Description
Soft, vividly purple Halloween Cinnamon Rolls with rich cocoa-cinnamon spirals and a velvety cream cheese icing. A touch of ube extract gives the dough its striking color, while heavy cream in the pan ensures tender, custardy bottoms for a bakery-style treat.
Ingredients
Scale
- Dough:
- 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup warm whole milk
- 2 1/4 tsp instant yeast
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp fine salt
- 5 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
- 1 – 2 tsp ube extract or violet gel
- Filling:
- 6 tbsp softened butter
- 3/4 cup dark brown sugar
- 1 1/2 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1/2 tsp espresso powder
- 1/4 tsp fine salt
- Bake Aid:
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- Icing:
- 4 oz cream cheese, room temperature
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- Pinch fine salt
- 1 – 2 tbsp warm milk
Instructions
- Make dough: Combine warm milk, yeast, and a pinch of sugar. Stir in flour, remaining sugar, egg, salt, butter, and ube extract; knead until smooth and slightly tacky. Rest and allow dough to rise until doubled.
- Mix filling: Cream together butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, cocoa, espresso, and salt until smooth.
- Shape rolls: Roll dough into a 12×18-inch rectangle; spread filling evenly. Chill 5 minutes if needed, then roll tightly and slice into 12 buns using dental floss.
- Proof: Arrange rolls in a buttered 9×13-inch pan; cover and allow to rise until puffy and touching.
- Bake: Pour heavy cream around rolls; bake at 350°F for 22–28 minutes, until set and lightly golden at edges. Cool 10 minutes.
- Ice: Beat cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt; thin with milk as needed. Spread icing on warm rolls and optionally garnish with cocoa powder or chocolate nibs.
Notes
- For a more vivid color, add a touch more ube gel, but avoid overuse as it may add bitterness.
- If skipping heavy cream, brush rolls with milk before baking to prevent dry tops.
- Overnight option: Shape and pan the rolls, then chill. Proof at room temperature in the morning until puffy before baking.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Dessert
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 roll
- Calories: 330
- Sugar: 24g
- Sodium: 210mg
- Fat: 13g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 55mg