Hey y’all! Darian here from County Mama Cooking. As a busy mom, I’m always looking for fun recipes to make with my kids. These Cinnamon Sticks combine our love of pizza with a sweet cinnamon sugar twist. They’re super easy to whip up and make a tasty after school snack or game day appetizer.
What happens when you take classic pizza ingredients like dough, sauce, and cheese and give them a sugary cinnamon makeover? These clever Cinnamon Sticks, of course! Kids and adults alike flip for these mini calzones swirled with cinnamon and coated in crisp, buttery, cinnamon sugar. The combo of melty cheese, tart pizza sauce, soft dough and sweet cinnamon is absolute perfection. We love serving up these pizza-inspired treats for parties or enjoying them as a fun weeknight activity.
Cinnamon Sticks
Equipment
- oven
- microwave
- 1 small bowl
- 1 pastry brush
Ingredients
- 1 batch Pizza dough
- ¼ cup Unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp White granulated sugar
- 1 tsp Cinnamon
Drizzle
- 5 tbsp Powdered sugar
- 1 tbsp Water
Instructions
- Make a batch of pizza dough. (If your using store bought dough then ignore this first step)
- Pre-heat oven to 350 F.
- Once dough is ready to use, roll it out into whichever shape you prefer. I find it works best in a circle and I bake it on my pizza pan, but you can easily make it into a square or a rectangle and just use a regular baking sheet.
- In a microwave safe dish, microwave the unsalted butter.
- Using a pastry brush, brush the butter over top the entire dough.
- In a small bowl mix together white granulated sugar and cinnamon.
- Place the baking sheet into the oven and bake at 350 F for 12-15 minutes. Baking times may vary.
Video
Notes
Cooking Tips
Here are some of my tips for making tasty Cinnamon Sticks:
- Use store-bought or homemade pizza dough for easy shaping.
- Make sure the dough is stretched thin so the sticks bake up crispy.
- Add just a spoonful of sauce so the cinnamon sugar shines.
- Sprinkle on plenty of cinnamon sugar before rolling up.
- Bake at 400F for 15-20 minutes until golden brown.
- Brush with melted butter when they come out for extra richness.
- Let cool slightly before drizzling with icing and slicing.
- Swap the sauce for chocolate hazelnut spread for a sweet Nutella version!
How to Serve Cinnamon Sticks
Cinnamon pizza sticks are a fun and versatile treat that can be served in many different ways for a variety of occasions. Their sweet cinnamon sugar coating makes them an ideal snack or dessert.
For an after school snack, cinnamon sticks are perfect served warm right out of the oven. Provide some cold milk or yogurt for dipping to help temper the heat and enhance the cinnamon flavor. The sticks are neatly sized for little hands to dunk and enjoy.
These also make a great sweet treat to serve guests. Arrange them on a platter or in a basket while still warm from baking. The cinnamon aroma will fill your home and delight visitors. For more of a dessert feel, provide icing or chocolate sauce cups for drizzling or dipping.
Cinnamon sticks work well as an appetizer or dessert at gatherings like pizza night or game day parties. Cut them into smaller pieces so they are easy to pick up and eat while mingling. Provide a variety of fun dipping options like icing, chocolate sauce, caramel, or fruit dip.
For breakfast, these can be served alongside yogurt, fruit, or other morning treats. The cinnamon sugar coating gives them a doughnut-like taste that pairs nicely with dairy and fruit flavors. They can be a fun change up from regular pancakes or waffles.
A stunning way to present cinnamon sticks is to stack them high on a tiered dessert stand or candy buffet at a special occasion. Arrange them creatively with other sweets and provide a variety of dipping sauces in small bowls. Guests will love the presentation and enjoying your tasty baked treats.
To serve them at bake sales, slice the pizza sticks into mini portions. They will be cute and easy to eat on the go. You can package them in bakery bags tied with ribbon. For birthday parties, insert small flags or toothpicks with fun designs into the sticks.
No matter how you serve them, cinnamon sticks are sure to be a hit! Their sweet taste and texture appeals to kids and adults alike. Be creative and enjoy this yummy snack in a variety of ways.
FAQs
Here are some common questions about Cinnamon Sticks:
What kind of dough works best?
Store-bought or homemade pizza dough is perfect. Bread dough also works in a pinch!
Can I freeze them?
Yes! Freeze baked sticks in a single layer then transfer to bags. Reheat directly from frozen.
How long will they keep?
Baked sticks will last 2-3 days stored in an airtight container.
What’s the best way to reheat?
I like to reheat them in the oven but a microwave works too.
Can I make mini versions?
Absolutely! Just cut the dough in smaller pieces before filling and shaping.
What other fillings can I use?
Try apple pie filling, chocolate-hazelnut spread, or raspberry jam!
Can I make them without icing?
Sure! They’ll still taste delicious. The icing just adds pretty drizzle.
In my family, these Cinnamon Sticks have become a favorite way to spice up pizza night or treat ourselves to a unique dessert. The kids have a blast helping me prepare the dough into sticks and pick their favorite dipping sauces. My husband says he could easily polish off the whole tray! I love that it’s such an easy, kid-friendly recipe that results in the perfect sweet and savory snack. The cinnamon sugar gives classic pizza ingredients a fun twist. I hope your family enjoys this creative recipe as much as we do. Let me know your favorite dipping sauces for these yummy Cinnamon Pizza Sticks!