Pistachio Chocolate Cinnamon Rolls

Pistachio Chocolate Rolls are soft and fluffy rolls with nutty pistachios and sweet chocolate in every bite. They use a store-bought pizza dough that creates perfect fluffy rolls.

Using store-bought pizza dough makes baking cinnamon rolls a lot easier. The chocolate mixture for this recipe comes together with 5 simple ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry too!

These pistachio chocolate cinnamon rolls are soft, fluffy, and nutty. What a treat!

Ingredients Notes

Here are the ingredients we’ll be using! Exact measurements and details can be found in the recipe card below.

• Butter - I used unsalted butter. This will be melted.
• Chocolate - I used a dark chocolate bar chopped up. You can also use semi-sweet chocolate chips or dark chocolate chips! I think milk would be to sweet.
• Cocoa powder – Unsweetened cocoa powder is used in this recipe. Make sure to use a high quality one.
• Pistachios - Salted or unsalted works. Make sure to chop them up!
• Pizza dough – Make sure this is fresh, not frozen. Remove from fridge 30 minutes before starting.
• Powdered sugar - Make sure you use powdered sugar (also known as icing sugar), and not granulated sugar.

Step by step instructions

Here is how to make and bake these pistachio chocolate rolls. You will need a 9×9 square pan lined with parchment paper, two medium mixing bowls, and a rolling pin.

Step 1 – Prep. For easy removal of the rolls, place parchment paper on the bottom and sides of the pan. Set aside. Then in a small bowl, mix together dark brown sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.

Step 2 - Make chocolate mix. In a small bowl, add butter and chocolate and melt together. Then add in cocoa powder and icing sugar and mix until smooth.

Step 3 – Roll dough. Transfer pizza dough to a lightly floured work surface and roll using a rolling pin until roughly a large rectangle about 9-10″ x 12-14″. Make sure it is roughly all the same thickness.

Step 4 - Spread chocolate. Take the mixture and spread it evenly across the dough, leaving about 1" on all sides. Then take the chopped pistachios and evenly sprinkle them on top.

Step 5 – Roll into log. Gently roll the dough into a tight log as best as possible.

Step 6 – Slice into rolls. Taking a sharp knife or some floss, cut the log into 9 even sized rolls. To make this easier, I first scored the log in thirds with a knife, and then cut each section into 3 even pieces.

Step 7 – Add into pan. Transfer the rolls into the prepared pan. Sprinkle more pistachios. Cover with a cloth and place in a warm spot (like a sunny corner) for 30 minutes to rise.

Step 8 – Bake. Once risen, pour the heavy cream. Then bake for 30-35 minutes.

Step 9 – Make icing. While it bakes, make the icing. Mix together icing sugar, cream, and vanilla. Add an extra tbsp of cream as needed to create desired consistency.

Step 10 – Frost the rolls. Once baked, allow to cool for at least 10 minutes, then drizzle the fresh buns and dig in!

Expert Baking Tips

Here are a few expert baking tips from my kitchen to yours

• Make sure your pizza dough is fresh, and not frozen. This recipe will not work if your pizza dough is frozen and thawed.
• Make sure the heavy whipping cream you pour on is at room temperature. It’s really important that all the ingredients we work with for cinnamon rolls is room temperature. If not, they won't rise properly.
• Your hands are the best tool in the kitchen. Don’t be afraid to get messy!

FAQ

Can I make this in an 8×8 pan?

You can, but the dough rises a lot so they might get super tall! I would use less pizza dough. For an 8×8 pan, use 1lb of pizza dough (approx 453-500g). For a 9×9 pan, use anywhere from 620-700g.

How do I make my dough rise if my house is cold?

Rolls rise best in a warm environment. I like to put mine directly in the sun covered with a towelette to rise. If your house is cold, turn your oven on to 100°F. Then, turn your oven off and place the rolls inside with the cover on them. Slightly open your oven door to let the hot air escape while you let the rolls rise for 30 minutes.

Why is it so hard to roll out my pizza dough?

Make sure it is fresh pizza dough, and not frozen. Also, if your pizza dough is cold, it won’t roll out as easily. I learned this the hard way! Also remember that flour is your best friend. If the dough is sticky and hard to work with, lightly coat the rolling pin and surface you’re working on with flour.

How do I store these pizza dough pistachio chocolate cinnamon rolls?

These rolls are best eaten day of or next day. Nothing better than a fresh cinnamon roll right out of the oven! Since the frosting has dairy in it, store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

What is the best way to reheat pistachio chocolate cinnamon rolls?

If you are just heating one or two, you can either place them in the microwave for 15 seconds, or in your toaster or stove oven at 300°F for 5 minutes.

Can I use crescent dough?

No, you must use fresh pizza dough.

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