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Soft & Fluffy Carrot Cake Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

Soft & Fluffy Carrot Cake Cinnamon Rolls Recipe
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★★★★★

5.2 from 14 reviews

These Soft & Fluffy Carrot Cake Cinnamon Rolls combine the moist warmth of classic carrot cake flavors with the comforting, tender texture of cinnamon rolls. Featuring a spiced brioche dough packed with shredded carrots and a rich, buttery cinnamon-sugar filling, these rolls are finished with a luscious cream cheese icing and optional crunchy walnuts for the perfect balance of spice, sweetness, and texture. Ideal for breakfast, brunch, or an indulgent snack, they bring a festive twist to traditional cinnamon rolls.

Ingredients

Scale

Dough

  • 330 g all-purpose flour
  • 7 g instant dry yeast
  • 30 g dark brown sugar
  • ½ tsp fine sea salt
  • ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
  • ⅛ tsp ground ginger
  • ⅛ tsp ground nutmeg
  • ⅛ tsp ground cloves
  • 120 g milk (warm)
  • 57 g unsalted butter (melted)
  • 1 large egg (50 g)
  • seeds scraped from 1 vanilla bean or 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
  • 65 g shredded carrots (patted dry on paper towels)

Filling

  • 71 g unsalted butter (softened)
  • 125 g dark brown sugar
  • 1¼ tsp ground cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp ground ginger
  • ⅛ tsp ground nutmeg
  • ⅛ tsp ground cloves
  • 40 g chopped walnuts (optional)

Cream Cheese Icing

  • 55 g cream cheese (softened)
  • 30 g unsalted butter (softened)
  • 120 g powdered sugar
  • ½ tsp vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
  • 15 g milk
  • 40 g chopped walnuts (optional for topping)

Instructions

  1. Make the Brioche Dough: In a stand mixer bowl or large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, instant yeast, dark brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Add warm milk, melted butter, egg, vanilla bean paste, and shredded carrots. Mix just until combined and a shaggy dough forms.
  2. Knead the Dough: Using a dough hook attachment, beat on low speed until a soft dough forms. Increase to medium-low and continue beating for 7-8 more minutes until the dough is soft and supple. Alternatively, knead by hand for about 10 minutes.
  3. First Rest: Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface, knead by hand for 1 minute, then shape into a ball. Place in a lightly greased bowl, cover loosely with plastic wrap, and let rest for 15 minutes while preparing the filling.
  4. Prepare the Filling: In a medium bowl, combine softened butter, dark brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves with a fork until thick and pasty. Set aside.
  5. Roll and Assemble: Grease a Lodge Baker’s Skillet or similar pan. Turn dough out onto a floured surface, punch down gently, and roll into a smooth 10×12-inch rectangle. Spread filling evenly over dough and sprinkle chopped walnuts if using. Roll the dough tightly into a 10-inch log.
  6. Cut and Rise: Cut the log into 7 equal rolls and arrange in prepared skillet. Cover and let them rise for 50-60 minutes until nearly doubled in size.
  7. Preheat Oven: While rolls rise, preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).
  8. Bake: Bake rolls for 20-25 minutes, until golden brown on top.
  9. Make the Cream Cheese Icing: While baking, whisk together cream cheese and softened butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar, vanilla bean paste, and milk. Whisk until fully combined and smooth. Adjust thickness by adding more powdered sugar or milk as needed.
  10. Ice and Serve: Drizzle and spread the cream cheese icing over warm cinnamon rolls when removed from oven. Sprinkle chopped walnuts on top if desired. Store leftovers covered at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Notes

  • You can substitute a standard baking pan if you don’t have a Lodge Baker’s Skillet; just grease it well and arrange rolls with enough space to rise.
  • Make sure to pat the shredded carrots dry to avoid making the dough too wet.
  • For a nut-free version, omit walnuts from filling and topping.
  • To keep rolls fresh longer, refrigerate after icing and warm gently before serving.
  • Kneading by hand is perfectly fine if no stand mixer is available.

Nutrition

Keywords: carrot cake cinnamon rolls, cinnamon rolls with cream cheese icing, spiced cinnamon rolls, soft cinnamon rolls, carrot dessert rolls

Find it online: https://zarameals.com/soft-and-fluffy-carrot-cake-cinnamon-rolls-recipe/