups powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk
• ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
• A pinch of salt

If you choose to make the cream cheese glaze, you’ll need:

• 4 ounces room-temperature cream cheese
• 2 tablespoons room-temperature butter
• ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1-2 tablespoons milk

In case you run out of powdered sugar, you can quickly make a powdered sugar substitute for any of these glazes. If you prefer a lighter glaze, feel free to cut the cream cheese glaze recipe in half.

Making these cinnamon rolls

To start, combine the brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a small bowl, then set it aside.

Next, unfold one sheet of puff pastry on a lightly floured surface. Keep the second sheet cool until needed. Using a rolling pin, gently smooth the seams and square the edges to create a roughly 9×9 inch square.

Brush half of the melted butter over the pastry, then sprinkle half of the brown sugar mixture on top. Remember to leave a small border at the top.

Starting from the bottom edge, tightly roll up the pastry, ensuring the seam is at the bottom. Using a sharp knife or dough blade, slice the dough into 8 equal pieces and position them cut-side down in a greased 9×13 inch baking pan. They may be close together, but that’s perfectly fine!

Repeat this process with the second sheet of puff pastry and the remaining butter and sugar mixture.

Bake the cinnamon rolls at 375°F until they are puffed up and golden brown. Let them cool while you prepare the glaze of your choice.

To prepare the powdered sugar glaze, whisk the ingredients together until smooth. The glaze should be pourable or drizzleable—if necessary, add a splash more of milk to achieve your desired consistency.

Drizzle the glaze evenly over the warm rolls.

For the cream cheese glaze, use an electric mixer to blend the cream cheese and butter with vanilla in a bowl. Gradually add one cup of powdered sugar at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add milk half a tablespoon at a time until you reach the desired glaze consistency, then spread over the warm rolls.

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