Cinnamon Sugar Cream Cheese Rolls: A Sweet Treat You’ll Crave Again and Again

Introduction

There’s something magical about the combination of warm pastry, sweet cream cheese filling, and cinnamon sugar coating. It’s cozy, comforting, and feels like a bakery-style indulgence made right at home.

Cinnamon Sugar Cream Cheese Rolls are one of those recipes that seem too simple to be so good. Soft pastry dough (store-bought crescent dough or homemade yeast dough) is wrapped around a luscious cream cheese filling, baked (or air fried) until golden, then brushed with butter and rolled in cinnamon sugar.

The result? A treat that’s part cheesecake bite, part churro, and part cinnamon roll — creamy inside, golden outside, and irresistible from the first bite. Whether you serve them for breakfast, brunch, dessert, or holiday gatherings, these little rolls will disappear fast.

Ingredients

You can make these rolls two ways: with shortcut crescent roll dough for convenience or with homemade dough for extra bakery-style fluffiness.

Shortcut Version (with Crescent Rolls or Puff Pastry)

• 1 package (8 oz) refrigerated crescent roll dough (or puff pastry sheet)

• 8 oz cream cheese, softened

• 1/4 cup granulated sugar

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Cinnamon Sugar Coating

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Homemade Dough Option

If you’d like to go all out:

• 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)

• 1/2 cup warm milk (110°F / 43°C)

• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1 large egg

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

Instructions

Step 1: Make the Filling

1. In a bowl, beat softened cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon until smooth and fluffy.

2. Set aside while preparing the dough.

Step 2: Prepare the Dough

• Shortcut method: Roll out crescent roll dough. If using triangles, pinch edges to make small rectangles.

• Homemade method:

  1. Mix warm milk, yeast, and sugar. Let sit 5–10 minutes until foamy.

  2. Add flour, salt, egg, and butter. Mix into a soft dough.

  3. Knead 5–7 minutes until smooth, then let rise 1 hour until doubled.

  4. Roll into a rectangle and cut into squares.

Step 3: Assemble the Rolls

1. Place 1–2 teaspoons of cream cheese mixture in the center of each dough piece.

2. Fold over and roll into a ball or log, pinching edges tightly so the filling stays inside.

Step 4: Bake or Air Fry

• Oven: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake rolls on a lined sheet for 12–15 minutes until golden.

• Air Fryer: Preheat to 350°F (175°C). Cook rolls in a single layer for 6–8 minutes.

Step 5: Coat in Cinnamon Sugar

1. While rolls are still warm, brush with melted butter.

2. Toss in cinnamon sugar until evenly coated.

Preparation & Cooking Time

• Prep time: 20 minutes (10 minutes with shortcut dough)

• Rising time (if homemade dough): 1 hour

• Baking/Air frying: 12–15 minutes

• Total time:

  • Shortcut version: ~30 minutes

  • Homemade dough: ~1 hr 45 min

Tips for Success

• Seal edges tightly: Prevents cream cheese from leaking.

• Work with cold dough: Crescent/puff pastry is easier to shape when chilled.

• Don’t overfill: A teaspoon of filling per roll is enough.

• Best when fresh: Serve warm for maximum creaminess.

• Storage: Keep leftovers in the fridge for 3 days; reheat before serving.

Variations

• Nutella Cream Cheese Rolls – Add a spoonful of Nutella to the filling.

• Berry Cheesecake Rolls – Mix fresh or frozen berries into the cream cheese.

• Apple Cinnamon Rolls – Spoon apple pie filling inside with the cream cheese.

• Savory Cream Cheese Rolls – Use garlic herb cream cheese, then coat in parmesan instead of cinnamon sugar.

Serving Suggestions

• Serve as a breakfast pastry with coffee or tea.

• Make them the centerpiece of a brunch board with fruit and yogurt.

• Offer them as a holiday dessert dusted with powdered sugar.

• Pair with caramel sauce or cream cheese glaze for dipping.

Calories & Nutrition (per roll, using crescent dough, makes 8)

• Calories: ~230

• Carbohydrates: 22g

• Protein: 4g

• Fat: 14g

• Sugar: 11g

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Cinnamon Sugar Cream Cheese Rolls are the perfect mix of simplicity and indulgence. With just a handful of ingredients, you can create something that tastes like it came from a bakery. They’re versatile, customizable, and can be enjoyed any time of day.