Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls with pink icing
Soft and fluffy strawberry cinnamon rolls are a fun twist on the classic breakfast treat. Made with a quick and easy homemade jam filling and a pretty pink strawberry cream cheese icing.
Ingredients
strawberry filling
15 ounces frozen strawberries (425g)
¼ cup granulated sugar (50g)
2 tablespoons cornstarch (16g)
2 tablespoons water (30mL)
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract (15mL)
dough
¾ cup warm kefir*, 100-110°F (180mL)
¼ cup granulated sugar (50g)
1 tablespoon active dry yeast (10g)
¼ cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled (56g)
2 large eggs, room temperature
3 cups bread flour** (390g)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
strawberry cream cheese icing
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature (28g)
¼ cup/2 ounces cream cheese, room temperature (56g)
1 ½ cups confectioners’ sugar (180g)
2 tablespoons reserved strawberry filling
fresh or freeze dried strawberries for garnish, if desired
Instructions
For the strawberry jam filling: place the frozen berries (12 ounces/340g) in a saucepan and warm over low heat until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the granulated sugar (¼ cup/50g) and mix until combined. Use a fork to crush the strawberries. {Be sure to smash them so they won’t be in large pieces in the strawberry rolls).
Dissolve the cornstarch (2 tablespoons/16g) in the water (2 tablespoons/30mL), then add it and the vanilla (1 tablespoons) to the crushed strawberries. Bring to a low boil and cook for 5-6 minutes until the mixture has thickened. Remove from the heat and allow to cool while you prepare the cinnamon roll dough {can be prepared up to one day ahead, store covered in the refrigerator}
Remove 2 tablespoons of the strawberry filling and set it aside for the strawberry cream cheese icing.
For the cinnamon roll dough: (I like to turn on my Breville toaster oven to 120°F while I am mixing and kneading the dough. Turn it off when it reaches temperature and keep the door closed. This creates a warm environment for letting the dough rise)
In the bowl of a stand mixer add the warm kefir (¾ cup/180mL), sugar (¼ cup/50g), yeast (1 tablespoon/10g) and melted and slightly cooled unsalted butter (¼ cup/56g) and give it a little stir. Let the mixture sit for 10 minutes.
Add the eggs (2 large), bread flour (3 cups/390g) and kosher salt (1 teaspoon), and beat at medium speed (4 on KitchenAid mixer) with the dough hook until a soft dough forms, about 8 minutes. If the dough is sticking to the sides of the bowl after 4-5 minutes, add up to 3 tablespoons of additional flour. *If you do not have a stand-mixer with a hook attachment, knead the dough by hand in this step. You can see this post for the how to. When kneading by hand, add flour as necessary, but try to add as little as possible. (I typically use less than 3 tablespoons flour for kneading)
Grease the bowl you mixed the dough in (no need to wash it) and place the dough in the bowl, cover and let rise about 1 hour, or until double in size. (I place it in the slightly warm toaster oven)
While the dough is rising, prepare the baking pan. Grease a 9×13 baking pan with butter or cooking spray and set aside or line the pan with parchment paper.
Remove the dough from the bowl and roll it into a rectangle on a lightly floured surface. I like the narrow side to be about 12 inches and the long side about 16-18 inches.
Spread the strawberry jam filling over the dough, covering almost to the very edge {use about ¾ cup of jam, you will have some leftover}. Then sprinkle the cinnamon (2 teaspoons) over the strawberry jam. Tightly roll the dough starting from a long side until you create a log. Using dental floss***(or clean thread), cut the log into 12 equal pieces and place them in the prepared pan. Alternately, you can cut 12 long strips of dough and roll each length of dough individually or cut them traditionally and place them in a buttered muffin pan (they will bake faster in a muffin pan; check them at 12 minutes).
Place the dough back in your warm spot and allow it to rise a second time, about 30 to 45 minutes until the rolls have doubled in size (if your kitchen is warm, it may not take this much time). When the strawberry cinnamon rolls are close to the end of the second rise, preheat the oven to 350°F.
Bake for about 18-25 minutes, until the edges are lightly brown. If you want to check by temperature, the sweet rolls internal temperature should be 190°F.
When the rolls are done, remove the pan from the oven and place the pan on a wire cooling rack. Allow to cool for a couple minutes while you prepare the glaze.
Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, beat the butter (2 tablespoons/28g) and cream cheese (¼ cup/2 ounces/ 56g) until combined, about 1 minute. Add the confectioners’ sugar (1 ½ cups/180g) and mix on low until combined, then increase the speed until a thick frosting forms, about 2-3 minutes. Then add 2 tablespoons of the reserved strawberry filling and beat on medium until fully mixed in.
Spread the strawberry cream cheese frosting over the warm rolls. Top with fresh or freeze dried strawberries (if desired) and enjoy!
Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients
- For the Strawberry Filling:
- 15 oz frozen strawberries 425g
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar 50g
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch 16g
- 2 tablespoons water 30mL
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract 15mL
- For the Dough:
- 3/4 cup warm kefir 100-110°F / 180mL*
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar 50g
- 1 tablespoon active dry yeast 10g
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter melted and slightly cooled (56g)
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 3 cups bread flour** 390g
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- For the Strawberry Cream Cheese Icing:
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter room temperature (28g)
- 1/4 cup 2 oz cream cheese, room temperature (56g)
- 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar 180g
- 2 tablespoons reserved strawberry filling
- Fresh or freeze-dried strawberries for garnish optional
Instructions
- Make the Strawberry Filling:
- In a saucepan, heat 15 oz frozen strawberries over low heat until softened, about 5 minutes. Add 1/4 cup sugar and mix. Use a fork to crush the strawberries. Dissolve 2 tablespoons cornstarch in 2 tablespoons water, then add to the strawberry mixture along with 1 tablespoon vanilla extract. Bring to a low boil and cook for 5-6 minutes until thickened. Remove from heat and cool. Reserve 2 tablespoons of filling for the icing.
- Prepare the Dough:
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine 3/4 cup warm kefir, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon yeast, and 1/4 cup melted butter. Stir and let sit for 10 minutes. Add 2 eggs, 3 cups bread flour, and 1 teaspoon salt. Beat on medium speed using a dough hook for about 8 minutes until a soft dough forms. If the dough sticks to the bowl, add up to 3 tablespoons of flour as needed.
- First Rise:
- Grease the mixing bowl and place the dough inside. Cover and let rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
- Prepare the Baking Pan:
- Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan with butter or cooking spray, or line it with parchment paper.
- Roll Out the Dough:
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough into a rectangle, about 12 inches wide by 16-18 inches long.
- Fill and Roll the Dough:
- Spread 3/4 cup of the strawberry filling over the dough, leaving a small border. Sprinkle 2 teaspoons of cinnamon over the filling. Roll the dough tightly from the long side into a log. Using dental floss or clean thread, cut into 12 equal pieces. Place in the prepared baking pan.
- Second Rise:
- Cover and let rise in a warm spot for 30-45 minutes until doubled in size.
- Bake the Rolls:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the rolls for 18-25 minutes, until the edges are lightly brown and the internal temperature reaches 190°F.
- Prepare the Icing:
- Beat 2 tablespoons butter and 1/4 cup cream cheese together until smooth, about 1 minute. Add 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar and mix on low until combined. Add the reserved 2 tablespoons of strawberry filling and beat on medium until fully mixed.
- Ice the Rolls:
- Spread the strawberry cream cheese icing over the warm rolls. Garnish with fresh or freeze-dried strawberries, if desired.
- Serve and Enjoy!
- Serve the rolls warm and enjoy the fruity, sweet flavors with family and friends.