Description

These Red Velvet Cinnamon Rolls are a delightful twist on the classic cinnamon roll, featuring a rich red velvet dough infused with cocoa and topped with a creamy vanilla cream cheese frosting. Soft, fluffy, and perfectly sweet with a hint of cinnamon spice, these rolls are ideal for breakfast, brunch, or a comforting dessert.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Dough:

3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 packet (2 ¼ tsp) instant yeast
½ teaspoon salt
¾ cup warm milk (110°F)
¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon red food coloring

For the Cinnamon Filling:

½ cup unsalted butter, softened
¾ cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons cinnamon

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

4 oz cream cheese, softened
¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1–2 tablespoons milk (for consistency)

Instructions

Prepare the Dough: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, yeast, and salt. In another bowl, combine warm milk, melted butter, egg, vanilla extract, and red food coloring. Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing until a soft dough forms. Knead the dough on a floured surface for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let it rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
Make the Filling: In a small bowl, mix softened butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon until well combined to create a smooth, spreadable cinnamon filling.
Assemble the Rolls: Roll out the dough into a rectangle about ¼ inch thick. Spread the cinnamon filling evenly over the dough. Roll the dough tightly from one end into a log shape and slice into 12 even rolls. Place the rolls evenly spaced in a greased baking dish and let them rise for another 30 minutes until puffy.
Bake: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the rolls for 20–25 minutes or until they turn golden brown on top and are cooked through.
Make the Frosting & Serve: Beat together cream cheese, softened butter, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and 1–2 tablespoons of milk until smooth and creamy. Spread the frosting generously over the warm cinnamon rolls so it melts slightly into the rolls. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

Use warm milk (110°F) to activate the yeast properly for better rise.
Don’t over-knead the dough—stop once it’s smooth and slightly tacky to keep rolls tender.
Let the rolls rise twice for extra fluffiness and a light texture.
Spread the cinnamon filling evenly to ensure every bite is flavorful.
Frost while rolls are warm so the glaze melts beautifully into them.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Breakfast
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: red velvet cinnamon rolls, cinnamon rolls, breakfast rolls, cream cheese frosting, homemade cinnamon rolls, red velvet dessert