Easy Homemade Cinnamon Sticks: The Best Pizza Dough Recipe with Sweet Vanilla Glaze

Craving the warm, sweet, and utterly addictive cinnamon sticks from your favorite pizza chains like Pizza Hut’s Cinnamon Sticks or Domino’s CinnaStix? Imagine being able to recreate that irresistible treat right in your own kitchen, even better and in less time than it takes for delivery! This recipe for homemade cinnamon sticks, featuring a clever shortcut with prepared pizza dough, is your ticket to a delightful dessert or a fantastic breakfast indulgence. Served piping hot from the oven with a luscious, sweet vanilla frosting, these cinnamon sticks are guaranteed to become a family favorite.

These delicious copycat Cinna Stix are incredibly versatile, making an easy dessert for weeknights or a delightful sweet addition to a holiday breakfast or brunch. What truly sets this recipe apart is its speed – it’s ready in under 20 minutes from start to finish, including prep and bake time. This makes it an ideal choice for a last-minute snack attack, an impromptu dessert, or when you need to satisfy those cinnamon roll cravings without all the effort. The secret to their tender, fresh-baked taste and texture lies in using pre-made refrigerated pizza dough, cutting down on time and mess while maximizing flavor.

Why You’ll Love These Homemade Cinnamon Sticks

There are countless reasons to fall in love with this easy cinnamon stick recipe. First and foremost is the incredible simplicity. By utilizing pre-made refrigerated pizza dough, you bypass the entire process of making dough from scratch, which involves kneading, waiting for it to rise, and dealing with a flour-covered kitchen. This shortcut not only saves a significant amount of time but also makes the recipe approachable for even the most novice bakers. Kids can easily get involved in the fun, making it a wonderful activity for family cooking sessions.

Beyond the ease, the flavor is simply outstanding. The warm, soft pizza dough transforms into a tender, chewy base, perfectly complemented by a generous layer of butter, cinnamon, and sugar. Each bite offers that classic sweet and spicy warmth that is so comforting and satisfying. The vanilla frosting adds a rich, creamy sweetness that takes these sticks to the next level, just like your favorite pizza place versions. Whether you serve the frosting as a dipping sauce or drizzle it over the warm sticks for a gooey glaze, it’s the perfect finishing touch.

Finally, the speed and convenience mean you can enjoy a fresh, hot treat whenever the craving strikes. No need to wait for a special occasion or spend hours in the kitchen. In less than 20 minutes, you can have a batch of these delectable cinnamon sticks ready to enjoy, making them perfect for after-school snacks, quick desserts, or a delightful addition to any meal.

Essential Ingredients for Homemade Cinnamon Sticks

Using prepared pizza dough is the ultimate hack for this recipe. It significantly cuts down on preparation time and completely eliminates the flour mess often associated with baking from scratch. The result is still incredibly tender, sweet cinnamon sticks with an authentic fresh-baked taste and delightful texture. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Refrigerated Pizza Crust Dough: Look for a 13.8-ounce tube in the dairy or refrigerated section of your grocery store. Any brand works well, whether it’s classic, thin crust, or even whole wheat for a slightly different texture.
• Cinnamon: The star spice! Ground cinnamon is essential for that signature flavor. You can adjust the amount to your personal preference for a bolder or milder taste.
• Granulated Sugar: Combines with cinnamon to create the sweet, crunchy topping.
• Melted Butter (divided): Butter is crucial for both flavor and for helping the cinnamon-sugar mixture adhere to the dough. Using real butter makes a significant difference in taste.
• Powdered Sugar: The base for our quick and easy vanilla frosting, providing a smooth, fine texture.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds a warm, classic flavor to the frosting. Use pure vanilla extract for the best results.
• Milk: Used to thin the powdered sugar and butter into a smooth, dippable, or drizzly frosting. You can use any type of milk you have on hand (dairy or non-dairy).

See the full recipe card below for exact quantities and detailed instructions.

Expert Tips for Success

Achieving bakery-quality cinnamon sticks at home is easier than you think, especially with these helpful tips:

• Working with Pizza Dough: For optimal manageability, keep the refrigerated pizza dough in the fridge until you’re absolutely ready to unroll and use it. As the dough warms up, it becomes softer, stickier, and more challenging to handle and cut cleanly. A slightly chilled dough is much easier to work with, ensuring clean cuts and easier separation.
• Easier Cleanup: Baking can be messy, but cleanup doesn’t have to be. For a hassle-free experience, line your baking sheet with parchment paper before rolling out the dough. This creates a non-stick surface and catches any drips, making cleanup as simple as discarding the paper after baking.
• Uniform Slicing: For even baking and a professional appearance, strive for uniform 1×6 inch strips. A ruler can be helpful, or simply eyeball it for a rustic charm. Consistent sizing ensures that all your cinnamon sticks cook at the same rate, preventing some from being underbaked while others become too crispy.

Serving with Icing: How you serve the icing can depend on the occasion and your preference. You can present the cinnamon sticks fresh from the oven with a small bowl of vanilla icing on the side for dipping – this is often preferred for a dessert, allowing each person to control their sweetness. Alternatively, for a casual breakfast or brunch setting, or when serving to a crowd, it can be easier to drizzle the icing over the warm cinnamon sticks just before serving. If you want more of a glaze finish, let the cinnamon sticks cool slightly with the icing on them, which will set up a bit. For a gooey, warm experience, pour the icing on immediately.

Delicious Flavor Variations to Try

While classic cinnamon sticks are always a hit, don’t be afraid to experiment with these exciting flavor variations to elevate your homemade treat:

• Cream Cheese Frosting: For a richer, more decadent experience reminiscent of cinnamon rolls, add an ounce or two of softened cream cheese to your vanilla frosting. Blend it thoroughly with the powdered sugar before mixing in the milk and vanilla extract. This adds a wonderful tang and creaminess.
• Zesty Orange Icing: Brighten up your frosting with a hint of citrus. Mix in a teaspoon of orange zest or a tablespoon of fresh orange juice to the icing before adding the milk. This creates a delightful contrast to the sweet cinnamon.
• Nutty Crunch: Before baking, sprinkle a handful of finely chopped pecans or walnuts over the cinnamon-sugar layer for added texture and nutty flavor.
• Chocolate Drizzle: After glazing with vanilla frosting, melt a bit of chocolate (milk, dark, or white) and drizzle it artfully over the cinnamon sticks for an extra layer of indulgence.
• Gingerbread Spice: Add a pinch of ground ginger, nutmeg, or even a tiny bit of cloves to your cinnamon-sugar mixture for a festive, warming spice blend, especially around the holidays.

Easy Homemade Cinnamon Sticks with Pizza Dough