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    Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Breakfast

    Cinnamon Swirls

    Published: Oct 31, 2021 · Modified: Jan 19, 2023 by Dannii · This post may contain affiliate links · 9 Comments

    24 shares
    Jump to Recipe
    Diet: Vegetarian
    Cinnamon Swirls with a text title overlay.

    Is there anything better than warm pastries for breakfast? These Cinnamon Swirls couldn't be easier and they are filled with a warming cinnamon sugar and zesty orange and then drizzled with icing warm from the oven. These are a much easier version of cinnamon rolls. All the flavour, with minimal effort!

    A serving board covered in cinnamon swirls, pecans and icing.

    Cinnamon rolls might just be one of my favourite little indulgences, but they aren't the easiest things to make. So, when we are short on time we make these Cinnamon Swirls, which have all the flavour of cinnamon rolls, but they use puff pastry instead. No need to wait for dough to rise, just unwrap the pastry and spread over the incredible cinnamon sugar.

    These cinnamon swirls couldn't be easier. They are ready in under 30 minutes and they are certainly a crowd pleaser. They will go down a storm with cinnamon lovers and they are that good, that they will even convince people that don't love cinnamon.

    If you are looking for other ways to use puff pastry, then why not try our Sausage Mummies, Easy Mushroom Tartlets, Cheese Straws or Easy Sausage Rolls?

    Jump to:
    • Why you will love them
    • Ingredients needed
    • Step by step
    • Health benefits of cinnamon
    • Variations
    • What to serve with Cinnamon Swirls
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Extra tips
    • More cinnamon recipes
    • Recipe
    • Feedback

    Why you will love them

    • A delicious indulgent breakfast - This is our go-to breakfast for Christmas morning. They are indulgent, can be eaten one handed whilst opening presents and they are quick to make too.
    • A great way to use cinnamon - We love cinnamon, and would happily put it on everything. This is a great way to use it, as it is bursting with cinnamon flavour.
    • Adaptable - You can adapt the cinnamon sugar and the icing. More on that below!
    • Freezable - These freeze and reheat really well, making them perfect for batch cooking.

    Ingredients needed

    All the ingredients needed for this recipe with text overlay labels.
    • Puff pastry - Yep, we "cheated" and used store bought puff pastry. It makes these cinnamon swirls really quick and easy to make and honestly we can't taste the difference from homemade pastry.
    • Sugar - We used brown sugar, as it has a richer flavour and makes everything look darker which gives a warmer feel. Brown sugar is naturally moist too, so it keeps the cinnamon rolls moist.
    • Cinnamon - The star of the show. We put quite a lot in, as we wanted it to be heavy on the cinnamon, but you could adjust it and use less if you prefer.
    • Butter - Rather than just using a cinnamon sugar, we added some butter to the mix. It makes these cinnamon swirls feel really indulgent and keeps them nice and moist too.
    • Orange zest - A little bit of orange zest goes a long way and added to the cinnamon sugar mixture it adds a lot of flavour.
    • Egg - Brushing egg on the pastry before it goes in the oven helps the pastry to get nice and crispy.
    • Icing sugar - Finish the swirls off with an icing sugar glaze.
    • Water - This is added to the icing sugar to make a glaze. If you wanted to add extra flavour, instead of using water you could use a splash of orange juice and add some cinnamon to the icing too.
    • Pecans - Crumble pecans on top for some added crunch.

    A full ingredients list with measurements is in the recipe card below.

    Step by step

    One: Preheat your oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas 4. Line a baking tray with baking paper.
    Two: Mix together the butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and orange zest to form a paste.

    Two shot collage of cinnamon, butter and sugar in a bowl, before and after mixing.

    Two: Spread the paste evenly over the pastry.

    Two shot collage of a dollop of cinnamon paste on a sheet of puff pastry then spread all over.

    Three: Roll the pastry up and slice into ten equal pieces. Put onto the lined baking tray and brush with whisked egg. Cook for 20 minutes.

    Two shot collage of the pastry rolled up and then cut into swirls.

    Four: In a small bowl, mix the icing sugar and water.

    Two shot collage of icing sugar and water in a bowl, before and after mixing.

    Five: Drizzle the cooked swirls with the icing and sprinkle over the chopped pecans.

    Ten cooked cinnamon swirls topped with icing and chopped pecans.

    Health benefits of cinnamon

    Cinnamon is not only known to have a whole plethora of health benefits, but all that natural flavour means we don't have to rely on sugar as much for flavour. Cinnamon can lower blood sugar levels, has anti-inflammatory properties and reduce heart disease risk factors. Just try to use Ceylon Cinnamon (known as "true cinnamon") rather than Cassia Cinnamon.

    Cinnamon, a spice which comes from the inner bark of a small evergreen tree, was once traded as currency, as we can see why! Not only does it was a lovely warm flavour, but it also contains large amounts of polyphenol antioxidants. Antioxidants can help protect the body from disease and have been found to have anti-inflammatory effects. There is also evidence to suggest that the eating cinnamon is associated with a short-term reduction in blood pressure.

    Cooked cinnamon swirls covered in icing and chopped pecans.

    Variations

    These are a really simple recipe, which is what we love about them, so there isn't much to change. However, we have a couple of swaps so you can make it a different way next time.

    You could mix a little bit of cocoa powder in to the cinnamon sugar to give it a chocolatey flavour. You could also swap the icing for a cream cheese frosting.

    What to serve with Cinnamon Swirls

    We would quite happily eat these for breakfast and they are what we make on Christmas morning. But, we also think these are the perfect afternoon treat with a hot drink. Why not try one of the ones we have on the blog - here are some of our favourites:

    • Cinnamon Coffee
    • Chai Tea Latte
    • Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate
    • Pumpkin Spice Latte
    • Snowman Hot Chocolate
    • Cinnamon Mocha
    • Chai Tea Latte
    A board of cinnamon swirls in front of a blue towel.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How to store cinnamon swirls

    You can store these in an air tight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or in the fridge for a week.

    Can you freeze cinnamon swirls?

    Yes, you can freeze these, but they are better frozen without being iced, as the icing goes a bit funny when it has defrosted and the rolls are a bit soggy. Once they have cooled, wrap them individually and then put them in a freezer bag. They will keep in the freezer for up to a month.

    How to reheat cinnamon swirls

    Once these are fully defrosted (overnight in the fridge), you can warm them in the oven for 10 minutes.

    Are cinnamon swirls gluten free?

    If you use gluten free puff pastry and make sure that there is no cross contamination, then this is a delicious gluten free treat.

    heart icon

    Extra tips

    • Add some cinnamon and orange to the icing for extra flavour.
    • You can make a chocolate version of these by mixing a little cocoa powder in to the cinnamon sugar.
    • The pecans are optional, but they add a nice texture. You could swap them for walnuts or flaked almonds.
    • You could mix some ground ginger into the cinnamon for a mixture of flavour, but still those warm flavours.

    More cinnamon recipes

    • Cinnamon Stewed Apples
    • Cinnamon Roasted Almonds
    • Cinnamon Coffee
    • Apple Cinnamon Pancakes

    If you’ve tried this cinnamon swirl recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
    Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

    Recipe

    Ten cinnamon swirls on a wooden board.

    Cinnamon Swirls

    These Cinnamon Swirls couldn't be easier and they are filled with a warming cinnamon sugar and zesty orange and then drizzled with icing.
    An illustration of a v-shaped plant.
    Vegetarian
    5 from 11 votes
    Author: Dannii
    Pin Print Save recipe Recipe saved!
    Course: Breakfast, Dessert
    Cuisine: American, British
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes
    Allergens:
    An illustration of a carton of milk.
    Dairy
    An illustration of a cracked egg.
    Eggs
    An illustration of two ears of wheat.
    Gluten
    Servings: 10 servings
    Calories: 198kcal
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    Ingredients

    • 375 g Puff pastry
    • 40 g Butter - room temperature
    • 40 g Light brown sugar
    • 1 tablespoon Ground cinnamon
    • 1 orange - (zest only)
    • 2 tablespoon Icing sugar
    • 1 tablespoon cold water
    • Pecans - (optional)

    Instructions

    • Preheat your oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas 4. Line a baking tray with baking paper.
    • Mix together the butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and orange zest to form a paste.
      40 g Butter, 40 g Light brown sugar, 1 tablespoon Ground cinnamon, 1 orange
    • Spread the paste evenly over the pastry.
      375 g Puff pastry
    • Roll the pastry up and slice into ten equal pieces. Put onto the lined baking tray and brush with whisked egg. Cook for 20 minutes.
    • In a small bowl, mix the icing sugar and water.
      2 tablespoon Icing sugar, 1 tablespoon cold water
    • Drizzle the cooked swirls with the icing and sprinkle over the chopped pecans.
      Pecans

    Notes

    • Add some cinnamon and orange to the icing for extra flavour.
    • You can make a chocolate version of these by mixing a little cocoa powder in to the cinnamon sugar.
    • The pecans are optional, but they add a nice texture. You could swap them for walnuts or flaked almonds.
    • You could mix some ground ginger into the cinnamon for a mixture of flavour, but still those warm flavours.

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1swirl | Calories: 198kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 198mg | Potassium: 34mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 132IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1mg
    DisclaimerThe nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jess

      November 02, 2021 at 5:17 pm

      5 stars
      Genius! Cinnamon rolls are so labor-intensive, this is such a great option!

      Reply
    2. Jessica Formicola

      November 02, 2021 at 4:54 pm

      5 stars
      I absolutely love working with puff pastry, and these cinnamon swirls were so easy! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe!

      Reply
    3. Angela

      November 02, 2021 at 4:41 pm

      5 stars
      What a great idea! My family loved these so much. Saves a bunch of time compared to regular cinnamon rolls.

      Reply
    4. Mindee Taylor

      November 02, 2021 at 4:41 pm

      5 stars
      Not only were these delicious my kitchen smelled heavenly!

      Reply
    5. maryanne

      November 02, 2021 at 3:23 pm

      5 stars
      What a fantastic way to use puff pastry! So rich and decadent, and I love the amount of cinnamon used!

      Reply
    6. Gina

      November 02, 2021 at 12:19 pm

      5 stars
      LOVE the hint of orange zest in these! Perfect complement to the sweet rolls and cinnamon!

      Reply
    7. Katherine

      November 02, 2021 at 10:51 am

      5 stars
      Oooh what an incredible, decadent breakfast. And ready in 30 mins! Winner.

      Reply
    8. Danielle Wolter

      November 02, 2021 at 10:36 am

      5 stars
      Mmmm I love cinnamon swirls. Puff pastry is one of my favorite things to work with because it makes desserts so easy. These sound just incredible!

      Reply
    9. Mandy

      November 02, 2021 at 9:54 am

      5 stars
      These cinnamon swirls are just heavenly!

      Reply

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    My name is Dannii. Here you will find easy family recipes with a healthy twist.
    Established in 2011, Hungry Healthy Happy has become one of the UK's most popular food blogs, with two successful recipe books published.

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