Description
Enjoy a delightful copycat version of Pizza Hut’s famous Cinnamon Sticks, featuring soft, fluffy dough strips baked to golden perfection, coated with cinnamon sugar, and finished with a sweet vanilla glaze. Perfect as a warm, comforting dessert or snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough Ingredients
- 1 package active dry yeast (or 2 1/4 teaspoons)
- 1 cup warm water (about 110°F/43°C)
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (optional, for a savory touch)
Cinnamon Sugar Coating
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Icing
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Additional
- Butter for brushing (around 2 tablespoons melted)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the cinnamon sticks.
- Activate Yeast: In a small bowl, dissolve the sugar and yeast in warm water and let it sit for about 5 minutes until it becomes foamy, indicating the yeast is active.
- Make Dough: In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt, and optional garlic powder. Add the yeast mixture and olive oil, then stir until a dough forms. Knead by hand for about 5-7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Let Dough Rise: Cover the dough with a damp cloth and let it rise in a warm place for 30-60 minutes, or until it doubles in size.
- Prepare Dough for Baking: Roll the risen dough out on a floured surface into a rectangle about 1/2 inch thick.
- Cut Strips: Slice the dough into 12-16 strips depending on your desired thickness for each cinnamon stick.
- Bake: Place the strips on a greased baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through.
- Mix Cinnamon Sugar: While baking, combine the granulated sugar and cinnamon in a bowl to create the coating mixture.
- Brush and Coat: Once baked, remove the sticks from the oven and immediately brush them with melted butter. Then, sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture evenly over the top.
- Prepare Icing: Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth to make the glaze.
- Glaze and Serve: Drizzle the icing over the warm cinnamon sticks just before serving for a sweet finish. Enjoy them warm!
Notes
- For softer cinnamon sticks, do not overbake; remove as soon as edges turn golden brown.
- Optionally add garlic powder to dough for a savory twist before baking.
- You can substitute olive oil with melted butter in the dough for richer flavor.
- Use warm water (not hot) to activate yeast to avoid killing it.
- Store leftover cinnamon sticks in an airtight container and reheat gently to retain softness.
