This semi-homemade Nutella cinnamon roll recipe is ideal for cool days, especially when the rolls come straight from the oven. With a chill in the air this weekend, these warm, gooey treats are a perfect way to welcome the season.
These Nutella cinnamon rolls are rich, sweet, and bursting with Nutella — in short, extremely delicious. They’re also surprisingly easy to make. Follow the simple steps below for the full recipe.
If you’re not a Nutella fan, you can swap it for another chocolate spread, or try peanut butter or almond butter for a different flavor profile.
Ingredients for the Nutella Cinnamon Rolls
- 1 roll of crescent roll dough (Trader Joe’s crescent roll dough works well and is what we used)
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon sugar OR pumpkin pie spice (we used pumpkin pie spice to add fall flavor)
- 4 heaping tablespoons Nutella (or your preferred chocolate spread)
Ingredients for the Icing Drizzle
- 3/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 1–2 tablespoons almond milk or half-and-half (to reach desired glaze consistency)
- A splash of vanilla extract
- Alternatively, you can use cream cheese frosting if you prefer a thicker, tangier topping
Instructions
1. Preheat your oven according to the directions on the crescent roll packaging.
2. Unroll the crescent dough and pinch together the perforations so the sheet becomes whole without holes. If you prefer, you can gather the dough into a ball and roll it out with a rolling pin instead of pinching the seams.
3. Spread the Nutella evenly across the dough, then sprinkle the cinnamon sugar or pumpkin pie spice over the top. Try to distribute the filling as uniformly as possible for even flavor in each roll.
4. Carefully roll the dough into a tight log, starting from one long side. Using a sharp knife, cut the log into slices about 3/4 to 1 inch thick.
5. Arrange the slices in a baking pan, leaving a little room between them for expansion. Bake according to the crescent roll package instructions; you may need to add a few extra minutes depending on how thick the Nutella layer is and how your oven performs.
6. While the rolls cool slightly, whisk together the glaze ingredients: confectioners’ sugar, almond milk (or half-and-half) a little at a time until you reach your desired consistency, and a splash of vanilla. Drizzle the glaze over the warm rolls. If you prefer, spread cream cheese frosting instead of the thinner glaze.
7. Serve warm and enjoy the gooey, chocolatey goodness.
Recipe: Cori Maass
Styling and photography: Brittni Mehlhoff
Will you try this recipe? Are you a big Nutella fan or do you prefer plain chocolate? Let me know what variation you’d try!