Earth Day Bento Box Ideas Blog Hop

There’s something magical about warm, homemade cinnamon rolls—soft, fluffy, and dripping with sweet icing. But when you swirl Nutella into the mix? Oh, my stars, it becomes a breakfast-meets-dessert treat worth waking up early for.

I first stumbled across a shortcut recipe for Nutella cinnamon rolls using crescent dough. It was clever, but I couldn’t shake the thought: what if I tucked Nutella inside my trusty bread machine cinnamon roll dough? The result is exactly what you’d hope—pillowy rolls layered with rich hazelnut chocolate and a cozy dusting of cinnamon. Perfect for lazy weekends, breakfast-for-dinner nights, or freezing for a sweet surprise later.

And yes, this recipe is bread-machine friendly, so you get all the homemade flavor without all the heavy kneading.

Ingredients

For the Dough

• 1 cup + 2 tablespoons warm milk

• 3 tablespoons oil (vegetable or canola)

• 1 whole egg, lightly beaten

• 2 egg whites

• ½ cup sugar

• 4 cups bread flour (add more if dough feels too sticky)

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 packet (or 3 teaspoons) yeast

For the Filling

• 1 ½ cups Nutella (room temperature for easy spreading)

• 4 tablespoons ground cinnamon

For the Icing

• 1 ½ cups powdered sugar

• 6 tablespoons butter, melted

• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (homemade if you’ve got it)

• 1–2 teaspoons milk, if needed to thin

Directions

1. Make the Dough
   Add dough ingredients to your bread machine in the order listed. Make a small well in the flour and add the yeast last. Run on the “dough cycle” (about 90 minutes). Check after 5–10 minutes of kneading—add a tablespoon of flour if too wet or a teaspoon of water if too dry.

2. Shape the Rolls
   Once the dough cycle is complete, transfer dough onto a lightly floured counter. Roll into a large rectangle. Spread Nutella evenly over the surface, leaving the edges bare. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Roll into a log and slice into 10–15 pieces.

3. Bake
   Place rolls into two greased round cake pans (6 rolls each). Bake at 325°F for about 20 minutes, until golden brown and baked through.

4. Ice the Rolls
   While baking, whisk together melted butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla. Add milk a splash at a time until smooth and spreadable. Slather over the hot rolls straight from the oven so it melts into every swirl.

Tips & Tricks

• Make Ahead: Assemble rolls the night before, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate. Bake in the morning for a stress-free breakfast.

• Freeze for Later: Bake both pans, then wrap and freeze one for quick breakfasts or an easy dessert down the road.

• Extra Gooey: Warm your Nutella slightly before spreading—it makes rolling easier and the swirls extra decadent.

Why You’ll Love These Rolls

Nutella turns a simple cinnamon roll into something truly indulgent. These rolls strike the perfect balance—soft bread machine dough, gooey chocolate-hazelnut filling, and a buttery icing that melts into every bite. Whether you serve them fresh from the oven with coffee or stash a pan in the freezer for a rainy day, this recipe is one you’ll want to bake again and again.

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