These delicate gingerbread cinnamon rolls mix a wealthy home made dough with a brown sugar molasses swirl and simply the correct amount of spice. Like my basic home made cinnamon rolls, they’re delicate, buttery, and candy, however with a seasonal gingerbread-flavor twist. Simply wait until you scent them baking!
A Cozy, Indulgent Vacation Brunch Recipe
Right here it’s: the vacation brunch recipe you’ve been asking for (or didn’t know you wished)! Over time, I’ve had many readers ask me if I’ve a gingerbread cinnamon roll recipe. Nicely, ’tis the season of giving, and immediately I’m providing you with what you requested for! …Or at the least, what another individuals requested for. 😉
Right here’s Why You’ll Love Them
- Heat spices and molasses lend the comfortable flavors of gingerbread cookies to the gooey filling
- Further-soft, wealthy dough that stays tender for days
- Gooey brown sugar filling with cozy vacation spices
- Cinnamon cream cheese frosting melts into each swirl
- Excellent for Christmas morning, brunch, or make-ahead baking
This Is a Simple Dough Recipe
We’re utilizing the identical dough as these reader-favorite chocolate candy rolls. Simply have a look at all of these 5-star critiques! Readers have LOVED this dough. It’s a bit extra buttery and simpler to work with than my basic in a single day cinnamon rolls dough.
This can be a wealthy dough, which signifies that it’s ready with fats like milk, butter, and eggs. Wealthy doughs make delicate breads akin to dinner rolls, pull aside bread, and glazed doughnuts. Lean doughs, alternatively, are made with out a lot fats and produce crusty bread like home made bagels, artisan bread, and pizza dough.
I like to recommend utilizing bread flour for these gingerbread cinnamon rolls, however all-purpose flour works too. The feel of the rolls are a bit extra chewy and flaky when utilizing bread flour, however they’ll be delicate and fluffy both approach.
- On the spot Yeast or Energetic-Dry? You should utilize instantaneous yeast or active-dry yeast on this dough. I normally use instantaneous yeast and nonetheless take the time to shortly proof the yeast in step 1. Proofing the yeast means mixing it with a bit sugar and the nice and cozy liquid to show that it’s energetic; the combination will look foamy on high, see photograph under. This step shouldn’t be normally required when utilizing instantaneous yeast, but it surely solely takes 5 minutes and you’ll prep your different dough components as you wait.
Let Me Present You The best way to Make Them
Proof the yeast, make the dough, let it rise, punch it down, roll it out, add the filling, roll up jelly-roll model, lower into rolls, allow them to rise till puffy, then bake. In case you’ve made home made cinnamon rolls earlier than, this course of isn’t something new.
This wealthy dough is meant to be very delicate, so don’t add extra flour than completely wanted. Embrace the softness and a sticky work floor as a result of should you don’t thoughts the mess, you’ll be rewarded with the richest, flakiest gingerbread cinnamon rolls.
Right here’s the dough as we’re kneading it:
After kneading, the dough might be additional delicate and stretchy. Cowl it in a bowl and let it rise till doubled in dimension, about 2 hours. Then, punch it down and form it:
Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls Filling
For the molasses-enhanced cinnamon roll filling, it really works greatest to do it in 2 components.
- Combine moist components—super-soft butter + molasses—and unfold on rolled-out dough.
- Combine dry components—brown sugar + spices—and sprinkle throughout.
*In testing, my group and I attempted mixing all of it collectively after which spreading the combination on, but it surely turned tremendous gloopy. Gooey cinnamon roll filling is scrumptious. Gloopy cinnamon roll filling is… not. Retaining the moist and dry filling components separate labored higher.*
Notice on molasses: Don’t use blackstrap molasses, it’s too sturdy and bitter. Use molasses labeled as “unsulphered” or “darkish.” I normally use Grandma’s model “authentic” with the yellow label.
Roll up the dough right into a 16-inch log, after which lower into 12 equal items. Prepare in a greased or lined 9×13-inch baking pan:
Let the formed rolls rise for about 1 hour, after which bake till toasty and golden:
Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting & Different Topping Choices
Who’s right here for the cream cheese icing? *Raises hand.* A cinnamon cream cheese frosting is simply what these spiced rolls want. It’s also possible to high them with little gingerbread cookies (store-bought or home made should you’re prepping the dough for cookies!), and/or sugared cranberries.
In case you’re not into this topping, listed here are different choices:
Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls Make-Forward & Freezing Choices
You may completely put together these gingerbread cinnamon rolls the evening earlier than. After shaping and slicing the rolls, organize them within the baking pan, cowl tightly, and refrigerate for as much as 16 hours. The subsequent morning, take away from the fridge and permit the rolls to rise at room temperature till puffy (about 1–2 hours), then bake as directed.
This in a single day possibility makes them particularly good for Christmas morning or vacation brunch—contemporary, heat cinnamon rolls with out the early-morning prep.
There are just a few strategies you should use to freeze these gingerbread cinnamon rolls. Absolutely baked (frosted or unfrosted) rolls freeze effectively for as much as 3 months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge, then heat gently earlier than serving. It’s also possible to freeze the rolls unbaked or par-baked; see the detailed freezing directions within the recipe under for these choices.
Molasses is vital for the gingerbread taste. With out it, the rolls will style extra like basic cinnamon rolls with spice: not unhealthy, however not gingerbread. I don’t advocate skipping it.
Sure, for a milder spice profile, cut back or skip the cloves and nutmeg. Cinnamon and ginger present many of the main taste.
Completely. Bread flour creates barely chewier, flakier rolls, however all-purpose flour nonetheless produces delicate, fluffy outcomes.
Sure, see make-ahead & in a single day choices.
Extra Gingerbread Recipes
Description
Extremely delicate gingerbread cinnamon rolls with a molasses-spiced brown sugar filling and cinnamon cream cheese frosting. A comfortable vacation breakfast or brunch recipe that may be made forward, refrigerated in a single day, or frozen for later. In case you’re a yeast bread newbie, see my Baking With Yeast information for additional steering and success ideas.
Dough
Gingerbread-Flavored Filling
Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting
- Proof the yeast: Whisk the nice and cozy milk, 2 Tablespoons of the brown sugar, and the yeast collectively within the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with a dough hook or paddle attachment. Cowl and permit the combination to take a seat for about 5 minutes, or till foamy on high. *If you don’t personal a mixer, you are able to do this in a big mixing bowl and, within the subsequent step, combine the dough along with a big picket spoon or rubber spatula. It is going to take a little bit of arm muscle. A hand mixer works, however the sticky dough can repeatedly get caught within the beaters. Mixing by hand is the higher alternative.
- Make the dough: Add the remaining brown sugar, melted butter, eggs, salt, ginger, nutmeg, and 1 cup (about 130g) of the flour and beat on medium velocity for 1 minute. Scrape down the edges of the bowl with a silicone spatula. Add 3 cups (about 400g) flour, cut back mixer velocity to low, and beat till a delicate dough kinds and pulls away from the edges of the bowl. Dough might be very delicate, however not overly sticky. If it appears too sticky and clings to the edges of the bowl as a substitute of forming a tough mass across the dough hook, add extra flour, 1 Tablespoon at a time, and proceed to combine till the dough pulls away from the edges of the bowl however remains to be moist and cheesy. If it feels dry and crumbly, add extra milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, mixing effectively after every addition.
- Knead the dough: Preserve the dough within the mixer (and change to the dough hook if utilizing the paddle) and beat for an extra 6-8 full minutes, or knead by hand on a calmly floured floor for 6-8 full minutes. (In case you’re new to bread-baking, my The best way to Knead Dough video tutorial can assist right here.) If the dough turns into too sticky in the course of the kneading course of, sprinkle 1 teaspoon of flour at a time on the dough or on the work floor/within the bowl to make a delicate, barely cheesy dough. After kneading, the dough ought to nonetheless really feel a bit delicate. Poke it together with your finger—if it slowly bounces again, your dough is able to rise. It’s also possible to do a “windowpane take a look at” to see in case your dough has been kneaded lengthy sufficient: tear off a small (roughly golfball-size) piece of dough and gently stretch it out till it’s skinny sufficient for gentle to move via it. Maintain it as much as a window or gentle. Does gentle move via the stretched dough with out the dough tearing first? In that case, your dough has been kneaded lengthy sufficient and is able to rise. If not, maintain kneading till it passes the windowpane take a look at.
- 1st Rise: Flippantly grease a big bowl with oil or use nonstick spray. Place the dough within the bowl, turning it to coat all sides within the oil. Cowl the bowl with aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or a clear kitchen towel. Permit the dough to rise in a comparatively heat surroundings for two hours or till double in dimension. (I all the time let it rise on the counter and it takes about 2 hours. For a tiny discount in rise time, see my reply to The place Ought to Dough Rise? in my Baking with Yeast Information.)
- Make the filling: In a medium bowl utilizing a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat collectively the softened butter and molasses on medium-high velocity. In a small bowl, utilizing a whisk or a fork, combine collectively the brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves.
- Grease the underside and sides of a 9×13-inch glass baking pan or metallic baking pan, or line with parchment paper. Punch down the dough to launch the air.
- Roll out the dough: Place dough on a calmly floured work floor and utilizing a calmly floured rolling pin, roll dough into a ten×16-inch rectangle. Make certain the dough is clean and evenly thick. If the dough retains shrinking as you roll it out, cease what you’re doing, cowl it calmly, and let it relaxation for 10 minutes to calm down the gluten. While you return to the dough, it ought to stretch out a lot simpler.
- Fill the rolls: Unfold the butter-molasses combination on high of the rolled-out dough. Sprinkle the sugar-spice combination all around the dough. Tightly roll up the dough to kind a 16-inch-long log. With an additional sharp knife, lower into 12 even rolls, between 1–1.5 inches every. Prepare within the ready baking pan. If some filling spilled out of the rolls as you had been shaping, sprinkle it on high of the rolls.
- 2nd Rise: Cowl the rolls tightly and permit to rise till doubled in dimension, about 1 hour. (Or use the in a single day possibility under.)
- Bake the rolls: Bake rolls for about 25–28 minutes or till calmly browned on high. (Glass pans might require an extra 2–3 minutes.) After about quarter-hour, tent a bit of aluminum foil loosely excessive of the pan to stop the tops from browning too shortly. If you wish to be exact, the rolls are completed when an instantaneous learn thermometer inserted into the middle registers 195–200°F (91–93°C).
- Take away pan from the oven and place pan on a wire rack for about 10 minutes as you make the icing.
- Make the icing: In a medium bowl utilizing a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle or whisk attachment, beat the cream cheese on excessive velocity till clean and creamy. Add the butter and beat till clean and mixed, then beat within the confectioners’ sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon till mixed. Utilizing a knife or icing spatula, unfold the icing over the nice and cozy rolls and serve instantly. Be happy to garnish with sugared cranberries & gingerbread cookies.
- Cowl leftover frosted or unfrosted rolls tightly and retailer at room temperature for as much as 2 days or within the fridge for as much as 5 days.
Notes
- Make Forward Directions – In a single day: To arrange the evening earlier than serving, put together the rolls via step 8. Cowl the rolls and refrigerate for 8–12 hours. (16 hours max. 8–12 hours is greatest, however 16 hours is OK if completely wanted. Don’t exceed 16 hours.) The subsequent morning, take away from the fridge, maintain coated, and permit to rise for 1–2 hours at room temperature earlier than persevering with with step 10.
- Make Forward Directions – Freezing: You may freeze cinnamon rolls for as much as 3 months, and I like to recommend just a few totally different strategies for freezing cinnamon rolls. The primary methodology is to freeze them after shaping, earlier than they’ve had their 2nd rise (step 8). Thaw within the fridge in a single day, then let rise for 1.5–2 hours at room temperature earlier than baking. The second methodology is to par-bake the risen rolls for 10 minutes, let cool fully, then cowl and freeze. Thaw within the fridge in a single day, then let sit at room temperature for half-hour earlier than baking. End baking for 15–20 minutes. It’s also possible to freeze totally baked cinnamon rolls. See The best way to Freeze Cinnamon Rolls for extra particulars about all of those strategies.
- Particular Instruments (affiliate hyperlinks): Stand Mixer or Massive Glass Mixing Bowl with Silicone Spatula or Wood Spoon | Rolling Pin | 9×13-inch Glass Baking Pan or Steel Baking Pan | Cooling Rack
- Milk: I like to recommend utilizing complete milk for the perfect, richest-tasting dough. You would additionally use buttermilk. Decreased-fat, low-fat, or nondairy milk works in a pinch. Don’t use nonfat milk.
- Yeast: Be sure you use 1 Tablespoon of yeast, which is a bit more than 1 customary packet. You should utilize energetic dry or instantaneous yeast on this recipe. Comply with the entire similar directions. If utilizing energetic dry yeast, the rise occasions are normally *barely* longer, however not a lot. Reference my Baking with Yeast Information for solutions to frequent yeast FAQs.
- Greatest Flour to Use: For greatest texture, I like to recommend bread flour. The identical quantity of all-purpose flour works and the rolls will nonetheless be splendidly wealthy and delicate. The rolls are a bit extra chewy and flaky when utilizing bread flour.
- Molasses: Don’t use blackstrap molasses, which is just too bitter for this recipe. Use molasses labeled as “unsulphered” or “darkish.” I normally use Grandma’s model “authentic” with the yellow label.
- Different Icing Choices: As an alternative of spiced cream cheese icing, you should use easy vanilla icing, the plain cream cheese icing from these simple cinnamon rolls, orange icing from these orange candy rolls, maple icing from pumpkin cinnamon rolls, caramel icing from apple cinnamon rolls, or espresso icing from these chocolate candy rolls.
- Gluten Free: We’ve not examined this recipe with gluten-free flour, so we’re uncertain of the outcomes.
