Introduction
Imagine waking up to the delightful aroma of freshly baked pastries wafting through your home. These flaky cruffins with a sweet cinnamon sugar filling are the perfect treat to start your day or to serve at brunch gatherings. Each bite offers a wonderful combination of buttery layers and a warm, sugary cinnamon embrace that’s simply irresistible. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or trying your hand at pastry for the first time, this recipe will fill your kitchen with warmth and love.
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
Prep Time, Cook Time, Total Time, Yield
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Yield: 12 cruffins
Directions and Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a muffin tin to prepare for these delightful pastries.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and granulated sugar until well combined.
- In another bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, creating a rich base for your dough.
- Add the milk and vanilla extract to the butter mixture, stirring until fully incorporated.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing gently until a soft dough forms.
- Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and roll it into a rectangle about 1/4 inch thick.
- Sprinkle the brown sugar and ground cinnamon evenly over the rolled-out dough, letting that sweet scent fill the air.
- Starting from one long edge, roll the dough tightly into a log. Then, slice the log into 12 equal segments.
- Take each segment and twist it gently, then place them upright in the prepared muffin tin—this is where the magic happens!
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown and each cruffin is bursting with promise.
- Once baked, allow the cruffins to cool slightly in the tin before transferring them to a wire rack or serving plate.
Notes or Tips
For an extra touch of indulgence, consider drizzling a simple icing made of powdered sugar and milk over your cruffins once they’ve cooled slightly. You can also experiment with adding a few chocolate chips or nuts into the filling for a delightful variation.
Cooking Techniques
This recipe relies on the technique of rolling and twisting the dough, which creates those beautiful, flaky layers that are the signature of cruffins. Be sure not to overwork the dough when mixing, as this can lead to denser pastries. Rolling it out evenly is essential for uniform baking!
FAQ
Can I prepare the dough in advance?
Yes! You can make the dough ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Just allow it to come to room temperature before rolling it out.
What should I do if I don’t have a muffin tin?
If you don’t have a muffin tin, you can also bake these cruffins on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Just make sure to space them out properly to allow for expansion as they bake!
Conclusion
There you have it! These flaky cruffins with sweet cinnamon sugar filling are an absolute delight that will make any morning feel special. They’re perfect for sharing, but I won’t blame you if you want to keep them all to yourself! Enjoy the baking process, and even more, enjoy the delicious results!