Quick and Dirty Chocolate Espresso Cinnamon Rolls

[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. 

Quick and Dirty Chocolate and Espresso Cinnamon Rolls

★★★★★ 5 from 1 reviews

• Author: Joy the Baker
• Prep Time: 40
• Cook Time: 20
• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 6 1x

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

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

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Instructions

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow to rest for 10 minutes.
5. Roll the dough out on a lightly floured work surface. Roll into a roughly 9 x 12-inch rectangle.
6. 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.
7. Slice into 6 pieces.
8. 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.
9. While the rolls rise, place a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
10. Remove plastic wrap and bake the rolls for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown, puffed, and bubbling.
11. Remove from the oven, allow to cool just slightly.
12. In a small bowl whisk together powdered sugar, espresso powder, and heavy cream. Drizzle over warm rolls and enjoy!!

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