Brownie Rolls

These brownie rolls have cinnamon roll dough, chocolate butter filling, chopped brownies in the filling, and chocolate cream cheese icing on top. They are topped with more brownies!

These brownie rolls are classic cinnamon rolls combined with brownies. They are the perfect way to get your favorite breakfast and favorite treat together. Chocolate lovers will love the chocolate filling with bite-sized pieces of brownie in it. They make a great dessert after brunch, especially served with a glass of milk or even ice cream!

For more brownie desserts try, Brownie Cake, Brownie Crinkle Cookies, and Brownie Cheesecake.

Why This Fudgy Brownie Rolls Recipe Works

• Gooey cinnamon rolls- These homemade rolls have that perfect gooey cinnamon roll texture.
• Brownie flavor- These rolls have that delicious chocolate fudgy flavor that makes brownies so good.
• Make ahead- The best thing is you can even make the dough a day or prebake these rolls so they are easy the morning of!

Ingredient Notes for Delicious Brownie Rolls

Here are some notes on the ingredients. For a full list of ingredients, check out the recipe card below.

• Unsalted butter- Pull the butter out 2 hours before using so it is softened butter.
• Milk- Use any milk and warm it to 110F. If too hot, it will kill the yeast, if too cool then it will dramatically slow the yeast down.
• Active dry yeast- I used 1 packet of yeast. This is the same thing as instant yeast. Do not use fast rise yeast.
• Large Eggs- Pull the eggs out 2 hours before baking. They also need to be lightly beaten before adding to the flour.
• Cream cheese- Pull this out 2 hours before baking to get to room temperature.
• Brownies- Using store-bought brownies is the easiest since you are already baking rolls. Get the fudgiest you can. If you are up for making you own then this brownie recipe is the best! It is not much more work than a brownie mix, but way more delicious. You can also eat the extra brownies.

Ingredient Substitutions

• Dairy free- You can use your favorite dairy free options for this recipe!
• Gluten free- I haven’t tested this gluten free. Let me know if you do.

Step By Step Instructions – Dough

Here is how to make the dough for the brownie rolls.

These instructions are for making the dough with a stand mixer with dough hook attachment. For instructions on making the dough by hand see the recipe notes.

STEP 1: Activate yeast. Place the milk in a bowl and heat it in the microwave until it is 110°F. Sprinkle the yeast on top and let it sit for 10 minutes.

STEP 2: Dry ingredients. Mix the all purpose flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl.

STEP 3: Knead butter. Add the cubed butter to the flour mixture and knead it in with a pastry kneader or fork until the butter clumps are the size of a pea.

STEP 4: Knead dough. Add the yeast mixture and eggs. Use a stand mixer with dough hook on low speed to knead it until a dough starts to form. Then, switch to medium and knead for 5 minutes.

STEP 5: First rise. Spray a large mixing bowl with nonstick spray and place the dough in it. Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel and leave it in a warm place to rise for 1 hour.

Step By Step Instructions – Chocolate Filling

Here is how to make the chocolate filling and bake the brownie rolls.

STEP 1: Chop brownies. Chop the brownies into small pieces about the size of a penny or nickel each. Set them aside.

STEP 2: Mix filling. Beat the butter with a mixer on high speed until it is soft. Add brown sugar and cocoa powder, mixing on medium speed until combined. Then, switch to high speed and beat it for 1 minute.

STEP 3: Roll dough. Roll the dough into a large rectangle on a lightly floured surface. When done, it should be 1/4 inch thick.

STEP 4: Spread filling. Use an offset spatula to spread the chocolate filling over the dough. Make sure it is spread to the edges. Sprinkle the chopped brownies on top.

STEP 5: Roll log. Start rolling from the shorter side of the rectangle, rolling it into a log. Use a serrated sharp knife to cut off the uneven ends and cut it into 12 equal rolls.

STEP 6: Second rise. Spray a 9X13 baking pan with nonstick spray. Place the rolls in an even layer and cover the pan with a kitchen towel. Let it rise for 20 minutes.

STEP 7: Add cream. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Meanwhile, pour heavy cream over the rolls starting with the holes in between the rolls. You do not need to cover the rolls, the pool of cream at the bottom is the important part.

STEP 8: Bake rolls. Bake the rolls for 25-29 minutes. They are done when the tops are lightly golden. Then, place the pan on a wire rack to cool. Make the icing while they bake.

Step By Step Instructions – Chocolate Cream Cheese Icing

Here is how to make the chocolate cream cheese icing for the brownie rolls.

STEP 1: Beat cream cheese and butter. Beat the cream cheese and butter on high speed for 2 minutes using a hand mixer and small bowl.

STEP 2: Mix icing. Add the sifted powdered sugar and cocoa powder to the icing. Mix it in on low speed until combined, then switch to high speed and mix it until it is creamy. Add the vanilla and mix it in.

STEP 3: Spread icing. When the rolls are done baking wait until it stops bubbling, then spread the icing over the top of the rolls using a spoon. Place extra brownie pieces on top to decorate.

Expert Baking Tips

• Properly measure your flour- Make sure the flour is spooned and leveled. If you stick the measuring cup directly into the flour, it will compact the flour giving you too much flour.
• Make sure your yeast is fresh. If you use expired yeast or if you put it in too hot or too cold milk it will not activate properly preventing a proper rise.
• If you choose to roll your rolls immediately you can still chill them overnight. You then bake them the next morning.

FAQ

Recipe Variations

• Homemade brownies- Homemade brownies are perfect for this recipe. If you are willing to bake an extra recipe first, then use this recipe for amazing brownies.
• No brownies- If you want to make chocolate rolls but do not have brownies, you can skip the brownie pieces. If you want to keep a rich chocolate flavor you can use chopped chocolate pieces or chocolate chips instead.

Special Tools

• Baking spray: I use the nonstick spray that has flour in it.
• Offset spatula: I use this to easily spread the frosting or fillings.
• 9X13 pan- I love using a casserole pan instead of a normal baking pan.
• Rolling pin- You can use any rolling pin you have!

Storing and Freezing

Store these brownie rolls in an airtight container in the fridge. Store up to 5 days. They are best when heated in the microwave until warm.

These brownie rolls can be frozen in 2 ways.

1. Freeze the rolled rolls. Freeze these up to 30 days. Let them thaw before baking. They won’t rise as much, but will still work.
2. Freeze the already baked rolls. Freeze these up to 30 days. Thaw for 1 hour before eating.

Other Cinnamon Roll Recipes To Try

Try these brownie recipes too!

• Brownie Bites
• Salted Caramel Brownies
• Cheesecake Brownies
• Cookie Dough Brownies
• Nutella Brownies

Make sure to leave a STAR REVIEW if you loved this recipe! Make sure to tag me on Instagram @stephaniesweettreats. To get more ideas follow me on Pinterest.