The Perfect Cinnamon Rolls for Your Next Brunch Gathering

These homemade puff pastry cinnamon rolls are guaranteed to become a staple at all our future brunches. Whether it’s a spontaneous sweet craving on a Sunday morning or a planned celebration with loved ones, this recipe fits the bill perfectly. Why? Because it’s incredibly quick and easy, taking only about 30 minutes from start to finish. Imagine waking up to the irresistible aroma of freshly baked cinnamon rolls without all the fuss of traditional yeast dough!

Each roll features a luscious filling of sweet cranberries, warm cinnamon, and crunchy pecans, all enveloped in a rich, buttery puff pastry coat. As they bake, the puff pastry transforms into a wonderfully flaky, golden-brown crust, offering a delightful contrast to the soft, gooey interior. What’s even better is that you only need a mere 6 simple ingredients to create this masterpiece. It’s a truly straightforward recipe that doesn’t compromise on flavor or indulgence, making it ideal for both novice and experienced bakers alike.

Why Cranberries, Pecans, and Cinnamon Create a Heavenly Combination

The choice of cranberries and pecans for the filling in these cinnamon rolls is no accident. These ingredients are a match made in culinary heaven, providing a perfect balance of textures and tastes that beautifully complement the spicy warmth of cinnamon. The tartness of the dried cranberries cuts through the sweetness, offering a refreshing burst of flavor with every bite. The pecans add a satisfying crunch and a rich, earthy nuttiness that deepens the overall profile. Together, they create a complex yet harmonious flavor experience that is both comforting and exciting.

Beyond their incredible flavor pairing, this recipe stands out for its remarkable speed and simplicity. You can have these delectable cinnamon buns ready to go into the oven within just 10 minutes. After a short 20-minute baking session, they emerge golden, fragrant, and ready to be served. This makes them an excellent choice when time is short but the desire for a homemade, impressive treat is high.

This particular recipe has been thoughtfully adapted from the inspiring blog of Inge and Elsa (Elsarblog, Dutch). It was initially created as part of a food blog swap, a fun and creative challenge where bloggers select and adapt a recipe from an assigned blog. Our version takes their wonderful concept and enhances it with detailed steps and tips to ensure your baking success.

These Cranberry Pecan Puff Pastry Cinnamon Rolls are a symphony of crunchy texture, sweet-tart flavors, and warm spice – incredibly easy to prepare and guaranteed to bring smiles to your family and friends!

Top Reasons to Choose These Homemade Puff Pastry Cinnamon Buns

There are countless reasons why these puff pastry cinnamon rolls will quickly become your go-to recipe for sweet treats. Here’s a breakdown of why they are simply the best choice:

• Minimal Ingredients: Only 6! This is truly an easy-peasy recipe. The secret lies in using ready-made puff pastry, which eliminates the need for complex dough preparation, saving you significant time and effort without sacrificing flavor or texture.
• Lightning Fast Prep: Into the Oven in 10 Minutes! Forget long proofing times! With puff pastry, you can have all 19 delicious cinnamon rolls, loaded with pecan and cranberries, prepped and ready for baking in a mere 10 minutes. Perfect for spontaneous baking or last-minute entertaining.
• No Yeast, No Eggs: Simplified Baking. Unlike traditional cinnamon rolls that require yeast and eggs, this recipe keeps it simple. This not only makes it accessible for those with dietary restrictions but also simplifies the baking process, removing common hurdles for beginners.
• Budget-Friendly Delicacy: Creating impressive pastries doesn’t have to break the bank. Puff pastry is an affordable ingredient, and coupled with common pantry staples like sugar, cinnamon, butter, pecans, and cranberries, these rolls offer gourmet taste without a hefty price tag.
• Ideal for Big Groups and Brunch Buffets: Need to feed a crowd? This recipe yields 19 rolls, making it excellent for entertaining a large group of people or serving as a star attraction on a brunch buffet. They look impressive but are simple to scale up if needed.
• Prepare Ahead & Freeze: Ultimate Convenience. One of the greatest advantages is the ability to prepare everything in advance. You can assemble the rolls, slice them, and then freeze them. This means you only have to bake them when you’re ready to serve, allowing for maximum flexibility and fresh-baked goodness anytime.
• Bake in Small Batches: Freshness on Demand. If you’re only serving a few people, you don’t have to bake all 19 rolls at once. Prepare them all, divide the unbaked buns into smaller batches, freeze what you don’t need immediately, and simply bake the desired quantity whenever a craving strikes. This ensures every roll is enjoyed at its freshest.

Essential Ingredients for Your Cranberry Pecan Puff Pastry Cinnamon Rolls

To embark on your journey to homemade puff pastry cinnamon roll perfection, you’ll need just a few key ingredients. The precise quantities can be found in the detailed recipe card conveniently located at the bottom of this article. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll be working with:

• Puff Pastry Roll: For ultimate ease and consistent results, a store-bought roll of puff pastry is your best friend. It’s ready to unroll and use, significantly cutting down preparation time. If a roll isn’t available, individual sheets can be used; simply overlap them slightly and press the seams together with your fingers, then gently roll with a rolling pin to create a single, even sheet (aim for about ¼ inch / 5 mm thick).
• Unsalted Butter: Butter is crucial for both flavor and adhesion of the filling. Using unsalted butter allows you to control the overall saltiness of the dish. It melts down to create a perfect sticky base for your cinnamon sugar, pecans, and cranberries.
• Granulated Sugar and Ground Cinnamon: These two ingredients form the classic cinnamon sugar mixture that is the heart of any cinnamon roll. The fine granules of sugar will melt slightly during baking, creating a wonderfully sweet and slightly caramelized layer, while the cinnamon infuses every bite with its signature warmth and spice.
• Pecan Nuts: We recommend using unsalted pecan nuts and chopping them coarsely. The coarse chop provides a lovely textural contrast to the soft pastry and chewy cranberries, and their rich, buttery flavor is a natural partner to cinnamon.
• Dried Cranberries: Dried cranberries add a delightful burst of tartness and chewiness. To prevent them from drying out or burning during baking, and to ensure they plump up beautifully, soak them in hot water for about 10 minutes before use. Remember to pat them thoroughly dry afterward to avoid adding excess moisture to your pastry.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Prepare Puff Pastry Cinnamon Pinwheels

Creating these delightful cinnamon pinwheels is a straightforward and rewarding process. For a complete, printable recipe with precise measurements, simply scroll to the very bottom of this blog post. Follow these simple steps to bring your homemade brunch dreams to life:

Step 1: Prepare and Spread the Flavorful Filling

• Begin by gently unrolling your puff pastry sheet onto a lightly floured surface or parchment paper. Make sure it’s smooth and ready for the layers of deliciousness.
• Next, prepare your cranberries: soak them in hot water for 10 minutes to rehydrate and plump them up, then pat them completely dry with a paper towel. This crucial step prevents them from burning and ensures a tender chew.
• In a small bowl, combine your granulated sugar and ground cinnamon to create that quintessential cinnamon sugar mixture. Separately, gently melt your unsalted butter.
• Using a pastry brush, evenly coat the entire surface of the puff pastry with the melted butter. This butter layer is essential for both flavor and for the cinnamon sugar to adhere properly.
• Generously sprinkle the mixed cinnamon sugar over the buttered puff pastry. Ensure an even distribution right to the edges. Finally, scatter the chopped pecans and prepared cranberries uniformly across the cinnamon sugar layer. The vibrant colors and textures should be visually appealing even at this stage!

Step 2: Roll the Pastry into a Tight Log

Position the puff pastry sheet so the long side is facing you. Starting from the bottom edge, carefully and snugly roll the pastry upwards, towards the top edge. The goal here is to create a tight, even log. A tight roll ensures beautiful, defined swirls in your finished cinnamon rolls, preventing them from unraveling during baking and keeping all that delicious filling securely inside.

Step 3: Slice into Individual Cinnamon Rolls

Once your pastry log is formed, it’s time to transform it into individual cinnamon rolls. Using a sharp knife, carefully cut the log into slices, each approximately ½ inch (1 cm) thick. Aim for consistent thickness to ensure all your rolls bake evenly. As you slice, you’ll reveal the beautiful pinwheel pattern of the filling.

Gently transfer these cut rolls onto a baking sheet that has been lined with parchment paper. It’s important to spread the buns out, leaving at least a 1-inch (2 cm) distance between each one. This spacing is crucial because the puff pastry will expand significantly as it bakes, and you want each roll to achieve its perfect golden, flaky texture without crowding its neighbors.

Step 4: Bake to Golden Perfection

With your oven preheated to 400 °F (approximately 204 °C), place the baking sheet with your puff pastry cinnamon buns inside. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until they turn a beautiful golden brown and are visibly puffed and flaky. The exact baking time may vary slightly depending on your oven, so keep an eye on them towards the end.

Once baked, carefully remove them from the oven and transfer them from the hot baking plate. These rolls are absolutely divine when eaten immediately, warm from the oven, with the cinnamon sugar and fruit still gooey and fragrant. However, they are also wonderfully delicious cooled on a wire rack and enjoyed at room temperature. Whether warm or cold, these homemade treats are guaranteed to be a hit!

Expert Tips, Creative Substitutions, and Delicious Variations

While this recipe is fantastic as is, here are some ideas to customize your puff pastry cinnamon rolls, troubleshoot common issues, and add even more flair:

• Filling Variations: Endless Possibilities!
  • Nut Swaps: Not a fan of pecans or simply want to try something new? Feel free to substitute with finely chopped walnuts, hazelnuts, or even cashews for a different nutty flavor profile.
  • Fruit Alternatives: Instead of cranberries, you could opt for classic raisins, finely diced apples (tossed with a pinch of cinnamon), or chopped dates for an extra caramel-like sweetness. For an indulgent twist, consider adding mini chocolate chunks – they melt beautifully within the warm pastry.
  • Sugar Choice: For a deeper, richer flavor with a hint of caramel, swap out the white granulated sugar for brown sugar in your cinnamon mixture. This will also give your rolls a slightly chewier texture.
  • Inspired Flavor Combos:
    • Walnut Apple Delight: Combine finely chopped walnuts with small pieces of apple (tossed in a little lemon juice to prevent browning) and cinnamon sugar.
    • Hazelnut Chocolate Dream: A decadent mix of chopped hazelnuts and chocolate chunks will turn these into a truly special dessert.
    • Date Cashew Caramel: Combine chopped dates with crushed cashews and brown sugar for a rich, sweet, and slightly exotic flavor.
• Optional Sweet Drizzles and Glazes:

  While these cinnamon rolls are already perfectly sweet and satisfying on their own, some prefer an extra layer of indulgence with a sweet topping. If you’re feeling adventurous, here are a few ideas:

  • Classic Glaze: You can use a store-bought vanilla glaze for convenience, or easily whip up your own. Combine 2 cups (0.5 l) of confectioners’ sugar (powdered sugar) with 1 to 2 tablespoons of water or milk, mixing until smooth. Drizzle this generously over the warm cinnamon rolls for a beautiful finish and added sweetness.
  • Salted Caramel Sauce: For a sophisticated and utterly delicious touch, a homemade salted caramel sauce is fantastic. As mentioned in this macaron recipe, making your own salted caramel sauce provides a rich, buttery, and salty-sweet topping that beautifully contrasts with the cranberry and pecan flavors.
  • Decadent Chocolate Sauce: For the chocolate lovers, bring ½ cup of cream to a gentle boil. Remove from heat and stir in 4 ounces (approximately 150 g) of finely chopped dark chocolate. Whisk continuously until the chocolate is completely dissolved and the sauce is smooth and glossy. Drizzle over cooled rolls.
• Puff Pastry Convenience: Always opt for a pre-rolled puff pastry sheet whenever possible. It’s truly the easiest route and ensures a consistent thickness, making the entire recipe much more manageable and quicker to execute.
• Perfectly Melted Butter: When melting your butter, do so gently over low heat. Turn off the heat just as the last bits are melting. You want perfectly clear, melted butter, not browned or burned. Butter contains milk solids that can burn quickly, which would impart an undesirable flavor to your rolls.
• Mind the Spacing: Remember to maintain at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) of space between each unbaked cinnamon bun on the baking sheet. Puff pastry expands quite a bit in the oven, and adequate spacing allows for even baking and prevents the rolls from sticking together, ensuring beautifully separate and flaky results.

Storage and Make-Ahead Preparation Tips

These puff pastry cinnamon rolls are wonderful to prepare in advance, making them an excellent choice for entertaining or simply having a delicious treat ready for any moment. Here’s how to best store and prepare them:

• Advance Preparation (Day Before): To streamline your baking process, you can get a head start on some components. Chop your pecans and prepare your cinnamon sugar mixture a day in advance. Store these in separate airtight jars at room temperature. The dried cranberries can also be soaked and then stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator overnight. This prep work means less fuss on baking day.
• Freezing Unbaked Cinnamon Rolls: If you want to prepare a larger batch or simply enjoy fresh-baked rolls without making them all at once, freezing is an excellent option.
  1. Roll out your puff pastry, spread the filling, and roll it into a log as per the recipe instructions.
  2. Cut the log into slices.
  3. To prevent them from sticking together in the freezer, cut small squares of baking paper (approximately 2×2 inches or 5×5 cm) and place one in between each unbaked puff pastry slice.
  4. Carefully arrange the separated rolls in an airtight container or a freezer-safe bag.
  5. Freeze for up to 2 months.
  6. When you’re ready to bake, simply remove the desired number of rolls from the freezer. Let them thaw at room temperature on a parchment-lined baking sheet for about 30-45 minutes before baking as directed in the recipe. They might need a couple of extra minutes in the oven if they are still slightly chilled.
• Storing Baked Cinnamon Rolls: Leftover baked cinnamon rolls can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2-3 days. To enjoy them warm again, a quick reheat in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or in a preheated oven (300°F/150°C) for a few minutes will bring back their freshness.

Did you try your hand at this delicious Pecan Cranberry Puff Pastry Cinnamon Rolls recipe? We’d absolutely love to see your creations! Tag #byandreajanssen on Instagram to share your beautiful photos. I regularly feature the most stunning photos from our community!

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Need more baking inspiration or sweet treat ideas?

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Andréa