Chai Latte Cinnamon Rolls

In the event you’ve made my famous cinnamon rolls earlier than, you already know the way ridiculously delicate and fluffy they’re. This chai latte model builds on that very same beloved base, however layers in all the comfy spices of a heat mug of chai in 4 locations: the dough, the filling, the glaze, and the cream soak. And sure, we’re even pouring chai-infused cream over the rolls earlier than baking to verify each chunk is gooey, delicate, and loaded with taste.

For a enjoyable play on cinnamon rolls, strive my cinnamon roll cookies!

Why My Recipe

Chai taste in each chunk. From the dough to the glaze, and even the cream soak.
That chai-infused cream? It takes these rolls to a different degree of soppy and gooey.
Heat spices meet delicate, fluffy dough for the right from-scratch cinnamon roll.

An overhead view of a pan of chai latte cinnamon rolls. One sweet roll has been removed and is sitting on a plate for serving.

Chai spices like cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, and a contact of black pepper give these rolls that signature heat with out being overwhelming. It’s nonetheless all the pieces you’re keen on a couple of basic cinnamon roll, simply with a bit of twist. Whether or not you’re baking for brunch, fall mornings, or simply need one thing totally different, these rolls are the type you’ll be fascinated about lengthy after they’re gone.

Ingredient Notes

An overhead view of the ingredients needed to make chai latte cinnamon rolls.

Milk: Entire milk and a pair of% are most popular right here, however you possibly can work with no matter you retain readily available.
Chai Tea Baggage: Use any black chai tea with sturdy spice notes like cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger.
Prompt Dry Yeast: Additionally labeled as rapid-rise or quick-rise yeast. For lively dry yeast, add 10 to fifteen minutes to the rising time.
Granulated Sugar: Simply sufficient to feed the yeast and provides a light-weight sweetness to the dough.
Salt: Use common desk salt.
Salted Butter: Used all through the dough, filling, and glaze. In the event you solely have unsalted, it’ll nonetheless work out.
Egg: One giant egg.
All-Objective Flour: Begin with 2 1/2 cups and add extra as wanted.
Brown Sugar: Mild brown sugar works nice. Darkish brown sugar will give a deeper taste.
Floor Cinnamon, Floor Ginger, Floor Cardamom, Floor Cloves, Floor Allspice, Floor Black Pepper: This practice mix brings out the nice and cozy chai taste. You’ll be able to alter the degrees based mostly in your private spice preferences.
Heavy Cream: This will get poured over the rolls earlier than baking and makes them additional delicate and gooey. Make sure you steep the chai tea bag in it for extra taste.
Cream Cheese: Soften it at room temperature for a clean glaze.
Powdered Sugar: Regulate the quantity to get the glaze consistency you want.
Vanilla Extract: Balances the spice within the glaze.
Milk (for glaze): Add just a bit at a time to get the glaze as thick or skinny as you need.

Utilizing Chai Focus

We suggest steeping chai tea baggage in milk and cream for essentially the most balanced taste, however boxed chai focus could be labored in too, with some changes.

Substitute half of the milk within the dough and cream soak with an equal quantity of chai focus. Simply know that the majority concentrates are already sweetened, so you might wish to barely scale back the sugar within the dough and filling to keep away from making the rolls too candy.

Spice Customization Information

This recipe makes use of a daring chai mix with cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, allspice, and a contact of black pepper.

In the event you desire a milder taste, reduce the cardamom and ginger in half and skip the pepper.

For a spicier roll, double the black pepper or add a pinch of white pepper.

You can too swap in pumpkin pie spice for a simplified model, however we expect this practice mix actually makes it sing.

Troubleshooting

Dough too sticky?

Add additional flour one tablespoon at a time till it’s delicate and cheesy, not moist or overly sticky.

Dough didn’t rise?

Make certain your yeast is recent and that your milk was between 100°F and 110°F when mixing. A cooler room can even sluggish issues down, so strive shifting the dough to a hotter spot.

Filling leaked out?

This could occur if the rolls are sliced too loosely or the pan is overfilled. Use a serrated knife and ensure the log is rolled tightly.

Overbaked or dry?

Each oven is totally different. Begin checking for doneness on the 18-minute mark. The tops must be evenly golden and the facilities simply cooked by way of.

Serving Concepts and Variations

These rolls are improbable on their very own, however listed here are a couple of enjoyable methods to vary them up:

Soiled Chai Rolls: Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of immediate espresso powder to the glaze for a espresso twist.

Candied Ginger: Sprinkle chopped candied ginger into the filling for much more spice and texture.

Toasted Nuts: Add chopped pecans or walnuts to the filling for a bit of crunch.

Maple Glaze Choice: Substitute the milk within the glaze with maple syrup for a maple-chai spin.

Further Chai Drizzle: Reserve a spoonful or two of the steeped chai cream and drizzle it over the completed rolls earlier than serving.

A hand holding a chai latte cinnamon roll. The pan of sweet rolls is out of focus in the background.

Cream Soak

Proper earlier than baking, these rolls get a beneficiant pour of heat, chai-infused heavy cream. This additional step might sound uncommon in case you haven’t tried it earlier than, however it’s one of many secrets and techniques to ultra-soft, gooey cinnamon rolls.

The cream soaks into the dough because the rolls bake, making a wealthy, tender texture and serving to to maintain the facilities completely delicate with out drying out. Infusing the cream with a chai tea bag provides much more heat spice taste that ties all the pieces collectively.

Ideas for Success

Steep the tea lengthy sufficient for a powerful taste, however don’t let the milk cool under 100°F earlier than utilizing.
Don’t rush the kneading. It’s what makes the dough clean and elastic.
For clear slices, use a serrated knife or unflavored dental floss.

Make-Forward & In a single day Directions

You’ll be able to prep these rolls forward of time to make your morning a bit of simpler. Observe the recipe by way of assembling the rolls within the baking pan, then cowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate in a single day.

The subsequent morning, let the pan sit at room temperature for about 45 minutes earlier than baking as directed. Wait to warmth and pour the chai-infused cream till simply earlier than baking.

In the event you’re tight on time, you may as well make the dough a day forward and refrigerate it earlier than the primary rise. Let it come again to room temperature earlier than rolling out and filling.

Freezing Information

To freeze unbaked rolls: Assemble the rolls within the pan, however don’t allow them to rise a second time. Cowl tightly with plastic wrap and foil, then freeze for as much as 3 months. When able to bake, thaw in a single day within the fridge, then allow them to rise at room temperature for about an hour. Pour the chai cream over them and bake as directed.

To freeze baked rolls: Let the rolls cool utterly, then wrap every one individually or place them in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for as much as 3 months. Thaw at room temperature or microwave for 30 to 60 seconds to reheat. Glaze after warming for the most effective texture.

Storage & Reheating

Storing at room temperature: As soon as the rolls are utterly cooled and glazed, retailer them in an hermetic container at room temperature for as much as 2 days. In case your kitchen is particularly heat or humid, refrigerate as a substitute.

Storing within the fridge: These rolls will hold within the fridge for as much as 5 days. Make certain they’re saved in a tightly sealed container to maintain them delicate.

Reheating: To reheat a batch, place the rolls in a baking dish, cowl with foil, and heat in a 300°F oven for about 10 minutes. For a fast repair, microwave particular person rolls for 15 to twenty seconds.