Indulge in the heartwarming taste of homemade baking with this exquisite **Chocolate Cherry Roll**. Featuring a rich, irresistibly soft dough, generously filled with sweet cherries and delightful chocolate chips, this roll is more than just a treat – it’s an experience. Whether gracing your holiday brunch spread or serving as a delightful morning indulgence, each slice promises a moment of pure bliss.
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Embracing the Joy of Holiday Baking with Homemade Sweet Rolls
There’s an undeniable magic that permeates the air during the holiday season. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year! From the twinkling lights to the festive music, every moment feels infused with a special kind of joy and warmth. This enchanting period has held a special place in my heart since childhood, and I cherish that I can still feel that same sense of wonder today.
For me, the holidays have always been synonymous with baking and sharing. There’s something incredibly comforting about the aroma of cinnamon, vanilla, and melting chocolate wafting through the kitchen. It’s a sensory experience that instantly transports me back to cherished memories and creates new ones with every batch of homemade goodies. This year, my heart led me to create these extraordinary Chocolate Cherry Rolls, a recipe designed not just for indulgence, but for sharing that very spirit of the season.
A Nostalgic Journey: Holiday Traditions and the Power of Shared Treats
My childhood Christmases were painted with the sweet memories of my mother’s tireless dedication to baking. Every year, she would embark on a delightful mission to prepare an array of chocolates for all our neighbors. This wasn’t a last-minute affair; sometimes, she’d begin her preparations months in advance, filling the freezer with neatly arranged, un-dipped confections. Then, as the weeks leading up to Christmas unfolded, our kitchen would transform into a bustling workshop, alive with the scent of melted chocolate as she carefully dipped each piece.
But the giving didn’t stop there. As soon as our homemade treats made their rounds, a delightful reciprocal exchange would begin. Our kitchen counter, a central hub of holiday activity, would soon be overflowing with an abundance of delicious offerings from our neighbors: platters of freshly baked cookies, tins of festive popcorn, and, my personal favorite, warm, aromatic homemade cinnamon rolls. It was a beautiful symphony of generosity and community spirit.
As a child, I, of course, relished the endless supply of extra sweets that appeared during this magical time. Yet, what truly resonated with me, even then, was the profound sense of community. The holidays fostered a remarkable closeness in our neighborhood, with everyone participating in this tradition of sharing. These weren’t elaborate, Pinterest-perfect creations, but rather simple, heartfelt gestures – treats made “straight from the heart and straight from the kitchen.” They embodied genuine connection, a tradition I strive to keep alive in my own home today.
Introducing the Irresistible Chocolate Cherry Roll: A Nod to Tradition
Creating these Chocolate Cherry Rolls instantly brought back a flood of those cherished Christmas memories. This recipe is thoughtfully designed to yield two rolls, making it absolutely perfect for baking and sharing with dear friends, family, or neighbors. These rolls possess a charming, slightly rustic appeal, yet they are elegant enough to be the star of any holiday breakfast or brunch. Their appearance and delightful fruit filling might even remind you a bit of a classic strudel, though the rich, pillowy dough sets them wonderfully apart.
Crafting the Perfect Dough and Flavorful Filling
What makes this Chocolate Cherry Roll truly stand out is its exceptionally delicious dough. It’s richer than many traditional sweet bread recipes, thanks to a generous amount of butter and several egg yolks. This creates an incredibly tender, soft, and flavorful base that complements the vibrant cherry filling in the most exquisite way. The richness of the dough provides a beautiful contrast to the tart sweetness of the cherries, ensuring every bite is a harmonious blend of textures and tastes.
My inspiration for this recipe originated from the delightful Frosted Cherry Roll recipe found on breadworld.com. However, being perpetually “chocolate obsessed,” I couldn’t resist adding a touch of mini chocolate chips to the filling. The decision to use *mini* chips is deliberate – they melt perfectly into the warm cherry filling without creating large, dense pockets, ensuring an even distribution of chocolatey goodness throughout. Another crucial adaptation was to lightly mash the cherries from the pie filling. This simple step prevents the cherries from squishing out the sides when you slice the rolls and guarantees that every single bite is perfectly balanced with both cherry and chocolate flavors.
This Chocolate Cherry Roll isn’t just a recipe; it’s an invitation to rediscover the joy of baking and the warmth of sharing. It truly is the perfect excuse to “bake a little extra” and spread some holiday cheer with your neighbors and loved ones this season. The effort put into these homemade delights is always richly rewarded by the smiles they bring.
Tips for Baking Success and Perfect Sweet Rolls
Achieving perfectly soft and fluffy sweet rolls like these Chocolate Cherry Rolls is incredibly rewarding, and a few key tips can make all the difference. When working with yeast dough, especially a rich one, patience is your best friend. Ensure your milk is at the correct temperature (120º to 130ºF) to properly activate the Fleischmann’s RapidRise™ Yeast. Too hot, and it can kill the yeast; too cool, and it won’t activate effectively. The butter should melt into the warm milk, enriching the dough beautifully.
Kneading is another vital step. While a stand mixer does much of the work, a few minutes of hand-kneading ensures the dough develops enough gluten to be smooth and elastic. This elasticity is what gives the rolls their signature soft, chewy texture. Don’t be tempted to add too much flour during kneading, as this can result in a dry, tough roll. The dough should feel slightly sticky but manageable.
The refrigeration step for the dough is not to be skipped! This chilling period allows the flavors to develop and makes the dough easier to handle when rolling it out. When it comes to the filling, mashing the cherries ensures that the flavor is evenly distributed in every bite, preventing large chunks from causing the filling to burst out during baking. And those mini chocolate chips? They’re key to getting that ideal chocolatey kiss throughout without overpowering the fruit.
Finally, proofing (the rising time) in a warm, draft-free place is crucial for light and airy rolls. An hour should be sufficient to see a noticeable increase in size. Once baked to a golden brown, allow them to cool slightly before drizzling with the simple, sweet buttercream frosting. This glaze adds a final layer of sweetness and moisture, making these Chocolate Cherry Rolls absolutely irresistible.
More Delicious Baking Recipes to Explore
If you’ve enjoyed baking these delightful rolls, you’ll love exploring some of our other favorite baking recipes:
- Chocolate Cherry Streusel Rolls
- Fluffy Homemade Cinnamon Biscuits
- Traditional Kolaches Recipe
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Chocolate Cherry Roll
Deborah Harroun
40 minutes
28 minutes
1 hour 30 minutes
2 hours 38 minutes
2 rolls
Breakfast
American
Pin
Save
Ingredients
Dough
- 2 to 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 envelope Fleischmann’s® RapidRise™ Yeast
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup butter
- 3 egg yolks
Cherry Filling
- 1 (21-oz) can cherry pie filling
- 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
Buttercream Frosting
- 3 tablespoons butter (softened)
- 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- pinch of salt
- 2 to 3 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine 1/2 cup of the flour, the sugar, yeast, and salt.2 to 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, 2 tablespoons sugar, 1 envelope Fleischmann’s® RapidRise™ Yeast, 1/4 teaspoon salt
- In a small pot, heat the milk until very warm, 120º to 130ºF. Add the butter and let it melt.1/2 cup milk, 1/2 cup butter
- Gradually add the warm milk mixture to the flour mixture. Beat at medium speed for 2 minutes, scraping the bowl occasionally.
- Add the egg yolks and another 1/2 cup of flour and beat for 2 minutes at high speed. Stir in just enough of the remaining flour to make a soft dough.3 egg yolks
- Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface until it is smooth and elastic, about 8 to 10 minutes.
- Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30-40 minutes.
- Place the pie filling in a bowl and use a potato masher to roughly chop the cherries. Set aside.1 (21-oz) can cherry pie filling
- Remove the dough from the refrigerator and divide into 2 equal pieces. Working with one piece of dough at a time, roll the dough to a 10 x 14-inch rectangle. Spread half of the cherry filling over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of the chocolate chips over the top. Roll up the dough, starting from the short end. Place the roll on a lightly greased baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough, pie filling, and chocolate chips.1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
- Cover the rolls with plastic wrap and let them rise in a warm, draft-free place for 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Bake the rolls until golden brown, about 23-28 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.
- To make the buttercream, beat the softened butter and powdered sugar until combined. Add the vanilla, salt, and 2 tablespoons of the milk. Continue to add milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until the desired consistency is reached.3 tablespoons butter, 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar, 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract, pinch of salt, 2 to 3 tablespoons milk
- Drizzle the frosting generously over the cooled cherry rolls.
Recipe Notes:
Slightly adapted from the Frosted Cherry Roll recipe found on breadworld.com.
holiday recipe, sweet rolls, chocolate cherry, breakfast pastry, homemade rolls