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Puff Pastry Cinnamon Twist Buns with Cream Cheese Frosting

Makes: 8–10 twisty, gooey, gorgeous buns Time: About 30 minutes, unless you count thawing time in which case… don’t
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Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • For the cinnamon filling:
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar light or dark, I’m not judging
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • Pinch of salt
  • For the buns:
  • 1 box of frozen puff pastry 2 sheets, thawed
  • 1 egg beaten (for egg wash, optional but fancy)
  • A little extra sugar to sprinkle because sparkle
  • For the cream cheese frosting:
  • 4 oz cream cheese softened
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 –2 tablespoons milk as needed to thin

Method
 

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. This is not the time to test your pan’s nonstick abilities. Cinnamon sugar glue is real and unforgiving.
  2. Make your cinnamon filling. In a bowl, mash together the softened butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt until it looks like gritty, delicious mud. Try not to eat it all with a spoon (I failed this test).
  3. Unfold one sheet of puff pastry on a lightly floured surface. Gently roll it out just a smidge if needed to smooth any creases.
  4. Spread half of the cinnamon filling onto the pastry. Edge to edge, people. Every bite deserves love.
  5. Lay the second sheet of pastry right on top. Like a buttery little cinnamon sandwich.
  6. Cut into strips. About 1 inch wide. You’ll get 8 to 10 depending on your geometry skills and commitment to even spacing.
  7. Twist! Grab each strip and give it a few twists like you’re wringing out a tiny towel. Lay them on the baking sheet with some space between, because puff pastry likes to do just that—PUFF. You can stick with them like this, but for that cinnamon roll feel, I rolled them up pinwheel style. So pretty!
  8. Brush with egg wash if you want that golden glow-up. Sprinkle with a little extra sugar if you want to sparkle like a culinary unicorn (you do).
  9. Bake for 18–22 minutes, or until puffed, golden, and your kitchen smells like a cinnamon-scented candle’s much more delicious cousin.
  10. While they bake, make your frosting. Beat the cream cheese until smooth, then mix in powdered sugar and vanilla. Thin with milk a bit at a time until it’s drizzleable but still lush. Try not to bathe in it.
  11. Drizzle that glorious frosting all over the warm buns. Or serve it on the side for dipping. Or both. Live your best life.