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These Tiramisu Cinnamon Rolls are the ultimate weekend brunch. Fluffy cinnamon rolls filled with a butter blended with coffee and cocoa. These bring together all that is good about a cinnamon roll with all the best parts of tiramisu! Finish with a coffee glaze and a heavy dusting of cocoa powder for the ultimate tiramisu vibes!

Fluffy dough meets a gorgeous flavor combination of coffee and cocoa. These sweet rolls are a gorgeous treat for a brunch with friends/family, to start your weekend, to serve to your partner/girl squad or simply to give yourself that self love you deserve! In this recipe, we fill the cinnamon roll dough with a good amount of cocoa and coffee whipped with butter.

These are a fabulous bake when you want to make something a little more exciting to a standard cinnamon roll! I find working with dough to be such a joy and the outcome always so rewarding. If you’re looking for a fun bake to make for a brunch, this is it! Fluffy bites of dough packed with coffee and cocoa flavor and smothered in a creamy coffee glaze. Finish with a dusting of cocoa powder for the ultimate tiramisu vibes!

Tiramisu Cinnamon Rolls

TIPS FOR MAKING GREAT CINNAMON ROLLS

Making sweet rolls that are fluffy, soft, and full of flavor is so fulfilling. Whether you are a seasoned baker or trying your hand at this bake for the first time, these tips will help you create the perfect sweet roll every time.

  1. Use Quality Ingredients
    Start with fresh, high-quality ingredients. Use active dry yeast or instant yeast that hasn’t expired. For flour, all-purpose or bread flour can give you the best texture. Don’t skimp on the lemon curd either.
  2. Proof Your Yeast
    If using active dry yeast, make sure it’s alive and active by proofing it. Mix the yeast with warm water (around 110°F) and a pinch of sugar and wait for it to bubble. This will ensure that your rolls rise properly.
  3. Opt for Full-Fat Dairy
    Full-fat milk, butter, and eggs will add richness and tenderness to your dough. The fat content is crucial for the texture of the cinnamon rolls.
  4. Don’t Rush the Dough
    Allow the dough to rise in a warm, draft-free environment until it’s doubled in size. This might take about 1-2 hours depending on the temperature of your kitchen. Be patient – it’s worth the wait.
  5. Roll the Dough Evenly
    When rolling out the dough, aim for an even thickness to ensure uniform baking and spirals. Use a rolling pin and maybe a ruler to measure the thickness.
  6. Get the Filling Right
    Making the frangipane is really easy. Spread in an even layer across the dough. The layer might look thin, but once rolled up it’s just right! Otherwise, it can all leak out when slicing.
  7. Slice with Dental Floss or Serrated Knife
    For clean cuts, use dental floss or a sharp serrated knife to slice the rolled dough. This prevents the rolls from being squashed and keeps their beautiful shape.
  8. Don’t Overcrowd the Pan
    Give your rolls enough space to expand. They should be close enough to support each other as they rise but not so close that they’re squeezed into each other.
  9. Bake Until Golden Brown
    Keep an eye on the rolls as they bake and remove them from the oven once they’re just golden. Overbaking can lead to dry rolls.
  10. Let Them Cool Before Icing
    Wait for the rolls to cool slightly before adding icing. If they’re too hot, the icing will melt and run off, whereas slightly cool rolls will allow the icing to set better on top.

Armed with these tips, you are on your way to creating decadent sweet rolls that are going to light up your kitchen!

INGREDIENTS REQUIRED 

There are no specialist ingredients or equipment required for these Tiramisu Cinnamon Rolls. I can find everything I need at my local supermarket or grocery store. I use a deep 9″ square baking pan/casserole pan to bake these, lined with some greaseproof paper. 

  • Dried Fast Acting Yeast
  • Whole Milk
  • Granulated Sugar
  • Unsalted Butter
  • All Purpose Flour OR Strong White Bread Flour
  • Large Eggs
  • Brewed Coffee/Espresso
  • Cocoa Powder
  • Heavy Cream (Optional)
  • Light Brown Sugar
  • Powdered Sugar
Tiramisu Cinnamon Rolls

TIPS FOR THE BEST Tiramisu Cinnamon Rolls

  • Yeast: Check your yeast before continuing with the recipe. When you add it to the warm milk, it should ‘bloom’ – meaning it goes bubbly. If it doesn’t do this, it has probably expired and you’ll want to use a new pack! 
  • Warm Milk: Ensure it is warm to the touch but not hot – it should feel similar to skin temp. Otherwise, it could kill the yeast.
  • Coffee/Cocoa Filling: Make this in a separate bowl as laid out in the recipe. Using room temperature butter is key to getting a smooth paste.
  • Brewed Coffee: The stronger the better, so a shot of espresso is best. However, regular brewed instant/filter pot coffee will also work! Simply make a little stronger than normal.
  • Cutting the dough: Once the dough is rolled into a log, use a serrated bread knife or dental floss (the unflavored one) to slice into rounds. With floss, slide it below the log, adjust to the desired width and pull up and across so it slices through! 
  • Egg wash: I brush a little of the leftover egg white over the rolls just before baking to add extra shine!
  • Overnight: If making overnight/needing longer between proofs, place the dough in the fridge otherwise it may ‘over prove’, losing the desired texture.
  • Glaze: The glaze is a basic milk/coffee/powdered sugar blend, but you can make a thick cream cheese frosting if you prefer! Simply whisk up cream cheese with an electric mixer with powdered sugar and coffee and spread over!

I bake these Tiramisu Cinnamon Rolls in a 9×9″ inch square baking tray, but anything similar sized will work! Try a 9inch Dutch Casserole, pie dish or cake tin. To make the kneading easier, I tend to use the dough hook on my stand mixer. For more doughy recipes, check out these Maple Bacon Cinnamon Rolls. For videos and baking inspiration, head on over to my Instagram. If you make this recipe, don’t forget to drop it a star rating, leave a review or share a photo on your socials!

Tiramisu Cinnamon Rolls

STORAGE/MAKE AHEAD FOR MY MAPLE BACON CINNAMON ROLLS

When it comes to storing fresh sweet rolls/bread, it’s essential to maintain their texture and flavor. Here are a few tips to help you store your Maple Bacon Cinnamon Rolls correctly!

Store leftover cooled homemade cinnamon rolls in an airtight container for 3-5 days. Rewarm individually in the microwave on a plate for about 15-30 seconds or until soft and squishy. To Freeze: Once baked, the sweet rolls can be frozen for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator and warm in the microwave for a few seconds before serving!

To make ahead, you can replace either rise with an overnight rise in the refrigerator. Make sure to cover with cling film/saran wrap. The next day, continue with the recipe as laid out. No other changes are needed! Take care not to leave too long beyond overnight in the refrigerator. Although it slows rising, it doesn’t totally stop it, and you don’t want it to overflow from its container!

Tiramisu Cinnamon Rolls

Tiramisu Cinnamon Rolls

These Tiramisu Cinnamon Rolls are the ultimate weekend brunch. Fluffy cinnamon rolls filled with a butter blended with coffee and cocoa. These bring together all that is good about a cinnamon roll with all the best parts of tiramisu! Finish with a coffee glaze and a heavy dusting of cocoa powder for the ultimate tiramisu vibes!
Print Pin
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Resting Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 9
Author: Florence Jackson

Ingredients

  • 7 g (¼ oz) Packet Dried Fast Acting Yeast
  • 200 ml (¾ cup) Warm Milk See Notes
  • 50 g (¼ cup) Granulated Sugar
  • 55 g (¼ cup) Unsalted Butter Melted
  • 400 g (3 ¼ cups) All Purpose Flour
  • 1 (1) Large Egg
  • 1 (1) Large Egg Yolk
  • 50 ml (¼ cup) Heavy Cream Optional

For the Filling

  • 113 g (½ cup) Unsalted Butter
  • 110 g (½ cup) Light Brown Sugar
  • 2 tbsp (2 tbsp) Brewed Coffee Cooled
  • 1 ½ tbsp (1 ½ tbsp) Cocoa Powder

For the Glaze

  • 200 g (1 ⅔ cups) Powdered Sugar
  • 2 tbsp (2 tbsp) Brewed Coffee Cooled
  • 2 tsp (2 tsp) Heavy Cream

Instructions

  • Start by combining the yeast, warm milk and sugar in a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. The milk should be just warm to the touch but not hot. Let bloom for 5 minutes – it should look 'bubbly'.
  • To that bowl, add in one whole egg and egg yolk and the melted butter. Mix to combine. Add the flour and mix to form a dough.
  • Knead for 8-10 minutes. Spray the bowl with some oil and let rise in a warm place for at least 1 hour (until doubled in size).
  • Line a 9×9" square dish with baking parchment.

For the Filling

  • Make the filling by combining the butter, coffee, brown sugar and cocoa powder in a bowl. Beat together with a spatula until totally combined. If it looks a little 'split' don't panic, it will still work!
  • Once doubled in size, punch down and tip onto lightly floured surface. Use a rolling pin to roll to about 15×8 inches. Spread the coffee/cocoa paste over the dough in an even layer.

Assembly

  • Starting with the long side, roll the dough away from you to form a tight log. Use either a serrated knife or dental floss to cut about 9 rolls. Place into the lined dish. Let rest 30 minutes.
  • Preheat the oven to 370℉/180℃. If using, pour over the heavy cream then bake the tray of sweet rolls for about 15-20 minutes: until a light golden color. Remove and let cool.
  • Make the frosting by combining powdered sugar with coffee and heavy cream to form a thick but just spreadable consistency. Spread over the rolls once they've cooled. Dust with cocoa powder (use a fine sieve) for the tiramisu look!

Notes

Milk: Your milk should be warm but not hot. What this means is it should feel just lukewarm to the touch but at a temperature that isn’t scalding/too hot to touch. 
Brewed Coffee: The stronger the better. Espresso is a great choice, or make up instant/filter coffee using more coffee than you normally would. 

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