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Red Velvet Valentine’s Day Cinnamon Rolls


  • Author: Norah
  • Total Time: 2 hours 25 minutes (including dough rising and cooling time)
  • Yield: 12 rolls 1x
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

These Red Velvet Cinnamon Rolls are the perfect Valentine’s Day treat—rich, soft, and filled with the classic cinnamon filling. The red velvet dough gives them a festive flair, while the cream cheese icing takes them over the top. These cinnamon rolls are perfect for breakfast, brunch, or as a sweet gift to someone you love!


Ingredients

Scale

For the Dough:

  • 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1 cup warm milk (about 110°F/43°C)
  • 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tablespoons red food coloring (gel or liquid)
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Cinnamon Filling:

  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ cup brown sugar, packed
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened

For the Cream Cheese Icing:

  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 12 tablespoons milk (to thin, as needed)

Instructions

For the Dough:

  1. In a small bowl, combine the warm milk, sugar, and yeast. Stir gently and let sit for about 5 minutes until the yeast is foamy.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  3. Add the melted butter, egg, food coloring, and vanilla extract to the yeast mixture. Pour this into the dry ingredients and mix until a dough forms.
  4. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 5-7 minutes until smooth and elastic. If the dough is too sticky, add a little more flour as needed.
  5. Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover with a clean towel, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until it has doubled in size.

For the Cinnamon Filling:

  1. In a small bowl, combine the ground cinnamon and brown sugar.
  2. Set the softened butter aside to be spread on the dough after rolling it out.

Assembling the Cinnamon Rolls:

  1. After the dough has risen, punch it down and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface.
  2. Roll the dough into a large rectangle (about 12×18 inches).
  3. Spread the softened butter evenly over the dough, leaving about ½ inch along the edges.
  4. Sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar mixture evenly over the butter.
  5. Starting from one long side, carefully roll the dough into a tight log.
  6. Cut the rolled dough into 12 even slices (about 1-inch wide).
  7. Place the cinnamon rolls into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, arranging them in a spiral pattern. Leave a little space between each roll.
  8. Cover with a towel and let the rolls rise for about 30 minutes, or until they’ve puffed up.

Baking:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Bake the cinnamon rolls for 25-30 minutes, or until they are lightly golden and cooked through.
  3. Remove from the oven and allow them to cool slightly before icing.

For the Cream Cheese Icing:

  1. In a medium bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, butter, and vanilla extract until smooth.
  2. If the icing is too thick, add 1 tablespoon of milk at a time until you reach your desired consistency.

Assembling the Rolls:

  1. Once the cinnamon rolls have cooled slightly, drizzle the cream cheese icing over the top of the rolls.
  2. Serve warm and enjoy!

Notes

  • These cinnamon rolls are best served fresh but can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat them in the microwave for a few seconds before serving.
  • You can make the dough the night before and refrigerate it overnight to speed up the morning process.
  • For extra flavor, you can add chopped pecans or chocolate chips to the filling.
  • Prep Time: 45 minutes (not including dough rising time)
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Breakfast, Dessert, Holiday
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: red velvet cinnamon rolls, Valentine’s Day cinnamon rolls, festive cinnamon rolls, cream cheese icing rolls, Valentine’s breakfast treat