Description
Gooey, melt-in-the-mouth brownie cinnamon rolls made with a pillowy soft dough, fudgy brownie batter filling, and chocolate ganache on top
Ingredients
Dough:
- 1 1/3 cup whole milk (320g)
- 4 teaspoons instant yeast
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar (100g)
- 5 cups all purpose flour (650g)
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature (113g)
- Optional: 1 tsp instant espresso powder
Brownie filling:
- 4 oz high quality dark chocolate, between 55-65% cocoa (113g), chopped - I use Callebaut*
- 10 tbsp unsalted butter (140g)
- ¾ cup granulated sugar (150g)
- 2 large eggs
- 1/3 cup all purpose flour (45g)
- ⅓ cup cocoa powder (35g) - it is best to use dutch processed
- ¾ tsp salt
Assembly:
- 1/2 cup heavy cream (120g), room temperature
Ganache:
- 80g semi-sweet chocolate, chopped (I like to use a mixture of milk and dark)
- 1/3 cup heavy cream (80g)
Instructions
Dough:
- Microwave milk for 20-30 seconds until it is warm to touch (~100-110F). Add it to the bowl of your stand mixer along with the yeast and whisk. If adding the espresso powder, mix it into the milk at this step
- Add the rest of the dough ingredients. Knead using the dough hook attachment on medium high speed for 7-10 minutes, until the dough becomes smooth, pulls away from the edges of the bowl, and is stretchy enough to pass the window-pane test (you should be able to stretch a small piece of dough between your fingers until it's thin enough to let light pass through without ripping). You can also knead this dough by hand - it will take ~15 minutes and will go from very sticky to not sticky with time
- Transfer the dough to a clean bowl sprayed with oil, cover with cling wrap and rest in a warm place (75-80F) for 60-90 minutes, or until the dough has at least doubled in size and springs back partly when gently poked with a finger
Brownie batter:
- When the dough has risen, make the quick brownie batter. Add the chocolate and butter to a microwave safe bowl. Microwave in 20 second increments, stirring in between, until a smooth melted mixture forms
- Add the sugar and eggs to the same bowl, and whisk for 30 seconds
- Sift in the flour, cocoa powder and salt. Use a rubber spatula to gently fold until the dry ingredients are just combined
Assembly:
- When the brownie batter is made, start assembly. Line a 9x13" baking pan with parchment paper
- Punch down the dough and transfer it to a clean surface dusted lightly with flour. Using your hands and a rolling pin, roll it into a 12x20" rectangle as neatly and evenly as possible. The dough will be really soft so won't need much pressure
- The brownie batter should still be a spreadable consistency. Use a spatula to spread the brownie batter evenly across the rectangle. If the brownie batter already feels thick / firm, you can proceed to the next step. Otherwise, wait for 10 minutes or until the batter cools down enough that it is semi-set and thicker
- With the 12" side towards you, divide the dough into 12 strips (each strip will be 1" wide and 20" long). This is easiest done if you use a long acrylic ruler and a pizza cutter
- Roll each strip tightly into a brownie cinnamon roll, and carefully transfer to the baking pan. You will arrange the rolls in a 4x3 formation
- Once all rolls are shaped, let them rest in a warm spot for another ~30-45 minutes until they look puffed up, and spring back partly when gently poked
- In the last 20 minutes of the second rise, preheat your oven to 350F (conventional / no fan)
- Right before putting the rolls in the oven, pour the 1/2 cup heavy cream over them carefully, dividing evenly between each roll. The cream will get soaked up as the rolls bake
- Transfer to the oven and bake for 22-24 minutes until the rolls develop a light golden color and feel firm to touch. If in doubt, I think it's better to slightly underbake for a gooey texture, vs over-baking and having dry rolls
- Remove from oven and let the rolls rest for 10 minutes
Ganache:
- Add the chocolate and cream to a microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high in 30 second increments, stirring in between, until a smooth ganache forms. Let it rest for 10 minutes
- Spread the ganache on top of the warm rolls - you can add as much as you like
- Serve and enjoy
Video tutorial:
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id="tuKwd81O" upload-date="2026-08-06T02:31:58+00:00" name="Gooey Brownie Cinnamon Rolls" description="How to make cinnamon rolls with a gooey brownie filling and chocolate ganache topping" player-type="default" override-embed="default" orientation="vertical"]Notes
- Make ahead and storage: Although these rolls are best eaten fresh, you can make them ahead of time, and keep them covered at room temperature for 1 day, or in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave for ~30 seconds before serving so they're warm and soft.
- Overnight rise: If you want to split the work between 2 days, you can do the first rise in the fridge overnight. Then shape the rolls the next day, and give the rolls their second rise at room temperature for about 1 hour before baking (longer because the dough will be cold to start with)
- Scaling down the recipe: If you want to make a small batch of these brownie cinnamon rolls, you can divide all quantities by 2 and make 6 rolls in an eighth sheet pan (~10"x7")
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Rest Time: 2 hours
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American