Description
These Chai Cinnamon Rolls offer a warm, aromatic twist on a beloved classic, blending traditional cinnamon roll flavors with the cozy spices of chai tea including ginger, cardamom, and cloves. Soft, fluffy rolls filled with spiced brown sugar butter and topped with a sweet cinnamon glaze make these perfect for a comforting breakfast or indulgent treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough
- 1 cup warm milk
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 large egg
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
Chai Spice Filling
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp ground cardamom
- 1/2 tsp ground cloves
Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2-3 tbsp milk
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: In a bowl, combine warm milk, sugar, and yeast. Stir to dissolve and let sit for 5-10 minutes until frothy, indicating the yeast is active and ready.
- Make Dough: In a large mixing bowl, add the yeast mixture, melted butter, egg, flour, salt, and ground cinnamon. Mix until a dough forms. Turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 5-7 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.
- First Rise: Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover it with a damp towel, and let it rise in a warm spot for 1 to 1.5 hours, or until it has doubled in size.
- Prepare Filling: While the dough rises, combine softened butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and cloves in a bowl. Mix until smooth and spreadable to create the chai spice filling.
- Roll Out Dough: Once risen, punch down the dough to release air. Roll it out on a floured surface into a 12×18 inch rectangle. Evenly spread the chai spice filling all over the dough surface.
- Form Rolls: Starting from the longer edge, roll the dough tightly into a log. Cut into 12 even pieces. Arrange the rolls in a greased 9×13 inch baking pan, leaving some space between each to allow for expansion.
- Second Rise: Cover the rolls and let them rise again for 30 minutes. In this time, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Bake: Bake the rolls for 20-25 minutes until they are golden brown on top and cooked through.
- Prepare Glaze: While the rolls bake, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, vanilla extract, and ground cinnamon in a bowl until smooth and pourable.
- Glaze and Serve: Remove the rolls from the oven, and while still warm, drizzle the cinnamon glaze over the top. Serve warm and enjoy the cozy flavor combination.
Notes
- Ensure milk is warm (about 110°F) to properly activate the yeast without killing it.
- For best flavor, use freshly ground spices for the chai filling.
- Do not skip the second rise for fluffy, soft rolls.
- Glaze consistency can be adjusted by adding more milk for a thinner glaze or more powdered sugar for a thicker one.
- Store any leftover rolls in an airtight container and reheat gently before serving.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
