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
- 1–2 tablespoons milk (to thin, as needed)
Instructions
For the Dough:
- 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.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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:
- In a small bowl, combine the ground cinnamon and brown sugar.
- Set the softened butter aside to be spread on the dough after rolling it out.
Assembling the Cinnamon Rolls:
- After the dough has risen, punch it down and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface.
- Roll the dough into a large rectangle (about 12×18 inches).
- Spread the softened butter evenly over the dough, leaving about ½ inch along the edges.
- Sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar mixture evenly over the butter.
- Starting from one long side, carefully roll the dough into a tight log.
- Cut the rolled dough into 12 even slices (about 1-inch wide).
- 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.
- Cover with a towel and let the rolls rise for about 30 minutes, or until they’ve puffed up.
Baking:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Bake the cinnamon rolls for 25-30 minutes, or until they are lightly golden and cooked through.
- Remove from the oven and allow them to cool slightly before icing.
For the Cream Cheese Icing:
- In a medium bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, butter, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- If the icing is too thick, add 1 tablespoon of milk at a time until you reach your desired consistency.
Assembling the Rolls:
- Once the cinnamon rolls have cooled slightly, drizzle the cream cheese icing over the top of the rolls.
- 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