Description
These deliciously soft and plush chocolate pistachio swirls are a copycat of the Starbucks® version–and taste just as decadent! With a creamy chocolate cream cheese filling and toasted pistachios, these chocolate sweet rolls are naturally vegan, and dairy-free!
Ingredients
Scale
Chocolate Pistachio Swirls Dough:
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 4 ½ cups (540 g) bread flour or all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (100 g) Florida Crystals® Organic Light Brown Raw Cane Sugar
- 1 packet (.25 ounces or 7 g) quick rise yeast
- ⅛ tsp sea salt
- 1 ¼ cup (270 mL) dairy-free milk, heated to warm
- ⅓ cup (87 g) dairy-free yogurt, room temperature
- ¼ cup (57 g) vegan butter, room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Chocolate Cream Cheese Filling:
- ¼ cup (57 g) vegan butter, room temperature
- 1 cup (226 g) vegan cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 cup (200 g) Florida Crystals® Organic Light Brown Raw Cane Sugar
- ½ cup (50 g) cocoa powder, sifted
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup shelled pistachios
Optional Topping:
- 1 cup (150 g) Florida Crystals® Organic Powdered Raw Cane Sugar
- 3 tbsp dairy-free milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract or paste
Instructions
- Please read through all instructions before beginning. The overnight option and gluten free option are down below in the notes section.
- Prep: Grease a medium-sized bowl with olive oil or coconut oil, and set aside. Make sure the vegan butter for the dough is room temperature.
- Heat the dairy-free milk: In a small saucepan, heat the dairy-free milk until it’s warm. It should not be above 110F.
- Make the dough: In a stand mixer bowl with dough attachment or a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, yeast, and sea salt. Add in the dairy-free yogurt, heated milk, and vanilla extract. Mix on medium speed until combined. Then add in the vegan butter, and mix on high speed (holding the stand mixer in case it moves) for 10 minutes to knead the dough. If making this by hand, lightly flour a clean surface, and knead the dough for 10 minutes.
- First proof: Knead the dough lightly, for 2-4 minutes, until it forms a smooth dough ball that’s not sticky. Then place the dough into the greased medium bowl, cover with a cloth or wrap, and place into a warm area to let rise for 1 hour. It should be double in size. If it’s at least 80 ºF outside, you can place the bowl outside, otherwise you can place it in the oven (which is turned off) and turn on the oven light or start preheating the oven to 350 ºF and place the bowl near or on top of the oven.
- While the dough is rising: Grease a large casserole dish with oil and set aside. Then make the chocolate cream cheese filling. In a large bowl and using a hand mixer, cream together the vegan butter and cream cheese until fluffy. Then add in the brown sugar, cocoa powder, and vanilla extract, mixing until fluffy. Set aside. Toast the pistachios on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper for 5-6 minutes. Then remove and cool.
- Make the chocolate sweet rolls: Lightly flour a clean surface, and roll out the dough to be 12”by 1”. Spread the chocolate cream cheese filling on top, and sprinkle with pistachios. Then use a pizza cutter or large kitchen knife, and along the 18” side, make a slice every 1.5” to create 12 strips that are 12” long. Then roll each swirl individually.
- Bake: Place each sweet roll into the prepared casserole dish, and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the rolls are lightly golden brown on top. Remove from the oven, and let cool for 10-15 minutes before serving.
- Make the optional glaze: If desired, you can top your chocolate pistachio swirls with a glaze. Whisk together the Florida Crystals® Organic Powdered Sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. Drizzle on top and serve!
Notes
Gluten free option: See my gluten free vegan cinnamon rolls to use the base dough, then use the filling here!
Overnight option: If making a day ahead of time, complete Step 7 through the second rise, then cover the cinnamon rolls and place them in the fridge overnight. When ready to bake, allow the rolls to sit in the oven (not started) with the light on for 20-25 minutes. Then, remove the rolls from the oven, and allow the cinnamon rolls to rest over or by the oven as it preheats.