Colorful Cream Cheese Rainbow Rolls
Delight your friends and family with these Colorful Cream Cheese Rainbow Rolls! Perfect for any occasion, these soft and fluffy sweet rolls are swirled with vibrant cream cheese fillings in every color of the rainbow. Topped with a luscious glaze and sprinkles, they are sure to uplift any gathering and add a splash of joy to your table. Ideal as a breakfast treat, dessert, or afternoon snack, these rolls combine a comforting dough with a fun and festive filling that is bound to impress. Follow this easy-to-follow recipe for a deliciously colorful experience that will leave everyone smiling!
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
15
Ingredients
Ingredients
Milk
1 cup (warmed)
Yeast
1 1/4 ounces (active dry)
Large Eggs
2 (beaten)
Granulated Sugar
1/2 cup (plus 1 cup for filling)
Melted Butter
1/3 cup (to mix in dough)
Flour
4 cups (plus more for dusting)
Cream Cheese
4 ounces (softened)
Melted Butter
1/3 cup (for filling)
Cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon
Gel Food Coloring
as needed (colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple)
Confectioners' Sugar
2 cups
Butter
2 tablespoons (softened for glaze)
Vanilla Extract
1 teaspoon
Milk
1 tablespoon (for glaze)
Rainbow Candy Sprinkles
as desired (for topping)
Instructions
1
1. Start by warming 1 cup of milk in the microwave until it's warm (similar to bath water). In a large mixing bowl, dissolve 1 1/4 ounces (about 2 1/4 tsp) of yeast in the warm milk and let it rest for about 5 minutes or until frothy on top.
2
2. In a separate bowl, whisk together 2 large eggs, 1/2 cup of granulated sugar, and 1/3 cup of melted butter until well combined. Pour this mixture into the yeast and milk blend, stirring to incorporate.
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3. Gradually add 4 cups of flour to the wet ingredients, mixing until a dough forms. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead it briefly until smooth and homogenous, about 2-3 minutes.
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4. Shape the kneaded dough into a ball and place it in a greased bowl. Cover the bowl loosely with a kitchen towel and allow the dough to rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until it has doubled in size.
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5. While the dough rises, prepare the filling. In a medium bowl, mix together 4 ounces of cream cheese, 1/2 cup of granulated sugar, 1/3 cup of melted butter, and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon until smooth. Divide this mixture into 6 smaller bowls and tint each with a different color of gel food coloring: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple.
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6. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Once the dough has risen, punch it down and transfer it to a lightly floured work surface. Roll it out into a rectangle, approximately 16 inches by 24 inches and about 1/4 inch thick.
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7. Spread each colored cream cheese filling across the dough in separate, lengthwise stripes, getting as close to the edge as possible without spilling.
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8. Carefully roll the dough up along the long edge, starting with the red side, forming a log. Ensure the rolls are tight but not squished.
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9. Using a sharp knife or serrated bread knife, slice the log into 12 equal pieces. To ensure even sizing, cut the log in half, then into quarters, and finally cut each quarter into three pieces.
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10. Place the sliced rolls into a greased 9x9 inch baking dish or pie plate, arranging them closely together.
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11. Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until the rolls are puffy and golden brown. When done, remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes.
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12. While the rolls cool, prepare the glaze by mixing together 2 cups of confectioners' sugar, 2 tablespoons of softened butter, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Start with 1 tablespoon of milk and mix until thick, adding more milk gradually to reach your desired glaze consistency.
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13. Once the rolls have cooled slightly, drizzle the glaze generously over the top and finish with an abundant sprinkling of colorful rainbow sprinkles. Let the glaze set before serving.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Colorful Cream Cheese Rainbow Rolls?
They are soft and fluffy sweet rolls swirled with vibrant cream cheese fillings in every color of the rainbow, topped with glaze and sprinkles.
What is the primary filling for these rolls?
The filling is a mixture of cream cheese, sugar, butter, and cinnamon, divided and tinted with six different colors.
How long does the dough need to rise?
The dough should rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until it has doubled in size.
At what temperature should the oven be preheated?
The oven should be preheated to 400°F (200°C).
How many rolls does this recipe make?
This recipe yields 12 equal-sized rainbow rolls.
What colors are included in the rainbow filling?
The filling uses gel food coloring in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple.
What kind of yeast is used in this recipe?
The recipe calls for 1 1/4 ounces (about 2 1/4 tsp) of active dry yeast.
How long do the rolls need to bake?
The rolls bake for 12-15 minutes until they are puffy and golden brown.
What type of food coloring is recommended?
Gel food coloring is recommended to achieve vibrant colors without altering the consistency of the cream cheese.
How do I ensure the rolls are even in size?
Slice the dough log in half, then into quarters, and finally cut each quarter into three pieces.
What are the dimensions for rolling out the dough?
Roll the dough into a rectangle approximately 16 inches by 24 inches and 1/4 inch thick.
How do I prepare the yeast?
Dissolve the yeast in 1 cup of warm milk and let it rest for 5 minutes until frothy.
How warm should the milk be for the yeast?
The milk should be warm to the touch, similar to the temperature of bath water.
How long should I knead the dough?
Knead the dough briefly on a floured surface for about 2-3 minutes until smooth.
What ingredients are in the glaze?
The glaze consists of confectioners' sugar, softened butter, vanilla extract, and milk.
When is the best time to serve these rolls?
They are perfect for breakfast, as a dessert, or as a festive afternoon snack.
What size baking dish is required?
A greased 9x9 inch baking dish or a pie plate is ideal for these rolls.
How are the colored fillings applied to the dough?
Spread each color in separate, lengthwise stripes across the dough rectangle.
How long should the rolls cool before adding the glaze?
Allow the rolls to cool for about 10 minutes after removing them from the oven.
What texture should the dough have after kneading?
The dough should be smooth and homogenous.
Is cinnamon included in the recipe?
Yes, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon is mixed into the cream cheese filling.
How do I adjust the glaze consistency?
Start with 1 tablespoon of milk and gradually add more until you reach your desired thickness.
What type of sugar is used in the dough and filling?
Granulated sugar is used for both the dough and the cream cheese filling.
What type of sugar is used for the topping?
Confectioners' sugar is used to create the sweet glaze.
Should the butter be melted or softened?
Melted butter is used in the dough and filling, while softened butter is used for the glaze.
Which color should I start rolling from?
Start rolling from the long edge beginning with the red side to form the log.
How much cream cheese is needed?
The recipe requires 4 ounces of softened cream cheese.
Do these rolls have any toppings besides glaze?
Yes, they are finished with an abundant sprinkling of rainbow candy sprinkles.
How many eggs are needed for the dough?
The dough requires 2 large eggs.
What is the first step after the rolls have baked?
Remove them from the oven and let them cool for 10 minutes before drizzling with glaze.