Sweetheart Cinnamon Rolls Pink (Printable View)
Soft cinnamon rolls filled with cinnamon sugar and topped with pink cream cheese icing.
# Ingredient List:
→ Dough
01 - 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast (1 packet)
04 - 1/2 tsp salt
05 - 3/4 cup whole milk, lukewarm
06 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
07 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
→ Filling
08 - 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
09 - 2 tbsp ground cinnamon
10 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
→ Pink Icing
11 - 4 oz cream cheese, softened
12 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
13 - 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
14 - 1–2 tbsp milk
15 - 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
16 - 2–3 drops red food coloring or beet juice
# How to Make It:
01 - Combine warm milk and yeast in a large bowl. Let sit for 5 minutes until foamy. Add sugar, melted butter, eggs, and salt. Gradually mix in flour, kneading until a soft dough forms (about 5–7 minutes).
02 - Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
03 - In a small bowl, mix brown sugar and cinnamon until well combined.
04 - Punch down the dough. On a floured surface, roll into a 16x12-inch rectangle. Spread with softened butter, then sprinkle evenly with cinnamon sugar mixture.
05 - Roll up tightly from the longer side. Slice into 12 equal pieces. To create a heart shape, pinch the bottom of each roll and slightly indent the top center.
06 - Arrange rolls in a greased 9x13-inch baking pan. Cover and let rise for 30–40 minutes until puffy.
07 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake for 22–25 minutes, until golden brown. Let cool slightly.
08 - Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, milk, and food coloring. Mix until creamy and pink.
09 - Spread pink icing over warm rolls. Serve immediately.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The cream cheese icing turns this into something people will talk about for months
- These rolls stay incredibly soft even the next day, if they last that long
02 -
- Dental floss works better than a knife for cutting perfect rolls without squishing them
- The pink icing sets up quickly, so spread it while the rolls are still warm for that gorgeous drippy look
03 -
- Use a kitchen scale for the flour, because measuring by volume can throw off the texture completely
- The dough should feel tacky but not stick to your hands, so add flour gradually