#Red Velvet Cinnamon Rolls
**Total Time:** 2 hours and 30 minutes; **Prep Time:** 30 minutes; **Bake Time:** 25 minutes.
Immerse yourself in the world of delicious sweetness and warmth with these Red Velvet Cinnamon Rolls. Perfect for brunch or dessert, these rolls perfectly marry the velvety smoothness of red velvet with the rich flavors of cinnamon.
##Why Make This Recipe
Red Velvet Cinnamon rolls are the perfect comfort food that you can enjoy with your loved ones. Enriched with the decadence of red velvet and the spice of cinnamon, these rolls are a treat for your taste buds.
##How to Make Red Velvet Cinnamon Rolls
###Ingredients
**For the Dough:**
– All-purpose flour – 3 cups
– Active dry yeast packet – 1 (2 1/4 tsp)
– Granulated sugar – 1/4 cup
– Salt – 1/2 tsp
– Unsweetened cocoa powder – 1/4 cup
– Warm milk – 1/2 cup
– Unsalted butter, melted – 1/4 cup
– 1 large egg
– Vanilla extract – 1 tsp
– Red food coloring – 1-2 tbsp
**For the Filling:**
– Unsalted butter, softened – 1/2 cup
– Packed brown sugar – 1 cup
– Cinnamon – 2 tbsp
**For the Cream Cheese Frosting:**
– Cream cheese, softened – 4 oz
– Unsalted butter, softened – 1/4 cup
– Powdered sugar – 1 1/2 cups
– Vanilla extract – 1 tsp
###Directions
1. In a large bowl, combine the flour, yeast, sugar, salt, and cocoa powder. Now add warm milk, melted butter, egg, vanilla extract, and red food coloring and knead until a smooth dough forms, about 5-7 minutes. Place this dough in a greased bowl and let it rise till it doubles in size. This should take about 1 hour.
2. Prepare the filling by mixing together softened butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon till they are well combined.
3. Once the dough has risen, roll it out into a rectangular shape of about 1/4 inch thickness. Now spread out the filling mixture evenly over the dough. Roll the dough tightly into a log and slice it into 12 even pieces.
4. Place these slices in a greased baking dish, cover them, and let them rise for about 30 minutes.
5. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake these rolls for about 25 minutes until they are golden brown.
6. Meanwhile prepare the frosting by beating together cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla until it becomes smooth and creamy.
7. Spread this cream cheese frosting on the warm rolls and voila, your Red Velvet Cinnamon Rolls are ready to be devoured!
##How to Serve Red Velvet Cinnamon Rolls
These rolls are best served warm. The combination of the velvety red rolls with the creamy frosting is an explosion of taste that will leave you craving more!
##How to Store Red Velvet Cinnamon Rolls
For those who want to enjoy the rolls later, ensure they cool completely before storing them in an airtight container.
##Tips to Make Red Velvet Cinnamon Rolls
When kneading the dough, take your time. This is not a process to be rushed. The dough needs to be smooth and elastic for the rolls to come out perfectly.
##Variation
For an interesting twist, you could add some chocolate chips to your cinnamon filling.
##FAQs
1. **Can I freeze the rolls?**
Yes, you can freeze the rolls after they have cooled and without the frosting. When ready to eat, defrost and heat them in the oven, then apply the frosting.
2. **Can I substitute active dry yeast?**
Yes, you can use instant yeast instead. In this case, no proofing is needed and you can directly add it to your dry ingredients.
3. **What other frostings can I use?**
If cream cheese frosting is not to your liking, you can also try a simple powdered sugar glaze or even a chocolate frosting for a richer taste.