Carrot cake lovers, we’ve got you. These Baking Therapy carrot cake cinnamon rolls combine all the delicious flavours we love in a classic carrot cake: carrots, pecans, coconut (and don’t forget the cream cheese icing!) all rolled up to make the ultimate cinnamon roll. They’re made with bread flour — which gives it that pillowy, but chewy texture — but it can be easily swapped with all-purpose for a cakier treat. Make this any day of the week! You’ll thank us later.
Carrot Cake Cinnamon Rolls
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Rest Time: 1 hour
Bake Time: 30 to 40 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours, 10 minutes
Servings: 8 cinnamon rolls
Ingredients:
Cinnamon Rolls
1 cup milk
¼ cup granulated sugar, divided
2 ¼ active dry yeast
4 cups bread flour
¾ tsp salt
2 large eggs, beaten
6 Tbsp butter, melted and cooled
1 cup grated carrots
Filling
¾ cup brown sugar
1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground ginger
6 Tbsp butter, melted and cooled
½ cup chopped pecans
⅓ cup shredded coconut
Cream Cheese Icing
6 Tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
6 oz cream cheese, softened
1 ½ cup icing sugar
1 Tbsp heavy cream
1 tsp vanilla
Pinch salt
Equipment:
Quarter Sheet Pan, Amazon, $34
Stand Mixer, Amazon, $400
Directions:
1. Start by baking the cinnamon roll dough: warm the milk in the microwave or on the stove until warm to the touch. Stir in 1 Tbsp sugar and the active dry yeast. Cover loosely with kitchen towel and set aside for 5-10 minutes.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer with the hook attachment, combine flour, remaining sugar and salt. Add the proofed yeast mixture, beaten eggs and butter. Work the dough until it just begins to come together, about 5 minutes. Add the grated carrots and continue on medium speed for another 5-8 minutes until the dough is smooth and has pulled away from the sides of the bowl. Transfer to a large clean bowl, cover with plastic wrap and set in a warm place to rise and double in size, about 45 minutes.
3. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a casserole dish or quarter sheet pan with melted butter and set aside.
4. Now for the filling: in a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, cinnamon and ginger.
Related: The Ultimate Dessert Mashup: Caramel Apple Cheesecake Meets Chinese Fried Wontons
5. Put the dough on a lightly floured surface, lightly flour your rolling pin and roll out to about 1/8-inch thick rectangle, about 17 x 14 inches.
6. Brush the top of the dough with the melted butter and sprinkle evenly the filling mixture and sprinkle the pecans and coconut overtop. Leave about a 1 cm border to allow the dough to adhere to each other when rolled. Start with the longest edge nearest to you, tightly roll the dough away from you into a firm log. Pinch the seams together and set the log seam side down.
7. With a serrated knife trim off the ends and divide the dough into 8 pieces. Transfer the rolls to the prepared pan, cover with a kitchen towel and let rise for another 15-20 minutes, until doubled in size.
8. Bake for 30-38 minute until golden brown and bubbly.
9. For the cream cheese icing: in the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream both butter and cream cheese until smooth, scraping down the sides as necessary. Add the icing sugar, cream, vanilla and salt and beat for 1 minute on medium-high speed.
10. Spread the cream cheese icing over top while the rolls are still warm and enjoy!
Like Sabrina’s carrot cake cinnamon rolls? Try her matcha and raspberry mochi doughnuts or her 7-ingredient Basque cheesecake.
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