caramel coffee cinnamon rolls
A caramel macchiato in brunch form.
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole milk, warm
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 4 tbsp butter, melted and cooled slightly
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 3 1/2-4 cups all purpose flour
filling
- 6 tbsp butter, softened
- 2/3 cup dark brown sugar
- 2 tsp instant coffee or espresso
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
caramel cream cheese frosting
- 4 oz cream cheese, cold
- 4 tbsp butter, softened
- 3 tbsp caramel sauce, homemade or store bought (see note)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/2-2 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the milk, maple syrup, and yeast. Let sit until foamy, about 5-10 minutes. Whisk in the butter and beaten egg.
- With the mixer running on low, add 3 cups of flour. Continue adding flour 1 tablespoon at a time until a soft, tacky, but cohesive dough forms and pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Continue kneading for 10-15 minutes.
- Grease a clean bowl with oil. Flip the dough into the bowl so both sides are coated. Cover in plastic wrap and let rise in a warm, draft-free spot until doubled, about 60-90 minutes.
- Toss together the sugar, cinnamon, and instant coffee in a small bowl.
- Lightly grease a 9 x 13 inch casserole dish. Flour a clean, flat surface. Punch down the dough and dump onto the floured area. Roll into a roughly 12 x 18 inch rectangle. Spread with butter, then sprinkle with the cinnamon-coffee sugar. Roll from the long side into a log. Use a sharp knife to slice 12 rolls out of the dough. Arrange into the prepared baking dish. Cover and let rest 20-30 minutes longer until puffy. Or, transfer to the fridge and let rise overnight.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Uncover the rolls and bake for 18-20 minutes until golden on top. If you refrigerated the rolls, you may need 22-25 minutes. Let cool 10-15 minutes.
- In a large bowl, beat the butter, cream cheese, and caramel on medium speed until combined, then whip in the vanilla. Add powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time, mixing between each addition until incorporated. Crank up the speed to high and whip until very fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Spread generously onto the warm rolls. ENJOY!
Notes
*Homemade caramel: Melt 1 cup sugar in a small saucepan, whisking constantly, until liquefied and golden. Whisk in 4 tablespoons of butter until melted, then 1/2 cup of heavy cream. Simmer until slightly thickened, about 1-2 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in 1 tsp salt (omit if you don't want a salted caramel) and 2 tsp vanilla extract. Let cool completely - it will thicken. Caramel sauce keeps up to 2 weeks in the fridge.