Heat three tablespoons of butter with the milk until it is very warm, but not too hot to touch. Add the yeast and the sugar and allow it to proof for about 10 minutes, until there is a layer of froth on top of the mixture.
Mix the flour with the baking powder and a pinch of salt. Dig a well in the middle of the flour mixture and add the yeast mixture. Mix well until a dough forms. Knead the dough for about a minute or two.
Grease a bowl with oil and place the dough inside. Cover and keep in a warm, dry place for an hour or until it is doubled in size.
While the dough is rising, chop the pistachios finely. Add half the pistachios to the sugar and mix in the cinnamon. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8x8 baking pan with a tablespoon of butter.
Once the dough has risen, roll it out into a large rectangle. Spread three tablespoons of softened butter on the dough and cover with a single layer of the sugar-pistachio mixture. Roll the dough lengthwise and cut into about 10 pinwheels. Place the rolls on the baking pan, leaving a bit of room between each. Spread 1 tablespoon of butter over the rolls.
Bake the cinnamon rolls for 15 - 20 minutes, or until golden brown. While the rolls are baking, make the chocolate icing by mixing all the icing ingredients together in a small bowl. Top the cinnamon rolls with the chocolate icing and top with the remaining pistachios.
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