This Sweet Cinnamon Roll Focaccia Starts With a Genius Shortcut

It’s unexpected and over-the-top delicious.

Just when you thought cinnamon rolls couldn’t get any better, we turned them into a decadent breakfast bread you can bake in a fraction of the time. Meet Cinnamon Roll Focaccia: the most comforting bread you’ll ever bite into. This treat combines the warm and cozy flavors of freshly-baked cinnamon rolls with the crave-worthy crispiness of a classic focaccia.

We know what you’re thinking—both homemade cinnamon rolls and homemade focaccia can be pretty intimidating baking projects. Put them together, and it’ll require two times the effort, right?

Actually, it's quite the opposite. This quick and easy recipe doesn’t require rolling, filling, slicing, or multiple rounds of proofing. To make that happen, we use one of our favorite focaccia hacks: starting with store-bought pizza dough. Trust us, it works like a charm.

What Is Cinnamon Roll Focaccia?

In our new recipe for cinnamon roll focaccia, we put a fun flavor spin on a classic crispy bread, and the results were perfect. Focaccia, with its distinct dimples and golden crust, is usually a savory baked good. But, we took things to the sweet side by swirling in the decadent flavors of a cinnamon roll.

“Fluffy dough coated in a cinnamon-sugar topping with some swirled into the center...how could it get any better?,” says recipe tester Hannah H.

This loaf has everything you love about a cinnamon roll—the gooey filling, the tangy frosting—but in a totally unique format. “The focaccia is sweet but not overly so, and there is a lovely warmth from the cinnamon,” raves recipe tester Amanda Holstein. “It is fluffy on the inside and shatteringly crispy on the outside.” Plus, the whole thing is topped off with a rich cream cheese icing that melts over the warm bread and pools into every crispy crevice.

It’s cinnamon rolls, simplified—but still loaded with comfort. Here’s how to make them.

How to Make Cinnamon Roll Focaccia

Our recipe starts with refrigerated pizza dough to cut the usual prep time in half. Of course, you can always make homemade focaccia dough from scratch, but we might recommend reserving that method for a rainy afternoon rather than a weekend morning.

You can find refrigerated pizza dough at almost any standard grocery store, or go to your local Italian market or pizza shop to find the real deal. And don’t worry, it won’t taste like a pizza crust when you’re done with it. You’ll knead the dough with a cinnamon-sugar mixture to get those sweet, warm flavors throughout.

However, because pizza dough is fairly strong and elastic, be sure to use firm pressure when dimpling the dough with your fingers and go all the way to the bottom of the pan. Otherwise, it’ll snap back into its original shape and lose those pools of the butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon syrup that you poured on top.

The focaccia cooks in a super hot oven (450 degrees F) to ensure the crust gets as golden and crispy as possible. At first, it will cook for about 10 without the cinnamon roll topping, but when the dough starts to puff up, you can pour it evenly over the top. This way, the filling won’t burn as the dough cooks. If you’d like, you can bake this in a 12-inch cast iron skillet for an extra crispy bottom (and an unmatched presentation).

Finally, a simple frosting made from cream cheese, powdered sugar, milk, and butter completes the cinnamon roll-inspired dish. Drizzle it on while the bread is still warm so it gets soft and melty. “Definitely serve this with some coffee!,” suggests Holstein.

Test Kitchen Tips

• The gluten in pizza dough is fairly strong, so don’t be afraid to really pull at it to stretch it out.

• For the resting portion, use the “proof” function in your oven if it has one. Otherwise, just place in your oven set to "off" with the light turned on to proof.

• If making ahead, store the focaccia in an airtight container at room temperature and store the icing separately in the fridge. Apply the icing just before serving.

Get the Recipe

Read the original article on All Recipes.