Chocolate Chip Cinnamon Rolls

Chocolate cinnamon rolls make the perfect dessert or breakfast recipe. These cinnamon rolls are made from scratch and have tons of chocolate flavor. If you love regular cinnamon roll and chocolate, then this recipe is for you.

Trying new flavors of cinnamon rolls such as Bacon Cinnamon Rolls and Eggnog Cinnamon Rolls are perfect for the holiday or special occasion. But this chocolate chip cinnamon roll recipe is always requested.

Why This Recipe Works

I love chocolate so I knew that adding the rich chocolate flavor to my cinnamon roll recipe, would be the perfect combination. I already had all the ingredients which made this recipe even easier to make.

The cinnamon rolls baked perfectly with a soft and chewy texture. Adding the chocolate chip cream cheese frosting made it taste even better.

Ingredients

• Whole Milk – Warmed to 110 degrees. It is best to use Whole Milk
• Active Dry Yeast – We used 1 packet
• Large Eggs – Room Temperature, lightly beaten is best
• Butter – Use unsalted butter that has been melted
• Brown Sugar – Learn How to Make Homemade Brown Sugar
• Ground Cinnamon – You can use Pumpkin Pie Spice for a delicious variations

For the full recipe and ingredients, scroll to the bottom for the recipe card.

How to Make Chocolate Chip Cinnamon Rolls

Making the dough

• Step 1 – Use a microwave or a small pot on the stove to heat up the milk to 110 degrees; it should only feel warm to the touch, not hot.

Step 2 – Add the yeast in the milk and whisk to break clumps and dissolve it. Let yeast sit for about 5 minutes.

Step 3 – In the meantime, combine the flour, sugar and salt in a large mixing bowl. Make a well in the center.

Step 4 – Whisk the melted butter and beaten egg into the yeast mixture, then pour it into the well.

Step 5 – Stir with a wooden spoon or a mixer on low speed until you get a shaggy lump of dough.

Step 6 – Spread and knead the dough on a surface that has been lightly dusted with flour. Put the dough into a lightly greased bowl with butter or nonstick spray.

Step 7 – Cover it tightly with plastic wrap and leave in a warm area. Let it sit for an hour or 2, until the dough has doubled in size. Punch the dough down to release any air build-up and place in the fridge for at least 1 hour or overnight.

Step 8 – After chilling, turn the dough out on a lightly floured surface and roll to a 10×16-inch rectangle. The thickness will be about ¼-inch.

Step 9 – Brush the surface of the dough with half of the melted butter, then sprinkle with the brown sugar mixture evenly over the dough. Pat to make sure the mixture is  sticking to the dough. Drizzle the remaining butter on top.

Step 10 – Starting at the long-side end of the dough closest to you, roll the dough tightly into a coil while lightly pressing to make sure there are no gaps between the dough and the filling.

Step 11 – Using light sawing motions, use a serrated knife to cut 12 even pieces or rolls.

Step 12 – Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan with nonstick spray and arrange the rolls with the spiral facing upward. You can cover it lightly with plastic wrap and let it rise for an hour or overnight.

Step 13 – Unwrap the rolls and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until they’re fluffy and golden brown. After baking, let them cool in the baking dish for at least 15 minutes.

Step 14 – Beat the butter and cream cheese using a hand or stand mixer on medium to high speed until smooth.

Step 15 – Add in the cocoa powder and powdered sugar, and mix on low speed until combined. Add in the milk and vanilla, then mix on low speed.

• Step 16 – Once the rolls are out of the oven, spread the icing on warm cinnamon rolls and let it cool slightly before serving.
• Step 17 – You can top it with more mini chocolate chips and serve the rolls with the remaining icing. Dig in!

Expert Tips

• Make Ahead – These cinnamon rolls are the perfect recipe to make ahead of time to give time for the dough to rise.
• Chill Dough – After allowing the dough to rise, allow time for the dough to chill for the best texture.
• Frosting Cinnamon Rolls – We like to rest the cinnamon rolls after baking for about 15 minutes. But you want to frost the cinnamon rolls while they are still warm. This allows the icing to get into all the layers of the cinnamon rolls.

Serving Suggestions

These chocolate chip cinnamon rolls are delicious served just the way they are. They are full of chocolate flavor and perfect served with coffee, Air Fryer Bacon and Fruit Salad Recipe.

If you prefer you top with melted butter for a rich and buttery flavor.

Frequently Asked Questions