Description
This Halloween Cinnamon Roll recipe transforms a classic breakfast favorite into a festive treat perfect for spooky celebrations. With vibrant orange dough, deep black cinnamon filling, and bright green frosting decorated with candy eyeballs and marshmallow teeth, these rolls bring a fun and colorful twist to your holiday table.
Ingredients
Scale
Cinnamon Rolls
- 1 packet active dry yeast (1/4 ounce)
- 5 cups all-purpose flour divided, plus extra for rolling out dough
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar (8 tablespoons)
- 1 large egg at room temperature
- 1 1/3 cups warm milk
- 5 tablespoons melted unsalted butter plus 2 tablespoons room temperature unsalted butter for greasing bowl and pan
- 1 teaspoon maple extract
- Orange food coloring (at least 4-5 drops, plus more if needed)
Filling
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup room temperature unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons cinnamon
- Black food coloring (at least 5 drops, plus more if needed)
- 2 tablespoons Halloween sprinkles
Frosting
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- Green food coloring (3-4 drops, plus more if needed)
Decoration
- 24 mini marshmallows (cut in half lengthwise)
- Red food coloring (optional for “blood” effect)
- 24 candy eyeballs
- Halloween sprinkles (extra for topping)
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: In the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk together yeast, 2 1/2 cups of the flour, and granulated sugar until combined. Add the egg, warm milk, 5 tablespoons melted butter, maple extract, and 4 to 5 drops of orange food coloring. Use the dough hook to mix until combined.
- Knead the Dough: Add the remaining 2 1/2 cups flour and knead with the dough hook on medium-low speed for 5 minutes. Adjust the orange food coloring as needed to achieve a very bright orange color since it will fade during baking.
- First Rise: Grease a large bowl with 1 tablespoon room temperature butter. Shape the dough into a ball, transfer it to the prepared bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let it rise at a warm room temperature for 2 hours or until doubled in size.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Once doubled, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with 1 tablespoon room temperature butter.
- Roll Out Dough: Transfer the dough to a floured surface and roll it into a 10 x 14-inch rectangle using a rolling pin.
- Make the Filling: In a medium bowl, stir together brown sugar, 1/2 cup room temperature butter, cinnamon, and at least 5 drops black food coloring until you get a wet sand-like deep black mixture. Add more food coloring if needed.
- Assemble Rolls: Evenly spread the black sugar mixture over the dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of Halloween sprinkles on top. Starting at a long edge, tightly roll the dough into a log.
- Cut Rolls and Second Rise: Cut the log into 12 even pieces and transfer them to the prepared baking pan. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let the rolls rise for 10 minutes.
- Bake: Place the pan on the center rack of the oven and bake for 23 minutes until cooked through and golden on top.
- Make Frosting: While baking, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and 3 to 4 drops green food coloring in a small bowl until bright green and smooth.
- Cool and Decorate: Remove rolls from oven and let stand for 5 minutes. Drizzle the green frosting evenly over the warm rolls. Place 4 marshmallow halves on each roll to resemble teeth, optionally adding red food coloring for a blood effect. Add two candy eyeballs per roll and sprinkle extra Halloween sprinkles on top.
Notes
- Add food coloring gradually to achieve vibrant colors without overpowering flavor.
- If dough is too sticky after kneading, lightly dust with extra flour to help handle it.
- Room temperature ingredients help yeast activate properly.
- Use warm milk about 105-110°F to activate yeast but avoid overheating to prevent killing the yeast.
- Marshmallow teeth and candy eyes add fun decoration – optional but recommended for effect.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container and reheat gently to preserve softness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 roll
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg
