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Bring a touch of fun and sweetness to your next cookout with these campfire cinnamon twists. Made with refrigerated dough and a simple cinnamon sugar mix, they’re quick to prepare and even more fun to grill. Twisted onto skewers and finished with a sweet glaze, these treats are perfect for fireside snacking. With simple ingredients and a hands-on prep style, they’re a great dessert option for campers, backyard grillers or anyone who wants to try out a new easy outdoor recipe for their next camping adventure.
Why You’ll Love It
Campfire cinnamon twists are a fun and easy grilled dessert. Twisted dough, cinnamon sugar and a sweet glaze combine for a real fireside treat.
Easy to grill: These cook right over the fire or on a backyard grill.
Kid-friendly prep: Twisting the dough onto skewers is simple and fun.
Sweet and warm: Perfect for cool evenings and outdoor gatherings.
Minimal ingredients: Just a few store-bought items get the job done.
Customizable: You can change the glaze or spice mix to suit your taste.
More delicious campfire dishes to try include apple crisp, banana boats, pie iron pineapple upside down cakes, and these gnocchi foil packs.
Campfire Cinnamon Rollups Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Granulated sugar: Sweetens the cinnamon filling for a classic flavor.
Ground cinnamon: Adds warmth and spice to each twist.
Refrigerated cinnamon buns: Makes prep fast and easy with ready-made dough.
Unsalted butter: Helps the cinnamon sugar stick and adds flavor.
Powdered sugar: Forms the base of the simple glaze.
Milk: Thins the glaze to the perfect drizzling consistency.
Canola oil: Used to grease the grill grates.
How to Make Campfire Cinnamon Bun Twists
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Soak the skewers: Submerge them in cold water, then drain.
Heat the grill: Prepare the campfire or grill and oil the grates.
Mix the cinnamon sugar: Combine sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.
Prep the dough: Unroll and cut into 4 rectangles.
Add the filling: Brush 2 rectangles with melted butter and sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar mixture.
Layer the dough: Top with the other 2 rectangles.
Slice and twist: Cut each into strips and twist them onto roasting sticks.
Grill the twists: Cook over the hot coals, flipping halfway.
Finish cooking: Move to indirect heat and cook until golden brown and cooked through.
Make the glaze: Whisk powdered sugar and milk together.
Drizzle and serve: Pour glaze over warm twists and enjoy.
Substitutions and Variations
Make it gluten free: Use a gluten free refrigerated dough if available.
Use a different dough: You can use a package of refrigerated crescent dough instead of the cinnamon bun dough.
Try different spices: Mix in nutmeg or cardamom with the cinnamon.
Use a cream cheese glaze: Swap the powdered sugar glaze for a tangier version.
Omit the glaze: They still taste great without it although the glaze does add a nice finishing touch.
Add crushed nuts: Sprinkle chopped pecans or walnuts into the filling.
Make it fruity: Add a thin layer of cherry jam or blueberry jam before twisting for extra flavor.
Serving Suggestions
Main and side dishes: Enjoy pie iron pizzas and perhaps some campfire mac and cheese. And these surf and turf foil packs are really good too.
Desserts: Serve up your cinnamon twists paired with campfire strawberries and/or ice cream (this blueberry cheesecake ice cream is so good!)
How to Store
Store: These campfire cinnamon bun roll ups are best served freshly made but you can keep any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
Reheat: You can warm them back up over a campfire or in an air fryer.
Top Tips
Soak the skewers well: This helps prevent burning on the grill.
Seal the dough ends: Press the tips firmly so they hold while cooking.
Flip carefully: Use tongs to turn the twists gently to avoid tearing.
Glaze while warm: The drizzle sets best on warm twists for a sticky, sweet finish.
Campfire Cinnamon Twists FAQs
Yes. You can grill them over a gas or charcoal grill at medium heat.
Yes. Wooden skewers help hold the shape while grilling and make them easy to handle. Metal skewers would work but they tend to hold on to the heat. While this makes them good for kebabs where you’re going to slide the food off the skewer to eat it, wooden skewers are best for desserts like cinnamon rollups where you’ll be eating it straight off the skewer.
Yes. Just roll it out and cut to size before adding the filling.
Campfire Cinnamon Rollups Recipe
Campfire Cinnamon Twists
Equipment
- 8 Wooden Skewers 10-Inch
Ingredients
- ¼ Teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
- ½ Cup powdered sugar
- 1 Roll cinnamon buns, refrigerated Pillsbury Grands, 8-Ounce, 5-Count
- 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
- 1 Tablespoon milk
- canola oil, to grease grill grates
Instructions
- Soak wooden skewers in cold water for 30 minutes and then drain.
- Prepare a campfire or grill for cooking and heat it to medium.
- Once hot, clean the grill grates and add a little canola oil to grease.
- Combine the cinnamon and granulated sugar in a bowl.
- Unroll your dough and cut it into 4 rectangles.
- Brush 2 of them with butter and sprinkle over the cinnamon sugar.
- Top those with the remaining 2 rectangles.
- Cut each rectangle into 4 strips, beginning from the long end.
- Twist each strip around your skewers, pinching to seal.
- Grill your cinnamon swirl sticks over direct heat for 4 to 6 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Move them to the indirect heat and grill for another 4 minutes or until cooked through.
- Whisk the milk and powdered sugar together and drizzle this mixture over the warm cinnamon twists.
- Serve warm.
Notes
Seal the dough ends: Press the tips firmly so they hold while cooking.
Flip carefully: Use tongs to turn the twists gently to avoid tearing.
Glaze while warm: The drizzle sets best on warm twists for a sticky, sweet finish.
Nutrition
Campfire cinnamon twists are a simple and fun treat that adds something special to outdoor cooking. With ready-made dough, sweet cinnamon filling and a quick glaze, they’re as easy to prepare as they are tasty. Perfect for grilling over a fire or enjoying in the backyard, these twists are a great hands-on dessert that brings everyone together. Try them on your next camping trip or cookout for a sweet twist on fireside favorites.
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Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
