Chocolate Cinnamon Rolls
Craving a sweet treat with a twist? Indulge in our decadent Chocolate Cinnamon Rolls made with a cocoa-infused dough!
These Chocolate Cinnamon Rolls will take your taste buds on a chocolatey adventure – we promise! Not only is the dough cocoa-infused, but it also has chocolate chips incorporated into the mix! Choco-tastic!
As a heartfelt gesture to my cinnamon bun-loving husband, I set out on a baking adventure to create a special surprise that I just knew he would appreciate.
Knowing his fondness for classic cinnamon buns, I embarked on a mission to elevate this beloved dessert by infusing it with chocolate. The idea of merging the warm, comforting flavours of cinnamon with the richness of cocoa sparked excitement in my kitchen, and I was immediately inspired!
What Ingredients Do I Need to Make Chocolate Cinnamon Rolls?
These cinnamon rolls require the following ingredients, so be sure to gather them before getting started:
- All-purpose flour
- Cocoa powder
- Granulated sugar
- Milk
- Butter
- Yeast
- Eggs
- Chocolate chips
A Unique Topping
Traditionally, cinnamon rolls are topped with a decadent cream-cheese frosting, but we opted for an easy-to-whip-up confectioners’ sugar topping instead. I figured it would be great to go the simple route since cinnamon rolls are a tad more complicated than your average sweet treat.
Do These Cinnamon Rolls Absolutely Need Yeast?
While there are some good no-yeast cinnamon roll recipes out there, I highly recommend going the yeast-route for these chocolate cinnamon rolls. The cocoa dough is dense as it is, so the yeast definitely gives it that perfect fluffy texture.
Are There Any Ingredient Alternatives?
For the cinnamon roll dough itself, please try to stick with the recipe as closely as you can. However, we did use chocolate chips as an additional flavor/topping, so that’s where you can have a bit of fun! Feel free to add other toppings like white chocolate chips, caramel chips, or even toffee bits!
How to Store Leftover Cinnamon Rolls
Any unfrosted cinnamon rolls can be placed in an airtight container and left in room temperature for up to 3 days. We recommend placing frosted cinnamon rolls in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
To reheat, place on a pan and heat in a 300 degree oven. You will have to refrost according to your tastes/preference.
Chocolate Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients
For the dough
- 2 ½ cups a/p flour
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup milk
- 3 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp yeast
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup chocolate chips plus extra for garnishing
For the filling
- ¼ cup softened butter
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
For the topping
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 3 tbsp milk
Instructions
- Mix together all dry ingredients in a bowl and set aside
- Add milk + butter into a small saucepan and warm but do not let it come to a boil. Remove from heat.
- Add yeast and allow to bloom, about 5 minutes.
- Pour the yeast mixture into dry ingredients
- Stir and then add chocolate chips
- Knead dough for 3-5 minutes
- Place the dough in a greased bowl and let rest for 10 minutes while covered
- In the meantime, make the filling but mixing all ingredients together: butter, sugar and cinnamon
- On a floured surface, roll out the dough so that it’s about 7 inches wide and 14 inches long
- Spread the filling then roll
- Cut into one-inch wheels
- Grease a rectangular baking pan and place the cinnamon rolls. Let rise for about 60 minutes or until double in size.
- Bake in a 375 degree oven for about 22-25 minutes
- Allow to cool for about 10-15 minutes.
- For the topping, mix confectioners’ sugar and milk. Mix until a smooth runny mixture comes out. If too thick, add one tablespoon of milk, and if too thin, add more sugar one tablespoon at a time
- Pour the confectioners’ on the baked cinnamon rolls and top off with additional chocolate chips, if desired
