Cookie Monster Cinnamon Rolls
Delightfully fluffy cinnamon rolls colored a playful blue, filled with crushed chocolate sandwich cookies and mini chocolate chips, topped with a tangy cream cheese frosting.
Ingredients
Dough
- 1 cup Warm milk (can substitute with plant-based milk for vegan)
- 2 teaspoons Active dry yeast
- 1/4 cup Granulated sugar
- 1 large Egg (for vegan, use flax egg)
- 1 large Egg yolk
- 1/4 cup Unsalted butter (melted, can be replaced with a dairy-free alternative)
- 4 cups All-purpose flour (for gluten-free, use a 1:1 mix with xanthan gum)
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- a few drops Blue gel food coloring (or alternatives like butterfly pea powder)
Filling
- 1/4 cup Unsalted butter (softened)
- 1/2 cup Brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons Ground cinnamon
- 1 cup Crushed chocolate sandwich cookies (like Oreos)
- 1/2 cup Mini chocolate chips
Frosting + Topping
- 4 ounces Cream cheese (softened)
- 1/4 cup Unsalted butter
- 2 cups Powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 1 cup Crushed chocolate cookies
- to taste Extra mini chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions
Preparation
- Activate the yeast by stirring together the warm milk, active dry yeast, and granulated sugar in a large mixing bowl. Let it sit until foamy.
- Mix in the egg, egg yolk, melted butter, vanilla extract, and a few drops of blue gel food coloring until evenly tinted.
- Add the flour and salt, mixing until a shaggy dough forms. The dough should feel soft and slightly tacky.
- Knead the dough until smooth and elastic, ensuring that the color is uniform and the dough stretches without tearing.
- Cover the dough and let it rise until puffy and doubled in size.
Filling and Shaping
- Combine softened butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a bowl to make the filling. Stir in the crushed cookies and mini chocolate chips.
- Roll the dough into a rectangle, spread the filling evenly, then roll it up into a tight log and slice into rolls.
- Arrange the rolls in a baking dish, cover, and let them rise again until plump.
Baking and Frosting
- Bake the rolls until set and lightly golden, but still soft when pressed.
- Beat the softened cream cheese and butter until smooth, then mix in the powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Fold in the crushed chocolate cookies.
- Spread frosting over the warm rolls and sprinkle with extra mini chocolate chips if desired.
Notes
For best results, keep the milk warm, use gel coloring for bold blue, and crush cookies to the right size. Frost while warm for best texture.