Description
Indulgent red velvet cinnamon rolls bring Southern charm to classic breakfast pastries. Creamy cream cheese frosting and rich cocoa notes promise a luxurious morning treat you’ll savor with pure delight.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 large eggs
- 10 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 4 ounces cream cheese
Filling Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup white granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon red gel food dye
Topping/Glaze Ingredients:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Warm milk to 110°F in microwave, then dissolve yeast and let activate for 10 minutes until frothy.
- Combine dry ingredients including flour, cocoa powder, sugar, and salt in a large mixing bowl.
- Cut cold butter into dry ingredients until mixture resembles coarse pebbles.
- Incorporate milk/yeast mixture, eggs, and red food coloring into dry ingredients using stand mixer with dough hook.
- Knead dough for 5 minutes until smooth, elastic, and vibrant red.
- Create a warm proofing environment by preheating oven to 200°F, then turning it off.
- Grease a large bowl, shape dough into a ball, and let rise covered for 1 hour until doubled in size.
- Prepare cinnamon filling by blending butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon until creamy.
- Roll dough into a rectangular shape approximately 1/4 inch thick on floured surface.
- Evenly spread cinnamon filling across entire dough surface using offset spatula.
- Tightly roll dough from shorter edge into a compact log.
- Trim uneven edges, then slice log into 12 uniform rolls using dental floss or serrated knife.
- Arrange rolls in greased baking pan, cover, and allow second rise for 20 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 375°F and pour heavy cream around rolls before baking.
- Bake for 25-27 minutes until golden and internal temperature reaches 160°F.
- Whip cream cheese and butter until smooth, gradually incorporate powdered sugar.
- Finish icing by mixing in vanilla and milk until spreadable consistency.
- Immediately spread cream cheese icing over warm rolls, allowing it to melt into crevices.
Notes
- Perfectly warm milk ensures active yeast, which helps the dough rise beautifully and creates a soft, fluffy texture.
- Using dental floss for cutting prevents squishing the delicate roll shape, maintaining those gorgeous spiral layers.
- For gluten-free adaptation, substitute all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend to accommodate dietary restrictions.
- Reduce sugar content by using monk fruit sweetener or cutting overall sugar by 25% without compromising the rich red velvet flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-27 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 310 kcal
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 37 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg