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Delicious red velvet cinnamon rolls topped with cream cheese icing.

Red Velvet Cinnamon Rolls | The Perfect Christmas Morning Treat

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Warm red velvet cinnamon rolls with glossy glaze, staged for a holiday morning.

  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 12 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour (plus extra for dusting)
  • 2 ¼ teaspoons instant yeast
  • ¾ cup warm milk (about 110°F)
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 teaspoons red food coloring (or more as desired for color)
  • 1 tablespoon buttermilk
  • ½ cup brown sugar, packed
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons milk (add more if needed)
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Warm the milk to about 110°F, then add the yeast and a teaspoon of sugar. Let it sit for 5 minutes until it becomes foamy.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, cocoa powder, and red food coloring. Add in the yeast mixture, softened butter, egg, and buttermilk. Mix until a soft dough forms.
  3. If the dough feels too sticky, add an extra tablespoon of flour at a time. Knead the dough for 7–8 minutes on a lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic.
  4. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a clean towel, and let it rise in a warm spot for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.
  5. Mix the brown sugar, granulated sugar, cocoa powder, and cinnamon together in a small bowl. Set aside the softened butter for spreading.
  6. Once the dough has risen, punch it down gently. Roll it out into a rectangle about 12×16 inches. Spread the softened butter evenly across the dough, then sprinkle the filling mixture over the top.
  7. Starting from the long side, roll the dough tightly into a log. Cut it into 12 equal slices.
  8. Arrange the slices in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, cover, and let them rise for 30–40 minutes until puffy.
  9. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the rolls for 20–25 minutes until golden on top.
  10. Whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Drizzle the glaze over the warm rolls. Serve immediately.

Notes

Use a kitchen thermometer for the milk to ensure yeast activation. For clean slices, dental floss works well.

  • Author: Sam Razal
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Category: Breakfast
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 roll
  • Calories: 320
  • Sugar: 16g
  • Sodium: 200mg
  • Fat: 12g
  • Saturated Fat: 7g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 4g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 45g
  • Fiber: 2g
  • Protein: 5g
  • Cholesterol: 25mg