Step aside cinnamon rolls, there’s a new sweet roll in town! Filled with semi-sweet chocolate and finely chopped hazelnuts and topped with an espresso glaze, these sweet rolls have it all.

Chocolate Hazelnut Sweet Rolls | completelydelicious.com

This recipe was developed in partnership with Red Star Yeast.

I wish I could give a huge bear hug to whoever deemed sweet rolls fit for breakfast. Because if we’re being completely honest, we have to admit that they’re pretty much dessert food, right?

But I’m not one to complain when it comes to getting away with eating dessert for breakfast, and so here’s one more recipe to tempt us all.

Chocolate Hazelnut Sweet Rolls | completelydelicious.com

Chocolate Hazelnut Sweet Rolls | completelydelicious.com

And these rolls are extremely tempting. Chocolate + hazelnut forever and ever! The espresso glaze is optional (you are welcome to use a basic vanilla glaze instead) but it really does help make each bite swoon-worthy.

Chocolate Hazelnut Sweet Rolls | completelydelicious.com

For this recipe I used Red Star’s Platinum Yeast, which is like super hero active-dry yeast. It’s more forgiving, helps breads to rise even more, and gives them an even lighter texture. Any active-dry yeast will work with this recipe, but I can’t say enough about Platinum yeast if you’re just starting out or looking to give your sweet rolls a little something extra.

I mean, just look at how beautiful these buns baked up!

Chocolate Hazelnut Sweet Rolls | completelydelicious.com

There were definitely squeals of joy as I pulled them from the oven, which later turned to lots of mmms and ahhhs as I dug into my first roll. I went on to eat three total— oops!

But can you really blame me?

Chocolate Hazelnut Sweet Rolls | completelydelicious.com

Chocolate Hazelnut Sweet Rolls | completelydelicious.com

Chocolate Hazlenut Sweet Rolls

Servings: 12 rolls
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Rise Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Sweet rolls filled with semi-sweet chocolate and chopped hazelnuts and drizzled with an espresso glaze.

Ingredients
 

For the dough:

  • ¼ cup unsalted butter (56 grams)
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • cup whole milk (160 ml)
  • 3-3½ all-purpose flour (360-420 grams)
  • 1 packet Red Star Active-Dry Yeast (2¼ teaspoon, 7 grams)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs

For the filling:

  • 6 oz semi-sweet chocolate , roughly chopped (170 grams)
  • ½ cup hazelnuts (70 grams)
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar (50 grams)
  • Pinch of salt
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter , at room temperature (85 grams)

For the icing:

  • 1 cup powdered sugar , sifted (227 grams)
  • ½ teaspoon instant espresso powder , optional
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2-3 tablespoons milk or heavy cream

Instructions
 

To prepare the dough:

  • In a small saucepan set over medium low heat, warm the butter, honey and milk until butter is melted and mixture begins to steam. Do not boil. Remove from heat and let sit 5 minutes, or until the temperature is between 120-130°F.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine 1½ cups of the flour with the yeast and salt. Add the milk mixture and mix until combined. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing after each.
  • With the mixer on low, add the remaining flour ¼ cup at a time until dough clears the side of the bowl but is still slightly sticky to the touch. You may not need all 3½ cups of flour.
  • Continue to knead the dough in the mixer until it is smooth and elastic, about 5-8 minutes.
  • Place dough in a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.

To prepare filling and assemble rolls:

  • Gently punch down dough and knead a few times. Cover it with the plastic wrap and let it rest for 15 minutes.
  • In a food processor, pulse the chocolate chunks, hazelnuts, sugar and salt until the nuts and and chocolate are in very small pieces but a few large chunks remain.
  • Add the butter and pulse a few times just until the mixture comes together. It should be slightly sticky but still crumbly, do not process it so much that it forms a paste. (see Note)
  • On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into a long rectangle approximately 10x15 inches.
  • Spread the chocolate hazelnut mixture evenly on top. Starting with a long end, tightly roll up the dough into a long log. Use a sharp knife or unscented dental floss or thread to cut dough into 12 rolls.
  • Place rolls in a greased 9x13-inch pan. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled, about 30-45 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Bake rolls until golden, about 30 minutes. Let cool slightly.

To make the icing:

  • Whisk together the powdered sugar, espresso powder, vanilla extract and enough milk or heavy cream to make a thick but pourable glaze. Drizzle over warm rolls.

Notes

NOTES

  • If you do not have a food processor, you can use a sharp knife to finely chop the chocolate and nuts. In a large bowl combine the chocolate, nuts, sugar and salt and use a spoon to work in the butter.
  • Rolls are best the day they are baked, but will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Calories: 292kcal, Carbohydrates: 28g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 19g, Saturated Fat: 10g, Cholesterol: 55mg, Sodium: 215mg, Potassium: 151mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 25g, Vitamin A: 362IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 40mg, Iron: 1mg
Cuisine: American
Course: Snack
Author: Annalise
Have you tried this recipe?I’d love to hear about it! Leave a rating and review below, or take a photo and tag it on Instagram @completelydelicious with #completelydelicious.


Disclosure: This recipe was developed in partnership with Red Star Yeast. Thank you for supporting partnerships with brands I love and believe in, which make Completely Delicious possible. All opinions are 100% my own, as always. 

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