Description
Indulgent Red Velvet Cinnamon Rolls deliver a delightful twist on classic breakfast pastries. Luxurious cocoa-infused dough swirls with creamy cream cheese frosting, promising a sweet morning celebration that will enchant dessert enthusiasts.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3 ½ cups (440 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) warm milk
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup (115 grams) unsalted butter
- ¼ cup (50 grams) granulated sugar
Flavoring Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 12 teaspoons red food coloring
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- ¾ cup (150 grams) brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ¼ teaspoons (1 packet) active dry yeast
- 1 teaspoon salt
Frosting Ingredients:
- 4 ounces (115 grams) cream cheese
- 1 ½ cups (190 grams) powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Dissolve yeast in warm milk with a portion of sugar, allowing it to bloom and become frothy for about 7-10 minutes.
- Whisk together the remaining sugar, eggs, vanilla, melted butter, and red food coloring into the activated yeast mixture until thoroughly combined.
- Create a separate mixture of flour, cocoa powder, and salt, then gradually fold these dry ingredients into the wet ingredients to form a cohesive, soft dough.
- Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead vigorously for 8-10 minutes, developing its elasticity and smoothness. The dough should feel supple and spring back when pressed.
- Place the kneaded dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover with a clean kitchen towel, and allow it to rise in a draft-free environment until it doubles in volume, approximately 1-1.5 hours.
- Punch down the risen dough and roll it into a rectangular shape approximately 16 inches long.
- Blend softened butter with brown sugar, cinnamon, and cocoa powder to create a rich, aromatic filling.
- Spread the filling evenly across the dough, leaving a small margin on one long edge to ensure clean rolling.
- Carefully roll the dough into a tight log, starting from the fully coated edge, then slice into 12 equal portions.
- Arrange the rolled segments in a greased baking dish, allowing them slight space to expand during the second proofing.
- Cover the rolls and let them rise again for 30-45 minutes until they appear puffy and interconnected.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and bake the rolls for 22-25 minutes, monitoring their golden color and ensuring complete cooking.
- While baking, prepare the cream cheese frosting by beating cream cheese and butter until smooth, then gradually incorporating powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk.
- Once baked, generously spread the creamy frosting over the warm rolls, allowing it to slightly melt and create an irresistible glaze.
Notes
- Choose full-fat milk for richer, more tender dough texture that helps create softer rolls.
- Ensure yeast mixture is warm (not hot) to prevent killing active yeast cultures, which could prevent proper rising.
- Add extra cocoa powder for deeper red velvet color and more intense chocolate undertones.
- Substitute whole wheat flour for half the all-purpose flour to increase nutritional value and create a slightly denser texture.
- Use gel food coloring instead of liquid for more vibrant red color without changing dough consistency.
- Allow rolls to cool slightly before frosting to prevent melting and ensure smooth cream cheese coverage.
- Make dairy-free version by replacing milk with almond milk and using vegan butter alternatives.
- Chill rolls overnight in refrigerator for slower, more controlled fermentation and enhanced flavor development.
- Create gluten-free option by using cup-for-cup gluten-free flour blend with xanthan gum.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 50mg