Baked Chocolate Cinnamon Rolls

Have you ever made cinnamon chocolate rolls? We used a dark cocoa and instead of them being a light golden brown, they end up being black. No, they are not burnt. The cocoa turns the dough black making a great treat to make for Halloween or just because you want chocolate cinnamon rolls.

How Do You Make Chocolate Cinnamon Rolls?

These cinnamon rolls are made the same way as you make any cinnamon roll recipe, but with 1 exception. You add cocoa powder. The cocoa powder will give a light hint of chocolate into your cinnamon rolls. And if you want a black cinnamon roll, use the link below in the recipe for the cocoa powder we used to turn get the chocolate cinnamon roll dough black.

The cinnamon rolls will need to rise. You can put plastic wrap over the bowl they were in. Be sure to add a little olive oil on the dough to keep it from sticking to the bowl. The dough will need to double in size and then you punch it down and then roll the cinnamon roll dough into rolls.

Can You Make The Cinnamon Sugar Filling Black Too?

Definitely make your homemade chocolate cinnamon rolls completely black with the ground cinnamon sugar black as well. You just need two Tablespoons of black cocoa powder added to the ground cinnamon, sugar and butter mixture and the chocolate filling will be black. Stir well and you can spread it evenly over the chocolate cinnamon rolls.

Do You Top The Cinnamon Rolls With Powdered Sugar?

The cinnamon rolls can be served without any toppings Once cooled, they can be served with powdered sugar. You can also serve with cherry pie filling. Another fun way to serve them is with marshmallows (you place them in a bowl and heat them up for 30 seconds. Once warm, you can pull apart on each roll, making it look like a spider web). Another option is to spread cream cheese frosting over the rolls.

What Make The Cinnamon Rolls Black?

We use a dark Dutch cocoa powder and add it into the dough and into the cinnamon sugar mix. You can use dark or light brown sugar. Either work fine with this recipe. No need to add additional chocolate (like chocolate chips) unless you want them. If you want regular cinnamon rolls, we have a recipe for those as well.
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5 from 1 vote

Black Cinnamon Rolls

Surprise your family with these black cinnamon chocolate rolls. An easy way to get into the Halloween spirit with dark cocoa. #cinnamon #chocolate

Course: Baking, Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: 8x8 pans

Author: Regina Sober

Equipment

Ingredients

Dough

4 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cups warm milk
3/4 cups warm water
1/3 cup sugar
1 scrambled egg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup dark chocolate cocoa
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1/2 cup melted butter
olive oil

Cinnamon Sugar Spread

2 Tablespoons cinnamon
1 cup melted butter
1 cup brown sugar
2 Tablespoons dark cocoa powder

Instructions

In a mixing bowl, add the milk and water, sugar, yeast, salt & egg.
Use a dough hook for the entire mixing or start with a paddle (can hand mix too).
Once mixed, slowly add half the flour, and then add cocoa powder and butter.
Add the remaining amount of flour and mix until it starts to pull from the bowl.
In a separate bowl add about 2 teaspoons olive oil and place dough into bowl.
If the dough seems dry and not sticky, add a Tablespoon of water. The cocoa can make the dough a little dry.
Cover with plastic wrap and towel and allow to rise until it doubles in size, punch down and cover again.
Allow to rise again and then cut in half, cutting into 2 pieces to make rolls.
Roll out on floured surface.
Mix cinnamon spread together and spread out onto dough. Roll into a large roll.
Cut in half and then each piece into half a few times until in several pieces.
Place rolls into greased pan.
Preheat oven to 375F..
Allow to rise and bake for 25-30 minutes, until golden brown.
Allow the rolls to cool slightly (about 5-10 minutes).
Flip the 8x8 pan onto aluminum foil. and allow cinnamon sugar mix to go back into the cinnamon rolls.
Repeat for remaining dough