Cinnamon rolls made with crescent rolls will be your new best brunch idea! These chocolate chip crescent roll cinnamon rolls take less than 10 minutes to prep and seconds to eat! Perfect with your morning coffee or on the go breakfast.

Guys. These crescent roll cinnamon rolls are really good.
For some reason, I didn’t expect them to be as good as they were. Maybe because they’re a shortcut recipe.
Sometimes that happens to me. I go in with mediocre expectations and come away fully impressed. I like when it happens.

I hadn’t had a decent cinnamon roll in a long time. I used to enjoy stopping at Cinnabon at the mall every once in awhile. Then I realized they’re like 1,000 calories so I cut out that treat.
These cinnamon rolls using crescent rolls are much smaller than a Cinnabon, but they’re only about 200 calories each. MUCH better.
Regardless, I’m happy about these. The melty chocolate in the center is delicious. They were best right out of the oven but the next day, I put one in the microwave for 9 seconds (not ten. nine.) and it was just as good.
Really easy + really good = a winner. Try them.
Similarly, try these easy chocolate chip cream cheese danish, too.
Why you’ll love these Crescent Roll Cinnamon Rolls
Shortcut recipe – Starting with crescent roll dough instead of making a yeast dough makes them so quick & easy!
Perfect size – The cinnamon crescent rolls aren’t gigantic, they’re the perfect treat.
Customizable – I add mini chocolate chips but cinnamon sugar crescent rolls are delicious on their own! You could also add some apple pie filling, marshmallow fluff, brown sugar…lots of ways to make them your own!

Tools you’ll need
- 8″ Round Pan – You can use a dark, non-stick pan or a glass dish.
- Pastry Brush – To brush the melted butter on the dough. I like silicone because it’s easy to clean.
- Cutting Board – I like to roll the dough out on a board instead of directly on the counter.
Ingredients
Below is a list of the ingredients you’ll need to gather to make this recipe. Scroll all the way down for the full recipe card.
- Crescent Rolls – I use Pillsbury Crescent Roll Rounds, which can sometimes be hard to find. You can use regular crescent rolls, just pinch the seams together.
- Butter – I use salted butter to balance the sweetness of the recipe.
- Sugar – Granulated white sugar.
- Cinnamon – If you can, opt for a high quality cinnamon like ceylon for the best flavor.
- Mini Chocolate Chips – If you don’t have mini chocolate chips you can chop up some regular sized chips, or even a chocolate bar.
- Powdered Sugar – Sometimes called confectioners’ sugar or icing sugar. Same thing.
- Milk – I use 2% because that’s what we keep on hand.
- Vanilla Extract – Pure vanilla extract, not imitation, will give the best flavor.

How to make Crescent Roll Cinnamon Rolls
This section shows you how to make this recipe, with process photos showing the steps to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
- STEP ONE: First, carefully unroll a crescent roll dough onto a clean, flat surface. Gently brush the melted butter over the entire dough.

- STEP TWO: Next, in a small bowl, mix together the cinnamon & sugar and sprinkle evenly over the melted butter.

- STEP THREE: Then, sprinkle the mini chocolate chips evenly over the entire thing.

- STEP FOUR: Finally, gently roll up the dough, slice into 8 even rounds, and place into a greased 8″ round baking dish. Bake in a preheated 375° oven for 12-14 minutes or until just golden. You want them to be a bit gooey.


- STEP FIVE: While the rolls are baking, make the glaze by whisking together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla over low heat until fully combined. Immediately brush over the cinnamon rolls when you take them out of the oven and enjoy!

Tips & Suggestions
- I use Pillsbury Crescent Rounds for these rolls. If you have regular crescents on hand, they’ll work fine, just pinch the seams together.
- Line the bottom of your baking dish with parchment paper cut in the shape of a circle to make clean up easier.
- After you roll up each dough strip, gently pinch the ends together so they stay in place.
- If you don’t eat them all in one sitting, these cinnamon rolls will warm up nicely in the microwave but they only need a few seconds!
What to serve with Cinnamon Crescent Rolls
Serve these Chocolate Chip Cinnamon Rolls for breakfast with Ham & Potato Breakfast Casserole and some fruit!
If you need other savory options to balance the sweet, try my sheet pan eggs, birds’ nest breakfast cups or, another way to use crescent rolls, my crescent roll breakfast pizza.
If you want additional sweet options, try my hawaiian roll french toast or an easy apple strudel.
How to reheat and store Crescent Roll Cinnamon Rolls
How to store leftovers
Leftovers are best stored at room temperature in an airtight container. They’ll keep for up to 3 days, but they’re best served immediately.
Can I freeze crescent roll cinnamon rolls?
You can. Bake them, let them cool, cover them tightly and freeze for up to 2 months. Move them to the fridge to thaw when you’re ready to enjoy them.
How to reheat them
I reheat mine in the microwave. Because they’re so small, they don’t need much time – just about 10 seconds should do.

FAQs
Is there a difference between crescent rolls and croissants?
They’re both moon shaped, but they’re not the same texture. Crescent rolls are more bread-like than croissants, which are light and flaky.
I can’t find Pillsbury Crescent Rounds, can I use regular crescent rolls?
Sure can. The crescent rounds are “straight” while regular crescent rolls are triangles. If you have regular crescent rolls just roll out the sheet, pinch together the seams and proceed with the recipe.

Crescent Roll Cinnamon Rolls
Need more Cinnamon Roll ideas? Try these:
- Cinnamon Roll Cake
- Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake
- Cinnamon Roll Cookies
- Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Glaze
Originally published July 5, 2013


I love cinnamon, everything looks great
Looks delicious!! Hope you’ll bring them over to my Sunday Funday Linky Party tomorrow!!
*Susan
http://soozind.blogspot.com
Ah, this is a wonderful recipe, Melissa! And so simple since you are using crescent rolls. I keep saying I am going to make cinnamon rolls from scratch but I never do because I either don’t get up early enough to make the dough or I don’t make it the night before. Your method is perfect! Pinned and sharing on social media. Thanks for sharing at Marvelous Mondays!
Julie @ This Gal Cooks
Yum!
I would love for you to share and link up at my weekly TGIF Link Party if you haven’t already this week. Your favorite posts, most popular, recent or new! The party is open every Thursday night and closes Wednesday’s at midnight. Followed by (Not SO) Wordless Wednesday! http://apeekintomyparadise.blogspot.com/. I would be honored if you join us! Have a wonderful week!
Hugs, Cathy
Oh my GAWD! I love cinnamon and chocolate! Kind of like Mexican chocolate, which I LOVE. Pinning for sure!
These look SOOOOO good!! Love the addition of chocolate to these easy to make cinnamon rolls. Yum! Making these for breakfast sometime this week for sure.
SO amazing!!! YUM! Please make these for me when I’m in Detroit. I’m sure I’ll need something like this when I wake up after the wedding 🙂
I am not sure how to get the round shape since the crescent rolls are in a triangle. Can you explain further?
Hi Rhona,
If you notice in the recipe, I used Crescent Rounds which are circular & not triangles =)
These rolls look delicious. My daughter who is in her 60s doesn’t need anything so I thought I’d make these for her Mother’s Day except put raisins instead of chocolate chip. Claire. Thank you. If you are a mother, happy Mother’s Day.
I love food gifts! I am a mother, thank you & Happy Mother’s Day to you as well 🙂