Save The first time I made these in my air fryer, I wasn't expecting much—just a quick breakfast fix using store-bought dough. But when that timer beeped and I pulled out eight golden, impossibly flaky twists with caramelized cinnamon sugar clinging to every layer, I realized I'd accidentally discovered something better than anything I could grab on the way out the door. My kitchen smelled like a cinnamon roll bakery, and somehow these humble twists tasted even better than the real thing.
I brought a batch to my sister's house one weekend, not thinking much of it, and she literally texted me the recipe request before I'd even left her driveway. Now every time she visits, she asks if I'm making those twists—they've become our thing, this little moment where we catch up over warm pastries and glaze-sticky fingers.
Ingredients
- Refrigerated crescent roll or pizza dough (8 oz / 225 g): The shortcut that makes this whole recipe possible—it's already rolled thin, which means you skip the stress and go straight to the fun part of twisting and filling.
- Unsalted butter, melted (2 tbsp): This is your glue and your golden ticket; brush it generously so the cinnamon sugar actually sticks instead of sliding off mid-bite.
- Brown sugar (1/4 cup / 50 g): Don't skip this for regular sugar—brown sugar has molasses that caramelizes beautifully in the air fryer's dry heat and tastes infinitely better.
- Ground cinnamon (1 1/2 tsp): Fresh cinnamon matters more than you'd think; if your container's been sitting for a year, the flavor will disappoint you.
- Powdered sugar (1/2 cup / 60 g): For the glaze that makes these feel fancy without requiring any actual skill to make.
- Milk (1–2 tbsp): Start with 1 tablespoon and add slowly until you hit that sweet spot between thick and drizzle-able.
- Vanilla extract (1/4 tsp): A tiny splash that transforms powdered sugar into something that tastes intentional instead of generic.
Instructions
- Get your air fryer ready:
- Preheat to 350°F (175°C) for 3 minutes while you prep everything else. This matters more than you'd expect—a properly heated air fryer gives you that golden outside while keeping the inside tender.
- Lay out and butter the dough:
- Unroll your dough on a floured surface and press any seams closed so they don't tear while you're twisting. Brush the entire surface with melted butter until it looks shiny and covered.
- Make the cinnamon mixture:
- Stir brown sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl, breaking up any lumps so you get an even sprinkle. Dust this mixture generously over the buttered dough—this is where the magic flavor lives.
- Fold and twist:
- Fold the dough in half lengthwise and gently press the edges to seal, then cut into 8 strips. Twist each strip several times and pinch the ends so they don't unravel—think of it like you're wringing out a tiny towel, not aggressively wrenching it.
- Air-fry until golden:
- Arrange twists in the basket with space between them so heat circulates evenly (batch them if needed). Cook for 7–8 minutes until they're golden brown and the dough feels cooked through when you touch it.
- Glaze while warm:
- While the twists cool for just 2 minutes, whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth and drizzle-able. Drizzle over the warm twists so the glaze soaks into the crevices.
Save There's something about pulling warm, glazed twists out of the air fryer that feels like a small victory—like you've just created something bakery-quality without any of the fuss or flour covering your entire kitchen. My kids now request these instead of asking for a drive-thru run, which is the highest compliment I can imagine.
Why the Air Fryer Works So Well Here
The air fryer's circulating heat creates that exact crispy-outside, tender-inside texture that regular ovens struggle with, and it does it faster because there's no heating up a massive cavity. The dry heat also caramelizes the cinnamon sugar in a way that's almost impossible to replicate in a traditional oven without watching them obsessively. Plus, these are small enough that they cook evenly without any turning or rotating halfway through.
Variations That Actually Work
Once you nail the basic twist, you can riff on this endlessly without any real risk of failure. I've added chopped pecans to the cinnamon mixture and the crunch contrasts beautifully with the tender dough. Coconut sugar swaps in for brown sugar if you want a slightly different caramel note, and a pinch of sea salt sprinkled over the glaze before it sets adds a sophisticated edge that guests always notice.
Storage and Reheating Tips
These taste best eaten fresh while they're still warm and crispy, but I've learned they keep in an airtight container for about 2 days if you're patient enough not to eat them all immediately. A quick 1–2 minute spin in the air fryer brings back almost all of that original crispness if you're reheating them.
- Store cooled twists in an airtight container at room temperature and don't stack them or they'll stick together.
- Reheat individual twists in the air fryer at 300°F for just 1–2 minutes to restore the crispy exterior without overcooking them.
- Don't refrigerate these; cold storage makes the texture grainy and defeats the whole purpose of making them in the first place.
Save These cinnamon roll twists have genuinely become my go-to when I want to feel like I've put real effort into breakfast without actually stressing about it. Once you make them once, they'll probably become your thing too.
Recipe FAQs
- → What type of dough works best for the twists?
Refrigerated crescent roll or pizza dough both provide a flaky, tender texture ideal for twisting and air frying.
- → Can I add nuts to the filling?
Yes, chopped pecans or walnuts mix well with the cinnamon sugar to add extra crunch and flavor.
- → How long should the twists be cooked in the air fryer?
Air fry the twists for 7–8 minutes at 350°F (175°C) until golden and cooked through.
- → How is the glaze prepared?
The glaze combines powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract whisked to a smooth consistency, then drizzled over the warm twists.
- → Can the cinnamon twists be reheated?
Yes, reheat in the air fryer for 1–2 minutes to restore crispness without drying them out.
- → Are there any variations for the sugar filling?
You can substitute brown sugar with coconut sugar for a different flavor profile while maintaining sweetness.