Description
Create the ultimate soft and fluffy Red Velvet Cinnamon Rolls, featuring that iconic cocoa tang and deep red color, generously swirled with cinnamon sugar and topped with a luxurious, tangy cream cheese glaze. This recipe brings joy and connection to your kitchen.
Ingredients
- All-Purpose Flour: 3 cups
- Granulated Sugar: 1/2 cup plus 1/2 cup for filling
- Active Dry Yeast: 2 1/4 teaspoons
- Milk: 1 cup, warm
- Unsalted Butter: 1/2 cup, melted, plus 1/4 cup for filling
- Egg: 1 large
- Red Food Coloring: 1-2 teaspoons (gel preferred)
- Cocoa Powder: 2 tablespoons
- Salt: 1 teaspoon
- Ground Cinnamon: 1 tablespoon
- Cream Cheese: 8 ounces, softened
- Powdered Sugar: 2 cups
- Vanilla Extract: 1 teaspoon
Instructions
- Activate yeast in warm milk with a pinch of sugar; let it sit until foamy.
- In a large bowl, mix flour, remaining sugar, and salt.
- Combine the melted butter, egg, cocoa powder, and red food coloring in the yeast mixture.
- Gradually add wet ingredients to dry ingredients, mixing until a soft dough forms. Knead for 5-7 minutes until smooth.
- Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm spot for 60-90 minutes until doubled.
- For the filling, mix the 1/2 cup sugar, cinnamon, and 1/4 cup melted butter.
- Punch down the risen dough. Roll it into a large rectangle (about 12×18 inches).
- Spread the butter mixture evenly over the dough, leaving a small border on one long edge.
- Roll the dough tightly starting from the long edge opposite the border. Pinch the seam closed.
- Slice the log into 12 even rolls. Place them in a greased 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Cover the rolls and let them proof (second rise) for 30 minutes.
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until light golden brown and cooked through.
- While rolls bake, prepare the glaze: Beat cream cheese until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla until creamy and spreadable.
- Remove rolls from the oven. Immediately spread the cream cheese glaze generously over the warm rolls. Serve warm.
Notes
- For the deepest red color, use high-quality gel food coloring instead of liquid drops.
- If your kitchen is cold, place the dough bowl inside a turned-off oven with the light on for a warm environment.
- Do not overbake; these rolls should remain soft and slightly gooey in the center.
- Taste your glaze before spreading; adjust vanilla or powdered sugar to your preferred sweetness.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Baking/Dessert
- Method: Yeast Dough
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 roll
- Calories: Approx. 450
- Sugar: Approx. 40g
- Sodium: Approx. 300mg
- Fat: Approx. 22g
- Saturated Fat: Approx. 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: Approx. 8g
- Trans Fat: Less than 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: Approx. 60g
- Fiber: Approx. 2g
- Protein: Approx. 7g
- Cholesterol: Approx. 55mg