Chocolate Cinnamon Rolls

5 from 8 reviews

These chocolate cinnamon rolls are gooey cinnamon rolls and combine a regular cinnamon roll with chocolate. It has a regular dough, chocolate cinnamon filling with chopped chocolate, and a chocolate cream cheese icing.

Prep Time45

Cook Time25

Resting Time1 20

Total Time2 30

Servings: rolls

Calories: 559kcal

Author: Stephanie Rutherford

Ingredients

Dough

1 cup Milk warmed to 110℉
2 1/4 tsp Active dry yeast 1 packet
2 Large eggs room temperature
4 1/2 cups All-purpose flour
1/4 cup White granulated sugar
1 tsp Salt
10 TBSP Unsalted butter room temperature cubed

Chocolate Cinnamon Filling

1/2 cup Unsalted butter room temperature
3/4 cup Brown sugar packed light or dark
1 TBSP Ground cinnamon
2 TBSP Unsweetened cocoa powder I use dutch process
8 oz Chocolate bar chopped. I use Lindt 70%

Chocolate Cream Cheese Icing

2 oz Cream cheese room temperature
2 TBSP Unsalted butter room temperature
1/2 cup Powdered sugar
2 TBSP Unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp Pure vanilla extract
2 TBSP Milk

US - Metric

Instructions

Dough

Heat the milk in a microwave safe bowl in the microwave for 1 minutes. Warm to 110℉. Sprinkle the yeast over the milk. Let it sit for 10 minutes. Pour the eggs into a bowl and mix so they are lightly beaten.
1 cup Milk, 2 1/4 tsp Active dry yeast, 2 Large eggs
In a large bowl, mix the flour, sugar, and salt. Add in the cubed butter. Use a pastry kneader or your hands to knead the butter into the flour. It will be about the size of a pea.
4 1/2 cups All-purpose flour, 1/4 cup White granulated sugar, 1 tsp Salt, 10 TBSP Unsalted butter
Add in the milk/yeast mixture and the eggs.
Using a stand mixer with a dough hook, mix on low speed until a dough starts to form. Then, turn to medium speed and knead for 5 minutes. * For by hand instructions see notes.
Rising:
`1. Preheat the oven to 200℉. Place a kitchen towel over the bowl. Place the bowl in the oven, turn off the oven, and crack open the door. Let it rise for 1 hour.
2. Place plastic wrap over the bowl. Place in the fridge overnight. (max of 18 hours).

Chocolate Cinnamon Filling

In a small bowl using a hand mixer, beat the butter until smooth. Then, add the brown sugar, cinnamon, and cocoa powder. Mix on high speed until smooth. It will be like a thick paste.
1/2 cup Unsalted butter, 3/4 cup Brown sugar, 1 TBSP Ground cinnamon, 2 TBSP Unsweetened cocoa powder
Place the risen dough on a lightly floured surface. Use a rolling pin to roll into a large rectangle. It will be about 1/4 inch thick.
Spread the chocolate filling over the dough using an offset icing spatula. Make sure to get the edges. Then, sprinkle the chopped chocolate over the filling. Use your hands to press the chocolate into the dough slightly.
8 oz Chocolate bar
Starting on the short side, roll the dough into a log. Make sure it is rolled tightly. Use a serrated knife to cut the uneven ends off. Use light sawing motions to cut 12 rolls.
Spray a 9X13-inch pan with baking nonstick spray. Place the rolls into the pan. cover with a kitchen towel and let rise for 20 minutes.
While rising, preheat the oven to 350℉. Bake for 23-25 minutes until the top of the rolls are lightly golden. The insides will reach over 160℉.

Chocolate Cream Cheese Icing

In a small bowl using a hand mixer, beat the butter and cream cheese on high speed until smooth.
2 oz Cream cheese, 2 TBSP Unsalted butter
Add in the powdered sugar and cocoa powder and mix on low until combined. Then, switch to high speed and mix until smooth.
1/2 cup Powdered sugar, 2 TBSP Unsweetened cocoa powder
Add in the vanilla and milk and mix on low speed.
1 tsp Pure vanilla extract, 2 TBSP Milk
Right when the rolls are done baking, use a spoon to ice the cinnamon rolls.

Notes

Flour- Make sure flour is spooned and leveled or use a kitchen scale. Compacted flour can dry out the rolls.

High altitude baking- Add an extra 3 TBSP of flour.

Pull out dairy ingredients 2 hours before baking.

Making by hand:

Mix the wet ingredients into the dry by using a rubber spatula. Switch to using your hands to mix until a dough starts to form.

Place dough on a lightly floured surface. Knead using your hands for 5-8 minutes.

It is done when your spread the dough apart thinly using your fingers. Hold the dough to the light. If you can see light through it, then it is done.

Nutrition