Cream Cheese Cinnamon Sugar Rolls Recipe
These Cream Cheese Cinnamon Sugar Rolls are a delightful blend of soft, buttery pastry filled with creamy, sweetened cream cheese and dusted with cinnamon sugar. Perfect for breakfast or dessert, the rolls can be made quickly using crescent dough or puff pastry, or with a homemade dough for a classic touch. They can be baked or air fried to golden perfection, creating a melt-in-your-mouth treat that’s sure to please any crowd.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12-15 minutes (oven) or 6-8 minutes (air fryer)
- Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes (including dough rise time) for homemade dough; 35 minutes for shortcut method
- Yield: 12 rolls 1x
- Category: Breakfast Pastry
- Method: Baking / Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Shortcut Version
- 1 package (8 oz) refrigerated crescent roll dough or puff pastry
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
Cinnamon Sugar Coating
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
Homemade Dough Option
- 2 ¼ tsp (1 packet) active dry yeast
- ½ cup warm milk (110°F / 43°C)
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 large egg
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
Instructions
- Make the Filling: In a mixing bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and ground cinnamon until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Set this filling aside for use later.
- Prepare the Dough – Shortcut Method: Unroll the crescent dough or puff pastry. If the dough is perforated, pinch the seams together to form solid rectangles. Cut the dough into equal-sized squares for easier filling.
- Prepare the Dough – Homemade Method: In a small bowl, combine warm milk, active dry yeast, and sugar, allowing it to sit for 5 to 10 minutes until the mixture becomes foamy. In a larger bowl, add the flour, salt, egg, softened butter, and the yeast mixture, mixing until a soft dough forms. Knead this dough on a floured surface for 5 to 7 minutes until smooth and elastic, then place it in a greased bowl, cover it, and let it rise for about 1 hour or until doubled in size. Once risen, roll the dough into a rectangle and cut it into squares.
- Fill the Rolls: Spoon 1 to 2 teaspoons of the cream cheese filling into the center of each dough square. Carefully fold the dough over and pinch the edges tightly to seal, shaping them into neat little pillows to prevent filling from leaking during cooking.
- Bake or Air Fry the Rolls – Oven Method: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Arrange the filled rolls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, leaving space between each. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until the rolls are puffed and golden brown.
- Bake or Air Fry the Rolls – Air Fryer Method: Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C). Place the filled rolls in a single layer inside the air fryer basket. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes until golden brown and crispy on the outside.
- Coat in Cinnamon Sugar: While the rolls are still warm, generously brush them with melted butter. Then roll or toss them in the cinnamon sugar mixture (granulated sugar and cinnamon) until fully coated to add a sweet and buttery crust.
Notes
- Seal the edges of the rolls tightly to prevent cream cheese filling from leaking during cooking.
- Keeping the dough cold before shaping helps make it easier to handle and seal.
- Do not overfill each roll; 1 to 2 teaspoons of filling is ideal.
- Line baking sheets or air fryer baskets with parchment paper to avoid sticking and make cleanup easier.
- The air fryer method gives extra crispiness to the exterior of the rolls.
- Serve the rolls warm for the best flavor and texture.
- Add a pinch of salt to the cinnamon sugar coating to enhance the flavor.
- You can assemble the rolls the night before and bake fresh in the morning for convenience.
- For variations, try adding Nutella, berries, apple pie filling, or savory fillings like garlic herb cream cheese with Parmesan.
- Gluten-free and vegan adaptations are possible by using appropriate substitute ingredients.
Keywords: cream cheese cinnamon rolls, cinnamon sugar rolls, easy breakfast rolls, cream cheese filling, crescent dough recipe, air fryer cinnamon rolls, homemade cinnamon rolls
Find it online: https://cheframi.com/cream-cheese-cinnamon-sugar-rolls-recipe/
