These Baklava Puff Pastry Cinnamon Rolls are a soft, flaky pastry that’s swirled with sweet, nutty goodness and topped with a luscious glaze. They’re and absolute explosion of flavor that no one can resist!
The best part? They come together in minutes, making them the perfect choice for a quick and easy breakfast, brunch, or anytime treat. Whether you’re serving them up for a special occasion or simply treating yourself to something sweet, these Baklava Puff Pastry Cinnamon Rolls are sure to leave everyone craving more!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love These Baklava Puff Pastry Cinnamon Rolls
Who doesn’t love a warm, freshly baked cinnamon roll? Soft, flaky, and oh-so-delicious, they’re nearly impossible to resist! However, we don’t always have time to bake a batch from scratch. That’s where these puff pastry cinnamon rolls come into play! Every bit as delicious as the original, they take two of our favorite sweet treats and turn them into one incredibly easy recipe! They:
- Are made with 8 ingredients.
- Require no kneading and bake in 20 minutes.
- Combine all the sweet flavors of cinnamon rolls with the nutty, flaky goodness of baklava.
- Are perfect to whip up for breakfast, brunch, or dessert that will satisfy a crowd!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Unlike traditional cinnamon rolls that require lots of flour, eggs, sugar, and other ingredients to make the dough, these baklava puff pastry cinnamon rolls come together with just 8 simple ingredients! Here’s what you’ll need:
- Puff Pastry – This is a type of flaky, light pastry made from a laminated dough. You can make your own, but to save time, we use store-bought versions.
- Butter or Ghee – Used to add a rich flavor.
- Cinnamon – You can’t make cinnamon rolls without plenty of cinnamon!
- Sugar – Regular granulated sugar helps sweeten the filling.
- Nuts – A combination of toasted pistachios and toasted walnuts adds a satisfying crunch and replicates the flavor of baklava we love.
- Egg – This is brushed on top of the unbaked rolls to add extra richness and create a crispy, golden exterior.
- Honey – Used in place of frosting, honey is drizzled over the rolls to create a bolder baklava taste.
How to Make Baklava Puff Pastry Cinnamon Rolls
Once you see how easy these baklava cinnamon rolls are to make, you’ll never go back to standard recipes again!
- Prepare the Filling. In a bowl, combine the butter, cinnamon, and sugar.
- Prepare the Filing. Sprinkle the mixture over the puff pastry. Sprinkle the nuts on top, and roll the dough tightly onto itself to create a roll. Slice the roll into 12 pieces, and brush the whisked egg on top.
- Bake. Add the cinnamon roll pieces to a greased mini muffin tin. Bake until they are fluffy and golden brown.
- Top. Immediately drizzle honey or simple syrup on top, and enjoy warm!
Baking Tips
Thaw the Puff Pastry. You want your puff pastry to be completely thawed but still cold. So, be sure to take the time to let it thaw in the fridge overnight in order for it to roll out easily and bake to fluffy, crinkly perfection.
Work Quickly. Be sure to have your ingredients prepared and ready to go so that you can prepare these puff pastry cinnamon rolls in minutes! This ensures that the butter does not become warm and that it melts into the dough, creating flaky layers.
Use Floss. The raw puff pastry dough is pretty delicate and can be difficult to slice. If you’re having trouble smashing the dough, try wrapping dental floss around the roll, and pull gently to make clean slices.
Flavor Variations
Feel free to experiment with this puff pastry cinnamon roll recipe to create different shapes, sizes, and flavors to make it your own! For instance, some variations include:
- Cinnamon Twists. Wrap the dough around itself to create fluffy cinnamon roll twists.
- Include Cardamom. Add a dash of cardamom to the filling for extra warmth and depth to the flavor.
- Use Chocolate Chips. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top of the filling alongside or instead of the nuts for a hint of extra sweetness.
- Opt for Nutella. Replace the butter with smooth Nutella for a rich dessert.
- Use Cream Cheese Icing. Gently spread cream cheese icing on top of your rolls in place of the honey.
- Add Orange Zest. For a refreshing citrus taste, sprinkle a bit of orange zest into the filling or on top of the rolls once baked.
Make Ahead and Storage Options
Warm, soft, and full of sweet, nutty flavor, these baklava cinnamon rolls disappear in minutes! However, if you do have leftovers or want to prepare them in advance, they store extremely well, too.
Make Ahead: Follow the recipe as instructed, stopping just before you slice the individual pieces. Then, place the raw cinnamon roll in an airtight container or wrap it with plastic wrap, and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 1 day.
Refrigerator: To store leftovers, transfer your cinnamon rolls to an airtight container, and keep them in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Freezer: Wrap the unbaked cinnamon roll in plastic wrap, and keep it frozen for up to 2 months. Or, bake your cinnamon rolls as the recipe states, and freeze them in an airtight container for up to 1 month.
To Reheat: Thaw unbaked dough in the fridge overnight. Then, slice and bake it as normal. For baked baklava puff pastry cinnamon rolls, reheat them straight from the freezer at 375° Fahrenheit until your desired temperature is reached.
More Cinnamon Roll Recipes
Craving more drool-worthy cinnamon roll recipes that’ll have the whole fam begging for seconds? Check out some of our top picks below!
- Biscoff Cinnamon Rolls
- Caramel Macchiato Cinnamon Rolls
- Easy Cinnamon Rolls with Caramel and Chocolate Chips
- Apple Caramel Cinnamon Rolls
- Cinnamon Roll French Toast Roll-Ups
Baklava Puff Pastry Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoons butter or ghee softened
- 1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 sheet puff pastry slightly thawed
- 1/4 cup toasted pistachios finely chopped
- 1/4 cup toasted walnuts finely chopped
- 1 egg beaten
- Honey to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a mini muffin tin, and set it aside.
- In a small bowl, mix the butter, cinnamon, and sugar until well combined.3 Tablespoons butter or ghee, 1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
- Roll out the puff pastry, and spread the cinnamon mixture in an even layer on top. Sprinkle the pistachios and walnuts on top.1 sheet puff pastry, 1/4 cup toasted pistachios, 1/4 cup toasted walnuts
- Roll the puff pastry onto itself to create a roll. Slice the dough into 12 pieces, and brush the egg wash on top.1 egg
- Place each piece in the prepared muffin tin, and bake for 18-20 minutes or until the cinnamon rolls are golden brown.
- Drizzle honey or simple syrup on top, and serve immediately.Honey to taste
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
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Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This is amazing. Please clarify just a simple question. If I use the Nutella in place of butter, are you still using the cinnamon/sugar or just the plain nutella? And still add the honey at the end too right?
Thank you Girls, love all your recipes! Can’t wait for the book!
Hi! We still use all the other ingredients if swapping the butter for Nutella. We hope you enjoy! Thank you so much for your support. 😊
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
you have the most amazing and easy recipes.I just love your stuff,thankyou for sharing your recipes.
Thank you so much, Deborah! 😊
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
it depends on the puff pastry. I buy 2 kinds depending on what I’m making. Usually you find 2 sheets and the total weight is about 425g. The one I buy from a Euro shop has 2 sheets that are 425g EACH, in which case I’d need to double the filling mix for. Perhaps you ended up with the larger sheets? That’s my guess!
How do you toast the two kinds of nuts used in this recipe?
Thanks for the help.
Hi Carolyn! We buy toasted nuts! However, you can lightly toast them in a skillet if needed.
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
just made these they were excellent. was never crazy about baklava it was way to sweet for me these are perfect. thank you 😊
This recipe looks great.
How much do you roll out the sheet of puff pastry dough? About what size rectangle do you end up with before spreading the filling?
We typically roll it out about an inch thick, but you can adjust it based on your preferences. We hope you enjoy!
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
I’m sure you don’t mean an inch thick! Maybe that’s how thick the slices are.
Sorry for the confusion! about 2 inches.
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
Why does it say it takes 10 hours to make?
Thank you for catching that, Anne! We updated the recipe card. 😊
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
Another success for food dolls!
Hi ladies. I love your recipes so much. Before baking these rolls, can these be frozen, Before baking or after? Best ingredient to use to grease the tins. Thank you 😊
I’m about to make this and I just blended the cinnamon sugar and butter but it doesn’t look like it’s enough to even cover half the puff pastry. Did anybody else find this a problem? My mixture is also much darker than it was in the video.
This is the first we’ve heard of this. How did it turn out for you, Stella?
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
it depends on the puff pastry. I buy 2 kinds depending on what I’m making. Usually you find 2 sheets and the total weight is about 425g. The one I buy from a Euro shop has 2 sheets that are 425g EACH, in which case I’d need to double the filling mix for. Perhaps you ended up with the larger sheets? That’s my guess!
Can you use another spice in this? I’m deathly allergic to Cinnamon. Just wondering, thank you!!
You could try cardamom! The flavor will be slightly different but still tasty. 🙂
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
I made this and it was easy to follow and make. I baked mine for 400 at 18 mins but next time I think I’ll bake it for a bit less (maybe 15 mins). Tastes good with agave drizzle !
Thank you, Rina! We’re so glad you enjoyed it. 😊
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
I made your Baklava Puff Pastry Cinnamon Rolls this week. I just added one grated apple to the filling because it’s the Jewish New Year and you’re supposed to eat apples and honey for a sweet year, and doused it with more honey on top. They got rave reviews. Everyone went mad for them. Thank you for a wonderful recipe.
Hi, I love eating pistachios, but the salted ones directly from the shell. Do you use salted or unsalted pistachios in this delicious-looking Baklava? I can’t wait to make it. Thank you.
Either work! We recommend unsalted so you don’t overpower the rest of the ingredients. 😊
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
Love this recipe! I do make more of the filling than the recipe calls for and I also add some brown sugar and cardamom to it!
Quick oriental flavored Dessert or sweet brunch addition, easy to wipe up and a new family favorite
We’re so glad you enjoyed it!
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
These were delicious and super easy. I had puff pastry sheets in the freezer just waiting for a fun recipe to come along and I found it. I was a little skeptical of the mini muffin tin but it worked out just fine.
Amazing, so glad you gave it a try!
I have given it a try and I must say the flavor was so good! The only downside is that the pastry ‘melted’ as I was applying the butter, cinnamon and sugar on top, making it impossible to cut into pieces. Then again, it’s 38°c here and I was in the kitchen, next to the oven which was hot so most probably it was the temperature that caused it. I’ll definitely give it another try. Thanks for the recipe!
Oh no! The heat definitely could’ve been a factor. We hope it turns out perfect the second time! 😊
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
just made these they were excellent. was never crazy about baklava it was way to sweet for me these are perfect. thank you 😊
We’re so glad you enjoyed them, Rita! Thank you for trying them out. 😊
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
A huge hit and easy peasy. absolutely delicious!!!!!!
I tried this recipe and the cakes tasted like nothing, sugar and butter floated around the bottom of the pan, I was very disappointed. How do I avoid it all running out of the cakes?
Oh no! Thank you for your feedback. What kind of puff pastry did you use and did you thaw it too long? Here are a couple possible issues..
Warm butter: If the butter used is too warm or melted it can cause this.
Oven temperature: If the oven temperature is too low, the butter in the pastry may not melt and distribute evenly, causing the layers to separate. We recommend trying a higher oven temp. We didn’t have an issue with the temperature, but you can try that next time.
Going to try. Love Cinnamon in anything. Do you have any ideas to use File pastry sheets?
We love filo dough in this recipe!