In my humble but very reliable opinion, not even food snobs should try to discount the magical flavor of Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls. I used to work in a bakery that carefully crafted baked goods from scratch, and I still shamelessly love a fresh-from-the-oven Pillsbury cut and bake roll. But, just in time for the holiday season, these Pillsbury classics have gotten a major upgrade. Introducing the limited edition Hot Cocoa Rolls, aka your newest way to achieve peak winter.
What Are They?
Each refrigerated tube consists of five rolls, made from Grands! pastry dough and cocoa filling. The tube also holds a small icing ramekin filled with marshmallow frosting. Think of it like a warm mug of hot chocolate, but swirled into a cinnamon roll. This isn’t the first time these hot cocoa-inspired pastries have hit the shelves—the first version of this limited-edition holiday treat was released near the end of November last year, to much success. Avid fans have been waiting all year for their return, and the time has finally come.
The rolls can be found at most big chain stores (think Target, Walmart, and Kroger’s), just like the rest of Pillsbury’s line of baked goods. And according to the nutrition facts on Pillsbury’s website, each hot cocoa roll (including the icing!) clocks in at around 300 calories. This includes 7 grams of fat, 24 grams of sugar, and 5 grams of protein. So maybe don’t eat one every day, but for a morning treat? Not the worst you could do.
What Do They Taste Like?
I haven’t yet tasted these rolls myself—mostly because I grocery shop almost exclusively at Trader Joe’s, which contains its own distinct array of holiday treat temptations. But word on the proverbial internet-street is that these hot cocoa rolls live up to the hype. There’s no cinnamon flavor in the dough or filling, just melty chocolate goodness. And the creators over at Pillsbury didn’t skimp on the icing, either, providing enough to completely glaze the rolls with seasonally-appropriate nostalgia and feelings of marshmallow coziness. The scent, described by blogger Junk Banter as especially enchanting, is sure to encapsulate your kitchen with the desire to sip hot chocolate by the fire. Or just curl up in your pajamas on the couch and eat all five rolls.
Though the actual taste of the rolls seems to be mostly warm dough and icing (so less chocolate-y than the name suggests), it’s hard to go wrong with marshmallow icing, melt-in-your-mouth rolls, and cocoa filling. And the thought of sprinkling some cocoa powder on top doesn’t feel like a bad idea. Personally, I’m not the biggest fan of hot chocolate as a drink, but I appreciate the holiday feelings associated with it and relish this Pillsbury-packaged opportunity to partake in the winter fun without compromising my taste preferences.
These flannel-wrapped hot cocoa rolls seem like the perfectly snuggly, warm breakfast treat we all dream of on a snowy morning. But if the rolls themselves aren’t enough for you, there are infinite other ways to incorporate hot chocolate into your winter routine.