Cinnamon Pull Apart Bread

Soft dough balls coated in cinnamon sugar, topped with a buttery crumble, and drizzled with cream cheese frosting make this Cinnamon Pull Apart Bread beyond delicious. This easy, no-fail recipeis perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert!

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With this recipe, creating warm, cinnamon pull apart bread has never been easier. Pre-made pizza dough simplifies the process, allowing you to quickly assemble light, doughy pieces coated in cinnamon sugar. Topped with rich cream cheese icing, this homemade version of the classic Papa John’s dessert is a delicious upgrade from takeout.

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MAIN INGREDIENTS: pizza dough, cinnamon, granulated sugar, butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, heavy cream, brown sugar, all-purpose flour

QUICK STEPS: Cut pizza dough into pieces, roll in butter and cinnamon sugar, place in pan and top with crumble, bake until golden, make cream cheese frosting, pipe onto baked pull-aparts

TOTAL TIME AND YIELD: 40 minutes, serves 6-8

WHY OUR RECIPE: What makes our cinnamon pull apart bread recipe truly special is the use of pizza dough, which not only simplifies the process but also gives the bread an incredibly light and fluffy texture that’s hard to beat. Unlike many recipes that require making dough from scratch, this shortcut saves you time without compromising on quality. You still get that delicious homemade feel, but in a fraction of the time.

PRO TIP: For an extra soft and fluffy texture, let the pizza dough sit at room temperature for about 15-20 minutes before cutting it into pieces. This allows the dough to relax, making it easier to work with and ensuring the dough balls bake evenly with a light, airy finish.

Cinnamon Pull Apart Bread Ingredients

Baking this cinnamon pull apart bread is straightforward, thanks to a handful of simple ingredients that come together to create a restaurant-quality treat.

Cinnamon Pull Aparts Recipe – Substitutions and Additions

Fresh Pizza Dough: If you can’t find fresh pizza dough, you can use a pound of frozen yeast bread dough, thawed. This will give a similar texture and flavor. Alternatively, biscuit dough can be used for a softer, lighter pull-apart bread. 

You can also use homemade pizza dough if you prefer.

Granulated Sugar: Brown sugar can replace granulated sugar for a deeper, molasses-like sweetness in the dough coating and crumble topping.

Cream Cheese: Low-fat cream cheese will work as well as full-fat.

Cinnamon: For a different spice profile, try using a mix of cinnamon and nutmeg, or add a touch of cardamom. These spices will enhance the warmth and depth of the bread.

Crumble Topping: Add chopped nuts, such as pecans or walnuts, to the crumble topping for added texture and flavor. This will give a pleasant crunch and a nutty taste.

Add-ins: Mix in some raisins or dried cranberries with the dough balls for a burst of sweetness and a chewy texture. Mini chocolate chips can also be added for a decadent touch.

How To Make This Cinnamon Pull Apart Bread Recipe

Making delicious, Papa John’s style cinnamon pull apart bread is straightforward and fun. With a few simple steps and some basic ingredients, you can create a warm, gooey treat that’s perfect for any occasion. We’ll walk you through the entire process to ensure you get the best results.

STEP ONE: Preheat your oven and line an eight by eight inch metal baking pan with parchment paper, leaving enough overhang on the sides. This will make it easier to lift the cinnamon pull-aparts out of the pan once they’re baked. 

PRO TIP: If you don’t have parchment paper, you can spray your pan with cooking spray or line it with non-stick aluminum foil instead.

STEP TWO: In a small bowl, stir together the crumble ingredients: all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter. Mix until the ingredients come together to form a crumble.

Set this aside for later. 

STEP THREE: Take your fresh pizza dough and cut it into roughly 25 small pieces using a sharp knife or a pizza cutter. Roll each piece into a ball.

PRO TIP:​ Your bread will bake up much more evenly if your pieces are similar in size. Try to cut them consistently.

STEP FOUR: In a small bowl, mix the cinnamon and granulated sugar until well combined. In a separate bowl, melt the remaining butter. 

STEP FIVE: Drop three to four dough balls into the melted butter, coating them evenly.

STEP SIX: Transfer the butter-coated dough balls to the cinnamon sugar. Roll them around until they are fully covered in the cinnamon-sugar mixture.

STEP SEVEN: Place the coated dough balls into the greased pan in a single layer. Repeat the coating process with the remaining dough balls until all are in the pan.

STEP EIGHT: Evenly sprinkle the reserved crumble topping over the dough balls in the pan. This adds a crunchy texture and extra flavor to the top of the bread.

STEP NINE: Bake in the preheated oven until the cinnamon pull-aparts are golden and bubbly. They should be slightly crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. Allow them to cool in the pan for about five minutes.

PRO TIP:​ Check the bread half way through the bake time. If it’s browning unevenly, turn the pan half way.

STEP TEN: While the pull-aparts are cooling, prepare the frosting. In a medium bowl, beat together the softened butter and softened cream cheese until smooth and fluffy. 

STEP ELEVEN: Add the vanilla extract and powdered sugar to the cream cheese and butter mixture. Beat until fully combined and smooth.

Add the heavy whipping cream and beat until the frosting is smooth and pipeable. Place in a piping bag.

PRO TIP:​ If you don’t have a piping bag, you can transfer the frosting to a large Ziploc bag. Cut a small piece out of one corner of the bag. Alternatively, you can also drizzle the frosting with a spoon.

STEP TWELVE: Using the parchment paper overhang, lift the pull-aparts out of the pan and transfer them to a serving platter. Pipe a criss-cross pattern of the cream cheese frosting over the top. 

Troubleshooting

We develop our recipes to be uncomplicated, and test repeatedly to make sure they’ll come out of the oven perfectly. However, we know problems can still arise.

Here’s the advice our recipe developers want you to know:

• If your dough is sticky, you can coat your fingers in a little bit of flour. Be careful not to add too much flour or your dough balls will be dry.
• If you find the cinnamon sugar isn’t sticking to the dough balls, it’s probably because they aren’t fully coated in the melted butter mixture.
• If your pan of pull apart bread is browning too quickly, you can just lay a piece of aluminum foil over the top of the pan. You don’t have to wrap it tightly.
• Your flour mixture should have a crumbly texture. If it seems too wet, add a touch more flour.
• If your frosting seems too runny, it’s easy to fix it. You can add a tiny bit of powdered sugar. Or, if your frosting has simply warmed up and gotten runny, place it in the fridge for a few minutes to thicken up again.

How To Serve Cinnamon Pull Aparts

This Papa John’s copycat tastes just like their original recipe. Whether you’re serving it warm from the oven for breakfast, as a delightful addition to brunch, or as a sweet snack, there are plenty of ways to enjoy cinnamon sugar pull-apart bread. 

For Breakfast or Brunch: Serve the pull-aparts warm with a generous drizzle of cream cheese frosting. Pair them with a side of fresh fruit, such as strawberries or blueberries.

A cup of freshly brewed coffee or cappuccino, or a glass of cold milk complements this morning treat perfectly.

As a Snack or Dessert: These pull-aparts make a great snack or dessert. Enjoy them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream for an extra indulgent treat.

You can also garnish with a sprinkle of powdered sugar.

Homemade Trifle: For a unique dessert, layer pieces of the pull-apart bread in a trifle dish with vanilla pudding and caramel sauce to create a cinnamon pull-apart trifle. 

Brunch Spread: Include the pull-aparts as part of a larger brunch spread. Pair them with savory options like quiche, sausage and gravy, or a breakfast casserole for a filling and comforting morning meal.

Festive Presentation: For a festive touch, serve the pull-aparts on a decorative platter with holiday-themed garnishes. These pull-aparts are perfect for Thanksgiving breakfast or a Christmas morning treat. They’re a wonderful addition to any holiday brunch.

MORE CINNAMON DESSERT RECIPES

Cookie Recipes

Cinnamon Roll Cookies

Poke Cakes

Cinnamon Roll Poke Cake

How To Store Cinnamon Roll Pull Apart Bread

Storing cinnamon pull apart bread properly helps it stay fresh and delicious for as long as possible. While this pull-apart bread is a great recipe to enjoy fresh, you can definitely enjoy your leftovers, too.

MAKE AHEAD: You can prepare the dough balls and coat them with butter and cinnamon sugar the day before you plan to bake. Place the prepared balls of dough in the baking pan, cover with plastic wrap, and store in the fridge overnight. When ready to bake, sprinkle the crumble topping and bake as directed.

IN THE FRIDGE: Once baked, allow the cinnamon pull apart bread to cool completely. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

The bread will stay fresh for up to two days. To maintain its softness, you can reheat individual portions before serving.

IN THE FREEZER: To freeze, let the baked bread cool completely. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil or place it in a freezer-safe container.

It will keep well in the freezer for up to one month. To reheat, let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

HOW TO REHEAT: To reheat in the oven, preheat to 350°F and bake the bread for 10-15 minutes until warmed through. 

For microwave reheating, place an individual portion on a microwave-safe plate and heat for 15-30 seconds until warm. If you prefer, you can reheat the entire dish in the microwave by covering it with a damp paper towel to keep it moist, then heating it for one to two minutes, checking every 30 seconds.

Why These Cinnamon Pull Aparts Are The Best

We think you’ll adore this cinnamon pull apart bread recipe. With all the flavor of cinnamon sugar donuts and so much easier to make than classic cinamon roll recipes, you can bake your family this delicious treat in minutes.

Here are some of our favorite things about this recipe:

Easy to Make: Quick steps and simple ingredients make it a breeze to whip up.

Serve any time of day: Perfect for breakfast, brunch, a snack, or dessert.

Crowd-Pleasing Flavor: Fluffy bread balls coated in cinnamon, sugar, and butter – what’s not to love?

Make-Ahead Convenience: Prep it beforehand for easy holiday mornings or to enjoy a freshly baked treat after a family dinner.

Cinnamon pull apart bread is a simple and delicious treat that’s perfect for any occasion. Enjoy the warm, spiced flavors with your family and friends, whether it’s for breakfast, brunch, or dessert.

More Pull Apart Recipes You’ll Love

• Monkey Bread Muffins
• Pull Apart Pizza Bread
• Pull Apart Garlic Bread
• Cheesy Pull-Apart Bread
• Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread with Grands Biscuits

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Cinnamon Pull Apart Bread

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Soft dough balls coated in cinnamon sugar, topped with a buttery crumble, and drizzled with cream cheese frosting make this Cinnamon Pull Apart Bread beyond delicious. This easy, no-fail recipeis perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert!

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 23 minutes minutes

Total Time 38 minutes minutes

Servings 6

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Ingredients

  

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For the Crumble Topping

• 2½ tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

For the Cinnamon Pull-Aparts

• 1 pound fresh pizza dough, cut into 1-inch pieces and rolled into balls
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted

For the Cream Cheese Frosting

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 2 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 to 3 teaspoons heavy whipping cream

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Line an 8×8-inch metal baking pan with parchment paper. Be sure to leave enough parchment paper to overhang the sides to make lifting the cinnamon pull-aparts out of the pan easily.
• In a small bowl, make the crumble topping by stirring together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter until your mixture comes together as a crumble. Set aside.
• To make the cinnamon pull-aparts, you will need to cut your fresh pizza dough ball into roughly 25 small pieces, then roll them in the palm of your hand into balls.
• In a small bowl, combine the cinnamon and sugar. Place the melted butter in a second small bowl.
• Drop 3-4 dough balls into the melted butter and roll around to evenly coat them.
• Transfer the butter-coated dough balls to the bowl of cinnamon sugar and roll to evenly coat them in the cinnamon sugar mixture. Place the coated dough balls into the prepared pan in a single layer.
• Repeat steps 5-6 until all the dough balls have been coated and placed into the baking pan.
• Evenly sprinkle the reserved crumble topping over the prepared dough balls.
• Bake for 23-26 minutes or until the cinnamon pull-aparts are golden and bubbly. Allow them to cool in the pan for 5 minutes before lifting them out of the pan (using the parchment paper overhang) and transfer them to a serving plate or cutting board.
• While the cinnamon pull-aparts are baking and cooling, you can make the cream cheese frosting by beating together the softened butter and softened cream cheese in a medium bowl until smooth and fluffy.
• Add the vanilla extract and powdered sugar and beat again until fully combined and smooth. Add the heavy cream and beat for an additional 1-2 minutes or until the frosting is smooth and has a pipeable consistency. You do not want it too thick, but thick enough to be piped. Transfer to a piping bag with the tip cut off.
• Once the cinnamon pull-aparts have been transferred to a serving plate, you can pipe a criss-cross pattern of the cream cheese frosting onto the top of the pull-aparts.

Notes

• If you don’t have parchment paper, you can spray your pan with cooking spray or line it with non-stick aluminum foil instead.
• ​Your bread will bake up much more evenly if your pieces are similar in size. Try to cut them consistently.
• Check the bread half way through the bake time. If it’s browning unevenly, turn the pan half way.
• If you don’t have a piping bag, you can transfer the frosting to a large Ziploc bag. Cut a small piece out of one corner of the bag. Alternatively, you can also drizzle the frosting with a spoon.

Nutrition

Calories: 564kcal | Carbohydrates: 80g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 581mg | Potassium: 30mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 45g | Vitamin A: 740IU | Vitamin C: 0.04mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 2mg

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