Chocolate Cinnamon Rolls Recipe- a Hungarian Treat

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If you remember from my earlier post, I had the occasion to visit Hungary in my twenties and became addicted to chocolate cinnamon rolls which were unexpectedly and ruthlessly taken from me. After reading the story (and hearing about it countless times) my wife looked at me with a thoughtful finger pressed against her lips and said, “Maybe we should try to recreate them.”

chocolate cinnamon rolls recipe

I’m a fat guy who enjoys food to no small amount, so when my wife said this to me, it was roughly the emotional equivalent to any other guy walking with his wife in the mall and suddenly she suggests going into the lingerie shop. I was just that excited.

So we experimented. Lights flickered. Lightening struck our kitchen. A Catholic Priest crossed himself and prayed for the sake of the whole world. There may have been maniacal laughter. In the end, even Doctor Frankenstein couldn’t have been as overjoyed at his creation as we were about ours. And everybody wins because my dear wife, who makes the most amazing (sans-chocolate) cinnamon rolls I’ve ever had, unlocked the secret. In an effort to thumb my nose at that Hungarian shop-keeper, I’m going to share it with the world!

Chocolate Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

Preparation time: Approximately 4 hours

Chocolate Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

  • 1 1/2 Tbsp dry yeast
  • 1 cup warm water
  • 2 Tbsp sugar
  • 1/3 cup butter
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 beaten eggs
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 5-6 cups flour

Combine yeast, warm water and 2 Tbsp sugar in mixer bowl and let sit to activate yeast. While letting yeast sit, melt butter in saucepan and add milk to heat. Let cool to lukewarm. Add milk mixture to yeast mixture and then add eggs, salt and remaining sugar. Mix well. Add flour slowly until you get a slightly sticky dough.

The flour is the tricky part. You don’t want to add too much, but if you don’t add enough the dough will not hold its shape. I usually do about 5 cups and let it mix really well, and then add about 1/3 cup more at a time until I get a good texture. Remember that as you let the dough rise it gets more firm, so it’s okay to leave it a tiny bit stickier than you can handle at first.

Let the dough rise to double its size twice (about 30 minutes each time). So, let it rise and beat it down and then let it rise again.

Now you are ready to roll it out. I usually spread a little vegetable oil on the table and the cookie sheets to keep the dough from sticking. I roll about half of the dough at a time. Roll it into a rectangle. Spread melted butter  (1/4 – 1/3 cup) over the dough. Use REAL butter! The chocolate filling is actually really easy. Mix together 5 Tablespoons cocoa with 10 Tablespoons sugar. Sprinkle this over your buttered dough. Roll the dough into a log and cut into rolls. I do mine about 1 1/2 inches thick. I use dental floss to cut the dough so that it doesn’t squish the rolls. Think of attacking the log with a garrote, and you’ve got the general idea.

Place on cookie sheet cut side up. I keep mine separated so that they don’t touch when they rise. Some people like them touching to keep all of the edges soft. I just think they look better when they are nice and round, and I like the crust they get when separated. I use my hand to flatten the rolls a little bit. Then let them rise until double in size (about 20-30 minutes depending on temperature of your kitchen). Bake at 375 for 12-15 minutes. You want them to be a nice golden-brown color. Move to a rack to cool (if they make it that far).

The Hungarians do not frost these delectable wonders, as the filling tends to suffice.

Jo’ E’t Vagya’t!

Yield:

Chocolate Cinnamon Rolls

Chocolate Cinnamon Rolls

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 Tbsp dry yeast
  • 1 cup warm water
  • 2 Tbsp sugar
  • 1/3 cup butter
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 beaten eggs
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 5-6 cups flour

Instructions

  1. Combine yeast, warm water and 2 Tbsp sugar in mixer bowl and let sit to activate yeast.
  2. While letting yeast sit, melt butter in saucepan and add milk to heat.
  3. Let cool to lukewarm.
  4. Add milk mixture to yeast mixture and then add eggs, salt and remaining sugar.
  5. Mix well.
  6. Add flour slowly until you get a slightly sticky dough.
  7. Let the dough rise to double its size twice (about 30 minutes each time).
  8. Roll it into a rectangle. Spread melted butter (1/4 – 1/3 cup) over the dough. Use REAL butter!

Chocolate filling

  1. Mix together 5 Tablespoons cocoa with 10 Tablespoons sugar.
  2. Sprinkle this over your buttered dough.
  3. Roll the dough into a log and cut into rolls.
  4. Place on cookie sheet cut side up
  5. Then let them rise until double in size
  6. Bake at 375 for 12-15 minutes.
  7. You want them to be a nice golden-brown color.
  8. Move to a rack to cool

Did you like this recipe? Be sure to PIN IT! And share it with your friends with a link to our site so others can find it. :) It’s sure to be a hit with your friends and family. And we’d be forever grateful for the share. If you want to see more fun Tried and true recipes, be sure to check out our Kitchen Corner category or our Tried and True Recipes board on Pinterest!

When would you enjoy these delectable Chocolate Cinnamon Rolls?

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44 Comments

  1. I have never heard of Chocolate cinnamon rolls. Sounds like it would be a winner and your picture sure makes them look delicious.

  2. Oh those look and sound fantastic! I haven’t tried anything like that before but I want to try them. I love making cinnamon rolls. I also use dental floss to cut mine as well.

  3. I know this is yummy because of the combination of chocolate and cinnamon. It’s looks delicious and easy to make as well. Thanks for the recipe.

  4. I’m sure this recipe is delicious! I’m not a huge fan of chocolate (I know, shocking, right? I’m sure I’m the only woman who feels this way haha) but I know my husband would love them!

  5. These Chocolate Cinnamon Rolls look. So yummy. Since I’m not Hungarian I just might drizzle a little icing glaze on them.

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    1. You can make it in a mixer or a mixing bowl. If mixing in a mixer you can use a dough hook. It can be made with a KitchenAid mixer, or a Bosch mixer, or done by hand in a regular bowl. Just depends on your preference of making dough.

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