Easy Cinco de Mayo Sopapilla (Printer-Friendly)

Flaky crescent layers, creamy cheesecake filling, and cinnamon-sugar topping—ideal for Cinco de Mayo celebrations.

# What You Need:

→ Dough

01 - 2 (8-ounce) cans refrigerated crescent roll dough

→ Cream Cheese Filling

02 - 16 ounces (1 pound) cream cheese, softened
03 - 1 cup granulated sugar
04 - 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

→ Topping

05 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), melted
06 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar
07 - 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking pan.
02 - Unroll one can of crescent dough and press it evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form a continuous layer.
03 - In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, 1 cup of granulated sugar, and vanilla extract with a mixer until smooth and fluffy.
04 - Evenly spread the cream cheese mixture over the dough layer using a rubber spatula.
05 - Unroll the second can of crescent dough and gently place it over the cream cheese, pressing to cover the filling as completely as possible.
06 - Pour the melted butter evenly over the top layer of dough and spread with a brush or spatula.
07 - Combine 1/3 cup granulated sugar with 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon and sprinkle the mixture evenly over the buttered surface.
08 - Bake in the preheated oven for 28–32 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the center is set.
09 - Remove from the oven and allow to cool for at least 30 minutes before cutting into 12 bars; serve warm or chilled.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • This dessert is so easy, it feels a bit like getting away with something delicious.
  • The mix of flaky dough, sweet cream cheese, and cinnamon sugar hits all the best comfort notes in one bite.
02 -
  • If you don't let them cool properly, the filling will run even though it's tempting to rush.
  • Sealing the crescent seams on both layers stops the filling from bubbling out at the edges—a step I learned only after the first batch overflowed.
03 -
  • Bake these on the lower oven rack if you want the bottom extra crisp.
  • A generous sprinkling of cinnamon sugar on top creates the magic crust everyone talks about.
Go Back