Cookie Monster Cinnamon Rolls (Printable)

Fluffy blue dough rolls with cinnamon-chocolate filling, blue frosting and cookie decorations

# What You'll Need:

→ Dough

01 - 4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 packet (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast
03 - 1 cup warm milk (110°F)
04 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar
05 - 1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted
06 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
07 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
08 - Blue gel food coloring as needed

→ Filling

09 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
10 - 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
11 - 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
12 - 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

→ Blue Cream Cheese Frosting

13 - 6 oz cream cheese, softened
14 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
15 - 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
16 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
17 - Blue gel food coloring as needed

→ Cookie Monster Decoration

18 - 24 candy eyes or white chocolate chips and mini chocolate chips for homemade eyes
19 - 6 mini chocolate chip cookies, halved

# Steps:

01 - Combine warm milk, yeast, and 1 tablespoon sugar in a large bowl. Let sit 5 minutes until foamy. Add melted butter, remaining sugar, eggs, salt, and blue food coloring. Mix well. Gradually incorporate flour until a soft dough forms, adding more coloring to achieve vibrant blue.
02 - Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead 6 to 8 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour until doubled in size.
03 - Mix softened butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a small bowl until thoroughly combined.
04 - Punch down risen dough and roll into a 16x12-inch rectangle. Spread filling evenly over surface and sprinkle with mini chocolate chips. Roll tightly from the long edge and slice into 12 equal rolls.
05 - Arrange rolls in a greased 9x13-inch baking dish. Cover and let rise 30 to 40 minutes until puffy.
06 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake rolls 22 to 25 minutes until golden and cooked through. Cool slightly before frosting.
07 - Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth and fluffy. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and blue food coloring. Beat until creamy and vibrantly colored.
08 - Spread blue frosting generously over warm rolls. Place two candy eyes and half a mini cookie on each roll to create Cookie Monster faces.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The blue dough creates pure magic when people first see these rolls emerge from the oven
  • Chocolate chips tucked inside the cinnamon swirl make every bite feel like discovering a hidden treasure
  • That cream cheese frosting is so good you will find yourself eating it by the spoonful
02 -
  • Gel food coloring is absolutely essential here, liquid coloring will throw off your dough consistency and create a sad, sticky situation
  • Room temperature ingredients are not optional, cold cream cheese creates lumpy frosting and cold eggs make dough rebel
  • The blue dough will look terrifyingly bright at first, but it bakes into the most perfect playful shade
03 -
  • Use unflavored dental floss to slice your rolls, it cuts through dough cleanly without squishing those beautiful spirals
  • Place a kitchen towel over your pan while they rise to create a little greenhouse effect that helps them puff up beautifully

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