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    Home » Dessert

    Cinnamon Twists

    Published: Dec 9, 2022 · Modified: Dec 9, 2022 by Jessica Fisher

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    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Cinnamon Twists are a fun and elegant dessert that comes together easily with commercial puff pastry and cinnamon sugar. Keep the ingredients on hand for a super last-minute dessert you can make on the fly.

    Delightful with tea or coffee, these Easy Cinnamon Twists are even better dipped in Chocolate Fondue. Serve these as part of a Dessert Charcuterie Board or tuck them into trays of Christmas Cookies.

    cinnamon twists on a platter with cinnamon sticks. this …

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    Jump to:
    • Why Make This
    • Ingredients
    • Step-by-Step Instructions
    • FAQs
    • More Easy Dessert Recipes
    • Tell us what you think!
    • Cinnamon Twists

    Cinnamon Twists are well known at my house. They are easy to make and taste amazingly good. They look like you were all fancy in the kitchen, but you weren’t. They rank high on our list of quick, last-minute desserts you can make in just minutes.

    I typically have a package or two of commercial puff pastry in the freezer. It’s a little splurge, but it makes it so easy for me to make Apple Turnovers or Ham and Cheese Foldovers. Remarkably, puff pastry bakes up deliciously with very few additional ingredients, like this 3-ingredient recipe for Cinnamon Twists.

    Similar to palmiers, Cinnamon Twists are puff pastry, sprinkled with cinnamon sugar, cut into strips and twisted, and baked until crisp and fluffy. They are a fun and easy recipe to make when you don’t have much time.

    Why Make This

    It’s easy. This recipe for Cinnamon Twists is so easy, you’re really gonna shake your head and wonder why you haven’t done it before.

    It’s versatile. While this twists recipe calls for cinnamon and sugar, you can easily change things up by adding other spices like ginger, nutmeg, or pumpkin pie spice as well as go savory by sprinkling herbs and parmesan cheese on the dough instead.

    Cinnamon Twists are tasty! You’re gonna love these snacks that are like a mash-up of a cinnamon roll and a croissant, but way less work. So good!

    Ingredients

    You only need three ingredients for this Cinnamon Twist recipe:

    ingredients for cinnamon twists laid out on black counter top.

    sugar – use granulated sugar for best results, though brown sugar will work in a pinch.

    ground cinnamon – Cinnamon and sugar are good on their own, but feel free to play with the spice mixture if you like, adding in ginger, nutmeg, or a shortcut pumpkin pie spice. Love cinnamon? Be sure to try our Cinnamon Coffee Cake Recipe!

    puff pastry sheets – This is usually found in the frozen food section by the desserts. Pepperidge Farms is the main/only brand I ever see in So Cal, though ALDI and Trader Joe’s seasonally carry their own brand of puff pastry. This ingredient can be pricey, depending on where you buy it, so stock up when you see a sale. You can also make your own puff pastry.

    Note: while similar in structure, keep in mind that these are different from Taco Bell Cinnamon Twists. Those are made with cornmeal and rice flour in the dough.

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    Here’s a quick and easy way to make this cinnamon twists recipe:

    puff pastry with cinnamon sugar over half.
    puff pastry folded in half and being crimped on long edge with fork.
    bench knife next to puff pastry cut into eight slices.
    hands twisting slices into tight spirals.
    • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silat mat. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
    • Mix the sugar and cinnamon together in small dish.
    • Unfold one sheet of puff pastry on the parchment. Sprinkle cinnamon sugar generously over one half of the pastry sheet. Fold this in half and crimp the long edge.
    • Slice the pastry into 8 slices with a bench knife of pizza cutter.
    • Twist each folded slice several times, as tight as it will go, into a spial. Place the spirals on the lined baking sheet. 
    • Bake until golden and puffy. The twists may roll around and unravel while baking, but they should retain a few of their twists.
    • Cool on a rack and serve.
    baked cinnamon twists on cookie sheet.

    Storing leftovers: Cinnamon puffs are best eaten within a few hours. Once they go cold, the butter in the pastry tends to change the mouthfeel. However, they refresh perfectly in the air fryer for 4 minutes at 370 degrees, in the oven at 375 until warm.

    Store Cinnamon Twists for a day or two at room temperature in an airtight container or for a few weeks in the freezer. Thaw and refresh.

    TLDR? Watch the Easy Cinnamon Twists web story.

    FAQs

    Can you freeze baked puff pastry?

    You can freeze puff pastry after it bakes, but it tends to lose some of its puffiness. Warm before serving for best results.

    Do you have to refrigerate cinnamon twists?

    These do not need to be refrigerated. They are good at room temperature for up to 2 days. Freeze for longer storage.

    What is cinnamon sugar made of?

    Cinnamon sugar is simply a combination of white sugar and ground cinnamon. 

    cinnamon twists on a rectangular platter on a plaid cloth.

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      The Best Christmas Bundt Cake for a Festive Holiday
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    • overhead shot of gingerbread sundae atop a plaid napkin with a spoon.
      Quick & Easy Gingerbread Ice Cream Sundae Recipe
    • close up of gingerbread loaf cake sliced on a white platter.
      Easy Gingerbread Loaf (Starbucks Copycat Recipe)
    white spoon and fork on a teal plate logo.

    Tell us what you think!

    We love to hear your experiences with Good Cheap Eats. Click the STARS on the recipe card or leave a STARRED comment to let us know what you think of the recipe.

    cinnamon twists on a platter with a few cinnamon sticks.

    Cinnamon Twists

    Cinnamon Twists come together easily with commercial puff pastry and cinnamon sugar. They are delightful with tea, but even better dipped in chocolate.
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 12 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 22 minutes minutes
    Servings: 16 servings
    Calories: 143kcal
    Author: Jessica Fisher
    Cost: $7

    Equipment

    • heavy duty sheet pan
    • parchment paper
    • bench knife

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoon granulated sugar
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • 14 oz frozen puff pastry 1 package, thawed according to package directions
    US Customary – Metric

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 400°. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
    • In a small bowl, combine the sugar and cinnamon until well blended.
      2 tablespoon granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • Unfold a sheet of puff pastry and sprinkle cinnamon sugar generously over half. Fold and crimp the long end.
      14 oz frozen puff pastry
    • With a sharp knife, dough knife, or a pizza wheel, cut the puff pastry into 8 slices.
    • Twist the slices into tight spirals and place on the prepared sheet.
    • Bake the puffs for about 10-12 minutes or until puffy and golden brown. They may roll around on the paper and unroll slightly. Cool on a rack and serve warm.

    Notes

    Store the twists for a day or two in an airtight container. Nutritional values are approximate and based on 1 twist.
    Variations: While this twists recipe calls for cinnamon and sugar, you can easily change things up by adding other spices like ginger, nutmeg, or pumpkin pie spice as well as go savory by sprinkling herbs and parmesan cheese on the dough instead.
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 143kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 62mg | Potassium: 16mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 0.01mg | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Tell us what you think! Your reviews help us develop better recipes and give newcomers the confidence to try your favorites. Scroll down to leave a starred comment.

    This post was originally published on May 5, 2015. It has been updated for content and clarity.

    « 30+ Christmas Cookies to Make Ahead & Freeze
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Stephanie M.

      May 07, 2015 at 2:22 am

      I, too, plan to make these this Saturday night. I just went and bought the puff pastry dough and printed out the recipe. Will be serving these warm along with some gelato.

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        May 10, 2015 at 2:46 pm

        Sounds yummy!

        Reply
    2. Beth

      May 06, 2015 at 12:09 am

      I have been waiting for this post ever since you posted the fondue for one a little while back with a picture of these puffs. I figured it might be puff pastry and went out and bought some in anticipation. It’s waiting in the freezer along with chocolate chips. Thanks for sharing such a simple but good idea! And individual size is great. Can’t wait to try it. It ought to satisfy my sweet tooth. 🙂

      Reply
      • Lee

        May 07, 2015 at 12:22 pm

        Me too!

        Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        May 10, 2015 at 2:46 pm

        Hope it worked out well for you!

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Jessica! I'm a 4x cookbook author and 6x mom. I know what it is to be in a hurry and on a budget. I believe anyone can prepare delicious meals -- no matter what's on their plate. I've been featured on Good Morning America, PBS News Hour, and NBC.

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    cinnamon twists on a tray with cinnamon sticks, with text overlay.