Take the best little shortcut with these easy cinnamon rolls made with crescent rolls! This easy cinnamon roll recipe takes just a few minutes to make.
It’s easy to turn this secret little shortcut into an upgraded cinnamon roll your family will clamor over.
With an incredible cinnamon roll filling and a layer of delicious icing, this recipe is a major winner in our house!
I love making and enjoying the best cinnamon roll recipe because they’re light and fluffy, thick and moist, but making yeast cinnamon rolls requires more effort.
Truly a treat, however, sometimes you don’t have an hour (including rise time), especially in the morning. You’ll love this recipe as an alternative!
If you love sweet little breakfast treats as much as we do, don’t miss my incredible fried biscuit donuts! They could not be easier!
Cinnamon Rolls Made with Crescent Rolls
On days you want a shortcut, but almost homemade, you’ll love this easy shortcut!
They make a quick and delicious weekend breakfast and yet feel special enough to serve to guests over the holidays.
Why You’ll Love It
They’re topped with my amazing Cinnamon Roll Frosting for irresistible flavor!
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Crescent Sheets – The key “ingredient” to make these amazing rolls quickly!
- Butter – Salted or unsalted.
- Brown Sugar – You can substitute white sugar, if needed, but I love the flavor brown sugar gives rolls and how it caramelizes.
- Cinnamon
Cinnamon Roll Icing Ingredients
- Powdered Sugar – Also known as confectioner’s sugar. If you just have granulated sugar, you can put it into a food processor until fine. It gives this icing the best consistency!
- Butter – Salted or unsalted, your choice.
- Vanilla Extract – You can substitute almond or rum in a pinch.
- Milk – Whatever you have on hand. Thin to desired consistency.
Variations
- Switch up the traditional filling to make Apple Cinnamon Rolls, Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls, or even Cookie Butter Cinnamon Rolls.
- Switch up the frosting – there are more ideas below!
Tools to Use
- Mixer (You can also mix by hand)
- Liquid Measuring Cups
- Measuring Cups + Measuring Spoons
- Baking Spray (My favorite!)
- Oval Staub Baking Dish
How to Make
An overview, visit the printable recipe card for complete ingredients and instructions.
- Prep – Preheat oven and prepare baking dish.
- Make Rolls – Unroll dough and brush butter onto crescent sheets. Combine filling ingredients and sprinkle onto dough. Roll the dough and slice as directed.
- Bake – Place in a buttered casserole/baking dish. Bake.
- Ice – Combine cinnamon roll frosting ingredients until smooth. Spread over warm rolls.
Tips
- Refrain from removing crescent rolls from the refrigerator until ready to make your easy cinnamon rolls. This makes them easier to slice.
- Line your working surface with parchment paper for easy clean up.
Serving Suggestions
Of course the icing is well, the icing on the “cake” that takes them over the top.
- If you prefer, cream cheese icing is amazing, too!
- Or try our caramel icing.
- Apple Glaze is perfect for fall!
How to Store
- Room Temperature – Store at room temperature in an airtight container up to 2 days.
- Refrigerate – Store in an airtight container up to 5 days.
- Freeze – You can also freeze cinnamon rolls, storing in an airtight container covered in plastic wrap to avoid any freezer odor up to 3 months.
To Reheat
Reheat cinnamon rolls individually in the microwave for 20 seconds or in the casserole dish in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 5 minutes.
Don’t skip our incredible pumpkin cinnamon rolls if you’re in the mood for a taste of fall.
More Brunch Recipes
Cinnamon Rolls Made with Crescent Rolls
Ingredients
- 2 cans crescent dough sheets
- 5 tablespoons butter salted, melted
- ¼ cup light brown sugar (dark or light brown, packed)
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Cinnamon Roll Icing
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons butter salted or unsalted, melted
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 4 tablespoons milk Whole, 2% or whatever you have on hand
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉
- Unroll crescent sheets onto parchment paper.
- Brush butter onto crescent sheets.
- Combine brown sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle onto dough.
- Roll the dough and slice each log into 12 pieces.
- Place in a buttered casserole/baking dish. Bake 26-28 minutes.
Cinnamon Roll Icing
- Meanwhile, combine powdered sugar, melted butter, vanilla and milk.
- Pour over rolls and serve.
Julie’s Tips
Substitutions and Variations
- Crescent Sheets – Can use crescent rolls or dough sheets.
- Butter – Salted or unsalted.
- Brown Sugar – You can substitute white sugar, if needed, but I love the flavor brown sugar gives rolls and how it caramelizes.
- Milk – Whatever you have on hand. Thin to desired consistency.
Tips
Refrain from removing crescent rolls from the refrigerator until ready to make your easy cinnamon rolls. This makes them easier to slice. Line your working surface with parchment paper for easy clean up.How to Store Cinnamon Rolls
- Room Temperature – Store at room temperature in an airtight container up to 2 days.
- Refrigerate – Store in an airtight container up to 5 days.
- Freeze – You can also freeze cinnamon rolls, storing in an airtight container covered in plastic wrap to avoid any freezer odor up to 3 months.
Video
Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.
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If you love this easy recipe, please write a five star review in the comments and help me share on Facebook and Pinterest!
Phenomenal. So easy and delicious
Thank you, Allie! I hope you try my caramel rolls next! You’ll love them!
great recipe! made these for my coworkers today and they came out perfect!
Well, I saved this recipe when I came across it and bought the crescent sheets to be ready to make them at a moments notice. We are having out of town company next week so I decided it would be wise to โtestโ this recipe and decided to half the recipe for our trial prior to serving it to guests. WHAT WAS I THINKING? I should have trusted Julie fully, and made the entire batch!! My husband canโt wait for breakfast to polish off the rest of the little batch, and already told me to add these on the menu for our guests.
The only thing I changed was I added about 1/2 cup of finely chopped pecans on top of the brown sugar mixture prior to rolling them up. Heavenly for those of us who love pecans.
I will never doubt a recipe on your website again. This is a must try, and perfect for a impromptu coffee date with a friend (you can quickly make 1/2 batch!) or a full recipe for your buffet table! Delicious!!
Ha, every now and then, more is more…this is one of those few instances! I hope you try my caramel rolls next!