Thinner than your usual roll and unfrosted, these sweet rolls don’t look as decadent as the puffy, oversized cinnamon rolls you find in bakeries. But they exceed the flavor of any I’ve ever tasted. <br /> <br />The filling features Chinese five-spice powder—a blend of star anise, cloves, cinnamon, Sichuan peppercorn, and fennel. Aromatic and fragrant, it’s similar enough to classic holiday spice blends to feel familiar, but still pushes this recipe into more creative territory. And the flavors—licorice-like fennel and sweet cinnamon and spiced clove—pair beautifully with chocolate (I used SunSpire organic). Frosting? No need when the interior of each roll is so absurdly, addictively delicious.

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