Description
Create spooky cinnamon rolls for Halloween with a dramatic dark and orange color contrast. These soft, swirly, and cinnamony treats are perfect for parties or a fun bake with kids, offering a festive and flavorful twist to your Halloween celebration.
Ingredients
- All-purpose flour
- Granulated sugar
- Brown sugar
- Instant yeast
- Salt
- Milk (warm)
- Butter (melted and some softened)
- Eggs
- Black cocoa powder (or dark food coloring / activated charcoal + regular cocoa)
- Orange food coloring
- Ground cinnamon
- Powdered sugar (for glaze)
- Vanilla extract
Instructions
- Activate the yeast with warm milk and a pinch of sugar until foamy.
- Mix flour, salt, and sugars. Add eggs and melted butter. Knead until a smooth, elastic dough forms.
- Divide the dough into two portions. Color one portion orange and the other dark using black cocoa powder or a coloring mix.
- Place each dough ball in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise until doubled (about 1 hour).
- Roll out the orange dough into a rectangle. Do the same with the dark dough. Stack them, pressing lightly to adhere.
- Spread a filling made of softened butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon evenly over the layered dough.
- Roll the dough from the long edge into a tight log. Slice into 1 to 1.5-inch rolls.
- Place the rolls in a greased baking dish or muffin tin, cover loosely, and let rise for 30–45 minutes.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 20–25 minutes, until cooked through and lightly golden.
- Mix powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and a splash of milk for the glaze. Drizzle over warm rolls.
Notes
- Using black cocoa provides a deep color without excessive dye.
- Gel food coloring yields a bolder orange hue than liquid types.
- Allow the glaze to drip down the sides for a spooky effect.
- The second rise is crucial for fluffy texture.
- Decorate with Halloween sprinkles, candy eyeballs, or marshmallow ghosts.
- Consider a pumpkin spice filling or cream cheese frosting for variations.
- Shape rolls like pumpkins by tying with string before baking.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 roll
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 30g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 50mg