I actually have one more baking mix left but I decided to go ahead and begin my self-imposed scratch baking lessons a couple of weekends ago. I started with these rolls and some scratch pizza dough. I can’t even describe how much I adore the smell of yeast dough rising in a kitchen that is warm from a hot oven in mid afternoon! To come up with my roll recipe I researched many different (cinnamon type) roll recipes and then ended up with the one you see here.
I liked the idea of using the mashed potatoes because I read that it is supposed to make them lighter in texture. It seemed to me that it would make them denser. I like dense, but not too dense, rolls. So the addition made some sort of uneducated sense to me. Also I wanted to try cocoa powder. I may have used too much for some palates but “too chocolaty” is not really a comment I ever use so it worked for me. Although, I used semi-sweet chocolate chips in these and next time I will go with milk chocolate.
I thought chocolate yeast bread might be kind of weird but I liked it. This recipe made 16 rolls and I think I ate 8 of them all by myself! Oh how I wish I could eat food like this every day, all day, and not feel like, as well as look like garbage. But, then I probably would not appreciate it like I do. These are good for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Rolls
Ingredients:
-2/3 c. plain instant mashed potatoes (in a small microwave safe bowl mix potatoes with 2/3 c. water and microwave for 1 minute, set aside)
-2 c. scalded milk (I used whole milk)
-7 to 8 c. flour
-2 packages active dry yeast
-1 c. softened butter (plus about 4 Tbsp. more for brushing on dough for rising and inside rolls) I use unsalted butter
-1 c. sugar
-1 to 2 tsp. salt
-4 eggs
-1 c. cocoa powder
-kosher salt
-1/2 c. each chocolate and peanut butter chips
In a large mixing bowl combine hot potatoes, scalded milk, and one cup of the flour. Mix well. Stir in both packages of yeast. Cover and let rise (15 to 30 minutes). Mixture will appear light, frothy, and bubbly.
Meanwhile, cream the butter and sugar. Next, add the salt and eggs and mix well. Then add the cocoa powder and mix well again. When potato, milk, yeast, and flour mixture is light stir down and add the blended butter, sugar, egg, salt, and cocoa mixture. Add six cups of the flour reserving one cup (to knead in a little at a time, if needed) mix and then knead in bowl with hands until a ball forms. Turn dough out onto a floured surface and knead until you have a fairly firm and elastic dough. Place dough ball into a buttered mixing bowl. Brush the top of the dough ball with butter, cover, and place in a warm area to rise. Let rise until double in size. This will take 1 to 2 hours.
Line two 9” x 13” or larger baking pans with parchment paper. After dough has risen punch it down and roll it out into an approximately 12” x 15” rectangle. Brush the rolled out dough with 3 to 4 Tbsp. of the reserved butter. Sprinkle with a couple pinches of kosher salt. Then sprinkle evenly with the chocolate and peanut butter chips. Roll up dough (jelly roll style) length wise. Cut into one inch rolls (about 16 large rolls). Place rolls, touching slightly in parchment lined pans. Let rolls rise again until almost double (another 1 to 2 hours). Preheat your oven to 350° F. Place rolls in oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Remove rolls from oven. Let cool completely then frost with the peanut butter cream cheese frosting below. Then EAT them UP!!!
Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients:
-2 oz. cream cheese (room temperature)
– ¼ c. creamy peanut butter
-pinch salt
-1 tsp. vanilla
-2 to 3 c. powdered sugar
-1 to 2 Tbsp. whole milk
In a large mixing bowl cream peanut butter, cream cheese, and sugar (adding sugar ½ c. at a time) until mixture begins to look slightly dry (large crumbles). Add milk 1 Tbsp. at a time until desired consistency is reached. Add salt and vanilla. This recipe will thinly frost 16 rolls. Double recipe for a thick frosting.
After I come up with a recipe I think is relatively unique I like to browse the web to see if there is anything similar out there. Check out the amazing recipes I spotted below.
Chocolate Bread From Around The Web (I would love to try each of these recipes, they look absolutely amazing!):
I keep thinking I want to move to Maine, but lets face it, I want to be your next door neighbor and the lucky recipient of all the yummy-ness that passes through your kitchen. I get to try this recipe in a month!! 😀
Maine? Besides all the lobster you can eat, quaint beach cottages, the hypnotic and fascinating ocean, and a better chance at running into Stephen King why on earth would you want to move there?
Oh yum, these look so delicious!
And so do all of your cupcakes!!!
These sweet rolls are so different from the usual ones! This combination of chocolate and peanut butter in a roll sounds delicious!
I can’t seem to tear myself away from that combination!