Beginner's Guide To Making The Perfect Coffee Rolls

By Niveditha K

About These Coffee Rolls

These coffee rolls have a strong coffee flavor thanks to coffee yeast dough, coffee cinnamon filling, and coffee cream cheese icing. This is an incredibly soft dough that's easy to work with.

Ingredients for Cinnamon Roll Dough

½ cup water warm ¼ cup granulated sugar 1 tablespoon yeast I use active dry yeast 2 large eggs room temp 6 tablespoon butter softened 1½ teaspoon espresso powder can also use coffee powder 2½-3 cups bread flour all-purpose can be used also ¾ teaspoon salt

Ingredients for the Filling

2-3 tablespoon butter softened ½ cup light brown sugar 1 tablespoon espresso powder 1 tablespoon cinnamon

Ingredients for Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

4 tablespoon butter softened 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 teaspoon espresso powder 1½ cups powdered sugar 2-3 tablespoon cream or milk pinch of salt

Activate Yeast

Pour warm water, sugar and yeast into a large mixing bowl, stir together with a wooden spoon or dough whisk and let sit 10-15 minutes or until yeast is bubbly. You want the water to be about 100-110 degrees, not too hot or it will kill the yeast. Add butter and eggs and mix together again.

Mix Dough

Add salt, espresso powder and 2 cups of flour and mix. Continue adding flour in ½ cup increments until dough forms a ball and pulls away from sides of the bowl.

Knead Dough

Pour dough out onto a floured surface and knead for 3- 5 minutes, incorporating more flour if needed. Dough should not be sticky, but more of a soft and tacky feel.

First Rise

Place dough in greased bowl, cover with a cloth and let rise until it's doubled in size, about 1½ hours. Punch dough down and roll onto a floured surface. Spread the room temperature butter into a thin and even layer, leaving about ½ inch on the bottom of the dough untouched so it can hold together.

Fill and Roll

In a small bowl mix together brown sugar, espresso powder and cinnamon. Sprinkle the mixture evenly across the butter layer, and smooth it out being careful not to tear the dough. Working from the long 18 inch end of the dough, tightly roll it up into a log. Place your hands at each end of the side and give it a gentle squeeze to help compact the dough. It may have stretched out a bit during the rolling process so this brings it back together.

Shape and Rise

Cut the dough into 12 rolls total. Place the rolls in a greased 9×13 pan. Place in a warm spot, cover and let rise again until doubled in size. This takes about 45-60 minutes depending on how warm it is. Preheat oven to 375 F. Bake for 14-18 minutes or until the tops are a light golden brown. While they cool, make the frosting.

Frost Rolls

Mix all frosting ingredients together until smooth and creamy. You might need to add a little bit more powdered sugar or cream to get your desired consistency. Let rolls cool a bit before frosting or it will melt.