Description
Soft, vividly purple Halloween Cinnamon Rolls with cocoa‑cinnamon spirals and cream cheese icing for a bakery-style brunch. Heavy cream in the pan keeps bottoms custardy and tender.
Ingredients
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
1. 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.
2. Mix filling: Cream together butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, cocoa, espresso, and salt until smooth.
3. 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.
4. Proof: Arrange rolls in a buttered 9×13-inch pan; cover and allow to rise until puffy and touching.
5. Bake: Pour heavy cream around rolls; bake at 350°F for 22–28 minutes, until set and lightly golden at edges. Cool 10 minutes.
6. 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