Red Velvet Cake Mix Cinnamon Rolls
- Level: Easy
- Yield: 12 rolls
-
- Nutritional Analysis
- Per Serving
- Serving Size
- 1 of 12 servings
- Calories
- 601
- Total Fat
- 22
- Saturated Fat
- 13
- Carbohydrates
- 96
- Dietary Fiber
- 4
- Sugar
- 58
- Protein
- 7
- Cholesterol
- 58
- Sodium
- 396
- Total: 3 hr 15 min (includes rising and cooling times)
- Active: 30 min
Ingredients
1 1/4 cups warm water (110 degrees F)
One 2 1/4-ounce package active dry yeast
One 15.25-ounce box red velvet cake mix
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting (see Cook's Note)
1 1/2 cups packed dark brown sugar
3 tablespoons ground cinnamon
Kosher salt
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, cut into tablespoon pieces, at room temperature, plus more for the pan
4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Directions
- Whisk the water and yeast in a large bowl and let sit for 5 minutes to dissolve; the mixture will bubble slightly. Add the cake mix and flour and stir vigorously for 1 minute until the dough comes together and no dry flour remains; don't be tempted to overwork or knead the dough or it will get very sticky and hard to work with. Cover with plastic wrap and let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free area until doubled in volume, 1 hour to 1 hour 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, whisk together the brown sugar, cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl until no lumps of sugar remain. Work in 12 tablespoons of the butter and stir until completely combined. Set aside until ready to assemble.
- Beat the cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, cream, vanilla, the remaining 4 tablespoons butter and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl until light and creamy, about 2 minutes. Set aside until ready to serve.
- Gently deflate the dough by lifting it up around the edges and letting it fall back into the bowl, turning the bowl and repeating if needed. Transfer to a clean work surface lightly dusted with flour. Roll into a 12-by-16-inch rectangle, pushing the edges towards the center to make the sides straight. Spread the butter-brown sugar mixture over the dough in an even layer, leaving a 1/4-inch border around the edges. Starting on one of the shorter sides, tightly roll into a log, pressing the sides occasionally to keep them flush.
- Grease a 13-by-9-inch baking pan with butter. Cut the dough log crosswise into 12 equal pieces and arrange them cut-side up in the pan, gently shaping the rolls to make them fit in the pan. Let rise, covered, in a warm, draft-free area until almost completely covering the pan, about 30 minutes.
- Arrange an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.
- Bake until the rolls are puffed and brick red and the filling is bubbling, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool until set, about 30 minutes.
- Spread the frosting over the warm rolls and serve.
Cook’s Note
When measuring flour, we spoon it into a dry measuring cup and level off excess. (Scooping directly from the bag compacts the flour, resulting in dry baked goods.)