Sweet Cinnamon Twists (Printable)

Fluffy pastry spirals with cinnamon filling and sweet vanilla glaze

# What You'll Need:

→ Dough

01 - 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 tbsp granulated sugar
03 - 1/2 tsp salt
04 - 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast (1 packet)
05 - 3/4 cup warm milk (110°F)
06 - 1 large egg
07 - 3 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

→ Filling

08 - 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
09 - 2 tsp ground cinnamon
10 - 3 tbsp unsalted butter, softened

→ Glaze

11 - 1/2 cup powdered sugar
12 - 1 tbsp milk
13 - 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

# Directions:

01 - Combine warm milk and yeast in a large bowl. Let stand for 5 minutes until foamy.
02 - Add sugar, melted butter, egg, and salt to the yeast mixture. Mix well. Gradually add flour, mixing until a soft dough forms.
03 - Knead dough on a lightly floured surface for 5–7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
04 - Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
05 - In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and cinnamon for the filling.
06 - Roll dough into a 12x16-inch rectangle. Spread softened butter over the surface, then evenly sprinkle cinnamon-sugar mixture.
07 - Fold the dough in half lengthwise. Cut into 12 strips. Twist each strip several times, then place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
08 - Cover and let rise for 15 minutes while preheating oven to 375°F.
09 - Bake for 18–20 minutes, until golden brown. Cool slightly.
10 - Whisk together glaze ingredients. Drizzle over warm twists before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • These twists strike that perfect balance between flaky pastry crust and gooey cinnamon center that makes breakfast feel special without the fuss of full cinnamon rolls.
  • The recipe comes together faster than youd think, and the way your whole house smells while they bake is basically free aromatherapy.
02 -
  • Dough temperature matters. If your kitchen is cold, rise times will be longer. I once put mine near a sunny window and cut the rise time in half.
  • Twist firmly but gently. Over-twisting makes them tight and dense, while under-twisting makes them unravel in the oven.
03 -
  • Reserve a small handful of the cinnamon sugar mixture to sprinkle on top of the twists before baking. It creates this incredible crunchy top layer.
  • If your dough springs back when rolling, let it rest for 5 minutes and try again. Fighting resistant dough only leads to uneven twists.

Return