Try this easy shortcut recipe for pizza dough cinnamon rolls when you’re craving a homemade treat without all the work. They come together fast with no yeast, no fuss, and no waiting around.
Holly’s Recipe Highlights
- Flavor: Buttery cinnamon sugar swirled inside fluffy dough.
- Difficulty: There are only 4 ingredients and not much prep, just fill, roll, and bake.
- Swaps: Store-bought pizza dough or crescent roll dough both work; bake time may vary slightly, so watch the crescent roll dough carefully.
- Serving Suggestions: Best served warm with glaze, or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for dessert.
Gather Your Ingredients
- Refrigerated Pizza Dough: Pillsbury-style can dough rolls easily and bakes soft; if using crescent rolls, press seams firmly and expect a slightly flakier texture.
- Brown Sugar: Packed brown sugar gives the center that caramel flavor, especially if using dark brown sugar.
- Cinnamon: Fresh cinnamon tastes stronger; add a pinch of nutmeg to the cinnamon filling if you want a bakery-style warmth.
- Butter: Use softened, but not melted, salted or unsalted butter.
Variations
- Add chopped pecans or walnuts to the filling for crunch.
- Add raisins or finely diced apples for a classic cinnamon roll vibe.
- Swap glaze for cream cheese frosting (great for dessert-style rolls).
How to Make Pizza Dough Cinnamon Rolls
- Roll out the dough and add filling.
- Roll the dough into a log. Pinch the ends.
- Slice. Place each cinnamon roll in a baking dish.
- Bake, then remove from the oven and invert onto a plate.
Serve plain or top with the optional glaze (full recipe below).
Holly’s Tips for Perfect Rolls
- Use unflavored dental floss to slice cleanly, or a very sharp knife, wiping between cuts.
- Use softened, not melted butter, and roll tightly in order to prevent the filling from leaking out.
- For softer rolls, bake them snug in the pan, almost like cinnamon roll monkey bread, and avoid spacing them out.
- Want extra gooey bottoms? Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of melted butter to the pan before placing the rolls.
- Make-ahead: assemble, cover, and refrigerate up to overnight, then bake in the morning.
- Glaze timing: Drizzle when rolls are warm, not piping hot, so it melts slightly but still looks pretty.
Keep Them Fresh
- Store cinnamon rolls in an airtight container on the counter for up to 3 days or in the fridge for up to a week.
- Freeze fully cooled rolls on a baking sheet, then individually wrap them and move them to a zippered bag with the date. They keep well for up to two months.
- To reheat, microwave 15 to 25 seconds per roll, or warm in a 300°F oven 8 to 10 minutes. Add fresh glaze after reheating for the prettiest finish.
Easy Cinnamon Treats for Mornings
Did you make these Pizza Dough Cinnamon Rolls? Leave a comment and rating below.
Pizza Dough Cinnamon Rolls
Use a few pantry staples to make these homemade pizza dough cinnamon rolls with an optional sweet glaze.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 can Pillsbury pizza dough or 2 cans refrigerated crescent rolls
- 1 stick butter softened
- ⅔ cup brown sugar
- ½ tablespoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease 1 9×9 pan.
- Open the can of pizza dough and roll it into a rectangle (12"x14")
- Spread softened butter over the dough. Top with brown sugar and cinnamon.
- Roll the dough into a log, cut into 9 slices, and place in the prepared pan.
- Bake 18-22 minutes or until browned.
- Remove from the pan and cool, cover with glaze if desired.
Notes
Optional glaze:
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1-2 teaspoons milk
Nutrition Information
Calories: 260kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 399mg | Potassium: 27mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 315IU | Vitamin C: 0.02mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
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REPIN this Pizza Dough Cinnamon Rolls recipe!
My grandson loves cinnamon rolls. I hate the mess. We both agree these rolls are amazing.
So glad you both enjoyed them!
Did you use light or dark Karo corn syrup?? Trying to make these and that important info is missing!
Either will work great in this recipe Brittany! Enjoy!
Such quick and easy recipes, I can’t wait to make them all.
Enjoy Beth!