Cinnamon rolls with chestnut cream and chocolate

Recently, my husband celebrated a special birthday.  We'd made lunch and dinner plans out but I asked what he'd like for breakfast since we'd be home together and he requested financiers.  I popped open a jar of chestnut cream for filling the financiers and that got me thinking about how I should use the rest of the precious jar.  Then I got to thinking...the other thing my husband often requests for breakfast are cinnamon rolls...

A couple of years ago, I had a craving for cinnamon rolls and found a small batch recipe that I adapted.  Since then, my family and I have been hooked and you may have seen me make versions from Nutella-hazelnut to one featuring an almond paste filling.  With the holidays, I always think about chestnuts and I got to thinking that I should use some of my chestnut cream as a filling for my next batch of cinnamon rolls.  So this batch of cinnamon rolls with a chestnut cream filling - and a little chocolate - was born and it was a hit at my house...though I have to say that every version of homemade cinnamon rolls has met with approval here!

It's a special morning we look forward to when there are homemade cinnamon rolls coming out of the oven for breakfast!  There's nothing like enjoying them warm.  The rolls themselves are super soft, tender, and squishy.  The filling here is simply chestnut cream, with a modest amount (a scant ounce is enough) of finely chopped dark chocolate, and, of course, a touch of cinnamon.  My family and I really enjoyed the flavor; the chestnut cream provides a wonderful nutty sweetness and the chocolate melts and turns the filling into a marvelous chestnut cream-chocolate paste, that is very enjoyable.

To make things extra sticky, sweet, and tactile, I topped the warm rolls with a simple chestnut glaze I made with a little confectioners' sugar, low-fat milk and a little more chestnut cream.  Oh my...this was another great use of my chestnut cream stash. 

Like all delicious things, these cinnamon rolls vanished all too quickly.  We find ourselves whipping at the last bit of sticky glaze from our plates and wondering when we can have cinnamon rolls again...it's a recurring thing around here.

Here's one of my favorite ingredients, chestnut cream.  I use it in many ways (from cake to ice cream, just to mention two) and now I can add cinnamon rolls to the list of possibilities.  You can buy chestnut cream via amazon; the Clement Faugier brand is easier to find and very good.

For this recipe, which makes 4 cinnamon rolls, I use a generous rounded 1/4 cup of chestnut cream.  Thinking that maybe I should thicken up the chestnut cream slightly to use as the filling, I whisked in about a teaspoon or so of confectioners' sugar to "stiffen" the cream up a bit; in retrospect, I don't think that's altogether necessary.

As for the chocolate, you could omit it if you want to.  I typically add just 1 ounce of dark chocolate into my batch of 4 cinnamon rolls.  In this case, you could even use a little less to let the chestnut cream flavor and sweetness come through.  It depends on your preference.  My son is definitely in favor of more chocolate; while I generally agree on principle, I actually wouldn't mind less chocolate in this case to let that chestnut cream flavor shine.

I always prep the rolls the night before and let them have a final second rise in the morning for about an hour or so before baking and enjoying them fresh - and warm - with my family!  It is a serious treat!

It becomes an even better treat once the rolls get their glaze treatment!  I just whisked a couple tablespoons of confectioners' sugar with a spoonful of 1% milk and a teaspoon of chestnut cream...at the last minute, I decided to add a couple drops of vanilla extract as well.  Adjust the glaze to the consistency you want (add more confectioners' sugar or milk) - a nice flow - and drizzle it over the warm rolls.  Then, it's just time to get them out of the pan, on to plates, and into our hands and tummies.  It gets messy and oh so enjoyable!

Cinnamon roll mornings are very exciting at my house!  I'm already looking forward to the next time (and I know for sure my husband is too)!

Recipe:

Cinnamon Rolls with Chestnut Cream and Chocolate Filling

Recipe for dough adapted from Oh, LadyCakes

- A small batch-recipe for 4 cinnamon rolls - 

For dough:
1/2 teaspoon active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water, between 105-108 degrees Fahrenheit
1 tablespoon butter, melted (and warm)
2 tablespoons milk, slightly warm
4 teaspoon sugar
Scant 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 cup all-purpose flour

For filling:
Rounded 1/4 cup chestnut cream
1 teaspoon confectioners' sugar
1 scant oz. semisweet chocolate, finely chopped or grated
Ground cinnamon, to taste (I used about 1/4 teaspoon)

For chestnut glaze:
2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
1/2 tablespoon low-fat milk (I used 1% milk)
1 teaspoon chestnut cream
Drop or two of vanilla extract

Lightly oil a medium size mixing bowl and butter a 6-inch cake pan; set aside.

In a small bowl or measuring cup, lightly stir yeast into the warm water.  Add a pinch of sugar, cover, and set aside until slightly foamy, about 10-15 minutes.  If the mixture does not foam at all after that time, you will need to start over (but at the same time, don't expect a great deal of foam given the small proportions).

In another small bowl, stir the warm melted butter together with the sugar until sugar dissolves, about 1 minute.  Mix in milk and set aside.  

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt.  Make a well in the center and add both the yeast and butter mixtures.  Stir with a wood spoon until dough comes together, then remove from the bowl and knead with your hands for 4-5 minutes. Transfer the kneaded dough to the prepared mixing bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and place in a warm spot until doubled, about 45 minutes (or more).

Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and roll or pat/press the dough into a 5x10 inch rectangle.  Whisk the teaspoon of confectioners' sugar into the chestnut cream (this is probably not totally necessary but I did it to stiffen up the cream a bit). Spread the chestnut cream filling evenly over the dough, leaving about 1/4 to 1/2-inch border along the sides.  Top evenly with chocolate and sprinkle cinnamon on top.

Starting at the short end, tightly roll the dough, trim off the ends (optional), and slice into 4 even pieces.  Place rolls into the prepared cake pan and place in a warm spot to rise again until doubled in size, about 30-60 minutes (60 minutes being optimal).  [Do ahead: Once the rolls have been sliced and placed in the pan, cover and refrigerate overnight.  In the morning, remove the pan from the refrigerator, set it in a warm place to rise again - this may take a bit more than an hour - and bake.]  Bake in a 375 degree oven for 12-14 minutes.  The rolls will still look fairly pale after baking.

Let rolls cool slightly for about 5-10 minutes in the pan.  In the meantime, make glaze by mixing milk into the confectioners' sugar, then whisking in chestnut cream and vanilla until smooth.  Adjust with additional confectioners' sugar (or milk), as needed, until you have a fluid, spreadable consistency.  Drizzle the glaze over the rolls and serve immediately, while still warm.