Please follow and like us:

These homemade chocolate frosted cinnamon rolls are soft and sweet and have just the right amount of cinnamon and spices. Topped with chocolate cream cheese frosting, these are perfect for a special breakfast or dessert!

Chocolate Frosted Cinnamon Rolls

If I had to eat these cinnamon rolls plain, I could totally do it. They are that good. They’re soft and just melt in your mouth with their packed cinnamon and brown sugar yuminess. But…you should definitely eat these chocolate frosted cinnamon rolls just like this recipe calls for. The chocolate cream cheese frosting gives these soft, sweet rolls a decadent flavor that you will not want to miss.

How to make chocolate frosted cinnamon rolls.

These cinnamon rolls are made with yeast, but don’t let that intimidate you. I promise these are easier to make than you think. You will need to let these sweet rolls rise, but not for long and only once.

Ingredients you’ll need:

Yeast….You need active dry yeast. This yeast comes in small packets in the bread isle of the grocery store. They usually come with 3 packets. You’ll be using 1 packet for this recipe. Don’t let the yeast in this recipe discourage you!

Buttermilk…. buttermilk is one of the ingredients that makes these cinnamon rolls so flavorful. If you don’t have buttermilk on hand you can make your own.

Vegetable oil…the vegetable oil in this recipe makes the cinnamon rolls super fluffy and soft.

Sugar…you’ll need both white and brown sugar. The cinnamon rolls use white sugar and the filling will use brown.

Vanilla….make sure you use pure vanilla for the best flavor.

All purpose flour

Cinnamon
Eggs

Ingredients for chocolate cream cheese frosting:

Cream cheese…make sure to take it out ahead of time so it will be room temperature. Room temperature cream cheese is a lot easier to work with.

Butter….you’ll also want your butter to be room temp.

Powdered sugar

Unsweetened cocoa

Vanilla

Steps

Step 1: Heat your buttermilk and check your yeast.

If your yeast is within the expiration date it should be good, but it never hurts to check. Active yeast will bubble when it comes into contact with warm liquid and sugar. Heat your buttermilk in the the microwave until it’s warm and add 1 tablespoon of sugar to the milk. You can take the tablespoon of sugar from the 1/4 cup of sugar you’ll be adding into the dough later. Next, empty your packet of yeast into the warm milk and sugar and let the mixture sit. If your yeast is still active, you should begin to see bubbles in your milk. If you don’t see bubbles after a few minutes, you should through away the mixture and use fresh yeast. After seeing bubbles in your milk, add the milk with your yeast, to a large mixing bowl.

Step 2: Add vegetable oil and mix well.

Add the vegetable oil to your mixing bowl with the milk and yeast and mix well.

Step 3: Add the eggs.

Beat the eggs slightly in a small bowl before adding them to your mixer. Once slightly beaten, add them to your mixture and mix until combined.

Step 4: Add dry ingredients.

Slowly add your dry ingredients to your mixture until a soft dough begins to form. When the dough begins to form, remove your spoon and knead the dough with your hands, for about 1 minute, until it forms a nice ball. The dough should be slightly sticky.

Step 4: Let the dough rest.

Cover dough with a dish towel or plastic wrap and let rest while you make the filling.

Cinnamon Roll Filling

While your dough is resting, begin making the filling….

Step 1: Melt the butter.

Melt the butter in a microwave safe bowl in the microwave for 30 second increments until the butter is completely melted.

Step 2: Add sugar and cinnamon.

Add the brown sugar and cinnamon and stir until completely mixed.

Assembling your cinnamon rolls

After you let your dough rest and make your filling, it’s time to put these delicious sweet rolls together! On a floured surface, roll out your dough into a large rectangle with a rolling pin. Spread the cinnamon roll filling onto the dough and roll the dough up into a tight long log. After rolling the dough, cut your cinnamon rolls with a sharp knife into about 12 pieces.
Place the rolls into a baking dish prepared with homemade cake pan release. You’ll need to let the cinnamon rolls rise before baking them. Simply cover you cinnamon rolls in your baking dish with a dish towel, place on the kitchen counter, and let sit for 30-60 minutes. Letting the dough rise is also called proofing. You’re proving the yeast works and the dough will rise. For expert lessons and tips about baking with yeast, read this great guide from Red Star Yeast. After that they’re ready to bake. Bake at 350F for about 25 minutes.

Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

This frosting is what really makes these cinnamon rolls and it’s super easy to make.

Place your room temperature cream cheese and butter into a mixer and beat on medium speed until the butter and cream cheese are completely mixed and are smooth and creamy.
Add your cocoa, powdered sugar, and vanilla and mix again until all ingredients are completely mixed and a smooth creamy frosting is made. If your frosting is not at a spreadable consistency, you can add 1/2-1 tablespoon of milk or half and half to make it thinner.
After your cinnamon rolls have completely cooled, spread the chocolate cream cheese frosting on to the cinnamon rolls.

How to Store Chocolate Frosted Cinnamon Rolls

Because these cinnamon rolls do contain cream cheese, leftovers should be stored in the refrigerator. Place plastic wrap over the baking dish or store rolls in an airtight container.

Can cinnamon rolls be frozen?

Yes, these cinnamon rolls can be made ahead and kept in the freezer. Make sure to freeze them in an air tight freezer bag or container. When you’re ready to eat, take out the bag or container and let the rolls come to room temperature on the counter.

Why did my cinnamon rolls not rise?

There could be a few reasons your dough did not rise. The yeast may not have been active, your dough was not given enough time to rise, or your temperature was not warm enough for the dough to rise. For more troubleshooting tips check out this guide from Red Star Yeast.

More Recipes You’ll Love

Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins with Crumb Topping

The Best Chocolate Buttercream From Scratch