Only 3 ingredients and just 10 minutes of preparation to bring fragrant treats to the table: cinnamon puff pastry swirls will win you over at the first bite and will quickly become one of your favorite quick last-minute desserts. Perfect when you’re short on time but don’t want to miss out on something delicious, these sweet swirls are ideal for breakfast, a snack, or to serve at the end of a meal.
Puff pastry is one of the most versatile ingredients in the kitchen: not only is it perfect for savory pies and appetizers, it’s also the ideal base for many easy and quick desserts, like Nutella puff pastry croissants, apple puff pastry swirls or the classic puff pastry fans. These cinnamon puff pastry swirls are also prepared in a flash: just sprinkle a puff pastry roll with a simple mix of sugar and ground cinnamon, roll, and cut.
During baking, the swirls puff up and caramelize, releasing an irresistible aroma and creating crunchy puff pastry treats on the outside and sweet on the inside. A simple recipe, accessible to everyone, demonstrating how a few ingredients can lead to something really special.
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- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Very cheap
- Rest time: 30 Minutes
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 14 Pieces
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All seasons
- Energy 102.19 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 10.44 (g) of which sugars 2.38 (g)
- Proteins 1.25 (g)
- Fat 6.34 (g) of which saturated 0.91 (g)of which unsaturated 5.10 (g)
- Fibers 0.70 (g)
- Sodium 41.68 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 16 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients for 14 Cinnamon Puff Pastry Treats
If you are celiac, you can make these swirls using ready-made gluten-free puff pastry. If you can’t find it in a rectangular shape, the round one will do just fine: you can cut it to get a rectangle or roll it as it is. In this case, the swirls at the ends will be a little less regular, but they will still be delicious.
- 1 sheet puff pastry (rectangular)
- 1/8 cup sugar (granulated)
- 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- to taste water
Tools
- 1 Bowl
- 1 Brush
- 1 Knife
- 1 Baking Sheet
- Parchment Paper
How to Make Cinnamon Puff Pastry Swirls
To make cinnamon puff pastry swirls, start by mixing the sugar and cinnamon in a bowl (1). Unroll the puff pastry and place it horizontally on the work surface. Put a little water in a cup and use a kitchen brush to brush the entire surface of the pastry (2). You don’t want to soak it, just moisten it slightly. Use a teaspoon to dust it with the sugar and cinnamon mix (3).
Cover the entire surface of the puff pastry (4) but keep aside about a tablespoon of the sugar and cinnamon to decorate the tops of the swirls. Start rolling the puff pastry onto itself from one of the shorter sides (5). After rolling it a few centimeters, brush the rolled part with a little water (6): this will help it adhere better.
Continue in this way until forming a roll. Press gently to compact and seal it (7). Wrap the roll in parchment paper and let it rest in the refrigerator for about half an hour. The rest is not essential but will make it easier to cut the roll. Using a sharp knife, cut the swirls about 0.8 inches thick (8). Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, well spaced so that as they rise during baking, they do not stick to each other (9).
Garnish them on top with the reserved sugar and cinnamon mix (10). Bake the cinnamon puff pastry swirls in a preheated oven at 392°F (static) for 15-20 minutes, until they are puffed and golden (11).
Remove from the oven and let them cool for about ten minutes before enjoying them. You can serve the cinnamon puff pastry swirls for breakfast or a snack; they are great with a cup of tea.
Storage
Cinnamon puff pastry swirls can be stored at room temperature for 2-3 days, kept in a tin box or under a cake dome. Over time, they may lose some of their crunchiness, but they will still be fragrant and delicious. To restore crispness, you can heat them for a few minutes in a hot oven or air fryer. Storing in the fridge is not recommended, as it would make the pastry soggy.
Tips and Variations
For an even more distinctive flavor, you can add a pinch of vanilla and nutmeg to the sugar and cinnamon mix.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Can I make the swirls using brown sugar?
Yes, if you like, you can replace white sugar with brown sugar, but aesthetically, the puff pastry swirls will appear much darker.
