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Tres Leches Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 101 reviews

These Tres Leches Cinnamon Rolls combine the classic soft and fluffy cinnamon roll with the luscious, creamy soak of a traditional tres leches cake. Featuring a buttery cinnamon filling and soaked in a sweet mixture of whole milk, evaporated milk, and condensed milk, these cinnamon rolls are finished with a rich cream cheese icing and optional fresh strawberries for a decadent and unique dessert twist.

Ingredients

Scale

Dough

  • 3 cups + 2 tablespoons bread flour, (spooned and leveled)
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ teaspoon fine salt
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, (softened to room temperature)
  • 2 ¼ teaspoons instant yeast
  • 1 large egg, (room temperature)
  • ½ cup heavy cream (reserved for baking)

Filling

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, (softened to room temperature)
  • ½ cup dark brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Tres Leches Mixture

  • ½ cup whole milk
  • ½ cup evaporated milk
  • ½ cup sweetened condensed milk

Icing

  • 4 ounces cream cheese, (softened to room temperature)
  • ⅔ cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, (softened to room temperature)
  • 1 tablespoon sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Garnish

  • Ground cinnamon
  • Fresh strawberries (optional)

Instructions

  1. Make the dough. In a large bowl of a stand mixer, combine bread flour, granulated sugar, and salt until well mixed, then set aside.
  2. Warm milk and activate yeast. In a small heat-proof bowl, warm whole milk and butter until about 105°F-110°F. Whisk in instant yeast until fully dissolved.
  3. Combine wet and dry ingredients. Pour the milk mixture into the dry ingredients along with the egg. Mix on low speed with a paddle attachment until just combined, reserving the heavy cream for later.
  4. Knead the dough. Switch to a dough hook and knead on medium speed for 5-8 minutes until the dough becomes smooth and slightly tacky but not sticky. Add bread flour a tablespoon at a time if too sticky.
  5. First dough rest. Transfer dough to a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap or kitchen towel, and rest for 15 minutes while preparing the filling.
  6. Make the filling. In a small bowl, mix softened butter, dark brown sugar, and ground cinnamon with a fork until it forms a soft, well-combined paste.
  7. Roll out and fill dough. Roll the dough on a lightly floured surface into a 10×14-inch rectangle. Spread the cinnamon filling evenly across the surface.
  8. Shape rolls. Tightly roll the dough into a 14-inch log. Cut into 10-12 equal pieces about 1½ inches thick. Place rolls onto a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
  9. Second rise. Cover rolls with plastic wrap or kitchen towel and set in a warm place to rise for 60-90 minutes, or until doubled in size.
  10. Prepare tres leches mixture. Whisk whole milk, evaporated milk, and sweetened condensed milk together in a small bowl. Refrigerate until ready to use.
  11. Bake the cinnamon rolls. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Pour reserved heavy cream into the bottom of the baking dish with the rolls. Bake for 24-26 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through. If browning too fast, tent with aluminum foil. Remove and cool for 15 minutes.
  12. Soak the rolls. Poke holes all over the baked rolls with a toothpick or skewer. Slowly pour the tres leches mixture over the rolls, letting it absorb for about 10 minutes.
  13. Make the icing. Using a mixer, beat together cream cheese, powdered sugar, butter, sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and well combined.
  14. Serve. Spread the icing over the soaked cinnamon rolls. Dust with ground cinnamon and garnish with fresh strawberries if desired. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • Ensure the milk is warmed to about 105°F-110°F to properly activate the yeast without killing it.
  • Adding bread flour gradually during kneading helps achieve the correct dough consistency.
  • For best results, allow the cinnamon rolls to fully soak up the tres leches mixture before icing.
  • Cover the rolls with foil if they brown too quickly in the oven.
  • Optional fresh strawberries add a fresh contrast and beautiful visual appeal.

Keywords: Tres Leches, Cinnamon Rolls, Mexican Dessert, Sweet Bread, Cream Cheese Icing, Baked Dessert

Find it online: https://familyfavplates.com/tres-leches-cinnamon-rolls-recipe/