Birthday cookie cinnamon rolls are the perfect breakfast celebration treat! Fluffy cinnamon rolls are filled with a layer of chewy birthday cookie and topped with vanilla icing.
Lightly grease a 9x9 square baking dish or 9-10 inch round cake or pie pan and set aside.
In a large bowl, add flour, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Whisk to combine. Set aside.
In a microwave safe bowl, add milk and butter. Microwave in 20 second increments until butter has melted and mixture is warm to the touch, but not hot (about 110 degrees Fahrenheit).
Whisk in yeast and continue whisking until yeast has dissolved. Pour yeast mixture into dry ingredients. Add the egg and stir with a sturdy wooden spoon until a soft dough forms.
Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Using floured hands, knead the dough for 3 to 5 minutes, or until dough looks smooth (not sticky).
Transfer dough to a lightly greased bowl, lightly cover, and allow to rise for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the cookie filling.
Cookie filling
In a large bowl, add melted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Stir to combine. Add eggs, vanilla extract, and almond extract and stir until incorporated.
In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, salt, and baking soda. Gradually stir dry ingredients into butter mixture until just combined. Add sprinkles and white chocolate chips and gently stir until just combined. Set aside
Roll dough out on a lightly floured surface into a 14x9 rectangle.
Spread cookie dough filling out over dough.
Starting at the long 14 inch side, roll dough up into a log. Using a serrated knife, slice into 9 even rolls and place into prepared baking dish.
Lightly cover and allow rolls to rise at room temperature for 60-90 minutes, or until they've doubled in size.
Preheat oven to 350℉ and adjust the oven rack to the center of the oven.
Transfer dish to the oven and bake, uncovered, for 35-40 minutes, or until golden brown across the top and rolls reach 195-200 degrees Fahrenheit in the center (use an instant read thermometer to test internal temperature). If rolls are browning too quickly, lightly tent with foil for the remaining baking time.
While the rolls bake, prepare the icing.
Icing
In a small bowl, add confectioner's sugar, vanilla extract, and milk. Whisk until smooth.
Drizzle over warm cinnamon rolls and serve immediately.
Notes
Overnight directions: After assembling the cinnamon rolls, cover and transfer to the refrigerator to rise overnight (this replaces the 60-90 minute rise). In the morning, remove cinnamon rolls from the refrigerator and uncover while the oven preheats. Bake as directed in the recipe card above.
Leftovers: Store leftover cinnamon rolls covered in the refrigerator for 4-5 days, or at room temperature for 2-3 days.
Freezing baked rolls: Baked cinnamon rolls freeze well and keep for up to 3 months.
Freezing unbaked cinnamon rolls: Follow the directions above for assembly and rising, using a disposable foil pan (or other freezer-safe pan you don't mind freezing for a while). Bake your cinnamon rolls at 350F for 15 minutes. They should look risen and par-cooked, but not yet browned. Cool completely, then cover tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. Transfer to the refrigerator to thaw overnight. In the morning, preheat your oven to 350F and bake for the remaining 20-25 minutes.