This Sweet and Crunchy Cinnamon-Sugar Pizza transforms simple crescent roll dough into a delightful dessert that combines the comfort of cinnamon rolls with the fun of pizza. Featuring a buttery crumb topping and sweet vanilla glaze, this easy-to-make treat delivers the perfect balance of sweetness and texture that will satisfy any dessert craving in minutes.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Ready in under 20 minutes from start to finish, making it perfect for last-minute dessert needs
• Uses simple pantry ingredients you likely already have on hand
• Kid-friendly recipe that’s also fun for children to help make
• Versatile enough for breakfast, brunch, dessert, or a special snack
• Creates that irresistible cinnamon-sugar aroma throughout your home while baking

Ingredients

• Butter: Used in both the crumb topping and glaze, providing richness and helping create that perfect crumbly texture. Make sure the butter for the crumb topping is cold, while the glaze needs softened butter.
• Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create a slight crunch in the topping. You can substitute with coconut sugar for a more caramel-like flavor.
• Brown Sugar: Provides a deeper, more complex sweetness with molasses undertones. Light or dark brown sugar will work; dark will give a more robust flavor.
• Cinnamon: The star spice that gives this dessert its signature warm, aromatic flavor. Use fresh cinnamon for the best taste.
• Salt: Just a dash balances the sweetness and enhances all the other flavors. Don’t skip this small but crucial ingredient!
• Flour: Creates the structure for the crumb topping. All-purpose flour works perfectly here.
• Crescent Rolls: The convenient base for our pizza. Look for the refrigerated tubes in the dairy section of your grocery store.
• Powdered Sugar: Creates a smooth, sweet glaze that hardens slightly when set. Also called confectioners’ sugar or icing sugar.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds depth and warmth to the glaze. Pure vanilla extract offers the best flavor.
• Milk: Thins the glaze to the perfect drizzling consistency. Any type works, including plant-based alternatives.

Variations

Fruit-Topped Delight

Add thinly sliced apples or pears before baking, then sprinkle with the crumb topping. The fruit will soften and caramelize, creating a fruit pie-inspired dessert pizza. You can also add fresh berries after baking for a burst of color and freshness.

Chocolate Lover’s Version

Mix mini chocolate chips into the crumb topping or sprinkle them over the dough before adding the crumb mixture. For an extra chocolate boost, add a tablespoon of cocoa powder to the crumb mixture and drizzle with chocolate ganache instead of vanilla glaze.

Nutty Crunch Pizza

Add 1/4 cup of finely chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds to the crumb topping for extra texture and flavor. For a special touch, toast the nuts lightly before adding them to enhance their natural flavors.

How to Make the Recipe

Step 1: Prepare the Oven and Crumb Topping

Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to ensure it’s hot and ready when your pizza is assembled. In a medium bowl, combine the cold butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and flour. Use a pastry cutter, fork, or your fingertips to work the mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. The butter should be in small pea-sized pieces distributed throughout the dry ingredients.

Step 2: Prepare the Dough Base

Unroll the can of crescent rolls and separate the dough into triangles as marked. Place them on an ungreased cookie sheet, arranging them in a circular pattern to form a pizza shape, or simply lay them flat for individual servings. You can also press the perforations together if you prefer a more unified pizza base.

Step 3: Add Topping and Bake

Sprinkle the prepared sugar crumb mixture evenly over the crescent roll triangles, covering them completely. Gently press the topping into the dough to help it adhere during baking. Place in the preheated oven and bake for 8-12 minutes, watching carefully toward the end to ensure the pizza gets golden brown without burning the sugar topping.

Step 4: Prepare Glaze and Finish

While the pizza is baking, prepare the glaze by mixing powdered sugar, softened butter, vanilla extract, and milk in a small bowl until smooth and at a drizzling consistency. Once the pizza is baked and slightly cooled (about 5 minutes), drizzle the glaze generously over the top, allowing it to seep into the crevices of the crumb topping.

Tips for Making the Recipe

• For the crumb topping, make sure your butter is cold – this creates those perfect little crumbs that become crunchy when baked
• Don’t overwork the crumb mixture; stop once it resembles coarse sand with some pea-sized pieces
• For a more uniform “pizza,” press the perforations of the crescent roll dough together to form a solid crust
• Watch the pizza carefully during the last few minutes of baking – the sugar can go from perfectly caramelized to burnt quickly
• Allow the pizza to cool for 3-5 minutes before adding the glaze so it doesn’t completely melt into the hot pizza
• Adjust the milk in your glaze one teaspoon at a time until you reach the perfect consistency for drizzling

How to Serve

This Cinnamon-Sugar Pizza is best served warm, when the contrast between the crunchy topping and soft dough is at its peak. Cut into wedges or squares depending on how you arranged the dough. It pairs wonderfully with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream for an extra-special dessert.

For brunch, serve alongside fresh fruit and coffee or hot chocolate. If serving for dessert after dinner, consider adding a sprinkle of powdered sugar just before serving for an extra-special presentation. This treat is perfect for casual gatherings, family movie nights, or weekend breakfast treats.

Make Ahead

The crumb topping can be prepared up to 3 days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The glaze can also be made a day ahead and stored in the refrigerator – just bring it to room temperature and stir well before using.

For the best results, the complete pizza should be baked right before serving. However, if needed, you can bake it up to 4 hours ahead of time and reheat individual slices in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or the entire pizza in a 300°F oven for 5-7 minutes.

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, though the texture is best on the first day.

FAQs

Can I use homemade pizza dough instead of crescent rolls?

Yes! You can substitute homemade or store-bought pizza dough. Roll it out thin, prick with a fork, and pre-bake for about 5 minutes before adding the toppings and finishing the bake. The texture will be different but equally delicious.

My crumb topping melted instead of staying crumbly. What went wrong?

This usually happens when the butter in the crumb mixture is too warm or over-mixed. Make sure to use cold butter and mix just until crumbly. You can also chill the prepared crumb mixture for 10 minutes before sprinkling it on the dough.

Can I make this recipe gluten-free?

Yes, use gluten-free crescent rolls or pizza dough and a cup-for-cup gluten-free flour blend in the crumb topping. The texture may be slightly different, but the flavors will be just as delicious.

How do I know when the pizza is done baking?

The pizza is done when the edges of the crescent rolls are golden brown and the crumb topping has a slightly caramelized appearance. The dough should be fully cooked through and no longer doughy in the center.

Conclusion

This Sweet and Crunchy Cinnamon-Sugar Pizza combines the best elements of cinnamon rolls, streusel-topped treats, and convenient crescent roll recipes into one irresistible dessert. With its quick preparation time and crowd-pleasing flavor, it’s bound to become a favorite in your recipe collection. Whether for a special breakfast, afternoon snack, or end-of-meal sweet, this cinnamon-sugar pizza delivers warmth, comfort, and a touch of indulgence in every bite. Try it today and discover your new go-to dessert!

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