Chef Mitchell - Professional Chef
👨‍🍳 Professional Chef

Recipe by Mitchell

🎓 10+ Years Experience ⏰ 1000+ Recipes Created 🍽️ Culinary Institute Graduate

❤️ My Recipe Story

"I discovered this recipe during a busy holiday season when I needed a quick dessert for unexpected guests. The combination of convenience and incredible flavor made it an instant hit with my family. Now it's our go-to dessert for movie nights and casual gatherings, and I love how it brings everyone together around the table."

Chef Mitchell specializes in transforming simple ingredients into extraordinary desserts, with particular expertise in quick and family-friendly recipes. His background includes pastry training and years of developing recipes that balance convenience with exceptional taste.

View All Mitchell's Recipes →
Golden brown cinnamon sugar pizza made with crescent rolls on a wooden cutting board, drizzled with white vanilla glaze and cut into squares, with melted butter and cinnamon visible on the flaky surface

Why This Cinnamon Sugar Pizza Recipe Works

This dessert pizza combines the convenience of refrigerated crescent roll dough with the beloved flavors of cinnamon and sugar to create something truly special. The dough bakes up golden and flaky, providing the perfect base for the sweet cinnamon-sugar topping that caramelizes beautifully in the oven. The key to success lies in properly sealing the dough seams and achieving an even distribution of the cinnamon-sugar mixture.

What makes this recipe particularly appealing is its versatility and quick preparation time. Unlike traditional cinnamon rolls that require rising time and individual shaping, this pizza format allows you to serve a crowd in under 25 minutes. The vanilla glaze adds the perfect finishing touch, creating a dessert that looks as impressive as it tastes while remaining incredibly simple to execute.

💡 Professional Tip

For the flakiest texture, keep the crescent roll dough cold until ready to use, and avoid overworking it when pressing the seams together.

Frequently Asked Questions

While best served fresh and warm, you can prepare the assembled pizza up to 2 hours ahead and refrigerate before baking. Add 2-3 extra minutes to the baking time if baking from cold. The glaze should be added just before serving.

Yes, puff pastry works well as a substitute. Use one sheet, roll it slightly thinner, and reduce baking time by 2-3 minutes as puff pastry bakes faster than crescent roll dough.

Let the dough sit at room temperature for 5 minutes before unrolling, press seams firmly but gently, and avoid stretching the dough too thin when shaping your pizza base.

Absolutely! Try adding mini chocolate chips, chopped pecans, or a cream cheese layer before the cinnamon sugar. Sliced apples or berries also make delicious additions.

The pizza is done when the edges are golden brown and the center springs back lightly when touched. The cinnamon sugar should look slightly caramelized, and the dough should sound hollow when tapped.

This dessert pizza pairs wonderfully with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or fresh berries. For beverages, try coffee, hot chocolate, or cold milk to complement the cinnamon flavors.

Yes! Separate the crescent roll triangles and create individual mini pizzas on a baking sheet. Reduce baking time to 8-10 minutes and adjust toppings proportionally.

Store covered at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to 4 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven for 5 minutes or microwave for 20-30 seconds to restore warmth and texture.

Recipe Troubleshooting Guide

✅

Soggy Bottom

Problem: The bottom of the pizza is undercooked or soggy despite proper baking time.

Solution: Use a pizza stone or place baking sheet on the bottom oven rack. Ensure oven is fully preheated and consider brushing the dough lightly with butter before adding toppings.

✅

Uneven Browning

Problem: Some areas are golden while others remain pale or cook unevenly.

Solution: Ensure dough thickness is even when pressing seams together. Rotate the pan halfway through baking and check that your oven rack is centered.

✅

Dry Texture

Problem: The finished pizza seems dry or lacks moisture.

Prevention: Don't skip the melted butter layer, and avoid overbaking. Add the glaze while the pizza is still warm to help it absorb moisture.

✅

Glaze Too Thick

Problem: The vanilla glaze is too thick to drizzle smoothly.

Recovery: Add milk one teaspoon at a time until you reach the desired consistency. The glaze should coat a spoon but still drizzle easily.

✅

Cinnamon Clumping

Problem: Cinnamon sugar mixture forms clumps instead of distributing evenly.

Prevention: Sift the cinnamon with the sugar, and ensure the butter layer is evenly applied before sprinkling the mixture. Use a fine-mesh strainer for even distribution.

✅

Flavor Balance

Too Sweet: Reduce sugar in the topping by 1-2 tablespoons and skip the glaze, or balance with a pinch of salt

Too Salty: This dessert shouldn't be salty, but if it tastes off, use unsalted butter and check crescent roll dough sodium content

Bland: Increase cinnamon to 2.5 teaspoons, add 1/4 teaspoon vanilla to the butter, or sprinkle with a pinch of nutmeg

Ingredients for cinnamon sugar pizza laid out on a marble counter: tubes of crescent roll dough, melted butter in a bowl, granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, vanilla extract, and powdered sugar for glaze

Choosing the Right Ingredients

The success of this cinnamon sugar pizza starts with selecting quality ingredients, beginning with the crescent roll dough. Choose name-brand refrigerated crescent rolls for the best texture and flavor, as they tend to have better layering and a more buttery taste. Check the expiration date and ensure the tubes aren't damaged or expanded, which could indicate temperature issues that affect baking performance.

For the cinnamon-sugar topping, use fresh ground cinnamon rather than old spice that may have lost its potency. The butter should be melted but not hot, which could melt the dough prematurely. Real vanilla extract makes a noticeable difference in both the butter mixture and glaze, providing depth that artificial vanilla cannot match.

Essential Ingredient Notes

  • Crescent Roll Dough: Look for dough that feels firm and cold, with no cracks in the tube. Let it sit 5 minutes before unrolling to prevent tearing.
  • Ground Cinnamon: Use Ceylon cinnamon for a sweeter, more delicate flavor, or Cassia cinnamon for a stronger, more traditional taste.
  • Butter: Melt butter gently and let it cool slightly before brushing to prevent melting the dough layers prematurely.
Hands pressing crescent roll dough seams together on a baking sheet, with a bowl of melted butter and cinnamon sugar mixture nearby, showing the assembly process

Mastering the Technique

The key technique for perfect cinnamon sugar pizza lies in properly handling the crescent roll dough to create an even, cohesive base. When unrolling the dough, work gently to avoid tearing, and take time to pinch all seams thoroughly - this prevents the pizza from separating during baking. The dough should form one continuous rectangle with uniform thickness throughout.

Achieving the perfect cinnamon-sugar distribution requires a light touch with the melted butter followed by even sprinkling of the sugar mixture. Too much butter can make the pizza soggy, while too little won't allow the cinnamon sugar to adhere properly. The final glaze should be applied while the pizza is still warm but not hot, allowing it to set without running off completely.

Sealing Dough Seams

Press seams together firmly with your fingertips, then use the side of your hand to smooth over the connections. This creates a seamless base that won't separate during baking.

BEST RECIPE for Cinnamon Sugar Pizza Made With Crescent Rolls

Prep 10 min
Cook 12 min
Serves 8 servings
Level Easy

📋 Ingredients

Base Ingredients

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
    Sift for smoothest glaze texture
  • 2-3 tablespoons milk
    Add gradually for perfect consistency
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
    Use pure vanilla for best flavor

Topping & Glaze

  • 2 tubes (8 oz each) refrigerated crescent roll dough
    Keep cold until ready to use
  • 4 tablespoons butter, melted
    Cool slightly before brushing
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
    Combine well with cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
    Use fresh cinnamon for best flavor
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
    Mix into melted butter

Instructions

  1. Step 1

    Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a large pizza stone or 15x10-inch baking sheet with cooking spray or butter.

  2. Step 2

    Unroll both tubes of crescent roll dough and press together on prepared baking surface, pinching seams to seal and form one large rectangle.

  3. Step 3

    In a small bowl, mix melted butter with 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract. Brush evenly over the dough surface.

  4. Step 4

    In another small bowl, combine granulated sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle mixture evenly over the buttered dough.

  5. Step 5

    Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through. Remove from oven and cool for 5 minutes.

  6. Step 6

    For glaze, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and remaining vanilla extract until smooth. Drizzle over warm pizza.

  7. Step 7

    Cut into squares or triangles and serve immediately while warm for best texture and flavor.

Recipe Notes & Tips

Storage

Store leftovers covered at room temperature for up to 2 days. Reheat in 350°F oven for 5 minutes to restore crispness.

Serving Suggestions

Serve with vanilla ice cream, fresh berries, or whipped cream. Perfect with coffee or hot chocolate.

Variations

Try adding mini chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or a cream cheese layer for different flavor combinations.