Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls

Cinnamon rolls are getting a festive upgrade. These Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls, complete with Spiced Brown Butter Frosting, are a must-make, holiday breakfast treat. If you thought regular cinnamon rolls were good, just wait until you try these!

Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls:

Oh friends, I couldn’t be more excited to share today’s recipe with you. Cinnamon rolls are one of my favorite breakfast treats; add a warm, cozy, and spiced upgrade for the season and I’m in heaven. Yes, we are making Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls!

I’m also extra thrilled for today’s post as I’m once again joined by my Tastes of the Seasons blogger friends. We are all sharing a delicious holiday treat to help add a little sweetness to your Christmas. If you’re looking for some new holiday recipe ideas, I’ve linked everyone below. There are some tasty treats, so be sure to check them out before clicking away.

Now, back to these Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls.

You might remember that a while back I made some Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls for fall. Those were my favorite way to make cinnamon rolls… until today.

You know that I’m a huge fan of all-things-pumpkin. Yes, yes, I’m one of those pumpkin-spice-everything lovers. However, as my tastes evolve and change, I’m becoming an even bigger fan of the seasonal flavors of Christmas.

To be honest, a lot of the spices used are the same, but there’s something about that rich, deep flavor of molasses that just takes these cinnamon rolls to the next level.

Oh, and the spiced brown butter frosting is off-the-chain delicious. I need to make more things with brown butter. It’s just so good and so easy to make.

If you make these for Christmas morning or anytime during the holiday/winter season, you are going to be the queen or king of the morning! I promise!

Let’s whip up a batch.

How to Make Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls:

To make the dough, begin by whisking together the sugar, yeast, cinnamon, ginger, salt, cloves, and 1 3/4 cups flour in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment. I’ve provided all of the ingredient amounts and detailed recipe instructions in the printable recipe card below.

Then, in a small saucepan combine the milk and butter and cook over low heat until the butter has melted and the temperature reaches between 105 degrees F and 110 degrees F.

Add the milk mixture, egg, and molasses to the flour mixture. Beat with the dough hook on low until moistened. Continue beating, gradually adding the remaining 1 3/4 cups flour. If the dough seems too sticky add another 1/4 cup flour. Beat for about 4 to 5 minutes or until dough ball begins to form.

Transfer the dough to a lightly buttered mixing bowl, cover with a towel, and set in a warm place to rise for about 1 hour. The dough should double in size.

In the meantime, prepare the filling. In one bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. Set aside. In another bowl, beat together the butter, molasses, and kosher salt. Set aside.

Next, butter a 9 x 13 baking dish.

On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough into a 12 x 16 rectangle. Spread the molasses butter over the dough. (I love using an offset spatula for this; it’s one of my favorite kitchen tools.)

Then, sprinkle evenly with the sugar mixture. Starting with the long edge closest to you, roll the dough into a log. Trim off the ends, then cut into 12 pieces. Place the pieces into the buttered dish cut side up. Cover with a towel and let rise until doubled in size: about one hour.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Bake for about 25 minutes or until cooked through and lightly browned.

Next, make your Spiced Brown Butter Frosting. In a small saucepan melt the butter over low until the butter turns a light brown color and smells nutty. Remove from the heat and allow to cool. In a medium bowl, beat together the cooled browned butter, cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar, vanilla, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. If your frosting is too thick, add splash of milk. If your frosting’s too thin, add a touch more confectioners’ sugar.

And finally, spread that delicious frosting over the warm rolls and serve.

The heat from the rolls makes the frosting melt a bit and thus it seeps into all of the little crevices of the roll making for such a delectable treat. And don’t worry, you’ll have extra frosting should you prefer more on your cinnamon rolls.

Well, that is it my friends! You’re Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls are complete! Serve them up with a cup of tea or coffee for the ultimate holiday and winter breakfast/treat!

I hope you love this recipe as much as I do.

Want more gingerbread recipes? Try these:

• Classic Gingerbread Cookies
• Gingerbread House Gingerbread Cakes
• Gingerbread Tree Cake
• Chocolate Dipped Gingerbread Cookies

And remember, be sure to check out all of the delicious Tastes of the Season treats I’ve linked below. There’s something for everyone.

Happy Baking!!

Tastes of the Season Christmas Treats:

M&M Bars by Ella Claire & Co. | Bourbon Balls by Freutcake | Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls by Inspired by Charm

Famous Christmas Fudge by Handmade Farmhouse | Dairy Free Peppermint Chocolate Truffles by Zevy Joy

Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls Recipe:

Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls

Cinnamon rolls are getting a festive upgrade. These Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls, complete with Spiced Brown Butter Frosting, are a must-make, holiday breakfast treat. If you thought regular cinnamon rolls were good, just wait until you try these!

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Bread, Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Keyword: christmas, cinnamon rolls, gingerbread, holiday

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes

Rising Time: 2 hours hours

Total Time: 2 hours hours 45 minutes minutes

Servings: 12 servings

Calories: 532kcal

Ingredients

Dough:

• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon dry active yeast
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour divided
• 1 cup whole milk
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter softened (plus more for the bowl)
• 1 large egg
• 2 tablespoons molasses

Gingerbread and Sugar Filling:

• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/8 teaspoon cloves
• 1 stick unsalted butter softened
• 2 tablespoons molasses
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Spiced Brown Butter Frosting:

• 3/4 cup unsalted butter
• 4 ounces cream cheese softened
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• pinch ground cloves

Instructions

• To make the dough, begin by whisking together the sugar, yeast, cinnamon, ginger, salt, cloves, and 1 3/4 cups flour in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment.
• Then, in a small saucepan combine the milk and butter and cook over low heat until the butter has melted and the temperature reaches between 105 degrees F and 110 degrees F.
• Add the milk mixture, egg, and molasses to the flour mixture. Beat with the dough hook on low until moistened. Continue beating gradually adding the remaining 1 3/4 cups flour. If the dough seems too sticky, add another 1/4 cup flour. Beat for about 4 to 5 minutes or until dough ball begins to form.
• Transfer the dough to a lightly buttered mixing bowl, cover the bowl with a towel, and set in a warm place to rise for about 1 hour. The dough should double in size.
• In the meantime, prepare the filling. In one bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. Set aside. In another bowl, beat together the butter, molasses, and kosher salt. Set aside.
• Next, butter a 9 x 13 baking dish.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough into a 12 x 16 rectangle. Spread the molasses butter over the dough. Then sprinkle evenly with the sugar mixture. Starting with the long edge closest to you, roll the dough into a log. Trim off the ends, then cut into 12 pieces. Place the pieces into the buttered dish cut side up. Cover with a towel and let rise until doubled in size: about one hour.
• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Bake for about 25 minutes or until cooked through and lightly browned.
• Finally, make your Spiced Brown Butter Frosting. In a small saucepan melt the butter over low until the butter turns a light brown color and smells nutty. Remove from the heat and allow to cool. In a medium bowl, beat together the cooled browned butter, cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, vanilla, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. If your frosting is too thick, add splash of milk. If your frosting's too thin, add a touch more confectioners' sugar.
• Spread the frosting over the warm rolls and serve.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 532kcal | Carbohydrates: 70g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 82mg | Sodium: 345mg | Potassium: 215mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 39g | Vitamin A: 831IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 78mg | Iron: 2mg