With their neat spirals and warm spice aroma, cinnamon rolls are irresistible to anyone with a sweet tooth. Widely loved in Nordic countries and across the United States, these rolled buns are a favorite for breakfast or an afternoon treat. Traditionally, though, they require a bit of planning: you mix and knead a yeast dough, wait for it to rise, then shape the rolls before baking.

There’s an easy workaround if you want that cinnamon roll experience without making brioche dough. That’s the shortcut Marjolaine shares on her Instagram: a recipe that takes only about ten minutes to assemble. Her trick is to swap the usual risen dough for ready-to-roll puff pastry sheets. Naturally, you won’t get the exact same soft, stretchy interior of a classic cinnamon roll—these will come out flakier and crisper—but it’s a small trade-off for the time you save.

Rolling puff pastry strips filled with cinnamon sugar on a work surfacePin
Cut and roll puff pastry strips to form quick cinnamon spirals.

To follow her method, start by preheating your oven to 350°F (180°C). In a bowl, combine softened butter, brown sugar, and ground cinnamon until you have a spreadable mixture. Marjolaine doesn’t give precise measurements, so tailor the amounts to your taste and make sure the filling is pliable enough to spread evenly over the pastry.

Bowl with softened butter, brown sugar and cinnamon mixed into a spreadable fillingPin
Make a pliable cinnamon-butter filling to spread evenly over pastry.

Unroll the two sheets of puff pastry and smooth the cinnamon mixture over them. Cut each sheet into lengthwise strips, then roll each strip up into a tight spiral to form small rolls. Arrange the spirals in a baking dish, leaving a little space between them. For a glossy, golden finish, whisk an egg yolk with a splash of milk and gently brush the tops before baking.

Bake for about 30 minutes at 350°F (180°C), or until the pastry is deeply golden. With their crisp, flaky layers and a warmly spiced center, these little rolls are likely to disappear almost as quickly as you made them—perfect when you want something sweet without spending the whole afternoon in the kitchen.