Chai Cinnamon Rolls

Total Time Prep: 45 min. + rising Bake: 30 min.
Yield 12 servings
Lean into cozy fall mornings with a breakfast to match. These chai cinnamon rolls are a latte and a pastry baked into one.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup warm whole milk (110° to 115°)
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 to 2-1/3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1-3/4 cups bread flour
  • FILLING:
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1-1/4 teaspoons ground cardamom
  • 1-1/4 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • ESPRESSO ICING:
  • 1 tablespoon whole milk
  • 1 tablespoon brewed espresso
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1-3/4 cups confectioners' sugar

Directions

  1. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm milk with a pinch of sugar. In a large bowl, combine butter, sugar, salt, and yeast mixture. Add eggs and flours; beat on medium speed until smooth and slightly tacky.
  2. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
  3. For the filling, combine the first 8 filling ingredients until well mixed.
  4. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out into a 15x12-in. rectangle. Brush with 2 tablespoons melted butter to within 1/2-in. of edges; sprinkle with sugar mixture. Drizzle with remaining 2 tablespoons melted butter. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a long side; pinch seam to seal. Cut into 12 slices.
  5. Place in a greased 13x9-in. baking pan, cut side down. Cover with a kitchen towel; let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
  6. Preheat oven to 350°. Bake until golden brown, 30-33 minutes. Let cool slightly for 15 minutes.
  7. Meanwhile, whisk together icing ingredients until smooth. Drizzle on top of buns.

Nutrition Facts

1 piece: 352 calories, 9g fat (5g saturated fat), 51mg cholesterol, 124mg sodium, 62g carbohydrate (30g sugars, 2g fiber), 7g protein.

These dirty chai cinnamon rolls have a traditional dough with a chai-spiced filling and a frosting flavored with espresso on top. Each bite is decadent and pillowy, and tastes just like your favorite dirty chai latte! —Hetal Vasavada, San Francisco, California
Recipe Creator

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