Chocolate Chip Cinnamon Rolls

Gray, chilly days like the ones we have survived through this winter, are perfect days for a batch of sweet, homemade cinnamon rolls!

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Things may be frozen outside but this sweet dough is full of life, waiting to puff up in the oven.

Never one to be content will a simple roll, I bumped up the cinnamon in these rolls and added a handful of chocolate chips too.

Hot from the oven, the chocolate chips are gooey through the swirl in the cinnamon rolls.

A simple glaze sweetens things just a smidge more, and tastes wonderful with the chocolate and cinnamon.

📖 Recipe

Chocolate Chip Cinnamon Rolls

Nancy Mock

Everyone loves a good cinnamon roll, and these are even more lovable because there are chocolate chips inside, too!

5 from 1 vote. Tap stars to vote

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Prep Time 1 hour hr

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Rising Time 2 hours hrs

Total Time 3 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

Course Bread, Breakfast, Brunch, Chocolate, Christmas, Comfort Food, Make-Ahead Breakfast, Thanksgiving, Winter Dishes

Servings 12 Rolls

Ingredients

 

US CustomaryMetric

 

1x2x3x

For Dough:

• 8 ounces milk (1 cup)
• 2¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (1 envelope)
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• ⅓ cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• 4 cups all-purpose flour, unbleached (plus extra for kneading)
• Nonstick spray or butter to grease pan

For Filling:

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• ½ cup packed brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

For Frosting:

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 3 cups confectioners sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoons milk
• ¼ cup sliced almonds (optional)

Instructions

 

Make the dough:

• Heat 1 cup of the milk in the microwave just until it is lukewarm—not hot. Stir the yeast into the milk and allow it to sit and activate for 15 minutes.
• Pour this mixture into the bowl of a stand mixer, and add in 4 tablespoons of the softened butter and ⅓ cup of the granulated sugar. Mix these ingredients together on medium speed.
• Mix in the eggs, one at a time, and then the salt.
• Pour the 4 cups of flour into the bowl and mix it in until a wet sticky dough forms and there are no lumps of butter. Dump the dough out onto a lightly floured surface.
• Knead the dough by hand for about 10 minutes on a lightly floured surface, until it is smooth and shiny. (A bench scraper is helpful to help scrape up the wet dough from the work surface.) Sprinkle a little more flour on the board as necessary if the dough is sticking.
• Shape the dough into a ball and place into a large, greased bowl. Cover loosely with a piece of plastic wrap. Allow the dough to rise in a warm place for 90 minutes: it should be doubled in size.

Fill, roll, and cut the dough:

• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and gently press the air out. Allow the dough to rest for 10 minutes.
• Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper. (If you don't have parchment, grease the bottom and sides.)
• Roll the dough out into a 12" x 18" rectangle.
• Brush the dough rectangle with the melted butter. Whisk together the brown sugar and the cinnamon; sprinkle the mixture evenly over the butter. Sprinkle the chocolate chips next, evenly over the dough.
• Starting at a long side, roll the dough up, jelly roll-style. Pinch along the entire, long seam until it's completely sealed.
• Cut the roll into 12 equal slices: I like to use a serrated bread knife but you can also use the dental floss method if you'd prefer. Fit the slices into the prepared baking pan. Cover the pan with a clean dish towel and let the rolls rise for 30 minutes.

Bake:

• Preheat the oven to 350° F.
• Bake the rolls for about 30 minutes: The tops should be golden brown. Once baked remove them from the oven and allow the rolls to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes.

Make the frosting:

• Beat the 4 tablespoons of softened butter until creamy. Slowly mix in the confectioner's sugar until it's completely blended with the butter. Add in the vanilla and then the milk. Beat the frosting on high speed until it's creamy and fluffy.
• Spread the frosting over the warm rolls, or let them cool completely before frosting. Sprinkle sliced almonds over the tops, if using.
• Serve the rolls warm or at room temperature.
• Store leftover rolls tightly covered for up to three days. Makes 12 rolls.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 543kcalCarbohydrates: 87gProtein: 9gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 59mgSodium: 176mgPotassium: 231mgFiber: 4gSugar: 51gVitamin A: 370IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 72mgIron: 3mg

Tried this recipe?Leave a comment, tell me what you think!