Cruffin: A Sweet Twist on Cinnamon Rolls

If you’ve ever dreamed of combining the flakiness of a croissant with the warm, spiced sweetness of a cinnamon roll, then the cruffin is about to become your new favorite treat. This hybrid pastry, a creative mash-up of the croissant and muffin, offers the best of both worlds: the buttery layers and light texture of a croissant, paired with the cinnamon-sugar filling of a classic cinnamon roll. Whether you’re looking for a breakfast treat to start your day or a dessert to share with friends, the cruffin is the perfect indulgence.

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With a few simple ingredients and easy steps, you can create a batch of these irresistible pastries that will fill your kitchen with the warm, comforting aromas of cinnamon and sugar. The cruffin, which is essentially crescent roll dough that’s buttered, coated with cinnamon and sugar, rolled up, and baked in a muffin tin, is an incredibly easy yet impressive pastry that’s sure to delight anyone who tries it. The combination of flaky dough, sweet filling, and a golden brown crust makes this treat irresistible to the senses, and it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Perfect for busy mornings, brunches, or as a simple afternoon snack, cruffins are a fun and delicious way to enjoy the beloved flavors of cinnamon rolls without the time-consuming process of making dough from scratch.

Ingredients:

• 3 tubes (8 ounces each) refrigerated crescent roll sheets
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened, divided
• 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Preheat the Oven and Prepare the Muffin Tin: The first step in making cruffins is to preheat your oven to 350°F. While the oven heats up, lightly spray a standard 12-cup muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray. This will ensure that your cruffins don’t stick to the pan and come out with ease. Set the muffin tin aside for now.
2. Roll Out the Dough: Next, place a lightly floured work surface on your countertop. Unroll each of the three tubes of refrigerated crescent roll dough, and carefully roll them out into a 12×16-inch rectangle. If you’re using regular crescent roll dough, be sure to pinch the seams together to seal them, ensuring that the dough doesn’t separate during the rolling process. The dough should be thin but still pliable, providing the perfect base for the cinnamon-sugar filling.
3. Butter the Dough: Take the softened butter (about 2 tablespoons for each sheet of dough) and evenly spread it over each sheet of dough. This layer of butter not only adds richness to the cruffins but also helps the cinnamon-sugar mixture stick to the dough, creating those delicious layers that make cruffins so irresistible. Be sure to cover the entire surface of the dough, from edge to edge, to ensure each bite is as buttery as the last.
4. Prepare the Cinnamon-Sugar Mixture: In a small bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon. The cinnamon-sugar mixture is what gives the cruffins their signature spiced flavor, and the sweetness balances perfectly with the buttery dough. You’ll need about ¼ cup of this mixture for each dough sheet, so be sure to mix it thoroughly to ensure the cinnamon is evenly distributed.
5. Add the Cinnamon-Sugar to the Dough: Sprinkle ¼ cup of the cinnamon-sugar mixture evenly over the top of each buttered dough sheet. Use your fingers or a spoon to gently press the sugar mixture into the dough, helping it adhere to the butter. The sweet and spicy aroma of cinnamon will start to fill your kitchen as the dough absorbs the sugar mixture, and you’ll be eagerly anticipating the final result.
6. Roll the Dough: Now comes the fun part—rolling up the dough! Starting from the long end of each dough sheet, tightly roll the dough into a log. The goal is to create a compact, tightly wound roll that holds together well during baking. Once you’ve rolled each sheet into a log, cut the log in half, creating two shorter logs. Then, cut each of those shorter logs in half lengthwise, giving you four sections of dough per sheet. Repeat this process with the remaining two sheets of dough, ensuring that you end up with 12 sections of dough in total.
7. Shape the Cruffins: Working one section of dough at a time, with the layered side facing out, roll it tightly into a cinnamon roll shape. Tuck in the end piece of dough to secure the roll and ensure it holds its shape during baking. Place each cruffin into the prepared muffin tin. The tightly rolled dough sections will unfurl slightly as they bake, creating those beautiful, flaky layers that are the hallmark of a perfect cruffin. Repeat this process with the remaining 11 sections of dough, filling up all 12 muffin cups.
8. Bake the Cruffins: Now that your cruffins are all assembled in the muffin tin, it’s time to bake them. Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake the cruffins for 18-20 minutes, or until they are golden brown and puffed up. As they bake, you’ll notice that the cinnamon-sugar filling will begin to bubble slightly and create a crisp, sugary exterior around the cruffins. The smell of cinnamon and butter will fill your kitchen, creating a cozy atmosphere that’s perfect for enjoying a fresh batch of pastries.
9. Finish with Cinnamon Sugar: Once the cruffins are golden brown and fully baked, remove them from the oven. While the cruffins are still warm, immediately roll each one in the remaining cinnamon-sugar mixture. This final touch gives them an extra burst of cinnamon-sugar goodness, creating a sweet, crunchy exterior that complements the soft, flaky interior perfectly. The combination of textures—crispy on the outside, soft and buttery on the inside—is what makes cruffins so irresistible.

Flavor, Texture, and Aroma:

The moment you take a bite of a cruffin, you’ll experience a burst of flavor and texture that’s unlike any other pastry. The cinnamon-sugar mixture infuses every layer of the dough with its warm, comforting spice, while the buttery layers create a soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture that’s delicate yet satisfying. The exterior of each cruffin is golden and slightly crisp, providing the perfect contrast to the fluffy interior. As you break into the cruffin, the layers unfold like a beautifully flaky croissant, revealing the sweet, spiced filling within. The aroma of cinnamon, sugar, and butter fills the air, creating an irresistible invitation to take a bite. Each cruffin is a perfect balance of sweetness and spice, with the cinnamon offering a warm kick and the sugar providing just the right amount of sweetness. The buttery dough holds everything together, creating a pastry that’s both indulgent and comforting.

Tips and Variations:

• Substitutions: If you prefer a different type of dough, you can experiment with puff pastry or homemade croissant dough instead of refrigerated crescent roll dough. While the texture may differ slightly, the result will still be deliciously flaky and buttery. For a healthier option, you can try using a lower-fat butter or substitute with coconut oil for a dairy-free alternative. If you don’t have cinnamon on hand, other spices like nutmeg or cardamom can be used in place of cinnamon for a unique flavor twist.
• Add-ins: For added flavor, consider adding a few chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or raisins to the cinnamon-sugar mixture before rolling up the dough. These add-ins will melt and blend into the cruffins as they bake, creating pockets of gooey chocolate or sweet fruit throughout the layers.
• Make it Ahead: If you want to prepare these cruffins ahead of time, you can assemble them the night before and refrigerate them until you’re ready to bake them. This is a great option for busy mornings or when you have guests over and want to serve fresh pastries without all the last-minute effort.
• Serving Suggestions: These cruffins are perfect as a breakfast treat, served with a hot cup of coffee or tea. They also make a great addition to a brunch spread, alongside other pastries and breakfast items. For a more indulgent dessert, serve them warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of caramel sauce. The cruffins are best enjoyed fresh, but if you have leftovers, they can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days and reheated in the oven for a few minutes to restore their flaky texture.

Final Thoughts:

Cruffins are the perfect combination of two beloved pastries: the flaky, buttery croissant and the sweet, spiced cinnamon roll. With their tender, airy layers and their irresistible cinnamon-sugar filling, they make for a delicious breakfast, snack, or dessert. The beauty of cruffins lies in their simplicity—using just a few ingredients, you can create a batch of pastries that are not only visually stunning but also bursting with flavor. Whether you’re baking them for yourself, your family, or a crowd, cruffins are sure to impress with their perfect balance of textures and flavors. Give this easy and delicious recipe a try, and prepare to enjoy a new favorite treat that’s perfect for any occasion.