Velvet Cheese-Frosted Rolls (Print Version)

# Ingredients:

→ Dough Ingredients

01 - About 3 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
02 - 1 packet (2 1/4 teaspoons) of active dry yeast
03 - 1/4 cup of regular sugar
04 - 1 teaspoon of baking powder
05 - 1/2 teaspoon of salt
06 - 1 cup of warm whole milk
07 - A melted 1/4 cup of unsalted butter
08 - 1 egg (large)
09 - 2 tablespoons of red food coloring
10 - 1 teaspoon of vanilla

→ Filling Ingredients

11 - A 1/2 cup of softened unsalted butter
12 - 3/4 cup of tightly packed brown sugar
13 - 2 tablespoons of cinnamon powder
14 - Optional: A half cup of tiny chocolate chips

→ Frosting Ingredients

15 - 8 ounces of softened cream cheese
16 - 1/2 cup of softened unsalted butter
17 - 4 cups of powdered sugar
18 - 2 teaspoons of vanilla
19 - Around 2-4 tablespoons of milk (to adjust thickness as needed)

# Instructions:

01 - In a big bowl, mix 2 cups of the flour with yeast, sugar, salt, and baking powder. In another dish, blend the warm milk, egg, vanilla, melted butter, and food coloring. Combine the wet mixture into the dry one and stir. Keep adding the rest of the flour—about 1/2 cup at a time—until the dough is soft but a bit sticky.
02 - Work the dough on a floured table for 8-10 minutes (or 6-8 minutes using a mixer with a dough hook) until it feels smooth. Grease a bowl, pop in the dough, cover it with a cloth, and let it sit in a cozy spot for 60 to 90 minutes to double in size.
03 - Once the dough is rising, combine the softened butter, cinnamon, and packed brown sugar to get a creamy mix. Have chocolate chips ready if you're adding them.
04 - Punch down the dough and roll it into a big rectangle about 16×12 inches. Spread the cinnamon mixture all over, leaving some space at the edges. Sprinkle on chocolate chips if you want. Roll it tightly from one long side to the other, pinch the edge to seal, and cut it into 12 similar-sized pieces.
05 - Neatly place the dough rounds in a greased 9×13-inch pan. Cover them up and let them puff up more for 30 minutes.
06 - Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake them for 20-25 minutes, keeping an eye out for golden tops. Be careful not to leave them in too long.
07 - Whisk the butter and cream cheese until smooth. Slowly add powdered sugar and vanilla while mixing. Adjust how thick or thin you want it by stirring in some milk.
08 - Once the rolls cool just a little, slather on the cream cheese frosting. Best served nice and warm.

# Notes:

01 - Gel food color makes the red pop without affecting dough texture.
02 - Top with crushed candy canes or red sprinkles for festive touches!
03 - Great for mornings like Christmas or Valentine's Day treats.

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