Description
Delight in the warm, sweet goodness of Pizza Hut Cinnamon Sticks, a homemade version of the classic favorite. Soft pizza dough is coated in a luscious cinnamon sugar and butter mixture, baked to golden perfection, and finished with a creamy vanilla glaze for dipping. Perfect as a dessert or a sweet snack for any time of day.
Ingredients
For the Cinnamon Sticks:
- 2 (13.8 ounce) pizza crust dough tubes
- 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- ¼ cup white granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup packed light brown sugar (divided use)
For the Glaze:
- 1 ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon clear vanilla extract
- 2-3 Tablespoons milk (add a little to start then add more to thin if necessary)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Dough: Preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C). Remove the pizza crust dough from the tubes and squish the two pieces together to form one large dough ball. Allow the dough to come to room temperature for easier stretching.
- Butter the Baking Dish: Brush 4 tablespoons of melted unsalted butter on the bottom and halfway up the sides of a 9×13-inch baking dish. Reserve some melted butter for later use.
- Mix Cinnamon Sugar: In a small bowl, combine ¼ cup white granulated sugar and 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon. Sprinkle approximately 2 teaspoons of this cinnamon sugar mixture over the buttered surface evenly.
- Add Brown Sugar Layer: Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of the light brown sugar evenly over the cinnamon sugar layer at the bottom of the dish.
- Stretch Dough: Roll and stretch the dough ball so it covers the bottom of the baking dish. Place it in the dish and gently press and stretch with your fingers until it reaches all sides and corners.
- Cut Dough into Breadsticks: Using a pizza cutter, make one long cut down the center of the pan lengthwise, then cut between the short sides to create 16 pieces total (8 on top, 8 on bottom). If pieces pull apart, press them back together with your fingers.
- Butter and Sugar Topping: Brush the remaining melted butter evenly over the top of the dough pieces. Then sprinkle the remaining cinnamon sugar and the rest of the light brown sugar evenly across the top.
- Bake: Place the baking dish on the middle rack in the preheated oven and bake for 15-17 minutes, or until the dough is cooked through and golden. Use a fork to gently lift a piece to check that it is no longer raw; add more baking time if necessary.
- Prepare Glaze: While the sticks cool slightly, prepare the glaze by mixing 1 ½ cups powdered sugar with 1 teaspoon clear vanilla extract in a small bowl. Gradually add 2-3 tablespoons of milk, one tablespoon at a time, stirring well until you reach a smooth, drizzle-able consistency.
- Serve: Drizzle some glaze over the warm cinnamon sticks and reserve the rest for dipping. Enjoy immediately for the best taste and texture.
Notes
- Ensure the pizza dough is at room temperature before stretching to prevent tearing.
- Adjust the amount of milk in the glaze to get your preferred thickness: thinner glaze for drizzling, thicker for dipping.
- Baking times may vary slightly depending on your oven; watch for golden brown edges and fully cooked dough.
- For an extra indulgent touch, serve with warm caramel sauce or cream cheese frosting as alternatives to the vanilla glaze.
- Store any leftover cinnamon sticks in an airtight container and reheat gently to retain softness.
