These easy cinnamon rolls are a fun twist on the classic, and it’ll give you the kind of dessert that spreads warmth like a cozy blanket on a winter night.
Heat the milk until lukewarm. Stir in sugar, oil, and yeast.
Set aside for 5-10 minutes until the mixture is bubbly.
Whisk in the 2 and 1/3 cups of flour. Cover and place in a draft-free place for 1 hour or until the dough is doubled in size.
Mix in the extra 1/4 cup flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
The dough is now ready for use immediately. You can refrigerate it for 30 minutes or up to 3 days.For easier handling, I always like to refrigerate the dough overnight.
Butter the cavities of your muffin pan well. Or if using a baking dish, grease that well.
Knead the dough for 1 minute and divide into 2 halves. This is for easier handling.
Sprinkle flour on your work surface and roll out one half of the dough into a rectangle.
Spread half of the cinnamon coffee filling evenly on the rolled-out dough.
Pick one of the short sides and bring it over 2/3 of the dough. Then pick the other short side and bring it over the folded dough.
Cut the folded dough into 6 strips, approximately 3/4" in width.
Working with 1 piece of dough at a time, cut the strip into 3 pieces, leaving about 1/4" of the end intact.
Braid the strips of dough together to form a braid. Now roll up the braid into a ball.Repeat this with the remaining strips and the 2nd half of the dough.
Place the braided rolls in the muffin pan, cover with a kitchen towel or cling wrap, and let proof for about 30-45 minutes or until puffy.
While the rolls are proofing, preheat your oven to 190 C.
Remove the plastic wrap or kitchen towel and bake the proofed buns at 190 C for 18-20 minutes.The filling will bubble over and spread over your muffin pan, but it cleans up easily!
Let the rolls cool in the muffin pan for 2-3 minutes before moving them onto a cooling rack.
Once they have cooled, spread a spoonful of coffee cream cheese frosting on each roll. Top with pecans and serve. Enjoy!
Filling
Combine the melted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon powder, and coffee powder in a small bowl.
Coffee Cream Cheese Frosting
Combine the softened cream cheese, icing sugar, and coffee powder in a small bowl and whisk well until smooth. Taste and adjust for sweetness and coffee flavor.