Remember last time how I referred to those cookies as “what Molly wants for Valentine’s Day.” Well, today’s recipe is dedicated to my husband. I dub these “what Dan wants for Valentine’s Day.”
I’ve talked about this a few times before, but Dan has a serious infatuation with the combo of chocolate and peanut butter. I mean, who doesn’t, right? It’s basically food genius.
As are cinnamon rolls. Cinnamon rolls are definitely a special thing in our house. A rare occurrence. And yet, they remain one of our favorite pastries of all time. The only catch? They are kind of high maintenance.
You have to make a yeasted dough, allow it to proof, roll it out, fill it, form the rolls from it, and then let it rise again. And that’s all before you even get them in the oven! So yeah, they are reserved for only special occasions in our house.
Many people have claimed to find the perfect “one-hour cinnamon roll” recipe, and I hate to admit this, but I’ve tried some of those out (because I’m definitely an impatient person and don’t have a lot of spare time on my hands these days) and they’re never quite as good as the high maintenance cinnamon rolls. The ones that take hours to make just seem to taste better.
Maybe I’m just crazy and feel like they’re not as good because they didn’t take as much effort? Who knows.
The recipe I’m sharing today is a high maintenance one. And I’m OK with it. Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to whip something like this out because it shows that you were willing to put the extra effort in for your special someone. And in my case, stuff them chock full of chocolate and peanut butter flavors to show your hubs that he’s the best.
These cinnamon rolls start out with a yeasted buttermilk dough flavored with a little peanut butter, which is then filled with cinnamon and dark chocolate, and then topped off with the dreamiest peanut butter cream cheese frosting after they’re baked. Swoon!
It is a chocolate-peanut butter-cinnamon lover’s dream. Those three things have such an affinity for one another, so I knew that these could only come out fantastic.
If you’re looking for a special something to make for your special someone, make these the night before Valentine’s Day, allow them to proof in your fridge overnight, and then bake them off for a very romantic accompaniment to your morning coffee.
Does it get any better than that?
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cinnamon Rolls
- Yield: 12 large rolls 1x
Ingredients
For the Dough:
- 4–5 cups all-purpose flour, divided
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 2¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
- ½ teaspoon fine salt
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
- 3 large eggs
- ¾ cup buttermilk
For the Filling:
- ½ stick unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ cup finely chopped bittersweet chocolate
For the Peanut Butter Frosting:
- ½ stick unsalted, butter, softened
- 3 oz cream cheese, softened
- 3 tablespoons smooth peanut butter
- 2 teaspoons vanilla bean extract or paste
- 3–4 cups powdered sugar
- Few tablespoons of milk, as needed to thin out the frosting
Instructions
For the Dough:
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine 4 cups of the flour, the sugar, yeast, and salt.
- Place the butter and peanut butter in a small bowl and heat in the microwave until melted and smooth, about 30 seconds.
- Add buttermilk to a glass measuring cup and heat in the microwave until it reaches a temperature of 120°F (use the instructions on your yeast package to see what the range should be. You don’t want it too hot or it will kill the yeast). Whisk in the melted butter and peanut butter.
- Fit the mixer with the paddle attachment. Turn on the mixer to combine the dry ingredients and then slowly add in the buttermilk mixture and the eggs. Mix until combined.
- Switch to the dough hook attachment and mix for 10 minutes. Add in another ¼ cup of flour to ensure that the dough isn’t too sticky. The dough should be very tacky and moist.
- Spray a large bowl with cooking spray and scrape the kneaded dough into the bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and allow it to rise for 2-3 hours, or until doubled in size.
- Punch down the dough and then roll it out on a floured surface to form a large rectangle.
For the Filling:
- Evenly spread out the butter over the surface of the dough, leaving a ½-inch border around the edge. Then, sprinkle the brown sugar, cinnamon, and chopped chocolate evenly over the butter.
Forming the Rolls:
- Carefully loosen the dough from the surface on one long edge of the rectangle. Slowly and carefully roll the dough into a tight log. Pinch the seam closed and then gently even out the log so it is the same diameter from end to end. Slice the log in half and then cut each half evenly into thirds. You should now have six pieces of the log. Slice each piece in half to make 12 cinnamon rolls.
- Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and then arrange the rolls on the pan. Cover with plastic wrap.
- At this point, you can place the pan in the fridge for up to 16 hours to make the next day. Or, you can proceed with allowing them to rise for another hour at room temperature. If keeping in the fridge, remove one hour before you are ready to bake and allow them to double in size again.
- Bake the rolls in a 350°F oven for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown on top.
For the Frosting:
- While the rolls are baking, place the butter, cream cheese, and peanut butter in the bowl of a stand mixer. Beat until light and creamy. Add in the vanilla and powdered sugar, adding the sugar gradually until the frosting is thick and creamy. Add in the milk, one tablespoon at a time, if needed to thin out the frosting to a spreadable consistency.
- Spread generously on the rolls as soon as they come out of the oven. Allow them to cool slightly before serving.
Dough lightly adapted from here.
Hi There. I'm Molly. I'm a food-obsessed, self-taught cook and I can't wait to share my passion for all things culinary with you. My love for egg yolks is just the tip of the iceberg!
These sound wonderful! Love, love, love the peanut butter in there!
oh, this is a beautiful, beautiful thing. I love cinnamon rolls, I love chocolate, and I LOVE peanut butter – especially when it’s combined with cream cheese and butter and vanilla and sugar. thanks for sharing!
Like seriously – INCREDIBLE!
I just made these and they came out wonderful…even without a standing mixer 🙂 thanks for sharing!
Hooray! I’m so glad, Lora.
Can these be baked in a metal pan or does it have to be ceramic?
They can definitely be done in a metal pan. I would double check the recommended temperature, however, for that type of pan. Sometimes it varies! You may need to check on it while it’s baking.