Follow these simple instructions to bake your own batch of golden, crispy, and utterly delicious Cinnamon Sugar Puff Pastry Twists. No fancy techniques required, just pure baking joy!

1. Prepare Your Workspace and Preheat Oven: Start by preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. This prevents sticking and makes for easy cleanup. Having your oven preheated ensures consistent baking temperature from the start. Clear a clean, flat surface for working with your puff pastry. A lightly floured surface can be helpful if your pastry is sticking, but often it’s not necessary.
2. Thaw Puff Pastry: If using frozen puff pastry, ensure it is properly thawed according to the package instructions. Usually, this involves letting it sit at room temperature for about 30-40 minutes, or in the refrigerator overnight. The pastry should be pliable but still cold. Working with thawed puff pastry is crucial for it to roll out and bake properly. If it’s too frozen, it will crack; if it’s too warm, it will become sticky and difficult to handle.
3. Unfold and Lightly Roll Puff Pastry: Gently unfold one sheet of puff pastry onto your prepared workspace. If it’s quite folded, you might need to gently unfold it along the creases. Using a rolling pin, lightly roll out the puff pastry sheet to slightly enlarge it, aiming for a rectangle approximately 10×12 inches. Be careful not to roll it too thin, as you still want it to puff up nicely in the oven. A slight increase in size is all you need.
4. Brush with Melted Butter: Using a pastry brush or a silicone brush, evenly brush the entire surface of the puff pastry sheet with melted butter. Make sure to reach all the corners and edges. The melted butter acts as a flavorful adhesive for the cinnamon sugar mixture, and also contributes to the golden-brown color and crispiness of the baked twists.
5. Combine Cinnamon Sugar Mixture: In a small bowl, combine the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon. Mix well until thoroughly combined, ensuring there are no clumps of cinnamon. If using vanilla extract, add it to the melted butter and stir to combine before brushing onto the pastry.
6. Sprinkle Cinnamon Sugar Evenly: Generously sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture evenly over the buttered puff pastry sheet. Use your fingers to gently press the cinnamon sugar into the butter to help it adhere. Ensure an even coating for consistent flavor in every bite.
7. Create the Twists: Now for the fun part – creating the twists! Using a pizza cutter or a sharp knife, cut the puff pastry sheet lengthwise into strips, about 1 inch wide. You should get approximately 10-12 strips from each sheet. Once you have your strips, pick up one strip at each end and twist in opposite directions to create a spiral shape. Carefully place the twisted strip onto the prepared baking sheet. Repeat this process with all the strips.
8. Optional Sugar Topping (Pre-Bake): If you are using coarse sugar or sparkling sugar, now is the time to sprinkle it over the tops of the twisted pastries. This adds a beautiful sparkle and extra crunch to the finished product.
9. Bake to Golden Perfection: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the puff pastry twists are puffed up, golden brown, and crispy. Keep an eye on them towards the end of baking, as ovens can vary and you want to avoid burning them. The sugar will caramelize and create a beautiful golden crust.
10. Cool and Enjoy: Once baked, carefully remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the Cinnamon Sugar Puff Pastry Twists cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This allows them to crisp up further. They are best enjoyed warm or at room temperature. The aroma while they cool is simply divine! Serve them immediately for the ultimate fresh-baked experience, or store them in an airtight container once completely cooled.