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Cinnamon Cream Cheese Roll Ups

These Cinnamon Cream Cheese Roll Ups are the most heavenly breakfast treats! People are always surprised to learn that they’re made with white bread that’s flattened with a rolling pin before filling and baking.

These easy filled pastries are crispy on the outside with a crunchy brown sugar-cinnamon-butter crust, and creamy on the inside with a sweetened cream cheese that’s reminiscent of the filling in our Strawberry and Cream Tart recipe.

Each year, our family enjoys these cream cheese roll-ups for a simple Christmas breakfast. I usually make a batch at the end of November and tuck them in the freezer, because they freeze very well.

Ten cream cheese roll ups on a serving tray with fresh fruit in the background.

I might as well confess that I make them with WHITE BREAD — something we don’t normally eat — but once a year we do indulge. You can make these with whatever bread you like, and you’ll find it’s easier to roll up bread that is fresh and soft.

My family loves these cinnamon rollups, and they’ve become part of our holiday tradition. I especially love that they can be made ahead of time, so that Christmas morning can be a sweet, relaxed family time.

Ingredients and Substitutions

Sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, cream cheese, butter, 10 bread slices, an egg and a small dish of salt.

Here’s what you’ll need to make these tasty breakfast roll ups:

1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened

1 large egg yolk

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

10 slices soft bread of your choice – We use plain white bread, but you can use whatever you like as long as the slices can be rolled.

3/4 cup packed brown sugar – Either light or dark brown sugar works fine.

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted – we like salted butter, but feel free to use unsalted, too.

Equipment Needed

You won’t need any fancy cooking equipment to make this recipe:

  • Cutting board
  • Sharp knife or kitchen scissors
  • Mixing bowls
  • Spatula
  • Spreader knife
  • Cookie Sheet
  • Parchment paper

Step by Step Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper. Roll bread slices with a rolling pin to flatten slightly.

Rolling a piece of white bread with a rolling pin on a cutting board.

Trim off the crusts.

Cutting crusts off a flattened piece of bread with kitchen scissors.

Beat the cream cheese, egg yolk, sugar and vanilla in a medium bowl until combined. Divide the mixture among the bread slices and spread evenly.

Spreading the trimmed bread slice with the sweetened cream cheese mixture.

Roll up slices tightly jelly-roll style, pressing on the edges to seal.

A trimmed bread slice wrapped around cream cheese filling in a roll shape.

Combine the brown sugar, cinnamon and salt in a shallow bowl. Dip or generously brush each roll on all sides with the melted butter.

Dipping the cream cheese rollup into melted butter, with a bowl of cinnamon sugar topping nearby.

Next, roll in the brown sugar mix.

Rolling the butter coated rollup in the cinnamon sugar mixture.

Arrange the cinnamon rollups on the parchment lined baking sheet.

Unbaked breakfast roll ups on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.

Bake them for 8 to 10 minutes, or until browned and crispy. Makes about 10 crispies.

Two cream cheese roll ups on a green and white plate.

Storing and Reheating

Store leftover roll ups tightly wrapped in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

To reheat, arrange on a parchment lined baking sheet and cook at 375 degrees F until lightly browned and hot, about 20 minutes.

How to Freeze Roll Ups

You can also freeze the rollups prior to baking. Store in an airtight container or bag and keep frozen until ready for use.

To cook, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and arrange the crispies on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes, or until hot and crispy.

Here’s the printable recipe card:

Two cream cheese roll ups on a green and white plate.

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Roll Ups

Eliza Cross
Cinnamon Cream Cheese Roll Ups are easy breakfast pastries that are perfect for brunch and holidays. They're crispy on the outside with a sweetened cream cheese filling you'll love!
5 from 13 votes
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 10 roll ups
Calories 250 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 10 slices soft bread of your choice
  • 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and line a baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper.
  • Roll bread slices with a rolling pin to flatten slightly, and trim off the crusts with a sharp knife or kitchen scissors.
  • Beat the softened cream cheese, egg yolk, sugar, vanilla and salt in a medium bowl until combined.
  • Divide the mixture among the bread slices and spread evenly. Roll up slices tightly jelly-roll style, pressing on the edges to seal.
  • Combine the brown sugar, cinnamon and salt in a shallow bowl. Generously brush each roll on all sides with the melted butter and roll in the brown sugar mix. Arrange the roll ups on the prepared baking sheet.
  • Bake until lightly browned and hot, about 10 minutes. Cool on the pan for 5 minutes and serve. Makes about 10 pieces.

Notes

This recipe can easily be doubled.
These roll ups freeze really well. Simply freeze them before baking, on the parchment lined baking sheet. Transfer them to a zip lock bag when they're frozen.
To reheat, arrange on a parchment lined baking sheet and cook at 375 degrees F until lightly browned and hot, about 20 minutes.
Store any leftovers tightly wrapped in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 250kcalCarbohydrates: 20.9gProtein: 2.8gFat: 17.9gSaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 70mgSodium: 198mgPotassium: 52mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 13gCalcium: 46mgIron: 1mg
Keyword breakfast pastry, cream cheese
Did you make this recipe?We love seeing what you made! Be sure to leave a review, and show us your creations by tagging #HappySimpleLiving.

Save for Later

If you use Pinterest to save ideas, here’s a handy pin:

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Roll Ups shown on a serving platter and as an individual serving on a plate.

About Eliza Cross

Eliza Cross is the author of 17 books, including Small Bites and 101 Things To Do With Bacon. She shares ideas to simplify cooking, gardening, time and money. She is also the owner of Cross Media, Inc. and founder of the BENSA Bacon Lovers Society.

14 thoughts on “Cinnamon Cream Cheese Roll Ups”

  1. Eliza – thank you very much for posting this recipe. The week before Christmas my little nephew helped me roll out the bread for a double batch and after freezing I divided the batch up with my sisters-in-law so that we all had yummy treats Christmas morning. The crispies were SO YUMMY! A huge hit! I will definitely be making them part of my Christmas tradition from now on. Thank you again for sharing and hope you are having a lovely holiday season.

    Reply
  2. 5 stars
    These Cream Cheese Cinnamon Roll Ups look so easy to make and my mouth is watering looking at your photo. I’m going to try these with our boys on the weekend! Thanks for this lovely recipe!

    Reply
  3. 5 stars
    I’m always looking for new breakfast ideas and this is such a creative and delicious recipe. Perfect for adults and kids of all ages!

    Reply
  4. 5 stars
    These were so easy to make and hands down delicious! Even my kids helped me with this recipe; easily, a new favorite treat!

    Reply
  5. 5 stars
    Thank you so much for this fantastic recipe. I have always been wondering how to make cream rolls. This recipe has come up timely.

    Reply
  6. 5 stars
    My kids and I made these for a breakfast treat this morning and they were a total hit!! So sweet, decadent and delicious!

    Reply
  7. 5 stars
    These are SO good! We gobbled them up over the weekend and it’s already been requested that I make them again 🙂

    Reply
  8. 5 stars
    This Cinnamon Cream Cheese Roll-up looks so good! It looks so crispy and crunchy! The best breakfast to start my day! Thanks for sharing

    Reply
    • Carol, that sounds yummy! Check this recipe out: https://www.latestrecipes.net/2021/02/08/cuban-cheese-rolls-just-like-deandelucas/ It sounds similar, doesn’t it? ~Eliza

      Reply

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