Cookie Monster Cinnamon Rolls (Print)
Fluffy blue rolls with cinnamon-chocolate filling and cream cheese frosting
# What You Need:
→ Dough
01 - 4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 packet (2 1/4 tsp) active dry yeast
03 - 1 cup warm milk (110°F)
04 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar
05 - 1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted
06 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
07 - 1/2 tsp salt
08 - Blue gel food coloring
→ Filling
09 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
10 - 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
11 - 2 tbsp ground cinnamon
12 - 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
→ Blue Cream Cheese Frosting
13 - 6 oz cream cheese, softened
14 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
15 - 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
16 - 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
17 - Blue gel food coloring
→ Decoration
18 - 24 candy eyes
19 - 6 mini chocolate chip cookies, halved
# How To Make It:
01 - Combine warm milk, yeast, and 1 tablespoon sugar in a large bowl. Let sit 5 minutes until foamy. Add melted butter, remaining sugar, eggs, salt, and blue food coloring. Mix well.
02 - Gradually add flour to the wet mixture, mixing until a soft dough forms. Add additional blue coloring as needed for vibrant color.
03 - Turn dough onto a floured surface. Knead 6-8 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour until doubled.
04 - Mix softened butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a small bowl until combined.
05 - Punch down dough. Roll into a 16x12-inch rectangle. Spread filling evenly, sprinkle with mini chocolate chips. Roll tightly from the long side and slice into 12 equal rolls.
06 - Arrange rolls in a greased 9x13-inch baking dish. Cover and let rise 30-40 minutes until puffy.
07 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake rolls 22-25 minutes until golden and cooked through. Cool slightly.
08 - Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth and fluffy. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and blue food coloring. Beat until creamy and vibrantly blue.
09 - Spread blue frosting generously over warm rolls. Place two candy eyes and half a mini cookie on each roll to create Cookie Monster faces.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The blue dough feels like magic every time you watch it rise
- Few things beat warm cinnamon rolls except making them look like your favorite childhood character
- The chocolate chips hidden inside make every bite feel like discovering a little treasure
02 -
- Overworking the dough after the first rise will make your cinnamon rolls dense instead of fluffy
- Gel food coloring is worth the extra hunt because liquid coloring can throw off your dough consistency
- Room temperature ingredients prevent lumpy frosting and ensure smooth dough development
03 -
- Brush the baked rolls with melted butter before frosting to keep them incredibly moist
- Warm your mixing bowl with hot water before making dough to help yeast activate faster