Chai Cinnamon Rolls
Cuisine: Breakfast
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 8 cinnamon rolls
 
Ingredients
Cinnamon Rolls
  • ¾ cup warm whole milk (110 degrees Fahrehneit is ideal!)
  • 1 package active dry yeast (2¼ tsp.)
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs, at room temperature
  • ¼ cup melted and cooled butter
  • 3½ cups all-purpose flour or bread flour
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • ½ tsp. cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp. cardamom
  • ¼ tsp. nutmeg
Filling
  • ¾ cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup softened butter
  • 3 tbsp. cinnamon
  • 2 tsp. cardamom
  • 2 tsp. nutmeg
  • 1 tsp. ginger
  • ½ tsp. cloves
Frosting
  • 4 oz. softened cream cheese
  • ¼ cup softened butter
  • Pinch of salt
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2-4 tbsp. milk or cream
  • Cinnamon for dusting
Instructions
  1. In the bowl of a stand mixer or in a large bowl, place the yeast and warm milk. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes and allow the yeast to bloom. The mixture should smell like bread and be foamy at the top.
  2. Add the sugar, eggs, butter, half of the flour, salt, cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg and mix to combine. Add the rest of the flour, continuing to knead until you have a soft, elastic, and slightly sticky dough. Only add more flour if absolutely necessary or your cinnamon rolls will be dry! Knead using your stand mixer with the dough hook on the first or second setting or on a countertop.
  3. Place the dough in an oiled bowl and cover with a dish towel. Set into a warm, dry place for one hour to rise until doubled in size.
  4. Once the dough is done rising, make your filling. In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, softened butter, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves. The mixture should be the consistency of wet sand.
  5. Roll out your dough to a large rectangle and spread the filling over it. Tuck in the ends, then roll lengthwise. Cut into 8 even pieces and place into a baking dish. From here, you can let rise again for 30-60 minutes, or you can cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
  6. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake for 30-40 minutes until golden brown.
  7. Make the frosting when the rolls have cooled off enough to eat but are still warm. In a large bowl with a hand mixer or using a stand mixer, mix together cream cheese and butter. Add salt and powdered sugar and mix until smooth. Add milk or cream as necessary to reach desired consistency.
  8. Spread frosting over the cinnamon rolls, sprinkle with cinnamon, and serve warm!
Recipe by For the Love of Gourmet at https://fortheloveofgourmet.com/chai-cinnamon-rolls/