Easy Overnight Chocolate Spice Cinnamon Rolls (Recipe Inspired by ALASKA FOR CHRISTMAS)

Welcome, Tartlets, to my last recipe post of 2024!

I can’t think of a better way to end the year than with a batch of these deliciously decadent Easy Overnight Chocolate Spice Cinnamon Rolls.

Why are Easy Overnight Chocolate Spice Cinnamon Rolls the book-inspired recipe for Alaska for Christmas?

In Alaska for Christmas, main characters Isla and Aaron live in a small wintry town that lives and breathes Christmas. It’s filled with holiday activities and winter sports, prompting the need for all sorts of cozy Christmas beverages and treats. 

At one point in the book, Isla and Aaron go on a romantic Christmas getaway into the mountains. These Chocolate Spice Cinnamon Rolls would be the perfect breakfast for them to share while whispering sweet holiday nothings to each other and watching the snow fall outside their cozy cabin window.

While so many desserts are associated with Christmas, I don’t think anything gets you in the holiday spirit like a batch of freshly baked cinnamon rolls. That soft and poofy dough, the gooey spiced filling, and the luscious cream cheese frosting make these treats perfect for the most over-indulgent time of the year.

However, by the time December 25 rolls around, you may have had your fill of all things cinnamon sugar — but you still want to enjoy an ooey-gooey filling wrapped inside a fluffy sweet roll. 

When that happens, say hello to my delicious twist on a Christmas classic: Chocolate Spice Cinnamon Rolls.

Why I love Chocolate Spice Cinnamon Rolls

Chocolate Spice Cinnamon Rolls are a riff on one of my favorite holiday desserts, Christmas Spice Brownies.

While I’m not above having brownies for breakfast, cinnamon rolls are slightly more accepted as a morning treat, especially during the holidays. Chocolate, almond, cinnamon, and clove are the ultimate cozy Christmas flavors for me, so I decided to roll them into a recipe that puts a unique spin on a traditional cinnamon bun.

Chocolate Spice Cinnamon Rolls are a little more decadent, a little more indulgent than your traditional cinnamon roll. If I may, they’re a little sexier. The combo of cocoa and nuts and spices is warm and bold, and the taste is reminiscent of a chocolate babka from your favorite local bakery.

Another reason I love these chocolate sweet rolls is that they’re not tooth-achingly sweet. The cocoa powder in the chocolate spice filling and the almond cream cheese frosting keep the saccharine level in check. You get sweetness, yes, but you also get loads of subtle, warming flavor in every bite. 

Let me introduce you to the EASIEST cinnamon rolls you’ll ever make. It’s all about the dough.

You guys. YOU GUYS. As you can see from these photos, my curse of not being able to work with yeast dough has ended! I’ve finally succeeded in making cinnamon rolls. Not Cinnamon Roll Cake, mind you. I’m talking real, honest-to-goodness, spiral-filled cinnamon buns. Like the kind you only see in bakeries, or from refrigerated cardboard tubes, or on Pinterest.

What’s my secret? A magical recipe for cinnamon roll dough. Well, it feels magical because of how easy it is and how perfectly it works each and every time you make it.

I’m not even going to pretend this cinnamon dough recipe is my brain child; I could never be so brilliant as to come up with this. The Magical Cinnamon Roll Recipe is courtesy of my baking buddy and pastry chef Jenni Field from Pastry Chef Online.

I stumbled across her Homemade Cinnamon Roll recipe last Christmas, when I made the most delicious traditional cinnamon rolls I’ve ever tasted. I’ve since tossed all my other recipes for cinnamon rolls because This. Is. It.

Why I love Jenni’s cinnamon roll dough recipe

Jenni’s recipe for cinnamon roll dough is the easiest one I’ve come across. And, believe me, I’ve tried a lot of recipes.

Most yeast-based doughs stick to the bowl, to my fingers, and to my kitchen counter. They also usually rip and tear as I try to force the dough into a log. And, forget about slicing that log into spiraled rolls. HA! That’s how the aforementioned Cinnamon Roll Cake was born — my complete failure to work with the dough and form cinnamon rolls.  

But, those days of trial and error are gone, thanks to Jenni’s recipe, which is reliably simple and successful.  The dough comes together completely in the stand-mixer, and it is NOT sticky. At all.

Non-sticky dough means your fingers (apron, kitchen faucet, your hair, the cat, etc), remain wonderfully dough-free, and all that dough stays where you intend it: in the cinnamon rolls.

You also — wait for it — don’t any need flour to roll out Jenni’s cinnamon roll dough.

What is this sorcery?!?

The first time I made Jenni’s recipe, I had a little bowl of flour at the ready for rolling out the dough. To my amazement, I didn’t touch the flour. Not once. I’ve now made this dough several times over the past year, and I’ve never had to use flour when rolling out the dough.  IT’S A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE.

Jenni’s recipe makes it super easy to roll out and roll up the dough. Just watch my video down below in the baking instructions. 

Throw out all your cinnamon dough recipes to make room for this one, because it is the ONLY one you’ll ever need to make perfectly formed, spiraled cinnamon rolls for the rest of your life.  

So, why are these overnight Chocolate Spice Cinnamon Rolls?

This sweet dough recipe requires a lot of proofing time (or proving time, if you’re British) to allow the yeast to do its job and inflate the dough. Can you make Chocolate Spice Cinnamon Rolls in one day? You sure can. If you’re serving them for dessert in the evening, it’s a great recipe to make in one fell swoop.

However, if you want to serve these rolls for a calorific breakfast, I highly recommend using the overnight method. Or else you’re going to be kneading dough at 3am to have them ready in time. 

The recipe instructions below are divided into Day 1 and Day 2, for the dough, the filling, and the frosting. I usually start making the sweet roll dough around 5 or 6pm on Day 1. After a few hours, I can tuck everything into the fridge overnight and finish the recipe the next morning.

The overnight method works out great for holidays because you can sleep in a little bit and still get a freshly baked magical breakfast on the table for your loved ones.

What do you serve with Chocolate Spice Cinnamon Rolls?

For a decadent holiday brunch or breakfast that will feed a crowd, serve Chocolate Spice Cinnamon Rolls alongside Cherry Chocolate Chip Scones, Anniversary French Toast, Pumpkin Pie Baked Oatmeal, Cinnamon Raisin Scones, or Powdered Sugar Donut Holes.

If you love all things “chocolate spice” (chocolate, cinnamon, cloves, and/or almond), check out my Pumpkin Swirl Brownies, Spiced Walnut Cookies, Cinnamon Hot Chocolate Ice Cream, Totally Different Chocolate Chip Cookies, Christmas Spice Brownies, and Red Wine Chocolate Cake.

Easy Overnight Chocolate Spice Cinnamon Rolls

Chocolate Spice Cinnamon Rolls are made using a magical yeast dough that rolls out and rolls up easily -- no flouring of your kitchen counter required! The chocolate spice filling is made with cocoa powder, cinnamon, almond extract, and ground cloves for a warm and cozy unique sweet roll experience. Make the dough and filling in the evening, let the rolls rise overnight, and bake them off the next morning so you don't have to get up super early to make cinnamon rolls.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 6 hours hrs

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Course Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 12 chocolate spice cinnamon rolls

Ingredients

  

CINNAMON ROLL DOUGH INGREDIENTS

• 4 egg yolks, at room temperature
• 1 whole egg, at room temperature
• 1 1/4 tsp instant or active dry yeast
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 6 tbsp unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
• 1 cup + 2 tbsp buttermilk, at room temperature
• 4 1/2 cups  all-purpose flour**

CHOCOLATE SPICE FILLING INGREDIENTS

• 3/4 cup unsalted butter
• 1 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 1/2 tbsp ground cinnamon
• 3/4 tsp ground cloves
• 1 1/4 tsp almond extract
• 3/4 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp salt

ALMOND CREAM CHEESE FROSTING INGREDIENTS

• 6 tbsp unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 3 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 3/4 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tsp almond extract (or, to taste)
• pinch of salt
• 1/4 cup toasted sliced almonds, for sprinkling

Instructions

 

Day 1: PREP INSTRUCTIONS for OVERNIGHT CINNAMON ROLL DOUGH

• Melt 6 tbsp butter and set aside.
• Separate the 4 egg yolks from the egg whites. Set yolks aside in a small bowl and discard whites (or save whites in the fridge for another use).
• Add the one full egg to the egg yolks.
• Spray a large bowl with cooking spray and set aside.

Day 1: INSTRUCTIONS for MAKING THE OVERNIGHT CINNAMON ROLL DOUGH

• Fit your stand mixer with a large bowl and the dough hook attachment.
• Add the yeast, granulated sugar, melted butter, buttermilk, 4 egg yolks + 1 full egg, and salt to the bowl. Whisk together until ingredients are just combined.
• Add all the flour to the bowl. Lower the dough hook into the bowl and turn on your mixer. Mix dough on LOW until all flour is incorporated, about 30 seconds.
• Turn your mixer speed to MEDIUM-HIGH (level 6-8) and knead the dough for 10-15 minutes, until the dough is stiff, smooth, and in one big clump around the dough hook with barely any dough on the sides of the bowl. The dough should NOT be sticky when pressed with your finger.**

  NOTE: Watch your mixer carefully while it kneads the dough; it may dance across your counter! Also, if your mixer starts to get too hot, stop mixing and let the machine cool for about 3 minutes, then resume kneading. When finished, the dough will be rather stiff and will NOT be sticky.
• Scrape the dough into the prepared large bowl. Flip over the dough so it’s coated in the cooking spray all over. Cover bowl with a clean tea towel and place in a warm spot to let rise (first proof) for 2- 2 ½ hours, or until dough is doubled in size.

Day 1: INSTRUCTIONS for MAKING THE CHOCOLATE SPICE FILLING

• About 2 hours into your first proof, make your chocolate spice filling.
• Microwave the ¾ cup of butter in the microwave for about 20 seconds. The butter should be very soft but not melted.
• Transfer the softened butter into a medium bowl, then add the granulated sugar, cocoa powder, cinnamon, cloves, almond extract, vanilla extract, and salt. Mash all ingredients together using your hands (or a fork) until everything is combined into a thick paste. Set aside.

Day 1: INSTRUCTIONS for ROLLING OUT, FILLING, and REFRIGERATING THE OVERNIGHT CINNAMON ROLL DOUGH

• Line a 9x13 baking dish with parchment paper. Set prepared baking dish aside.
• After the dough has risen 2- 2 ½ hours and has doubled in size, turn the dough out onto a clean work surface. You do NOT need to sprinkle the surface with flour because the dough will naturally be thick, non-sticky, and well-oiled.
• Fold the dough over a few times to press out all the gas bubbles, then use your hands to shape the dough into a rough rectangle.
• Use a rolling pin to lightly roll the dough out to a 20x15 inch rectangle (more or less). You won't have to press too hard since the dough will be easy to shape.
• Dollop the chocolate spice filling around the dough. Use an offset spatula to gently spread the filling in a thin layer on top of the dough, leaving a clean 1-inch border around the edges of the rectangle.
• Starting at the long side nearest you, roll the dough away from you so it becomes a tightly rolled log.
• Take a sharp knife and cut the ends off the log and set aside. Slice the remaining log into 12 equal pieces.
• Place each piece spiral-side-down in the prepared baking dish so you have three cinnamon rolls across and four cinnamon rolls down.
• Spray the cinnamon rolls with cooking spray, then cover with plastic wrap. Place the baking sheet in the fridge to slowly rise overnight. Go to bed and dream of chocolate spice cinnamon rolls for breakfast the next morning.

Day 2: PREP for BAKING THE CHOCOLATE SPICE CINNAMON ROLLS WITH ALMOND CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

• About 2 hours before you’re ready to bake the Chocolate Spice Cinnamon Rolls, take the baking dish with the rolls out of the fridge. The rolls will have risen/expanded only a little bit.
• Place the baking dish with the rolls in a warm place for about 2 hours, so the dough can finish rising (second proof).
• Preheat your oven to 350F. Set the oven rack in the center of the oven.
• Prep your Almond Cream Cheese Frosting ingredients: take the cream cheese and butter out of the fridge to come to soften.
• Toast the sliced almonds in a small skillet over medium-low heat until fragrant and slightly browned, about 5-6 minutes. Be careful they don’t burn! Remove skillet from heat and let almonds cool.
• Bake the Chocolate Spice Cinnamon Rolls at 350F on the center rack for about 30 minutes, or until rolls are golden brown.

Day 2: INSTRUCTIONS for BAKING THE CHOCOLATE SPICE CINNAMON ROLLS and MAKING THE ALMOND CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

• While the Chocolate Spice Cinnamon Rolls are baking, make the Almond Cream Cheese Frosting.
• Cream together the softened cream cheese and butter until smooth. You can use a hand mixer or a stand mixer.
• Add in the powdered sugar in small batches, beating thoroughly between each addition until cream cheese frosting is thick and smooth.
• Beat in the almond and vanilla extracts, along with a pinch of salt.
• Remove baked Chocolate Spice Cinnamon Rolls from oven and place baking dish on a cooling rack. Immediately dollop the Almond Cream Cheese Frosting on top of each cinnamon roll, then spread the frosting over the rolls. Sprinkle with toasted sliced almonds. Serve warm.

Notes

**If your dough doesn't come together into a stiff, non-sticky dough after 10-15 minutes of kneading, knead more flour into the dough by 1/4-cup increments until the dough is stiff, tight, and not-at-all sticky. 

 

The recipe for the Cinnamon Roll Dough is barely adapted, with kind permission, from Pastry Chef Online's recipe for Homemade Cinnamon Rolls, which can be found here. 

Keyword christmas baking, christmas dessert, holiday baking, holiday dessert, yeast breads