Cinnamon Twists

Made with my secret ingredient (Jiffy Pizza Crust Mix), these homemade cinnamon twists are flaky on the outside, soft on the inside, and topped with cinnamon sugar and a sweet powdered sugar glaze.

Sometimes called French twists, these cinnamon twists are kind of a cross between a churro and the cinnamon twists you’d find at Taco Bell. However, there’s no deep fryer in sight. We’re making baked cinnamon twists today. We’re also not using puff pastry. I know, what a shocker! Instead, we’re using a boxed pizza crust mix. Trust me, once you give this secret ingredient a go, you’ll never look back.

The pizza dough ensures the twists are crunchy and flaky on the outside and soft and buttery on the inside. Plus, we add cinnamon sugar on the inside and outside so it’s bursting with that quintessential fall flavor. The final piece is a simple sugar glaze drizzled over the top for the perfect mix of sweetness and spice. 

Fortunately, this cinnamon twist recipe is super easy to follow. First, gather your ingredients: confectioners and granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, salt, the pizza crust mix, butter, heavy whipped cream, and vanilla extract. Then we need to prep the dough, brush it with melted butter and sprinkle on the cinnamon sugar. Next, it’s time to twist, y’all. Make your twists and then pop them in the oven. Once they’re golden brown and crunchy goodness, we make the sugar glaze and add another sprinkle of cinnamon sugar on top for good measure. 

These deliciously easy cinnamon twists make the perfect snack or dessert. We love to serve them with our homemade pizza on Friday nights as a special treat. 

Recipe Ingredients

• Granulated sugar
• Ground cinnamon
• Salt
• Jiffy Pizza Crust Mix
• Melted unsalted butter
• Powdered/confectioners’ sugar
• Heavy whipping cream
• Orange juice/vanilla extract

Helpful Kitchen Tools

• Baking Sheet
• Rolling Pin
• Pizza Cutter

How to Make Cinnamon Twists

Preheat oven to 375°. Lightly spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.

In a small bowl, combine sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine the pizza crust mix and hot water.

Stir until a soft dough forms.

Cover and let stand for 5 minutes (dough will be sticky).

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface.

Knead it 2 to 3 times.

Using floured hands, press dough into an 8×4-inch rectangle.

Cut the dough lengthwise into 8 strips.

Brush dough with melted butter.

Then sprinkle it with half of the cinnamon-sugar mixture. 

Fold 1 dough strip in half and press ends together.

Then twist it into a 6-inch rope.

Place the rope on the prepared baking sheet.

Repeat with remaining dough strips; placing ropes 1 inch apart.

Bake until golden brown (13 to 15 minutes).

Let cool completely on a wire rack.

In a small bowl, combine confectioners’ sugar, cream, and orange juice or extract.

Stir until smooth.

Drizzle over cinnamon twists.

Sprinkle with the remaining cinnamon mixture.

Enjoy!

Storage

• Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. I recommend quickly reheating them in the oven or air fryer to bring back the crispiness.
• You can also freeze leftover twists for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before reheating as above.

Recipe Notes

• For extra flavor, combine the cinnamon with brown sugar instead of white sugar. 
• Another way to add more flavor is to add 1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg or ground cardamon to the filling.
• If you like, add golden raisins or dried cranberries to the filling before twisting the dough.

Recipe FAQs

Can you make cinnamon twists in the air fryer?

If your air fryer basket is big enough, you can totally make them in the air fryer. Otherwise, feel free to cut them in half. I’d turn them after about 5 minutes and check them a few minutes later. They should need about half the cooking time compared to the oven.

How do you serve cinnamon twists?

Now, they clearly taste delicious as is. But you can also serve them with a dipping sauce, like salted caramel sauce, hot fudge sauce, melted chocolate, or even store-bought cream cheese frosting. Don’t knock it ’til you try it! 

Check out these other cinnamon snacks:

Easy Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

Stuffed Cinnamon Toast Sticks

Cinnamon Tortilla Chips

Easy Stuffed Cinnamon Rolls

Cinnamon Apple Crisps (Only 3 ingredients)

“Love and Kindness are never wasted.

They always make a difference.

They bless the one who receives them and they bless you, the giver.”

~Barbara De Angelis