I’m about to blow your mind with these little sweet buns that have many names, but we are going to call them Hocus Pocus Buns (or Hocus Pocus Rolls). One of the easiest treats you’ll make.
Buttery, flaky golden brown rolls stuffed with marshmallows basted in butter and cinnamon sugar. But when baked, the marshmallows explode and line the inside of the rolls, leaving them visibly empty, but amazingly delicious.
Sweet Bread By Many Names
These easy little 6-ingredients rolls have many names. Magic Marshmallow Rolls, Hocus Pocus Buns, Disappearing Marshmallow Rolls, Marshmallow Meltaways, Empty Tomb Rolls, Empty Coffin Rolls and Resurrection Rolls.
The last is probably the most popular aside from Hocus Pocus Buns, which makes me think of the Halloween movie. Empty Tomb Rolls are actually tied to the Easter holiday.
They are meant to symbolize the empty tomb of Christ after being resurrected. But these little bundles are so darn good, there is NO WAY you’ll only eat them once a year.
Breakfast or Dessert?
It is my understanding that most people eat them for breakfast, but I also like them for dessert.
Pair them with a scoop of ice cream or eat them by themselves and you’ve got an ooey gooey delicious dessert.
Why You’ll Love This Hocus Pocus Buns Recipe
A dough ball filled with melted marshmallow and topped with cinnamon sugar- what’s not to love!
- Magical treats – Everyone, both little ones and adults will be amazed at how the marshmallow just “disappears” after baking!
- Perfect for breakfast or dessert – These yummy buns can be served any time of the day, all year round.
- Simple ingredients – You only need 6 easy to find ingredients to make these delicious marshmallow melts.
Ingredients
You might have most of the ingredients to make this simple recipe on hand already. If not, they’re easily found at the grocery store.
- White sugar – Plain white granulated sugar is all you need for this Halloween treat.
- Ground cinnamon – Check out my informational post about whether you’re using the right cinnamon!
- Ground nutmeg – This ingredient is optional, but it adds a little something extra to that melt in your mouth cinnamon sugar flavor.
- Can of crescent rolls – Crescent roll dough is perfect of these sweet treats because all the work is done for you!
- Large marshmallows – Usually you can use large or small marshmallows interchangeably, but for this it’s much easier to use large marshmallows.
- Melted butter – You know I always say to use unsalted butter when baking or cooking, but for this recipe I actually prefer salted.
How to Make Hocus Pocus Buns
Making these gems is easy, but I will warn you to try and pinch them together as good as possible or else the marshmallow will melt out.
They will still be good (and honestly, the melted out gooey marshmallow might be my favorite part of these). Most recipes don’t include nutmeg, but I think it adds a little more sophistication in flavor. It is optional.
- Make cinnamon sugar mixture. Combine the sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg in a small glass bowl.
- Coat marshmallows. Dip marshmallows in the melted butter, then roll in cinnamon mixture.
- Roll it up. Place the marshmallow at the wider end of the triangle and roll up, being careful to pinch and squeeze together all the seams of the crescent dough so the marshmallow has the least possibility of escaping.
- Dip in butter. Dip the bottom of the bun in butter to prevent sticking.
- Prepare baking sheet. Line the baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper. Some people cook them in a muffin tin or muffin pan, but I didn’t find it to help or hinder except the parchment made for easy clean up.
- Baste with butter. Remove and baste with more melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar blend again.
- Let cool. Allow to cool slightly- the insides of these bad boys will be smoking! Warm buns are the best.
What to Serve with Hocus Pocus Buns
You can serve these delicious melt-in your mouth rolls any time of year, but they’re especially great during spooky season. If serving as breakfast rolls, you can serve them with other breakfast favorites like cinnamon rolls, bacon, sausage or breakfast casseroles.
It’s also a great recipe for dessert. Serve when watching your favorite Halloween movie, like Hocus Pocus with the Sanderson sisters, and they’ll taste great with popcorn or any other movie treat.
Variations & Toppings
Many recipes will use different toppings but honestly I found more than a dusting to be a little much. There are also ways to customize the sugar mixture.
- Extra cinnamon sugar. Dip the whole roll in melted butter and roll in sugar mix. You might need to make a little more cinnamon sugar if you do this.
- Add a glaze. Drizzle with a glaze. Whisk together 1/4 cup of powdered sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract or almond extract and 1-2 tablespoons of whole milk- drizzle while warm. This way, they taste more like a cinnamon roll.
- Swap out the spices. Switch up the sugar. Instead of adding ground cinnamon and nutmeg, swap out pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice.
- Make them colorful! What a surprise on the inside when the sugar was colored. Just add some color sanded sugar to the blend and it will melt together.
- Drizzle. I’ve never said no to a caramel drizzle, but this recipe, you might be better off dipping it. Same goes for fudge sauce, kinda of like a churro! Do you like sopapillas? Honey on top will give you the same flavors!
- Vegan. This sweet treat is still pure magic if you use vegan butter and vegan marshmallows.
Storage & Leftover
Storage: I’ll honestly be surprised if you have leftovers, but should you find yourself with extra, place them in an airtight container or plastic bag. Store at room temperature for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven. Microwaving hocus pocus buns make them gummy.
Freezing: I do not suggest freezing them. Just make a fresh batch.
More Fun Halloween Treats
Monster Rice Krispie Treats
Ghost Brownies
Oreo Mummy Cookies
Marshmallow Hocus Pocus Buns Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons Dixie Crystal Sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 8 ounce can crescent rolls
- 8 large marshmallows
- 3 tablespoons butter , melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Combine the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Unroll crescent rolls onto a cutting board or work surface.
- Dip a marshmallow in melted butter, then roll in sugar. Reserve any leftover cinnamon sugar mix. Reserve leftover butter and cinnamon sugar.
- Place in the center of a crescent roll, roll up, pressing together the edges to seal. Dip the bottom of the bun in melted butter to prevent sticking.
- Place on prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes or until tops are browned. Remove and baste with the remaining melted butter and dust with leftover cinnamon sugar mixture.
- Remove and allow to cool slightly- insides will be HOT!
- If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or ratings!
Nutrition
Strawberry Banana Sorbet from Big Bear’s Wife
Sugar Cookie Fruit Pizzas from Semi Homemade Recipes
Strawberry Banana Oatmeal Cookies from Eat Move Make
Strawberry Upside Down Cake from It’s Shanaka
Margarita Bundt Cake from Fake Ginger
Air Fryer Blackberry Hand Pies from Blogghetti
Grape Jello Pie from 4 Sons ‘R’ Us
Lime Raspberry Hand Pies from Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
Summertime Blue Apple Pie from For the Love of Food
Waffle Ice Cream Sandwiches from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
Strawberry Peach Poke Cake from Our Good Life
S’mores Mug Cake from Family Around the Table
White Chocolate Peach Crumb Bars from Sweet Beginnings
Strawberry Pizzelles from Jolene’s Recipe Journal
Cookies and Cream Ice Cream from Devour Dinner
Small Batch Emergency Air Fryer Brownies from Shockingly Delicious
Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars from Books n’ Cooks
Strawberry Crunch Cheesecake from SugarYums
Crescent Roll Peach Dumplings from Cheese Curd In Paradise
Rum Raisin Brownies from Food Hunter’s Guide to Cuisine
Chocolate Chocolate Chip Shortbread from Pastry Chef Online
Drumstick Cheesecake Cups from Sweet ReciPEAs
Sheet Pan No Bake Banana Split Cheesecake from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread from Comfortably Domestic
Baltimore Strawberry Pie from Cookaholic Wife
This was delicious! I didn’t use the nutmeg though – couldn’t find how much to add. Can you please tell me? Thank you!!
I’ve been wanting to make these since the first time I’d seen them somewhere online about 3 years ago when I was homeless. And I now get the opportunity to make them in my band newly built tiny house studio that I recently moved into at the end of June & I’m super excited. I told my coworkers about them & they can’t wait to try them. Keep ur fingers crossed I don’t somehow mess these up lol. I’ve never burnt anything while cooking or baking so far in my life.
They are pretty easy, but best enjoyed straight out of the oven. The gooey inside doesn’t last long. 🙂
I remember these from my( long ago ) childhood….I Don t remember what they were called then…But my 7 yr old granddaughter had recently seen The Hocus Pocus movie and liked it.So when she visited last month , she and I made these….something easy we could work on together….got an enthusiastic thumbs up from my granddaughter and she s been begging for them again…I m visiting her this weekend so I will take the ingredients with me and we can make them for her parents….yummy
Yay! I love to hear stories like this. Making memories in the kitchen is so important.
It was so good. I was bewildered about how the marshmallow disapeared. This is a keeper for sure.
I’ve never heard of these, they look really fun.
I love marshmallows and buns so this will be a huge hit!
This will be a super fun recipe to make with my niece, easy and delicious too!
I first made these in 8th grade home ec class. Such a fun treat!
LOL- too funny! My 8th grade home ec project was monkey bread with biscuits, which is proudly posted on the blog too.
I am in home ec too! 🙂
These buns look sooo delicious and soft, I can’t wait to try them out! That marshmallow middle looks dreaaaaamy!
I have some kiddos home for the summer that love to bake. This will be perfect for us to make and enjoy together!
I never heard of these little treats. Sound so easy to make, too!
My grandmother called these vanity rolls. All puffed up with nothing Inside.
Hahaha! I love it!
What a cute little treat! I have never heard of them but they’d be so fun to make with kids.
What a brilliantly spectacular recipe! Such a fun recipe for the holidays and I can’t wait to trick my boys with these magical treats!