Irresistible Puff Pastry Cookie Dough Cinnamon Rolls: Your Quick & Easy Small Batch Treat

Craving a warm, gooey, and utterly delicious treat but short on time? Look no further! These extraordinary puff pastry cinnamon rolls, generously stuffed with delectable chocolate chip cookie dough, are designed to sweeten your mood and satisfy your deepest dessert desires without the fuss. This ingenious recipe harnesses the convenience of ready-made puff pastry, transforming it into a luxurious, flaky base for a rich, sweet cookie dough filling. What’s even better? This recipe yields a perfect small batch of just six cinnamon rolls, making it an ideal treat for a cozy morning, an afternoon pick-me-up, or a delightful dessert without the temptation of endless leftovers.

There’s a unique joy that comes from flipping through cookbooks, even if it’s just to browse. For months, I’d found myself in a bit of a culinary lull, my usual excitement for new recipes dimmed. My Christmas wish list, typically overflowing with cookbook titles, felt surprisingly sparse this year. Was it because I owned most of my favorites, or perhaps my go-to authors hadn’t released new gems? I suspected it was a touch of creative uninspiration. To reignite that spark, I decided to revisit my existing wish list, ensuring each book truly deserved a place on my shelf. Ever since reading The Life-Changing Magic Of Tidying Up, I’ve become much more selective about what I bring into my home, including cookbooks. Do I truly need five separate ice cream books? Probably not. This careful curation led me to remove two books entirely, yet three remained, perfectly satisfying for the upcoming holiday season.

The Sweet Spark of Inspiration: From Page to Plate

It’s truly remarkable how opening a cookbook can instantly ignite a cascade of ideas. As I immerse myself in the pages, my recipe idea list is always close at hand, ready to capture every spontaneous thought. Sometimes, the inspiration leads to a direct adaptation with a few personal twists, much like my take on this delightful Shakshuka recipe. Other times, it merely sets the wheels in motion for an entirely new creation of my own. The initial concept for these incredible Puff Pastry Cookie Dough Cinnamon Rolls first caught my eye in The Cookie Dough Lover’s Cookbook. The author featured a version using a traditional yeast dough, but my mind immediately gravitated towards a quicker, equally delicious solution: puff pastry.

Why Puff Pastry is a Game-Changer for Cinnamon Rolls

Opting for puff pastry instead of a traditional yeast dough is an absolute game-changer when you’re craving cinnamon rolls but don’t have hours to spare. The beauty of puff pastry lies in its incredible convenience and the exquisite flaky texture it delivers. All you need to do is thaw the pastry, and you’re ready to create these magnificent rolls. This eliminates the lengthy waiting periods for dough to rest and rise, which are typically required with yeast-based recipes. The result is a lighter, airier cinnamon roll with countless delicate layers that simply melt in your mouth, perfectly complementing the rich cookie dough filling. It’s instant gratification for your sweet tooth, allowing you to enjoy homemade cinnamon rolls in a fraction of the time. Plus, a single sheet of puff pastry yields exactly six cinnamon rolls, which is the ideal small batch size. If you’re like me and find it hard to resist eating multiple rolls in one sitting, this portion ensures you can indulge without the lingering temptation of a large pan of leftovers!

Let’s be clear: these cookie dough cinnamon rolls are, in the best possible way, what I affectionately call “little sugar bombs.” Between the intensely flavorful cookie dough filling and the luscious, sweet glaze, they are undeniably on the sweeter side. If you possess a true sweet tooth, much like my own, you will undoubtedly fall head over heels for this recipe. However, if your dessert preferences align more with certain judges on shows like Chopped, who often find everything in the dessert round to be “too sweet,” then these might not be your ideal indulgence. My apologies, Chef Zakarian – I fear I could never quite craft a dessert to your precise liking!

Ensuring Cookie Dough in Every Single Bite

One of my biggest pet peeves is biting into a dessert that promises an inclusion, only to find it sparsely distributed. Think of buying cookie dough ice cream and only encountering three tiny pieces for every five bites – it’s simply unacceptable! With these puff pastry cinnamon rolls, I made it my mission to ensure that every single morsel delivers that coveted burst of cookie dough flavor and texture. To achieve this seamless distribution and make the rolling process much easier, I highly recommend using mini semisweet chocolate chips. Their smaller size prevents the dough from tearing or becoming too bulky, allowing for a perfectly tight roll and consistent cookie dough bliss throughout each slice. The melty chocolate chips, combined with the soft cookie dough and flaky pastry, create a symphony of textures and flavors that is truly unparalleled.

Tips for Perfect Puff Pastry Cookie Dough Cinnamon Rolls

• Thawing the Puff Pastry: The key to working with puff pastry is to thaw it just enough so it’s pliable, but still cold. If it gets too warm, it becomes sticky and difficult to handle. If it feels too soft, pop it back into the fridge for 10-15 minutes to firm up.
• Even Cookie Dough Spread: When flattening and placing the cookie dough, try to spread it as evenly as possible across the puff pastry. This ensures every bite of your baked cinnamon roll has that delightful cookie dough surprise.
• Tight Rolling is Key: Roll the puff pastry as tightly as you can from the long edge. A tight roll helps the cinnamon rolls maintain their shape during baking and gives them that classic swirl. Don’t worry if it tears a little; just pinch it back together.
• Sharp Knife for Cutting: For clean cuts and perfectly shaped rolls, use a very sharp knife or even unflavored dental floss. If using floss, slide it under the log, cross the ends over the top, and pull to cut.
• Don’t Overbake: Keep an eye on the rolls during the last few minutes of baking. You want them puffed and golden brown, but not burnt. Overbaking can make them dry.
• Glaze While Warm: While it’s tempting to glaze immediately, letting the rolls cool for about 15 minutes allows the glaze to set beautifully without entirely melting into the pastry. Serving them warm with the glaze is truly heavenly.
• Storage: These cinnamon rolls are best enjoyed fresh, but leftovers can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. A quick reheat in the microwave or a warm oven will bring back some of their fresh-baked goodness.

Puff Pastry Cookie Dough Cinnamon Rolls (Small Batch)

Yield:
6 servings

Prep Time:
30 minutes

Cook Time:
25 minutes

Total Time:
55 minutes

These puff pastry cinnamon rolls stuffed with chocolate chip cookie dough will sweeten up your mood. Recipe makes a small batch of six cinnamon rolls.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
• 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed according to package directions (it should still be cold but pliable enough to roll)
• 1/4 cup (2 ounces or 4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened
• 6 tablespoons packed brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Glaze

• 1/4 cup powdered sugar, sifted
• 1 teaspoon milk
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400F. Brush some of the melted butter into the bottom of a small 5×7 casserole dish or 6 cavities of a muffin pan.
2. In a large mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter, 1/4 cup brown sugar, and sugar until smooth and creamy. Beat in the milk and vanilla. Gradually beat in the flour, salt, and chocolate chips until a dough forms.
3. Unfold the puff pastry (if the dough is a little warm, chill it for 15 minutes). Brush the remaining melted butter on top of the dough.
4. Mix together the remaining 2 tablespoons brown sugar and cinnamon then sprinkle on top of the dough.
5. Flatten pieces of the cookie dough and evenly place on top of the brown sugar mixture, leaving a 1/2 inch space near the top edge. Starting on the long edge, tightly roll up the dough into a cylinder (if the dough starts to tear, just pinch it back together. If the dough starts to get too warm, refrigerate it for 15 minutes or until cold again).
6. Cut the dough into 6 even pieces then place into the pan. Bake 20-25 minutes or until the dough is puffed and golden brown. Cool 15 minutes the drizzle with glaze on top (recipe below). Serve warm or at room temperature. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

Glaze

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. It should be slightly thick yet a little runny and hold its shape for a few seconds then smooth itself out when drizzled back into the bowl. If it doesn’t hold its shape, add a little more sugar. If it’s too thick, add a few more drops of milk.

Did you make this recipe?

Let me know what you think! Rate the recipe above, leave a comment below, and/or share a photo on Instagram using #HITKrecipes

There you have it – a perfectly satisfying, quick, and undeniably delicious treat that combines the best of two dessert worlds: flaky cinnamon rolls and gooey chocolate chip cookie dough. Whether you’re looking for a special breakfast, a delightful brunch item, or a comforting dessert, these small-batch puff pastry cookie dough cinnamon rolls are sure to become a new favorite. They bring together ease, indulgence, and that coveted homemade taste without the lengthy commitment of traditional baking. So go ahead, whip up a batch, and let these sweet delights brighten your day!

Source: Filling from The Cookie Dough Lover’s Cookbook

More Quick & Easy Puff Pastry Recipes You’ll Love

Classic Puff Pastry Cinnamon Rolls (Small Batch)

Apple Butter Cream Cheese Danishes

Simple & Delicious Apple Turnovers

Flaky Puff Pastry Peach Turnovers

Disclosure – This post contains Amazon affiliate links.