Irresistibly Delicious Cinnamon Sugar Twists: An Easy Recipe
Prepare to be amazed by these buttery cinnamon sugar twists! They are unbelievably delicious and surprisingly simple to make. Easier than traditional cinnamon rolls, these twists are incredibly soft, fluffy, and perfect enjoyed plain or with a drizzle of sweet icing.
I’m completely obsessed with how yummy these cinnamon twists are. They are insanely fluffy and incredibly easy to whip up. A friend of mine, Kim, brought a batch of these to share with high schoolers after a tennis match, and everyone (myself included!) went wild for them. This recipe is definitely a keeper and a must-try for any baking enthusiast!
Why You’ll Absolutely Love This Cinnamon Sugar Twists Recipe
- Simple and Straightforward: This recipe is incredibly straightforward and easy to follow, making it perfect for beginner bakers.
- Tried-and-True Dough Base: It all starts with a reliable and delicious roll dough as the foundation.
- Pantry-Friendly Ingredients: The other ingredients, such as brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter, are likely already in your pantry. You probably have everything you need without even realizing it!
- Easy to Serve: These twists are perfect for grab-and-go snacking. No need for plates or forks – just pick one up and enjoy!
- Easily Adjustable: The recipe can be easily halved for a smaller batch or doubled for a larger gathering.
- Perfect for Holiday Breakfast: These cinnamon sugar twists make a wonderful and festive holiday breakfast treat. Check out the make-ahead notes below for easy planning!
Everyone who has tried these delectable cinnamon sugar twists agrees that they are just as delicious (if not more so!) than a beloved cinnamon roll… and significantly easier to make!
How to Make These Easy Cinnamon Sugar Twists: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Prepare the Dough: Make the roll dough according to the recipe instructions and allow it to rise until doubled in size.
- Shape the Dough: Turn the risen dough onto a lightly greased counter surface. Gently press or roll it into a thick rectangle, approximately 15×10 inches.
- Divide the Dough: Cut the rectangle of dough in half lengthwise, similar to cutting a hot dog bun.
- Create the Strips: Cut each half of the dough into 10 strips, each about 1 1/2 inches wide. This will give you a total of 20 strips.
- Coat in Butter and Cinnamon Sugar: Dip each strip of dough into melted butter, ensuring it’s fully coated. Then, generously coat each strip with a mixture of brown sugar and cinnamon.
- Twist and Arrange: Give each strip one or two gentle twists. Place the twisted strips in two long rows on a half sheet pan that has been prepared.
- Second Rise: Allow the twisted dough to rise until they appear puffy. This second rise is crucial for the perfect fluffy texture.
- Bake to Perfection: Bake the twists until they are lightly golden brown, indicating they are cooked through.
Important Tip: When dipping the dough pieces into the melted butter and cinnamon/sugar mixture, be careful not to stretch the dough too much. Keeping the dough in a thick strip will yield the best results – resulting in ultra-fluffy cinnamon twists once baked!
Additional Notes and Helpful Tips for Perfect Cinnamon Twists
- Serving Suggestions: Serve these delightful cinnamon sugar twists warm or at room temperature. While they are delicious either way, there’s nothing quite like enjoying one (or a few!) straight from the oven while they are still warm.
- Make-Ahead Options: If you’re planning ahead, there are a couple of options for preparing these cinnamon twists in advance:
- Refrigerate Before Baking: Follow the recipe through step #10. Before allowing the twists to rise on the pan, cover them tightly and refrigerate for up to 8 to 12 hours. They may rise and puff slightly in the refrigerator. Remove them from the fridge about an hour before baking to allow them to warm up slightly. Then, bake according to the recipe instructions.
- Freeze Before Baking: Follow the recipe through step #10, but instead of refrigerating, cover the pan tightly and freeze the twists. Take the pan out of the freezer 6 to 8 hours before you plan to bake them. This will give the twists enough time to thaw and rise before baking. Bake as directed in the recipe.
- To Ice or Not to Ice?: Serve the cinnamon twists with or without icing. For a quick and easy on-the-go treat or snack, they are perfectly delicious served straight off the pan without any icing. However, they are also incredibly tasty when drizzled with icing or served with a small bowl of icing on the side for dipping.
My family and I are absolutely head-over-heels in love with these cinnamon sugar twists. They have a broad appeal – I genuinely can’t imagine anyone not enjoying them!
In fact, be prepared for an outpouring of rave reviews and compliments when you make this recipe. Repeat after me: “I will not let it go to my head, I will not let it go to my head.” It’s a tough job, but we must stay humble, even if we are absolute rock stars in the kitchen! 😜
The secret to these amazing twists lies in cutting the dough into thick strips and ensuring the twists rise fully on the pan before baking. Don’t skip or shorten either of these crucial steps, and you’ll be rewarded with the softest, fluffiest cinnamon twists that will completely rock your baking world.
Cinnamon Sugar Twists Recipe
Yields
20 twists
Prep Time
20 minutes
Cook Time
20 minutes
Rising Time
1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time
2 hours 10 minutes
Ingredients
Dough:
- 1 ¼ cups milk (preferably not skim milk)
- ¼ cup room temperature water
- 6 tablespoons butter, cut into tablespoon-size pieces
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon instant or active dry yeast
- 1 large egg
- 1 ¼ teaspoons salt
- 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour
Cinnamon/Sugar:
- 1 ½ cups packed light brown sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoons cinnamon
- 12 tablespoons butter, melted
Icing:
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- For the dough, heat the milk until tiny bubbles form around the edges and the milk is steaming. Pour into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook.
- Add the water, butter, and sugar. Let the mixture cool until warm (an instant-read thermometer should read 110 to 115 degrees F).
- Add 2 cups of the flour and sprinkle the yeast on top. Mix until combined. The dough will be thin. Cover the bowl and let the dough rest for 5-10 minutes until slightly puffy and bubbly.
- Add the egg and salt. Add the remaining flour (start with 1 3/4 to 2 cups flour) and mix, adding additional flour gradually, until the dough clears the sides of the bowl and forms a soft, sticky ball. Don’t over flour the dough.
- Knead for 5-6 minutes until the dough is soft and smooth.
- Cover the bowl and let the dough rise in a warm spot until doubled, 45 to 60 minutes. Lightly grease a half sheet pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
- Gently punch down the dough and turn it out onto a lightly greased countertop. Pat or roll the dough into a 15X10-inch thick rectangle.
- Use a pizza cutter to cut the dough in half lengthwise (like a hot dog bun). Then cut into about 1 1/2-inch strips (so you’ll end up with about 20 strips total – see pictures in the post for a visual).
- For the cinnamon and sugar, in a medium bowl or shallow dish (like a pie plate), stir together the brown sugar and cinnamon.
- Dip each strip fully into the melted butter and then coat in the brown sugar/cinnamon mixture. Twist one or two times (try not to stretch the dough while dipping and twisting) and place side-by-side on the prepared sheet pan (two long rows of 10 strips each).
- Cover and let rise until noticeably puffy, 30 to 45 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Bake for 20 to 22 minutes until baked through and very lightly golden.
- For the icing, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. Add additional milk to thin (or more powdered sugar to thicken). The icing should be thick but pourable.
- Serve cinnamon twists warm or at room temperature. They can be served with icing on the side for dipping or the icing can be drizzled over the top of the twists. The cinnamon twists are also delicious served plain without icing.
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
- Serving: 1 cinnamon twist
- Calories: 316kcal
- Carbohydrates: 51g
- Protein: 4g
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Cholesterol: 38mg
- Sodium: 242mg
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 28g
Recipe Source: Adapted from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe (using this dough recipe as the base) – inspired by a recipe my friend, Kim R., brought to a tennis match last year (she handed them out to the high schoolers – no icing – and everyone was dying over how good they were, including me!)