Hot Cocoa Cinnamon-less Rolls

☕🍫 Hot Cocoa Cinnamon‑less Rolls — The Sweetest Winter Morning Treat

Fluffy rolls swirled with hot cocoa mix and topped with gooey marshmallow frosting — basically, a mug of hot chocolate you can eat with your hands.

 

 

These Hot Cocoa Cinnamon‑less Rolls are the ultimate holiday breakfast (or dessert… or snack… no judgment). They’re soft, pillowy, and filled with rich hot cocoa mix instead of cinnamon, then topped with a marshmallow‑cream cheese frosting that tastes like the best part of a s’more.

They’re:

• Ridiculously festive — perfect for Christmas morning or any snowy day.
• Kid‑approved — chocolate filling + marshmallow frosting = instant smiles.
• Make‑ahead friendly — prep the night before, bake in the morning.

💬 Reader prompt: Are you a “frosting first” kind of roll eater or do you go straight for the gooey middle?

 

I can’t even tell you how much my kids liked these in words. Other than Grey told me I’m a good maker and ‘almost’ as good as his cute sitter. Biggest compliment ever received from Greyson.

Also the fact that they asked for 2nds and 3rds, I had to cut them off. I was afraid they were going to get sick from breakfast overload.

Hot Cocoa Cinnamon-less Rolls

 

Ingredients 

Roll Dough

• 1/4 cup warm water
• 1/2 tablespoon instant yeast
• 1 cup milk, scalded then cooled to room temperature
• 2 Tbsp. melted butter, slightly cooled
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 3.5 – 4.5 cups flour
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/4 cup honey

Filling

• 6 tablespoons butter, softened
• 2 hot Cocoa packs of Swiss miss

Marshmallow Frosting

• 4 tablespoons butter
• 4 oz. mini marshmallows
• 4 oz. cream cheese
• 2/3 cup powdered sugar

Directions

1. Activate the Yeast
   • In a mixing bowl, combine yeast, warm water, and 1 tablespoon sugar. Let sit until bubbly, about 5 minutes.
2. Prep the Milk & Butter
   • Heat milk in a saucepan until just boiling, then remove from heat and cool slightly. Melt butter and set aside.
3. Make the Dough
   • Add sugar, honey, milk, and 3 ½ cups flour to the yeast mixture. Beat for 2 minutes.
   • Add melted butter, egg, and salt. Stir well.
   • Add remaining flour ½ cup at a time until dough pulls away from the bowl. Rest 3–5 minutes.
4. Knead & Rise
   • Knead dough in the bowl for 5 minutes, adding flour if sticky.
   • Grease the bowl, return dough, and turn to coat. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
5. Shape the Rolls
   • Punch down dough. Roll into a 14×16‑inch rectangle, ¼‑inch thick.
   • Spread softened butter over dough, leaving ½‑inch border. Sprinkle evenly with hot cocoa mix.
   • Roll up tightly from the long side. Slice into 12–13 rolls.
6. Second Rise
   • Place rolls in a buttered 9×12‑inch pan. Cover and refrigerate overnight, or let rise at room temperature until puffy (about 45 minutes).
7. Bake
   • Preheat oven to 375°F. Bake rolls for 25 minutes, until golden brown.
8. Make the Frosting
   • In a greased bowl, microwave marshmallows with 1 teaspoon water until melted.
   • Beat butter and cream cheese until smooth. Add melted marshmallows and powdered sugar; beat until fluffy.
9. Frost & Serve
   • Spread frosting over warm rolls. Serve immediately and watch them disappear.

🔢 Calorie Count (Per Roll — Makes 12)

• Calories: ~340
• Protein: 6g
• Carbs: 52g
• Fat: 12g
• Sugar: 22g

📊 Nutritional Facts (Per Roll)

\*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

 

Hot Cocoa Cinnamon-less Rolls

👩‍🍳 Baking Tips for Roll Success

• Warm, not hot — liquids should be warm to the touch, not scalding, to keep yeast happy.
• Overnight magic — chilling the shaped rolls overnight deepens the flavor.
• Sharp knife or floss — for clean slices, use unflavored dental floss to cut the rolls.
• Frost while warm — the frosting will melt slightly into the rolls for extra gooeyness.
• Extra marshmallowy? — fold in more melted marshmallows for a fluffier frosting.

💬 Reader prompt: Do you like your rolls perfectly round or do you embrace the “rustic” shapes?

🎨 Recipe Variations

• Peppermint Cocoa Rolls — add crushed candy canes to the filling.
• Mocha Swirl — mix instant espresso powder into the cocoa mix.
• Nutty Twist — sprinkle chopped hazelnuts or pecans over the filling.
• White Chocolate Dream — swap cocoa mix for white hot chocolate mix.
• Mini Rolls — cut smaller slices for bite‑sized treats.

🧒 Kid Tips

• Let kids sprinkle the cocoa mix — it’s messy but fun.
• Give them a small spatula to help spread frosting.
• Make mini rolls for smaller hands.
• Keep a few unfrosted for kids who like things less sweet.

💬 Reader prompt: Parents — do your kids go for the frosting first or the chocolatey middle?

🛒 Grocery Hacks

• Hot cocoa mix — buy in bulk during winter sales.
• Marshmallows — freeze extras to keep them fresh.
• Flour — store in an airtight container to prevent pests.
• Yeast — keep in the fridge or freezer for longer shelf life.
• Cream cheese — stock up when it’s on sale; it freezes well for baking.

📣 Reader’s Challenge: #HotCocoaRollSquad

Here’s your mission:

1. Make these Hot Cocoa Cinnamon‑less Rolls.
2. Put your own spin on them — maybe a new filling, a fun frosting, or a holiday garnish.
3. Snap a photo and post with #HotCocoaRollSquad.
4. I’ll feature my favorites in an upcoming Friday Favorites post!

♻️ Leftover Remix

• Ice Cream Sandwiches — slice rolls in half, fill with ice cream, freeze.
• Bread Pudding — cube leftover rolls, bake with custard.
• French Toast Rolls — dip in egg mixture, pan‑fry, and drizzle with syrup.
• Trifle Layers — layer with pudding and whipped cream in a glass dish.
• Lunchbox Treat — wrap individually for a sweet surprise.

 

💭 Final Thoughts

These rolls are proof that holiday baking can be fun, festive, and just a little bit magical. They’re soft, sweet, and full of cozy hot cocoa flavor — the kind of treat that makes people smile before they even take a bite. Plus, they’re endlessly adaptable, so you can make them your own every time.

💬 Reader prompt: If you could turn any winter drink into a baked good, what would it be?

Some breakfasts are just breakfasts. These Hot Cocoa Cinnamon‑less Rolls? They’re a holiday tradition waiting to happen. They’re the smell of chocolate and bread baking in the oven, the sight of marshmallow frosting melting into warm swirls, and the joy of that first bite when the cocoa filling meets the fluffy dough.

I love that they’re flexible — you can keep them classic, add peppermint, or go full s’mores with graham cracker crumbs. They’re forgiving, too; even if your rolls aren’t perfectly shaped, they’ll still taste like something you’d proudly serve to guests. And they’re the kind of recipe that makes people linger at the table, chatting and reaching for seconds.

Did you try our Hot Cocoa Cinnamon-less Rolls recipe? What did you think? Did you love it? We would love to hear from you! Please leave a comment below or tag us on Instagram! 

Hot Cocoa Cinnamon-less Rolls

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