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Pretty Pink Cinnamon Rolls: Easy Brunch Recipe

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These naturally pink cinnamon rolls get their beautiful blush from beet juice, creating a stunning and delicious brunch centerpiece. They are pillowy soft, perfectly sweet, and topped with a tangy cream cheese frosting.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (240ml) whole milk, lukewarm
  • 2 ¼ teaspoons (7g) active dry yeast
  • ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
  • 4 cups (500g) all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • ¼ cup (60g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1–2 tablespoons beet juice or 1 teaspoon beet powder
  • ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, very soft
  • 1 cup (200g) packed brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
  • Pinch of salt
  • 4 oz (113g) cream cheese, softened
  • ¼ cup (60g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 ½ cups (180g) powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1–2 tablespoons milk or heavy cream

Instructions

  1. Activate the Yeast: In the bowl of your stand mixer, combine the warm milk and the granulated sugar. Sprinkle the yeast over the top. Give it a gentle stir and let it sit for 5-10 minutes until it becomes frothy and smells like bread.
  2. Make the Pink Dough: Add the melted butter, egg, salt, and your beet juice or powder to the yeast mixture. Mix on low speed with the paddle attachment just until combined. Switch to the dough hook.
  3. Add the Flour: With the mixer on low, add the flour, one cup at a time. Mix until a shaggy dough forms. Increase the speed to medium-low and knead for 6-8 minutes. The dough should pull away from the sides of the bowl and be smooth and slightly tacky to the touch.
  4. First Rise: Lightly oil a large bowl. Place the dough ball in the bowl, turning it to coat all sides with oil. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap. Let it rise in a warm, draft-free place for 1 to 1.5 hours, or until it has doubled in size.
  5. Prepare the Filling: While the dough rises, make the filling. In a small bowl, beat together the very soft butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt until it forms a smooth, spreadable paste. Set it aside at room temperature.
  6. Roll Out the Dough: Once the dough has doubled, punch it down gently to release the air. Turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Using a rolling pin, roll it into a large rectangle, about 16 inches wide and 12 inches tall.
  7. Fill and Roll: Spread the cinnamon-butter filling evenly over the entire surface of the dough, leaving a 1-inch border at the top edge. Starting from the long edge closest to you, tightly roll the dough into a log. Pinch the seam at the top to seal it.
  8. Slice the Rolls: Using a sharp serrated knife or a piece of unflavored dental floss, cut the log into 12 equal slices.
  9. Second Rise: Place the slices cut-side up in your greased 9×13-inch baking dish, arranging them in a 4×3 grid. Cover the dish loosely with plastic wrap. Let them rise again for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until they are puffy and have grown to fill the pan.
  10. Bake to Perfection: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the rolls for 22-28 minutes, or until they are lightly golden on top and the center rolls are cooked through. Let them cool in the pan on a wire rack for about 10-15 minutes.
  11. Make the Frosting: While the rolls cool, make the frosting. Beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla, and beat until combined. Add milk or cream one tablespoon at a time until you reach a smooth, pourable consistency.
  12. Frost and Serve: Pour the cream cheese frosting over the warm rolls, spreading it gently to the edges. Serve immediately while they are still warm and gooey.

Notes

The color will fade during baking, so don’t worry if the dough looks very pink. For a deeper pink, add more beet powder to the frosting. Use unflavored dental floss for clean slices. For make-ahead, prepare rolls through step 8, cover, and refrigerate overnight. Let come to room temperature for 30-45 minutes before baking.

Nutrition

Keywords: pink cinnamon rolls, beet cinnamon rolls, natural food coloring, brunch recipe, homemade cinnamon rolls, cream cheese frosting, pretty pink, easy brunch

Find it online: https://bouncybowl.com/pretty-pink-cinnamon-rolls-easy-brunch-recipe/