Cardamom Chocolate Rolls

20 mins Prep Time

35 mins Cook Time

Written By

Nadia Boachie

These cardamom chocolate rolls are buttery, sweet, soft and doughy. They are absolutely perfect to make for dessert or as a breakfast food. The filling is made from delicious dark chocolate and cardamom and the dough has a bit more butter than usual, giving the rolls a brioche-like texture. These rolls are addicting and best eaten the day of, even better when eaten while still warm and covered in the wonderful cream cheese frosting. If you are looking for a different spin on your classic cinnamon rolls, definitely give this recipe a try. It's hard to have just one, so make sure you have people to share these delicious rolls with (or not).

Ingredients

Dough

1 cup warm whole milk
2 1/4 teaspoons quick rise or active yeast (1/4-ounce package yeast)
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
2/3 cup melted salted butter
4 1/3 cups bread flour or all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
1 teaspoon salt

Chocolate Cardamom Filling

3 ounces dark chocolate (up to 45-70% cocoa)
1/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
4 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Pinch of kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom

Cream Cheese Frosting

1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/8 teaspoon cardamom
1/8 teaspoon salt

Directions

Cardamom Chocolate Rolls

13 Steps

Step 1

You can do this with a stand mixer or entirely by hand.
Step 2

First warm your milk in a microwave safe bowl to about 110°F. Sprinkle your yeast on top and a teaspoon of sugar from your 2/3 cup of sugar.
Step 3

Add 4 cups of flour and salt into a bowl and mix. Pour your yeast mixture into flour mixture, then add your eggs and melted butter. Mix until well combined and a dough forms.
Step 4

If using a stand mixer, use your dough hook and mix on medium speed for about 10 minutes. If using hands knead for 15 minutes. Dough should be slightly sticky and soft but not stick to surface. Slowly incorporate 1/3 cup of remaining flour until desired texture is achieved. You may have leftover flour or you may use all 1/3 cup.
Step 5

Place your dough ball in an oiled bowl and let rise for 1 1/2 hours or until doubled in size.
Step 6

In the meantime, make your filling (see method).
Step 7

When your dough has doubled in sized roll it out to a 20x14 inch rectangle. Spread your filling over the dough, leaving a 1/4-inch margin at the far side of the dough.
Step 8

Tightly roll dough up so you have a 14 inch log.
Step 9

Cut your log into about into 1 1/5 inch sections with a serrated knife or floss and you should get 9 big pieces.
Step 10

Arrange in a parchment-lined or lightly buttered skillet, cover with plastic wrap and a towel and let rise again for 45 minutes.
Step 11

Preheat oven to 350°F. Remove plastic wrap and towel and bake cardamom rolls for 30-35 minutes or until they are golden brown on the outside. Check your chocolate cardamom rolls about 25 minutes in to see how they are browning and how they are cooking. You can check if they are raw or not by piercing a knife between rolls and looking at doneness.
Step 12

Allow them to cool for 5-10 minutes before frosting. Makes 9 large chocolate cardamom rolls.
Step 13

Spread frosting over rolls and enjoy.

Filling

2 Steps

Step 1

While dough is rising, make the filling.
Step 2

Add your chocolate and butter into a microwave safe bowl and microwave until chocolate starts to melt. Add in brown sugar, vanilla extract, salt and cardamom into the butter chocolate mixture and set aside to let cool. Try to get it as cool as possible (without placing in fridge) to avoid a huge mess but expect some leakage when rolling up your dough and slicing.

Frosting

1 Steps

Step 1

In a bowl, add your cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, cardamom, salt and vanilla extract. Use an electric mixer or whisk and beat until smooth and fluffy. Spread over chocolate cardamom rolls and serve.

Ingredients

Dough