[H]ow can I do the least amount of work, but still get the most amount of cinnamon rolls into my mouth? Super valid question.
How long would it take to go through airport security and stand in line at the Terminal C Cinnamon? Is that time shorter than the time it would take to make yeasted dough, roll it, fill it, slice it, rise it, and bake it?
How can I go from zero to cinnamon roll in one hour flat?
Here’s how! Ready. Set. You know….
There’s no time to waste here. We have a singular focus.
Milk is heated in a small pan with granulated sugar and butter. Heat just until the butter melts then remove from heat and allow it to cool slightly before adding the yeast. We want the yeast to feel warm and cozy enough to bloom and activate in the warm, sweet liquid, not hot hot hot. Yeast doesn’t like that.
Flour, salt, and an egg yolk are added to the milky yeast mixture. I didn’t add all the flour at once. I may not need the entire 2 cups.
My handheld KitchenAid mixer has a dough hook attachment. Thaaaaank you!
A warm soft little dough ball with 1/4 cup flour left over.
Because I want cinnamon rolls on the quick, the dough ball only rests for 10 minutes before being rolled out.
Is that sort of thing even allowed? Yes it is. We’re the boss.
Rolled and buttered.
Sugared with cinnamon and espresso powder and cocoa powder. Lots of chocolate chips too. Why not?
Coiled up right.
And sliced!
I placed the rolls in a lightly buttered pan, covered them with plastic wrap and allowed them to rest and rise for 30 minutes.
In the oven for 20 minutes and ZING!
Cinnamon rolls. And we didn’t even have to stand in line at the airport.
It’s not like a little espresso glazed ever hurt anyone! We’re reasonable people.
Print
Quick and Dirty Chocolate and Espresso Cinnamon Rolls
- Prep Time: 40
- Cook Time: 20
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 6 1x
Ingredients
For the Dough
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 1/2 to 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg yolk
For the Filling
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3/4 teaspoon instant espresso powder
- 3/4 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- pinch of salt
- 1/3 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
For the Glaze
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon instant espresso powder
- 3 tablespoons heavy cream or enough to make a pourable glaze
Instructions
- In a small saucepan combine milk, butter, and sugar. Stir until the sugar has dissolved and the butter has melted completely. Remove from heat and allow mixture to cool from hot to just warm.
- Place sweet milk and butter mixture in a large mixing bowl and sprinkle yeast over the liquid. Stir to incorporate. Allow mixture to sit for 5 minutes to allow to yeast to activate, foam, and froth.
- Add 1 1/2 cups flour, salt, and the egg yolk to the milk and yeast mixture. Use a wooden spoon or hand beaters with the dough hook attachment and stir or beat until incorporated. Add more flour, a few tablespoons at a time if the dough feels to wet. Bring the dough together into a ball and knead a few turns with your hands.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow to rest for 10 minutes.
- Roll the dough out on a lightly floured work surface. Roll into a roughly 9 x 12-inch rectangle.
- Spread with about 4 tablespoons of butter. In a small bowl stir together sugar, cinnamon, espresso powder, cocoa powder, and salt. Generously sprinkle over the melted butter. Sprinkle with chocolate chips. Roll starting at the longer edge into a tight coil.
- Slice into 6 pieces.
- Use remaining 2 tablespoons of butter to lightly grease the bottom and sides of an 8×8-inch baking pan. Place rolls in the pan leaving about 1/2 inch of room between them. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise for 30 minutes.
- While the rolls rise, place a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Remove plastic wrap and bake the rolls for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown, puffed, and bubbling.
- Remove from the oven, allow to cool just slightly.
- In a small bowl whisk together powdered sugar, espresso powder, and heavy cream. Drizzle over warm rolls and enjoy!!
110 Responses
Made them this morning they turned out amazing. I took them to work and most of them were gone by the time I got round to take a photo.
These are delicious. My father loves cinnamon rolls more than any other sweet thing. These are the request for birthdays, brunches, father’s day. Thank you.
Made these today for a Christmas Eve brunch, and my husband ate three (yes three!!!) and no shame in that! Thank you for such an extra special holiday treat!
Will this recipe double ok?
Yes!
Delicious and not to complicated. Cuts down on the resting and rising time. Thanks Joy!
I’m gonna make this for my mom. So fast and easy! Helps that it’s small batch too. She’s been craving cinnamon rolls but hates places that overload on frosting. She’s trying to watch her sugar. This is absolutely perfect!
Is it okay if i use instant yeast?
yes!
Hi Joy- I’m planning to make to make these for a bake sale. I was wondering if I made them the night before and waited to put the glaze on until the morning, if these would keep well either wrapped on the counter or in the fridge? Thanks!
I’ve mentioned this post on my blog today (and praised everything about that is awesome)! They look phenomenal!!
(side note..I dislike the video advertisements on your posts…they make the page jump up (or down) to it ever 30 seconds when a new one starts and I have to scroll back to where I was reading…this will not, however, deter me from visiting your pages!!!)
…. I realise you don’t know me and this is sudden, but I think I love you. <3
I have to ask… The only other time I did short cut rolls they turned rock hard in an hour. How do these guys hold up?
Loved the recipe, indeed very easy to make. Made two batches and they came out very delicious. thanks again.
So, I just made these after an hour of serious cross country skiing this morning, and they are PERFECT. I plan to eat the whole pan then take an epic nap.
Yessss gonna make these soon!!
Can I swap out instant coffee for espresso powder? I haven’t any and I NEED these!!!
The 1 1/2 c flour in a 1/2 c of liquid left this dough crumbly and un-useable when I made this. Did I get the directions wrong?
Reading this on a Sunday morning and you just made my day. I’m heading to my kitchen right now so they’ll be ready before the rest of the crew wakes up!
i made these and loved them! My hubby, though, is not a huge chocolate fan (!!!!) and likes the chai spiced cinnamon rolls better. Could you do the dough and those spices? Think it would still turn out okay?? Might just have to try.
These take more than an hour. I like your recipes but this is misleading. I only had an hour before I needed to go out the door..
Yes, yes, yes! Iโve been cinnamon roll crazy lately. Made something similiar recently but increased the size to six rolls per 9×13 panโฆ heh. Looks delicious!
this looks delicious!!
i definitly gonna make them!
YUM this looks fantastic. Sweet breakfast foods photograph so well, don’t they? They just draw me in, and I can’t resist pinning/saving them. But I don’t follow through and actually make them enough. Perhaps I’ll start with these!
The whole title shouts at me! I am a dedicated maker of your cinnamon rolls and these are next on my hit list!
Zero to cinnamon roll. It was a perfect Sunday baking event. Homemade rolls always taste so much better…and with the melty chocolate inside, I didn’t even make the icing.
These are in my oven now and it smells amazing!! Just wondering though, do you think I could assemble these and leave them in the fridge overnight to bake the next day? Only because it still took me about an hour and a half to make including baking time.
Oh my goodness.
I need some of these bad boys in my life because I’m craving one because of your mouthwatering recipes! Gosh darn it. <3
The hint of espresso is such a lovely touch since I love the aroma of it even though I don't drink coffee haha :)
Lee
http://Www.lastnightwithlee.blogspot.com
Ooh love chocolate and coffee flavours.
Deirdre @ http://www.thekitschcook.blogspot.com
Mmm… Cinnamon rolls, especially when they’re quick, seem so much less daunting.
It looks amazzzingggggg! So delicious! Need to try this recipe.
http://www.trangscorner.com
I made these as soon as I saw the recipe. Made some changes because I didn’t have choc chips, used finely chopped walnuts. Didn’t have espresso powder. I used a wooden spoon to mix the dough, then kneaded it by hand for a bit to lose the stickyness. I just let the ball of dough rest on the board I kneaded the dough on, covered with plastic wrap for ten minutes. I didn’t frost them either. They were the best cinnamon rolls I’ve ever had and very quick and easy. Thanks, I’ll be making them again and sent the recipe to my cousin.
Uhhhh how have I never thought of adding espresso before? Espresso + Cinnamon = match made in heaven! Thank you for sharing :)
xxLK
https://ellekae.com
These look so good that my plans to avoid grocery shopping today are completely foiled.
In the oven right now. Thank you Joy!
Oh dear God. I wanna eat them right now!!!
https://justsem.wordpress.com/
oh man you just improved my weekend breakfast plans by a gazililon. roll on saturday!
I love that I can make these for my sweetheart on a weekend, without having to get up at 4am! Thanks Joy for making every day a little sweeter!
Yum, mouth watering and divine. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
These look and sound absolutely amazing!
xx Kelly
Sparkles and Shoes
My husband is addicted to cinnamon rolls, so I have a one hour recipe I make too! I may have to switch it up and do espresso and chocolate instead.
Perfect timingโฆI made these for the snow day today! I did a cream cheese icing instead, though, and left out the espresso powder (since I don’t have any!). So good!!
What’s your favorite instant espresso powder?
I love the King Arthur Flour brand!
My snow plow guy thanks you. He showed up to plow my 20 inches just as I iced these.
Can these be assembled the night before, refrigerated and then baked in the morning?
Yum! These look awesome. :)
This post is so funny! Love your style.
These look so yummy! I will have to make them :o thanks for sharing! xx
Love, Charline
Question…I tried making the dough twice, the first time it barely rose and fell apart when I rolled it. The second time it never rose. I did everything in the steps so what would I be missing?
oh my, I’m making this for dinner tonight!
Any time I can get carbs into my face (preferably sweet & studded with chocolate though I’d accept the savoury types doused with cheese & butter) quicker than my drive home from work, I’m all in.
Sometimes I need a cinnamon roll stat! Great recipe!
Not sure if I’d like the expresso, but I ADORE cinnamon rolls – though I’ve never thought about making them myself. So I’ve got to give this a go!
Claire // https://technicolourdreamer.blogspot.ie/
Mmmm quick and dirty just the way I like my carbs!
OMG wow. Chocolate + Espresso + Cinnamon rolls??? And they’re quick? I’m sold.
Great recipe – I tried these today and they were just perfect :)
Have tried this variation with your ORANGE AND DARK CHOCOLATE CINNAMON ROLLS recipe.
I laugh so hard reading this post :D Your way of telling the story is great, I really love this :) And also cinnamon rolls looks delicious!
Yum! yes please…
What a fab little recipe – all my fab ingredients! Thank you!!
https://highheelsbrownhair.blogspot.co.uk/
this is so inspiring! a perfect breakfast treat! gonna bake it today :) hope my Italian friend like them
Love it! So yummy!
nastyadrama.ru
Oh my lanta, how delicious!
Are you serious? How do you think up such deliciousness? You’re killing my diet. Oh well. What a way to go!
Chocolate, espresso, cinnamon in one roll?! I love it!
Omg!! I love how fast these from-scratch cinnamon rolls are! Waiting is the hardest part when it comes to cinnamon rolls, definitely!
Ps-LOVE that dough hand mixer attachment!! :)
I had no idea cinnamon rolls were so easy…but I may have to eat my words there!
Annabel ?
Mascara & Maltesers
Thank you, Joy. I just went out in a blizzard to get butter so I can make snow day cinnamon rolls tomorrow morning.
This is perfection and I can (almost) call myself an expert in cinnamon rolls as I currently live in the country (Sweden), where they are basically a national treasure! I’ll definately give your recipe a try ;)
http://www.globalspicedblog.tumblr.com
Wow these looks amazing! Can’t wait to try them!
Yes! Yes! Yes! I’ll have what she’s having! Wish I had the dough hook thing, but a wooden spoon worked for grandma it can work for me! Thanks for sharing!
I love the chocolate and espresso twist! Cinnamon rolls are my weakness. Between flights, I usually stop by the Cinnabon at Charlotte Douglas to get my fix.
I made a batch this weekend– not this recipe, but one from Sally’s Baking Addiction. It’s a recipe that has the same 10 minute initial rest instead of a first rise. Worked like magic. I also took a recipe that usually makes 9 rolls for me and squished the dough into 4 GIANT rolls. Slathered on a thick, store-bought frosting to avoid the extra mess. Cinnamon dreams fulfilled.
I wish I’d seen this flavor combo sooner, though. It looks so, so good.
Heard it was going to start snowing like crazy! Going to make these when I can be sure the power won’t go out cause they sound delicious.
YES YES AND YES – haven’t made buns like this yet so I’m giving this tempting recipe a go!
Lauren x
Britton Loves | Lifestyle Food Fashion Beauty – http://www.brittonloves.blogspot.co.uk
These have made me so hungry! Defiantly going to have to try this recipe asap!
Katy x x
http://www.whatkatyknows.net
Amazing, I love homemade cinnamon rolls, but it’s usually like a 5 hour process when I make them. Going to give these quickies a try!
It’s like you knew I woke up this morning craving cinnamon rolls. Perfect timing as usual!
These look delicious!
Jenna || Jennafifi.co.uk
Hehe I love your determination to make these with speed! And they look soooooo yum!
The one reason I have yet to make cinnamon rolls is because of how long they take and I just can’t wait that long in the morning. THANK YOU JOY!!!! This weekend I’ll be in cinnamon roll heaven!
This is a perfectly valid question and an honorable pursuit! Thanks for doing all the hard work for us. Now we just get to sit back and eat cinnamon rolls. You da best!
Cinnamon rolls make a regular appearance around here…I love the espresso addition to these! Quick – and caffeinated is great for bleary eyed Mamas as they get going in the morning! :)
Whenever I visit your blog, I feel like you end up making my life easier in some way. Today you’ve solved the problem that is the major lack of cinnamon buns in my life.
I will give any recipe that has “quick and dirty” in its title a try at least once ;)
Happy Monday, Joy!
xx Kathryn
https://www.throughthethicket.ca
Thanks for posting this now as Feb 2 starts the new eating plan and things like this are going to become rare occasions but thank you for making them so I have great things to look forward too.
This looks amazing! Such a perfect combination! I swear I’d eat the entire pan myself!
https://sometimesgracefully.com
Joy Wilson, you’re my hero! I can’t wait to try these for myself. Perfect prep time and perfect serving size!
I love this! So fun :)
Wow! I didn’t know cinnamon rolls would work with such a short rise.
Your “we’re the boss” made me laugh.
Can’t wait to try these.
I made these today and they were delicious! I left out the chocolate and espresso because I didn’t have any and was in a hurry to test the recipe. So good! The dough is really easy to work with. Thanks, Joy, for sharing the recipe.
Chocolate and espresso perfection!!
You’ve just changed cinnamon rolls forever!! Amazing! And now to try this dough with alllll the other cinnamon roll recipes. Mmm.
Love making cinnamon rolls!! I can’t wait to try these quickies!!
It’s probably mandatory to make these during the blizzard, right?
You have won Monday my dear!! And that hand held mixer with the dough hook? Now, that’s everything!
Argh! Having one of those super ‘hungry’ days today, when I could eat anything and everything, and then this pops up in my Bloglovin feed! And I have all the things I need….must resist! Maybe I will make them Sunday though as a treat, as long as my boyfriend promises to eat most of them, or I’ll eat them all!
Filthy. Ridiculous. What have you created.
…I’m 100% making these. Joy, you’re just bloody brilliant.
Oh YUM. Wow. I LOVE cinnamon rolls! Such a great brunch treat. Definitely going to try this!
Joy! These look delicious… Question. I recently found out I have an intolerance to Dairy and Egg whites (not fun)… but do you think these would work with almond milk and vegan butter?? I’m thinking yes…
I just made these with coconut oil and almond milk and eliminated the chocolate chips. My kids can’t eat dairy. They are delicious. I needed more powdered sugar for the frosting, but the amount of coconut oil was an equivalent swap. The dough is easy to work with.
I totally needed this post today … ahhhhhhh mondays!!
These sound HEAVENLY! Man, I wished I had an oven when I read these types of posts!
Stephanie
https://ishowedupinboots.com
So it’s snowing like crazy in New York, and I just want to hibernate all day. I think this might need to happen asap. Good thing I already have all the ingredients!! yummmmmm
This is great! I never think to plan ahead for making cinnamon rolls. I usually wake up and think, “self, a cinnamon roll would be nice, but you are far too hungry to wait 2-3 hours for that to happen.” I have also never had espresso in my cinnamon rolls, but I am totally on board! Thanks for sharing. :)
They look so delicious. I love the addition of espresso.
Decided when I will make these, and whether I need to order new instant espresso powder from King Arthur (I think the answer is sadly, yes). Drooling.
Also, even though I’ve made several delicious recipes from Homemade Decadence, I still found myself reading the whole book yesterday morning. It’s like a cozy blanket of appetite inducing idea.
Wow! Yum much?
Thanks! I need these in my life!
athisfeetdaily.blogspot.com
Yum, yum, yum. Seriously yummy looking – I need to taste these NOW!!!! So much baking, so little time!!! Sammie at http://www.feastingisfun.com. will sure to be making these. Thanks for posting :)
I didn’t know it until now, but these are everything I’ve ever wanted. Bless you, Joy.
WHAT. It’s like you understood what I’ve been searching for on Pinterest for months. ????
This is perfect. I am not an early riser so the faster the buns the better!